About a dozen people have returned to sleeping on the sidewalk, after an unpermitted settlement in a public park was cleared out by the City of Oakland last Thursday.
The cluster of tiny homes and tents, known as “The Village,” existed for two weeks. It was an unusual encampment, built by homeless people and their supporters. But Oakland officials gave orders to clear out, citing health and safety violations and destruction of private property.
On the morning the encampment was set to be demolished, residents and their advocates gathered to defend it.
Credit Liza Veale
KAREN BOYD, CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE: "Taking over a public park when you're impinging on other folks rights to use that park is not right. There was no conversation with the City to say 'we have this vision, how can we work together?'"
ANITA DE ASIS, Organizer: "With a budget of zero dollars we’ve managed to provide basic dignity and basic needs to 16 homeless people."
