Manteca Homeless Must Keep Moving Under New Ordinance
MANTECA (CBS13) — Manteca's homeless encampments came down before Thursday's big storm. Homeless at Library Park said the city's homeless population is still living in the city limits, but must keep moving to avoid citations.
On Dec. 4, homeless encampments became illegal in the city under Manteca's Municipal Code. The city attorney can also prosecute people cited for public urination or defecation.
"The ordinance just strengthened existing laws," said Manteca Police Chief Nick Obligacion. "It wasn't a way for the city of Manteca to sweep up all the homeless and outlaw just the mere fact they were homeless and move them out of town."
Chief Obligacion said the ordinance was designed to stop those breaking the law.
"Such as urinating or defecating in public, taking air conditioners off roofs, and stealing copper wiring," said Chief Obligacion, who said the department noticed a decrease in those activities since the ban.
"To my knowledge, since Dec. 4, since the law went into effect, there has been no citations issued or arrests."
At Library Park on Tuesday, there were still a few homeless. Robert Ray pulled his cart full of blankets and necessities under the pavilion. He said he was cited by a Manteca Police officer Monday morning and pulled out a yellow citation with a more than $1,000 fine.
"We're harassed here," said Ray, who will look for shelter for himself and his dog Mojo in the evening. "We can't stay in the park."
The Manteca Bulletin reported three unnamed persons said temporary homeless camps were showing up in the country, north of the city limits, but the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office said it did not have any reports of homeless encampments.
Ray said he had heard some homeless left the city.
"They impounded my vehicle about six months ago or I'd been gone too," said Ray.
Chief Obligacion said his police chiefs foundation recently donated $5,000 to the city's women's and children's shelter. Manteca does not have a men's homeless shelter.