Photo / Wes White. (See the video at John Doe13k on YouTube)
SALINAS, CA — So I’m documenting another sweep, #StopTheSweeps, and almost immediately I get threatened with trespass, so I move on to find Tina LaPerle from the city of Salinas Community Development Department to get some updates. She says she just heard people on the far side of the tracks had until Thursday to move their belongings because the city had not properly posted notices, to give the three days (two days) warning. Assistant Police Chief Manny Martinez later confirms it. Ms. LaPerle informs me that Salinas corporate is working on buying a portable shower trailer for about $100K, 33 people were distributed Emergency Housing Vouchers, and other info.
The city has one vehicle towed and almost immediately finds the one right next to it to ticket. Walking back to the street, I find the field boss from Smith & Enright, Rogelio, holding a tool that he had recovered from the sweep, apparently to take it home with him, as the police congratulate him and give their legal blessing.
The next morning I get a call that the far side of the tracks is being swept with no apology or gentleness. They went right for the most sustained camps first, possibly to take some of their items home? I contact Ms. LaPerle who contacts Public Works and Assistant Chief Manny Martinez, to be told there’s nothing he can do about it. Then headed down to see for myself.
I was able to observe the sweep for a few minutes. Then the police came to sweep the tents of people and told me I had to go as well. I informed them I was trying to reach city officials to get an explanation on record. I informed them the place had been improperly noticed and therefore the city was breaking the law. The skid steer loader operator didn’t even see the police or myself and almost ran all of us over while they were breaking the law. Although threatened with arrest for the second time in as many days, the police did not pursue further contact with me.
I then was able to contact Rogelio from Smith & Enright to inform him that the place was not properly noticed for eviction. He said “That’s not my problem!” Shortly after calling me a derogatory moniker, Rogelio is holding a tall piece of pipe, again likely to take home with him, as he trips over himself.
This is what the Homeless Industrial Complex looks like here, courtesy of city of Salinas, their manager, Steve Carrigan, the California League of Cities/Association of Counties, the state of California, and the United States.
