Up to 300 men will be affected
By Elena Gaona
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
July 28, 2006

CARMEL VALLEY – Police say they are preparing to remove up to 300 immigrant men who live in shanty homes in McGonigle Canyon by the end of August.

“There are plans to close the camps in McGonigle in the next 30 days,” said San Diego Police Capt. Jim Collins with the Northeast Division.

It's not clear who owns the property, but police officials are talking with Pardee Homes and the city of San Diego, the probable owners of the lots, about clearing the camp, Collins said.

Once ownership is determined, police officers would post signs ordering the men, who are mostly from southern Mexico, to leave. Should they refuse, police would likely evict them.

It would not be the first time that immigrant camps in McGonigle are removed.




A wide undeveloped expanse of land between Carmel Valley and Rancho Peñasquitos, the canyon had about 750 people living there almost a dozen years ago, when the city of San Diego moved families out. Families were relocated from the massive shantytown into affordable housing.
Last year, Sharon Johnson, city of San Diego homeless services administrator, told the City Council that some 100 men were living in the canyon. Police estimate the number today could be as high as 300.

Before moving the men, police are working with agencies to try to find homes for them, Collins said, though he did not say which groups.

Johnson said the Section 8 rent subsidies and affordable housing resources that were available 12 years ago have been largely cut by the federal government.

“You keep looking for solutions,” Johnson said, adding that the city has been looking for a site to build farmworker housing for the men for more than a year. “But we haven't found it.”

Every summer, some of the shanty homes made from loose boards and plastic sheeting are torn down by private property owners, said Carlos Maldonado, a community worker with the California Rural Legal Assistance nonprofit that helps the migrant workers.

Collins agreed that the camps are periodically moved, but he said the camp dwellers often return to the same spots or nearby campsites.

Collins said police have continually monitored the camps because of the potentially unsafe living conditions.

The camps could present a fire danger because sometimes men cook over open flames, and officials are concerned about damaging environmentally sensitive areas, Collins said.

Recently, Minutemen and their supporters filmed the camps, which has angered immigrants and their supporters.

Rancho Peñasquitos resident Julie Adams said the threat of fires, crime and sanitary conditions are what's leading her to push police and city officials to close the camps.

She has called city officials and sent e-mails to other residents asking them to join her effort.

On Wednesday, police were called to the camp to calm down a heated exchange between Minutemen supporters, including Adams, and staff from a mobile health clinic treating men at the camp.

Police say there was “a shoving match,” but no reports were filed and no one was arrested.

Men at the camp said they were frightened by the visit.

The Minutemen group said the incident was exaggerated.

“It's not a good situation,” said Claudia Smith, with California Rural Legal Assistance, who is concerned about Minutemen tactics.

Several men at the camp, meanwhile, said they don't know where they will go if they are evicted.

“It's hard to get work,” said Saul Martinez, 25, a day laborer from Guerrero who lives in the canyon. “I can't afford a place.”

Staff writer Leslie Berestein contributed to this report.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nort ... anyon.html

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Elena Gaona: (760) 737-7575; elena.gaona@uniontrib.com
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Seems to me California keeps digging themselves in deeper by helping these illegals all the time.