SAN DIEGO — A CBS 8 viewer sent us a disturbing picture: feces on the floor of the elevator on the Petco Park side of the Harbor Drive Pedestrian Bridge. When our crews showed up Thursday to take a look, that particular mess was gone, but there was an overwhelming stench of urine and unidentified liquids on the floor.
“It's a mess in there,” said Jon Billings, who has lived in the area for six years.
He says it's not uncommon to see unhoused people sleeping in the elevators, which he avoids at all cost.
“I have a mother-in-law that can't take the stairs and so instead of taking the elevator, we just walk and cross down at the light and go by the convention center instead because I'm not getting in there.”
There is a second elevator there, but it's broken. So people have to use the filthy elevator or the stairs.
“It doesn't feel safe,” said Downtown resident Leah Capili. “Nor is it clean or comfortable.”
This is not a new problem. Working for you, CBS 8 first highlighted the elevator issues in 2018 when both elevators were broken for an extended period of time. That forced folks to carry strollers and bikes down the stairs. After our story aired, the city fixed both elevators.
Two years later, we came back for a follow-up and found needles just a few feet from the doors, a mysterious substance on the floor, trash stuck to the window, and a horrible stench inside. When we notified the city, they immediately sent a contracted crew to the site to clean things up.
So, Working for You, we reached out to the city again this time.
In a statement, they acknowledged the broken elevator saying, "This elevator will require significant repairs and the City is in the process of procuring a contract for these repairs. This work is expected to be completed by the end of July."
On the issue of cleanliness, they added, " ...the City has a vendor under contract for regular cleanings of the elevators and adjacent areas. Due to the often-occurring issues that require enhanced sanitation in this area, the City is considering options for additional cleaning and sanitation services."
Unfortunately, people living in the area fear even if everything is fixed and cleaned it probably won't last long.
“They can't dedicate somebody to stand here all day long,” Jon said. “I get that. So I don't really know the answer.”
At CBS 8, we are always Working for You and our community. This is a station promise that we will go the extra mile to solve a problem our audience can’t solve themselves. We want to hear your ideas on how we can cover and help our community. If you have a story idea, please email us at workingforyou@cbs8.com.
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