The Brief
- The city of Berkeley is scheduled to begin clearing a large homeless encampment at 8th and Harrison streets starting Tuesday.
- A federal judge ruled the city can clear the area but required special accommodations for residents with disabilities.
- City officials declared the encampment a fire hazard and public nuisance following a deadly leptospirosis outbreak linked to rats.
BERKELEY, Calif. – The city of Berkeley on Tuesday began clearing a large homeless encampment after officials declared the area a fire hazard and public nuisance following a a deadly leptospirosis outbreak linked to rats.
Notices posted on Friday informed residents that their tents, structures and other property at 8th and Harrison streets must be removed, and everyone living at the site must leave.
Early Tuesday morning, police stepped in, telling residents to remove their items, which were scattered across the street.
Legal battle halts initial cleanup plans
What we know:
This encampment has been at the center of a long legal battle. The city previously tried to clean up the area, but the Berkeley Homeless Union filed a lawsuit last year that put those plans on hold.…