Homeless camp trash clean up
Donation protected
The homeless.
The words alone can evoke different feelings within each of us. Pity. Sorrow. Disgust. Nuisance. The list can go on and on.
In 2018 there were at least three fires in University Heights attributed to the homeless and no doubt many more throughout the city of San Diego.
As much empathy as I have for the homeless and how they endure the situation they are in, whatever the reason, I draw the line when their actions may endanger my home or that of my neighbors. I'm talking about the large homeless camp and trash at the bottom of the canyon, bordering Johnson Ave., 10th Ave., and Hayes Ave., which you may or may not be able to see from your back yard. The camp and trash are quite visible as you drive up 163 just before the Washington St. exit.
The location of the homeless camp in our canyon. The 163 freeway is just to the left of the homeless camp.
For nearly six months I've been in contact with Margaret Cobleigh, the owner of the big white house on Hayes Ave. (directly across the canyon from ours on Johnson Ave.) and whose property the homeless took up residence on—her property line goes down to the bottom of the canyon. Together we have been in contact with Caltrans, Councilmember Chris Ward's office, Environmental Services, and any other office or city employee that may be able to help, all in an effort to have the camp removed and the trash and human waste cleaned up.
The homeless camp
Unfortunately, there are several problems. The camp and mounds of trash and waste are on private property, so the city and Caltrans can’t help. Another problem is the only practical access to the camp, and surrounding waste is through a locked Caltrans gate, making cleanup by private citizens both treacherous and dangerous, so a private contractor must be hired and they’re not cheap.
In 2017 Margaret and her family hired a company to clean up a small camp in the same location. The charge was $800. The cost estimates to clean up this camp go as high as $6000. Fortunately, the same contractor that completed the work in 2017 gave her a base quote of $1800, but should there be more trips to the dump than estimated, the cost will climb.
It’s her property, not mine. Why is this my problem, you may ask?
Trash from the homeless camp
The path and Caltrans fence the homeless cut through to gain access to their camp
For those of you who are unaware of or may have forgotten about the devastating Normal Heights fire in 1985, the following is an excerpt from San Diego Uptown News on the 30th anniversary:
The firestorm started just before noon on June 30, 1985. It was a very hot day with temperatures in the high 90s. The flames started in the canyon south of Interstate 8, below the neighborhood perched along Mountain View Drive and side streets between I-805 and I-15. The fire’s cause was never determined, according to KPBS interviews commemorating the 30th anniversary of the disaster on June 30, 2015.
Flames raced up finger canyons and engulfed houses at the top as the firestorm leaped from street to street. A total of 76 homes were destroyed and 57 more were damaged. Local firefighting resources concentrated on structures; personnel from north San Diego County, Orange County and Los Angeles helped put out the flames in the canyons, finally bringing the firestorm under control by evening and stopping its eastward spread near I-15.
https://sduptownnews.com/remembering-1985-normal-heights-fire/
With the recent and welcoming rains we’ve had this winter, the vegetation is now lush and green, but when the rains dry up, so will the surrounding greenery creating the makings of a possible firestorm similar to the one Normal Heights experienced.
Let’s all come together as neighbors and friends and donate to a fund for Margaret that will remove the homeless camp and surrounding trash from our canyon, and help ensure a fire doesn’t ravage our canyon community.
Thank you for supporting our University Heights neighborhood and Margaret Cobleigh!
The words alone can evoke different feelings within each of us. Pity. Sorrow. Disgust. Nuisance. The list can go on and on.
In 2018 there were at least three fires in University Heights attributed to the homeless and no doubt many more throughout the city of San Diego.
As much empathy as I have for the homeless and how they endure the situation they are in, whatever the reason, I draw the line when their actions may endanger my home or that of my neighbors. I'm talking about the large homeless camp and trash at the bottom of the canyon, bordering Johnson Ave., 10th Ave., and Hayes Ave., which you may or may not be able to see from your back yard. The camp and trash are quite visible as you drive up 163 just before the Washington St. exit.
The location of the homeless camp in our canyon. The 163 freeway is just to the left of the homeless camp. For nearly six months I've been in contact with Margaret Cobleigh, the owner of the big white house on Hayes Ave. (directly across the canyon from ours on Johnson Ave.) and whose property the homeless took up residence on—her property line goes down to the bottom of the canyon. Together we have been in contact with Caltrans, Councilmember Chris Ward's office, Environmental Services, and any other office or city employee that may be able to help, all in an effort to have the camp removed and the trash and human waste cleaned up.
The homeless camp Unfortunately, there are several problems. The camp and mounds of trash and waste are on private property, so the city and Caltrans can’t help. Another problem is the only practical access to the camp, and surrounding waste is through a locked Caltrans gate, making cleanup by private citizens both treacherous and dangerous, so a private contractor must be hired and they’re not cheap.
In 2017 Margaret and her family hired a company to clean up a small camp in the same location. The charge was $800. The cost estimates to clean up this camp go as high as $6000. Fortunately, the same contractor that completed the work in 2017 gave her a base quote of $1800, but should there be more trips to the dump than estimated, the cost will climb.
It’s her property, not mine. Why is this my problem, you may ask?
Trash from the homeless campThe path and Caltrans fence the homeless cut through to gain access to their campFor those of you who are unaware of or may have forgotten about the devastating Normal Heights fire in 1985, the following is an excerpt from San Diego Uptown News on the 30th anniversary:
The firestorm started just before noon on June 30, 1985. It was a very hot day with temperatures in the high 90s. The flames started in the canyon south of Interstate 8, below the neighborhood perched along Mountain View Drive and side streets between I-805 and I-15. The fire’s cause was never determined, according to KPBS interviews commemorating the 30th anniversary of the disaster on June 30, 2015.
Flames raced up finger canyons and engulfed houses at the top as the firestorm leaped from street to street. A total of 76 homes were destroyed and 57 more were damaged. Local firefighting resources concentrated on structures; personnel from north San Diego County, Orange County and Los Angeles helped put out the flames in the canyons, finally bringing the firestorm under control by evening and stopping its eastward spread near I-15.
https://sduptownnews.com/remembering-1985-normal-heights-fire/
With the recent and welcoming rains we’ve had this winter, the vegetation is now lush and green, but when the rains dry up, so will the surrounding greenery creating the makings of a possible firestorm similar to the one Normal Heights experienced.
Let’s all come together as neighbors and friends and donate to a fund for Margaret that will remove the homeless camp and surrounding trash from our canyon, and help ensure a fire doesn’t ravage our canyon community.
Thank you for supporting our University Heights neighborhood and Margaret Cobleigh!
Organizer
Andy Lange
Organizer
San Diego, CA