Dozens of people living in RVs are scrambling to find another location after San Jose cleared out Columbus Park.
Last month, the city started sweeping Columbus Park where roughly 370 people lived in tents, vehicles and makeshift shelters. By Sept. 15, the park had been completely cleared and the city installed fences to prevent re-encampment. The city moved about 200 people from the park into motels recently converted into homeless housing, but some people chose not to give up their RVs. A tight-knit community of about 40 Latino residents relocated their 21 RVs to an empty lot owned by Kellanova, formerly known as Kellogg.
The lot by Highway 101 and East Taylor Street was scheduled to be swept Thursday morning, but police postponed the sweep until 5 p.m. after advocates pressed for more time.
Santa Clara County Supervisor Betty Duong, whose District 2 includes the Kellanova site, said her office received notice of the sweep less than 24 hours before it was supposed to happen. Duong arrived at the property Thursday morning to work with advocates, police and property owners to come up with a plan to safely move the people and their RVs. So far, they’ve been able to find five safe parking spaces…