Unsheltered residents living near the construction of St. Mary’s Pathways Project in Stockton received a 72-hour notice of displacement and cleanup.
The notice is for those living south of West Sonora Street and north of West Scotts Avenue between South Stockton Street and South Lincoln Street. The city will conduct the cleanup starting at 7 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 8, according to the notice.
City officials said those living at the encampment were served notice by code enforcement officers.
“We do displacements based on citizen complaints, proximity to critical infrastructure, crime, and in accordance with SMC/ state law and recent court rulings,” stated Omer Edhah, a spokesperson for the Stockton Police Department. “The police department has been conducting cleanups for more than a decade with the current model being used for the last several years.”
“Many of those served have been served multiple notices in the past and are familiar with them,” he said.
Ismael Villada Garcia, 59, a native of Michoacán, Mexico told The Record in Spanish on Thursday afternoon that he has lived in Stockton for about 38 years. He ended up without shelter two years ago when he lost his job after he suffered a third stroke.