City workers destroyed several tents and structures at the longstanding homeless encampment around Eighth and Harrison streets Tuesday, though the Northwest Berkeley camp remained largely intact by the end of the day.
People still living in the camp Tuesday evening estimated that fewer than 20 people had been moved out of the area. Representatives from the advocacy group Berkeley Homeless Union said they expected the sweep to resume Wednesday. The most recent estimate from the BHU was that about 80 people were living in tents, lean-tos and vehicles in the area.
People living in RVs and other vehicles were allowed to stay in place during the operation. Notices posted at the camp last week stated that the city had no plan to remove vehicles. Federal District Judge Edward Chen has also ordered the city to let seven specific campers remain where they are while working out disability accommodations for them.
Spokespeople for the city did not immediately respond Tuesday afternoon to questions from Berkeleyside asking how many people the city displaced, how many the city placed in shelters, how much property the city stored or how much garbage it hauled. A spokesperson for the Berkeley Police Department said there had been no arrests during the closure…