Fresno Pays $11,000 to Guard
Vacant Homeless Camp. When
residents of Fresno's downtown "tent city" relocated to apartments at
the city's expense, they left behind abandoned shelters, piles of wood, old
clothing and shopping carts. Now, the city is spending $11,000 a month to guard
these personal belongings that were left behind.
According to city
officials, spending the $11,000 is much cheaper than cataloguing and storing
belongings, or potentially losing a lawsuit if the city destroys the items.
Watching over
left-behind items is not a new scenario for city officials. Last year, Fresno
settled a $2.35 million lawsuit after a judge determined that the city
illegally destroyed personal belongings of dozens of homeless residents.
Several days after
"tent city" residents were relocated, city staffers allowed former
residents to re-enter and remove their belongings. Now, a barbed wire wall has
been erected. With the gate locked and under watch, former residents must make an
appointment to remove their belongings within 90 days. According to a court
order, after 90 days the city may remove all personal belongings and return use
of the property to its owner, Union Pacific Railroad. (Source: The Fresno Bee, July 27.)
Cal-Taxletter, August 7, 2009
© 2009 California Taxpayers'
Association.
All Rights Reserved.