Santa Cruz locals concerned over RV removal ordinance
jose.romo
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors is discussing an ordinance to allow for abandoned oversized vehicles to be dismantled. This would apply to abandoned parked vehicles along unincorporated county roads.
Members of the public are now speaking out about what this would mean for people close or in close-to-home situations.
“The problem that this ordinance update really seeks to address is the fact that our county code today doesn’t have any teeth,” said Supervisor Manu Koenig.
Supervisors chose to move forward with the ordinance with a 4-1 vote.
“I think that really this ordinance did address, you know, what South County is facing with just abandoned vehicles,” said Supervisor Felipe Hernandez. “The question mark that all the board members had was, what happens, what’s the process for folks that actually live in their mobile home?” said Santa Cruz County Supervisor Felipe Hernandez.
After hearing from public comment and the county Sheriff’s Office, supervisors opted to bring the ordinance to a new first reading in their next meeting. They approved adding language that would ensure enforcement incidents would include notices sent via mail and posted in both English and Spanish on the involved vehicles.
The ordinance, co-authored by Supervisor Koenig and Hernandez, states that this is a recurring issue with some vehicles in the county being cited more than 120 times.
“We have a lot of, unfortunately, people living in their vehicles. And if we take away their last home, they’re going to be out on the streets. It’s not solution-based.” Alicia Khul added that she was formally unhoused and lived in her RV. During that time, she mentions her RV was wrongfully labeled as abandoned multiple times.
“The concerns are valid. The problem is the way that they are going about dealing with it,” Khul adds. “If we contribute to street-level homelessness, we’re not helping anybody. and that’s what this ordinance will do.”
The Sheriff’s Office adding this ordinance would be helpful for their enforcement and also to provide resources to those in need. They say that some people often ignore deputies’ attempts to help. The sheriff’s office says fines for impoundment often have to be covered by their office, as many vehicles have their VIN removed, or owners are unresponsive.
The Sheriff’s Office adds that at this point, 10 to 12 abandoned vehicles would be impacted by the ordinance. The Board of Supervisors will hear from local homeless advocacy groups in their upcoming meeting on September 9th.