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Anyone heading down Latham Street in the past week has probably noticed it. Among the mobile homes that line both sides of the road is a hulking wooden structure attached to a green 1940s truck. The peculiar home is a relic of the past with a long history in the Bay Area, and the proud owners say they’ve spent months and thousands of dollars to bring it back to its former glory.
Justin Harper and Nikki Mensick, the young couple living inside the truck-mounted house, pulled into Mountain View a little over a week ago after a challenging 80-mile journey from Stockton to the Peninsula, using their white SUV to tug the 20-ton vehicle over the Altamont Pass. Since then, Harper, 23, said he’s been fielding inquiries every day about their eye-catching abode: Does the truck actually work? Do you really live inside?
The answer is yes to both questions. Earlier this year, Harper and Mensick, 23, found themselves strapped for cash and unable to pay for rent or put down enough money on an RV to live in. While traveling through Stockton, they came across the wooden home and bought it from the owner for $2,000.
To call it a fixer-upper would be an understatement.
“When we bought it, it did not work at all. The engine had two or three inches of rust, the pistons didn’t work, we had to replace the ignition,” Harper said. “When we first got it running, we got to 5 mph, tops.”
It hasn’t been easy, and at times the couple say they reached a tipping point trying to deal with all of the quirks and problems the truck has. At one point, Harper said, a piece of metal had gotten lodged in the gears of the rear differential, or “pumpkin,” of the truck. The gigantic, 500-pound piece of machinery caused him all manner of grief, he said.
“That was about the worst thing I had to do in my entire life,” he recalled.
Neither of the two homeowners are mechanics or had much experience working with cars, but that didn’t stop them from going on a months-long journey to rehabilitate the ancient truck. Along the way, Mensick said, they’ve tried to trace the history of the one-of-a-kind truck and figure out where it’s been over the last 50 years.
As best they can determine, the vehicle was originally a 1948 truck used to carry lumber in Willits, in Mendocino County. In the 1960s, a woman by the name of Alice decided to convert the vehicle into a home on wheels, using pallets and old shipping crates to build a cabin mounted on the truck.
“She actually raised four kids in here while she was in San Francisco,” Harper said, standing inside the home. “The truck could be spotted in the Tenderloin district.”
Some of the stories have been pretty dramatic. Harper said one of the truck’s owners got into a gun fight with police, and during the violent standoff, decided to kill himself in the small loft area of the home. Harper pointed to two small round holes in the home’s exterior that he believes are bullet holes from the incident.
The couple named it “the Aquarius,” because of the era when it made its debut, and the fact that they bought it on Jan. 20 — the start of the month associated with the astrological sign Aquarius.
The interior of the home is surprisingly spacious, with a floor plan similar to modern micro housing. It has a kitchen area, two beds, two sinks and a shower that Harper expects they’ll be able to use when they get hold of a water pump. Along the walls are shelves with dozens of Mason jars full of preserves, including hatch chilis, strawberry syrup, honeysuckle and orange oil. Bowls of fruits and vegetables line the shelves of the cabin.
While it may seem a little crowded, Harper said it beats living in their 4Runner that’s parked across the street, which he said was cramped by comparison.
“This is like a mansion to us,” he said. “We get to finally sleep with our legs out.”
Despite its strange appearance, the couple say they have properly registered their home with the DMV, which classifies the Aquarius as a “house car” under California’s vehicle code. Mountain View police have not hassled the couple about their vehicle, but they said they were essentially run out of Stockton by law enforcement, getting bothered as many as eight times a day. On one occasion, Harper said, two deputies showed up with guns drawn and banged on their door.
“Stockton was the worst. We would get interrupted by police at night,” Harper said. “They told us we were a burden on society and not welcome.”
Harper recounted one bizarre situation where he and Mensick narrowly escaped having their home towed by Stockton police. They were struggling to get the engine warmed up on the border of the city as the tow truck was en route. Mensick said she used their SUV to tow their house car and out of the police’s jurisdiction before the tow truck could arrive.
“I’ve never pulled anything with the 4Runner before, let alone 20 tons attached by a strap,” Mensick said.
Previous attempts by police to tow the Aquarius proved fruitless because the tow trucks they sent out were unable to haul the massive load of steel and wood.
Harper and Mensick are staying among the many people who have taken up residence on Latham Street. Several other RVs and mobile homes are parked along Latham and Crisanto Avenue, along with other Mountain View roads bordering shopping plazas, parks and commercial areas. Many of the residents say they are living in vehicles out of necessity, because they can’t keep up with the rapidly rising cost of living in the Bay Area. Overshadowing the Aquarius is the Avalon Towers apartments, where the rent on a one-bedroom apartment starts at $3,360 a month.
Mensick, who grew up in Palo Alto and attended Foothill College before getting kicked out of her home, and Harper, who hails from the small town of Chandler, Texas, said that they vastly prefer living in their own wooden cabin to blowing thousands of dollars a month and worrying about making the rent. All the major investments on the truck, Harper said, make them feel as if they’re putting money down on property they actually own.
“There’s just so much pride in ownership,” he said.
The couple has launched a Gofundme page to help pay for some of the improvements to the truck, as they consider where to head to next.
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Daniel Zovatto, left, and Stephen Lang star in the cat-and-mouse thriller, “Don’t Breathe.” Photo courtesy of Ghost House Pictures. -
Customers enjoy a meal at LYFE Kitchen in Palo Alto, which serves many vegan and vegetarian dishes. Photo by Natalia Nazarova. -
The vegan sweet corn chowder, roasted Brussel sprouts and squash, grilled cheese, and vegan chocolate chip cookies at LYFE Kitchen in Palo Alto. Photo by Natalia Nazarova. -
LYFE Kitchen’s vegan sweet corn chowder and roasted Brussel sprouts dish in the background. Photo by Natalia Nazarova. -
Veggie Garden’s wontons are stuffed with fresh cabbage, carrots and zucchini; topped with chili oil and then served around a bed of bean sprouts, shredded cucumbers and red cabbage with a peanut dipping sauce. Photo by Michelle Le. -
Veggie Garden owner Lorita Teng chats with customers during lunch on Oct. 20, 2015. Photo by Michelle Le.
So now Mountain View is attracting people from outside of Mountain View to come live on our streets? How is this ok? Are we residents really ok with gypsy camps on our public streets? Have we lost our mind? I was sympathetic when I thought these were displaced MV residents who were temporarily sleeping on the street while they got themselves settled into a better situation, but I’m quickly losing patience to hear we are attracting people from outside of town so they can essentially live for free while we tax payers pay for their services.
Rapidly losing patience with MV? Move to Stockton! They were kicked out of there by the police.
I totally agree with the first post. This has got to stop for it will only get worse if allowed to continue. This is just like someone on the street asking for money, give it to them and at some point it becomes a way of life. People that are non-residents will come and the problems with them will arrive too. Just look at San Francisco, its’ accepting attitude and freebies have made it a destination for many a street person making it a mess in many areas and scaring away tourists and their dollars. No wonder the first news out of the new Mitchell Park library in Palo Alto is the appearance of bed bugs brought in by street people who use facilities such as these as their own homeless shelter. Now certain streets in Mountain View are becoming encampments growing bigger by the day. Ordinances should be made law by the city council now, or we as a community will pay a much bigger price down the road if we don’t.
They have just the same rights to live in MV as yourself. The streets belong to the public and not just homeowners. Perhaps you and Rex Manor could move to Utah or Arizona and enjoy the discriminatory attitudes practiced there!
There was a similar article possibly a year ago about a couple who felt that downsizing and living in a small camper was the way to go. The article was once again commending the owners for their lifestyle choice.
It is abhorrent to me that the MV Voice is actually praising those who move to this area to live on the streets of residential neighborhoods rather than condemning the practice.
I noticed that one of the tv stations local news did a report on the fact that there are RVs outside the San Jose police department because the off duty police are sleeping there rather than having enough time to drive home.
I have nothing against camping or RVing as a vacation choice, done in recognized parks with all the necessary hookups and so on and so forth. If there were permanent camping parks with the same facilities I wouldn’t mind either. But having them on residential or business streets as cheap housing is not OK. I repeat, this is not an acceptable lifestyle unless they do it in a permanent RV park with the necessary facilities.
Please do not promote this type of lifestyle living arrangement. It is not appreciated.
There is still the max 72 hour law for all vehicles on public roads. I would think the 3 RV in the picture would also need to follow this rule. But buy making a fluff story on this, it will now ruin it for them and or attract additional RVs and illegal parking dumping. maybe Google will let people park in there bus lot at the end of the day?
City looks into growing RV encampments and must still be looking..
http://mv-voice.com/news/2015/11/09/city-looks-into-growing-rv-encampments
“They have just the same rights to live in MV as yourself. The streets belong to the public and not just homeowners. Perhaps you and Rex Manor could move to Utah or Arizona and enjoy the discriminatory attitudes practiced there!”
Well then, I’ve got a great idea. I’ll invest in 10 RV’s and park them all up and down my street. I will then rent them out as studio “units” to people looking to live in Mountain View for cheap. I bet if I threw in a free continental breakfast, laundry service and free wifi I’d even attract a number of techies who could afford to rent a real apartment but who are happy to find cheaper digs.
I could even rent them on airbnb, like a mobile bed and breakfast! Better yet, why don’t I just do this in the Cuesta Park neighborhood and any “tenants” I rent to could also send their kids to Bubb. Why not? It cost me just the same no matter where I park my RVs. I might actually earn enough extra money to buy a place for myself in Los Altos so I never have to worry about RV’s parking in front of my house, because we all know Los Altos residents aren’t that silly.
To top it all off, since the new proposed rent control measure doesn’t cover RVs, I wouldn’t have to worry about that and could rent my “units” for whatever price the market will bear. Hey landlords, no need to purchase a rental property in Mountain View, just buy a couple of RVs and park ’em where ever you want to! Cause, you know, everyone has a right to live in Mountain View. You’d be doing MV a service by providing affordable housing…..
I hope you recognize how silly it is to try to defend letting people live on our streets for as long as they please.
+1 to NoThanks: Can I vote for you for City Council?
By the way — to every City Council member who claims that there is nothing that they can do: then why am I voting for you? If you can’t do anything about this, I’m picking someone who claims they might have an answer, instead of a smirk and a shrug.
Yes, I’m talking to you, Chris Clark.
So everyone posting here about not liking people living in their cars is now moving to Stockton? The police over there have a handle on the problem.
I don’t think anyone is looking to move to Stockton because of the presence of RVs in Mountain View. I think we’d like our police to look at Stockton for ideas on how to deal with it.
I’m confused: the mother in the picture lives in a $2.5 MILLION dollar home in Palo Alto; why don’t they park the truck in the driveway? Or sell the home and move somewhere cheaper? That kind of money can buy you a mansion almost anywhere else.
Mountain View needs to crack down on all this vehicle dwelling. It’s dangerous to drive around Target with all these giant vehicles blocking the view to turn.
Glad to say I was lucky enough to get out of Mtn. View. It is only getting worse. Anyone who hears there won’t be any official response to those who live there illegally or in a vehicle will go to Mtn. View. What type of city thinks they are in the business of letting people do as they please and not suffer the consequences of breaking the law? Those in charge need to handle these situations case by case and come up with fair and legal solutions to the problems. These new ways to live where you want that aren’t legal should not be tolerated by city officials, but the private sector (citizens and businesses) should come up with reasonable ways to make things work for everyone. We all deserve a nice life, but we don’t get to do as we please to live where we want to. We have to get there by working for it and living where we have to in the mean time.
This has been an eyesore every time I get out from the Target driveway. It’s ironic how these people park in a street in front of a nice luxury apartment complex. I agree and disagree with some of the comments here. Yes, it is a public street and they have a right to stay there- temporarily would be acceptable but permanently is not. It’s no different for people living in a boat on the waters. That location is slowly turning into an encampment for the RV’s. If you tell them to move, they’ll find another public street to exploit. I think there should be a fine if you plan to “live” in your motor home on a public street for more than 3 days (that doesn’t include moving from one location to another).
yakaka
There are several RVs street-camping near me, but they just circle around the block, moving a bit forward every few days. Now if only they wouldn’t park in places where they block the view of people trying to get in and out of driveways ….
I addition to my first comment, I have personally observed occupants of said vehicles; urinating and defecation in neighborhood bushes and in back of Target. Also drinking and smoking dope in public, throwing garbage where no one they think will see, using bar-b-ques and lawn chairs in the street and sidewalk, emptying waste tanks into storm drains at night, playing loud music,and in short just creating a blight to the area, and also the word gets around very fast that Mountain view is soft on ordinances and enforcement, therefore the numbers grow day by day, month by month, until who knows what. Just Terrible. And to those that feel this is okay, please, submit your address to the public welcoming any one or more of these vehicles to move and park in front of your home. Just be aware of what new gifts you might find in your bushes and the great response of community in your fellow homeowners.
Wow, I’m blown away by all the negative. It boggles the mind to see how much our community has changed. Palo Alto and Mountain View have and will always be great but sadly will never be the same. We used to be a community of smart professionals, educated, free thinkers, artists, professors, musicians and hippies. Folks who cared about their neighbors and the old lady across the street, and didn’t judge. Now it’s about blinders, you and yourself, and your opinion is the only correct answer. It’s about your new Tesla or $3,000 1 bedroom apartment. By the way, who pays $3000 for an apartment overlooking Target and Walmart? That’s just ridiculous. The people who live in these RVs are trying to find ways to a better place, most have local full time jobs or health issues and have been priced out of their homes.
Now, did any of you actually read the article? Or read their mission on their gofundme page? I didn’t think so, or you would have noticed she is a local girl whose found a way. Can you even imagine any kid raised in our entitled little bubble having to find a new path without any assistance. Can you imagine YOUR entitled daughter experiencing police harassment like they did in the Stockton area. I can only imagine the fear they felt when guns were drawn and that their only thought was to get back home, to PA and MV. Police may come by, but they talk respectfully to you and don’t assume the worst. We have much smarter police.
On an all together different side of this. This vehicle is an awesome example of history and art! Have you seen the pics from when it was a logging truck? Or the one when the house was built on it in the 70’s? A woman designed and built it herself with recycled materials and raised 4 kids in it! The inside is redwood and tiles! Now, almost 50 years after its creation, it’s been found by the right to creative souls, willing to tackle all the difficulties that come with such an old vessel. It’s not about living the RV life, it’s about having a home.
To the person who pays to store their RV, maybe you should use it instead of store it, maybe do your own social experiment and go park somewhere and meet the people. What a waists money… To the person who wants to rent them out, it’s already being done. Check out Craigslist, it’s easier to find an RV to rent here than it is to find a used one for sale. To those concerned about their sewage issues, have you ever heard of composting toilets or recirculating toilets? Have you ever seen those trucks that empty porta potty’s? Well, guess what? They also empty RV sewage tanks.
These kids set out to put a roof over their head. I’d say they found something altogether amazing. A life.
Palo Alto Mom,
I noticed an omission from your heartfelt and eloquent post. You forgot to include your street address so that the RV squatters can park in front of your home.
I’m sure it wasn’t intentional and that you’ll correct the error quickly.
You walk into the room with your pencil in your hand
You see somebody naked and you say, “Who is that man?”
You try so hard but you don’t understand
Just what you will say when you get home
Because something is happening here but you don’t know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones?
You raise up your head and you ask, “Is this where it is?”
And somebody points to you and says, “It’s his”
And you say, “What’s mine?” and somebody else says, “Well, what is?”
And you say, “Oh my God, am I here all alone?”
But something is happening and you don’t know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones?
You hand in your ticket and you go watch the geek
Who immediately walks up to you when he hears you speak
And says, “How does it feel to be such a freak?”
And you say, “Impossible!” as he hands you a bone
And something is happening here but you don’t know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones?
You have many contacts among the lumberjacks
To get you facts when someone attacks your imagination
But nobody has any respect, anyway they already expect you to all give a check
To tax-deductible charity organizations
Ah, you’ve been with the professors and they’ve all liked your looks
With great lawyers you have discussed lepers and crooks
You’ve been through all of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s books
You’re very well-read, it’s well-known
But something is happening here and you don’t know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones?
Well, the sword swallower, he comes up to you and then he kneels
He crosses himself and then he clicks his high heels
And without further notice, he asks you how it feels
And he says, “Here is your throat back, thanks for the loan”
And you know something is happening but you don’t know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones?
Now, you see this one-eyed midget shouting the word “Now”
And you say, “For what reason?” and he says, “How”
And you say, “What does this mean?” and he screams back, “You’re a cow!
Give me some milk or else go home”
And you know something’s happening but you don’t know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones?
Well, you walk into the room like a camel, and then you frown
You put your eyes in your pocket and your nose on the ground
There ought to be a law against you comin’ around
You should be made to wear earphones
‘Cause something is happening and you don’t know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones?
I hate RV’s on public streets.
I hate rent control.
I hate “illegals” using our public health services.
I hate the BRT dedicated lane proposal.
If you agree with all of the above, then you must realize that you are more closely aligned with me than my opponent, Hillary Clinton.
Think about it.
@ Palo Alto mom and Donald Trump
Things are not always black and white. I personally am quite liberal and very supportive of low-income, marginalized populations getting the help they need in a reasonable fashion. Our government, especially in California has many, many ways to support people needing extra help with food, housing, healthcare, and the like. My neighborhood in Mountain View has many low-income housing units, and some are even expanding to add more units. (In fact, I think most people in Mountain View are unaware of how many low income apartments already exist in Mountain View and have been here for years supporting people who need it.)
I can support all of this, and still not support our city allowing people to camp where they want indefinitely on public streets. That is completely unreasonable.
They are NOT mobile homes!!
In Europe these are not called RVs, but generally caravans. The occupants go by many names, gypsies, romanies, tinkers, travellers, itinerants, nomads, etc. and all seem romantic to some and cause problems to others.
Thought it was illegal to camp in Mt. View, Latham very dangerous by target, you can’t see on coming cars due to all the beat up RV’s littering the street.
What a bunch of hypocrites.
A man can be homeless. Sleep on the sidewalk. So be it.
But heaven help us if the guy finds an older RV or trailer to live in.
Then he’s the scum of the earth!
It’s called freedom people. Not everyone has to have a physical address!
As long as they aren’t crapping in the gutters who are they hurting?
I applaud what Palo Alto mom had to say, all of it.
Most of you sound scared and judgemental.
No compassion & very righteous.
How so very sad…. With the cost of housing increases have arrived the increase in in snobbery.
The littering, defacation and urination outdoors is what is wrong.
If you oppose construction of new homes, then don’t complain when people are living in cars.
When you asked the city to block apartments , you were helping to create the RV problem you dislike so much.
If you don’t want people living in RVs then build more housing. Pretty basic.
If investors would stop moving to CA from another country we wouldn’t have this problem. I put the blame on investors who buy up houses in CA and they tear them down to build a mansion. Another thing I hate, is when investors buy up 5 United or homes and rent every single home out. In my neighborhood they do this. I get slumlord neighbor’s because of it!!!! It’s these damn investors!!!! Move back to your country and stop raising our prices. When you have grown up in this state all your life, you don’t always want to leave. In other states, homes are expensive too! It makes me mad that outsiders are stealing our homes and taking away our jobs!!! All outsiders….. GO HOME!!!!!!!
Just an additional comment, these vehicle dwellers aren’t families with children running around, these are practically all men that are basically wanting something for nothing. And if you think they would pay anything in the way of fees for this or that like many of the ignorant people that have commented, their garbage and junk, and mattresses all end up in the refuse areas of local apartment complexes, and to think that any one of them would pay to use the city dump is laughable. If the police were to shake down every “camper vehicle,” they would find alcohol and drug abuse by all the men in these vehicles. I have been on the street; I know how those that partake from the system, and if you give them an inch they will take a mile. The public is so naive some of these comments would make me laugh if it wasn’t for the seriousness of the situation. This is no different from the beginnings of the “homeless,” encampments that plague San Jose, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, etc. As Barney Fife use to say; nip it in the bud.”
Don’t like RV’s on our streets? Then move to the previously mentioned Santa Barbara! To quote the republican nitwits on Town Square: “We can’t have XYZ law enacted. The USSR had that law and look how it turned out.”
Seriously. It’s not a big deal. They are parking in a commercial area. Not in front of anyone’s house. But, if they did? Too bad! They pay gas tax, sales tax, which build and maintain our roadways. They have rights too! When you visit another city and park in front of someone’s house, should you be ticketed or towed?!
I wonder how long the RV’s would last if they parked outside the Googleplex? MVPD would be down there in a flash.
Do they enjoy bathroom privileges at the Avalon Towers? No? That’s what I thought and since this vehicle is obviously not in good driving condition it is also safe to assume they are not driving to a dump station in San Jose or Redwood City regularly.
@dennis “living on the public streets” that is homelessness. With all it’s sanitary issues. Word obviously got around that MV does not condone the RV camps on public streets. In San Diego you can only park an RV with a permit: https://www.sandiego.gov/parking/permits/torvp
I always thought it would be a good idea to put a dump station within the city limits of MV to at least take care of that problem. But I was told that would just attract more vehicle dwellers and support our inviting attitude.
Looks like we are way past that, MV streets are turning into RV camps.
Maybe I should cancel my expensive RV storage contract and add it to the collection on Latham…..
I expect those of you (City Council included) in favor of allowing on-street RV residence parking to post your street addresses so those in need will know where they can find warm acceptance of the practice.
Otherwise, we might be led to think that you are only in favor of allowing it provided that it isn’t done on your street….which would look a touch hypocritical don’t you think?
@Palo Alto Mom
I am storing my Recreational Vehicle (That’s what RV stand for)because I am a conscientious neighbor. The vehicle dwellers are not here for recreational purposes. They do not care about the neighbors living on their street, paying rent and utilities for MV services. This vehicle in question is actually deemed a house car by the DMV, do they belong on a residential street? Do cities have rules for those? I know, they would not be allowed in most RV parks. You live in Palo Alto, why don’t you invite them over. The girl is from PA. Just because I cannot afford to live somewhere doesn’t mean I have the right to camp out in that place. We chose urban living with its constraints and rules, anybody wanting to live differently can do so easily anywhere else in CA or the US. It’s a big state and country.
@Donald Trump
I noticed an omission from your snarky and largely useless post that did nothing to further the conversation. You forgot to include your street address so that the RV squatters can park in front of your home.
I’m sure it wasn’t intentional and that you’ll correct the error quickly…….unless you think RV residence parking is ok…as long as it isn’t in front of your home……in which case you’d be demonstrating a different candidates modus operandi…the one that thinks there’s a set of rules for herself and a different set for everyone else.
I think this is a pretty difficult issue. I like my neighborhood and there are a few RVs that come and go. I recently spoke to an officer about it just wondering what the current policy was. There was apparently a court case that prohibits the City from harassing the owners of these vehicles because it unfairly targets the homeless. I’m sure that other places that have local ordinances will eventually come up against similar rulings. With all that in mind, I would hope that the City would create a safe space for folks to park long term, that has adequate access to public transportation routes, and of course, pumping stations.
As I have struggled to “make it” in MV I have often considered the last resort of living similarly and I’ve been lucky enough to scrape by without having to resort to such measures. But we can’t be so divisive about it. We have to be inclusive and empathetic. While there are a few Googlers and others who are living this way (rather nicely I might add) on purpose, most of these people are not living this way because they want to live this way. And there are plenty of you well paid home owners and renters who have contributed to our rent and real estate woes by constantly overpaying for properties just because you can. I get the apprehension of homeowners ending up with an RV park on their street. I would agree that this is not an admirable neighborhood feature. So, we should continue encouraging the City to create a space where these vehicles and their owners can be welcomed, receive the services they need and be safe. They are, after all, our co workers, neighbors and friends at the end of the day.
@PAresident: Communities in Europe offer these caravan dwellers a specific place, mostly on the outskirts of villages/cities. Sanitation is provided. They are mostly the trailer type, leaving a vehicle for these families to use. They attend schools, trade in goods and as you said cause issues for some occasionally. Those “nomads”can not be compared with our city vehicle dwellers.
@ J Here it is:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/real-estate-housing-foreign-buyers-1.3479508
We are facing common problems in MV. None of them are unique to MV.
Once the V and/or W passes we will have more AirBnB units and more properties sold to developers for high density apartment/condo development. None of those will help renters,just investors, foreign or domestic. It will not add more housing units or preserve current ones.V or W are bad for MV.
If we don’t want people living in RVs on the street then perhaps we should stop pushing an entitled agenda that implies everyone should be able to live wherever they want.
There are Always such emotional stories here. But emotional does not pay the bills. Its lovely to present this Pollyanna version of life, that everyone is free to do what they want, where they want.
It’s not reality.
Lol, just read the part about the Gofundme. Lol, lol, lol, who’s falling for this? Seriously? You’re going to step up, give money to a couple of young kids who don’t feel like paying rent like everyone else, rather just want to junk up our streets?
Looking at the lovely, heart-warming pic of the homemade candles dangling on the inside of this fabulous WOODEN truck Wondering if there’s potential code violations that would allow the City to make it LEAVE.
We need an ordinance, fast….
We are a vehicle dweller sanctuary city, this has attracted more and more RV campers.Here are a few examples of how other cities in CA are dealing with the same issue. I added the number of homeless reported for the same region, since the MVPD uses the “discrimination against homeless people” phrase:
San Jose
http://www.sanjoseca.gov/index.aspx?NID=3404
Sunnyvale:
http://qcode.us/codes/sunnyvale/view.php?version=beta&view=mobile&topic=9-9_54-9_54_010
(6556 homeless people reported in all of Santa Clara County, includes the MV ones)
Palo Alto banned the overnight parking in 2013, but it was repealed
Menlo Park
https://www.menlopark.org/571/Overnight-Residential-Parking
I am sure if we poll the RV residents we will find quite a few moved here from SJ, Sunnyvale, Menlo Park and Palo Alto.
The Voice would not let me post all at once, here is part 2:
Out of area:
Santa Barbara :
Limits RV overnight parking to certain lots
http://www.santabarbaraca.gov/gov/depts/waterfront/parking/oversized.asp
1455 homeless people
San Diego has the most comprehensive permit system and the largest number of homeless people:
https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/parking/pdf/parkingrulesfactsheet.pdf
https://www.sandiego.gov/parking/permits/torvp
8742 homeless people
I believe we need to put an end to out of town campers rolling into MV weekly. We already had our resident RV dwellers 15 years ago, they were spread out, their presence was noted but there was never one neighborhood blighted as is the Latham neighborhood right now.
Maybe the examples from other CA cities can help us write an ordinance for MV.
Sanitation poses a huge problem. Turning a blind eye will not help these people and MV.
The building of a public dump station is not taken into consideration out of fear to attract even more RV’s. I think we are way passed this point, word of mouth has made us a vehicle dweller destination city.
Still don’t see anyone in favor of the practice posting up their address and inviting the RV dwellers to park in front of their homes.
A bit hypocritical don’t ya think?