Crews in National City bulldozed an illegal homeless encampment Thursday where dozens of residents said they’ve lived for years.
The hidden neighborhood is located in the riverbed across from the Plaza Bonita Mall. Some of the makeshifts houses have furniture, toilets, bathtubs and even electricity.
National City police told residents earlier this week that they were being forced to evacuate. By Thursday, most of the people had already left. They left behind pieces of their lives, including bunk beds, basketballs hoops and live chickens.
“Just wish we had a little more time to move out. Seems kind of unfair. The city could have worked with us a little more, I think,” said Adrian, who has lived in the encampment two years with his wife and three school-aged children.
“That's our home. We are a community just like any other community,” said a woman who identified herself as Lisa.
"We’re homeless, but we’ve chosen to make the best of a bad situation,” she said.
However, opponents of the lifestyle argue that it’s trespassing and a source of crime. Also, several brush fires have started in the area, including one where a woman’s body was discovered in the ashes.
Police said these residents know they’re trespassing, so this cleanup shouldn't come as a surprise. They said the next challenge is keeping people out without building a fence.
