City crews clean up Chinatown encampment

Salinas Public Works crews have once again cleaned up the homeless encampments in Chinatown.

Thursday’s sweep was two-pronged: It was the first cleanup under the city’s new sleeping ordinance and secondly, there are Hepatitis A concerns after someone living there became infected. City officials hope to have both issues addressed.

At least ten tons worth of stuff were collected during the cleanup, including dirty needles. Warning signs were put up in advance, yet some say they were still taken by surprise.

“I got a 16-year-old out here and she’s the only kid on the block right now,” Yunisa Gutierrez said. “We’re just devastated. First time homeless people here right now.”

This is the first sweep under the city’s new sleeping ordinance, which allows people to camp on public property, including sidewalks, between 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

“I mean if it’s gotta be done it’s gotta be done,” Freddy Valdez. “That’s the way it’s gotta be, city rules, you know? You gotta go by them.”

Once the encampments were removed and the streets were swept, the disinfecting began.

A resident was recently infected with Hepatitis A. The virus can spread easily and can live on streets and sidewalks.

“We’re just following the best practices, said Assistant Public Works Director Don Reynolds. “Other big cities have gone through this. Spraying the chlorine mixture and leaving it on the ground is better than power washing for example. It’s just a hand sprayer, trying to coat the whole area with chlorine and leave it in place. The longer it stays in place, the longer we have to activate with the virus.”

In the meantime, many are just waiting to move back into Chinatown and are staying in lots just outside of the cordoned off areas.

“Right now I’m just going to find me a parking spot to put all my things at, find a little house or something, little place where we can be in peace for a minute,” Valdez said.