Posted by Kate, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Apr 11, 2007 at 5:18 pm
Homeless sleep on the grounds of the Main Library, particulary around the Gardens and under bushes. They use the Main Library by day. There are no outdoor public restrooms at the Main Library, and this could be/probably is/ a problem. The City had to repair the outdoor lighting at the Main Library last year when a homeless person/s unhooked the wiring because it disturbed sleep. The 'problem' is not confined to one neighborhood.
Posted by Phil Lanthrop, a resident of the Community Center neighborhood, on Apr 11, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Attention all homeless people: You need to fly low...Under the radar....Keep out of sight, lest you scare some of are citizens with homes... meanwhile, the likes of Fasotw and Lay, all the CEOs out there, defense contractors, et all...it's all good....you guys don't look so scary, but if they only knew....it's amazing what a clean shave can do....here in america, homeless people elicit fear, while the fat cats (who really should be feared) keep getting fatter...
Posted by Phil Lanthrop, a resident of the Community Center neighborhood, on Apr 11, 2007 at 9:45 pm
Homeowner, no offense intended. I simply wanted platform to pontificate.
Honestly, I live in the neighborhood you speak of, and am slightly familiar with
the issues you discuss, and I do actually empathize with yourself. I was actually wondering
what the laws were as well, because of the situation addressed above....I hope you can
forgive me...I certainly would not want you and your family to live in fear....please don't take me too seriously all the time..I really do care...it's just that many people seem to be afraid of the downtrodden and oppressed, while the fat cats (milken, hurwitz,...) keep getting fatter...and they don't seem to scare anyone....if you think about it, white collar criminals get off fairly easily....even though their crimes have a much greater impact....they keep it relatively out of sight....if that makes any sense....
Posted by Walter_E_Wallis, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Apr 12, 2007 at 9:49 pm
I guess "flop house" and Gypsy camp" are bad words.
In the interest of sanitation Palo Alto and most other cities need a camp site with sanitary facilities and minimal interference with campers, and minimal solution hostel type shelters. Most of the homeless don't want to be saved.
Posted by RS, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Apr 12, 2007 at 10:18 pm
Sure, I think I know the answer based on my knowledge for other cities. Car camping in that area is probably illegal, but it is complaint driven. Unless someone complains to the police, they won't worry about it. I'm sure thats why they picked a loney street in a industrial area. The percentage chance of bothering anyone is lower there. I've riden past that spot on my bike on the way to Fry's and never observed anything I felt was an issue for me, but then I dont go to Fry's often enough to have a very large sample size.
Posted by Bob Dole, a resident of the Ventura neighborhood, on May 6, 2007 at 4:38 am
There is one of these RV folks at the end of Wilton Ave. near El Camino. Every morning at 7AM, he moves one of his cars off of Wilton and puts his RV into the spot. Then in the evening, he either moves the RV into the Treasure Island parking lot or pulls it back into the construction company lot for which we works for down the alley. The guy always has some car parked on Wilton Ave. in order to save a spot on Wilton for when he does the 7AM swap. It is ridiculous and has been going on for more than a year! Can't the construction contractor pay this poor man and his woman a living wage? I might as well move out of my $1700 a month apartment, and just buy a junker RV and live for free in Palo Alto.
Posted by ta2'd, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Jun 4, 2010 at 9:40 pm
[Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff]
who cares if someone is sleeping in their car,,in these tough economic times,just put yourself in their shoes.if they dont harm you or your family,then mind your own business.if their being respectful and cleaning up after themselves,then there shouldnt be an issue,,,,,try helping our brothers and sisters out for a change
Posted by Herb Borock, a resident of the Professorville neighborhood, on Jun 5, 2010 at 1:26 pm
There is no law against sleeping in vehicles in Palo Alto.
There is a law prohibiting and restricting parking of designated vehicles in residential and public facilities zones between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., and there is a law against parking large vehicles in any "no large vehicle parking zone".
Prohibited or Restricted Parking, Chapter 10.44 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code: Web Link
Large Vehicle Parking, Chapter 10.47 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code: Web Link
Posted by Bob Hend, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Aug 9, 2011 at 3:30 pm
I help feed the homeless every friday night at my church. I have yet to see a homeless person come into the kitchen to help cook. I am part of the solution, but I believe we will always have homeless people.
Posted by Cindy Mason, a resident of the Barron Park neighborhood, on Oct 11, 2012 at 3:52 am
Today I accidentally discovered my retired neighbor has been drinking with some of these homeless people and has had them in his home. Its his business what he does, but he has substance abuse and mental issues, and does not know the names of the homeless people he has befriended. The person he was drinking with today, was 6'7" and seemed to have a dark expression and anger, possibly mentally ill? When we are all trying to connect more and help prevent robberies, how do we
cope with a situation like that? We can't force the retired neighbor to do anything.
But hopefully whoever reads this will know this is happening. There are young children and babies in our neighborhood.
The difference between homeless and folks with addresses is that we are accountable and known by our name, so our deeds are accountable. A homeless no name, no address, substance abusing person... should have to register somehow, at least with the city, so we know who they are and can look them up on Megan's Law DB.
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