Seaside looks to tackle homeless activities through new ordinance
jose.romo
SEASIDE, Calif. (KION-TV) — The city of Seaside is voting to move up the curfew for parking in public from 10 pm to 9 pm. Many say the decision would purposefully target the homeless. The ordinance would address issues with panhandlers on main roadways.
The City of Seaside approved the ordinance that would increase restrictions for people living in their cars or panhandling along public streets.
“We get a lot of homeless activity at our Walgreens,” Allie Spencer is one of the managers at a Seaside Walgreens and says she has noticed this issue since moving to town. “A lot of panhandlers, as you can kind of see behind me, there’s always somebody that’s over there. It makes me very sad, but at the same time, it makes me wonder what the city can actually do to fix this situation.”
The city is amending existing ordinances. The changes would enable the cleanup of homeless camps with 72-hour notice and allow for the city to dispose of property after 60 days.
“We see way worse at night,” Spener adds. “When I come out at the end of my shift, regardless of what time of day it is, I always make sure to double-check different sides of the buildings because Walgreens definitely stands for safety.”
“Y cuando vengo a la tienda pues si me da miedo,” Lucila lives in Seaside and often shops at the Walgreens. She adds seeing homeless people around the building often times makes her concerned for their safety and the safety of others.
The ordinance would prohibit aggressive panhandling in street medians. However, some people in that situation say that’s the only option they have.
“When I first started, I had a cop tell me, ‘look, I’d rather see you out here panhandling’ than, you know, robbing or stealing.” Teddy Teller says he has been living in the streets and panhandling for close to six years and has never seen anyone be hit by a moving vehicle or pose a risk for oncoming traffic. He adds that these restrictions would make it difficult for others who, like him, struggle to find a job.
“It’s gonna put a big catch on that’s for sure. I’m going to resort to some other means. I don’t know exactly what that’s gonna be right now. I’m continuously looking for a job. I ain’t got a job yet.”
The ordinance has now been approved by the Seaside City Council and has 30 days before it fully goes into effect. City staff and the police department hope to provide the community with the necessary resources during that time.