SAN DIEGO — A group of San Diegans on Wednesday took to the streets of Ocean Beach with a strong message to local lawmakers: housing costs in San Diego are too high and living in their cars and RVs has become their only option.
According to those who spoke, if the City of San Diego passes a proposed ordinance, they will be forced to leave San Diego or out on the street.
“It is a horrible thought and threat to our personal safety to be thrown into jail because we can’t afford to live in a house,” said Valerie Grischy.
Earlier this year, the San Diego City Council repealed its vehicle habitation ordinance after it was deemed unconstitutional. Then in March, Mayor Kevin Faulconer announced plans for a ban that would prohibit sleeping in vehicles from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. within 500 feet from residential neighborhoods.
Glen Volk lives in Ocean Beach and said the van dwellers bring unwanted activity to the area.
“I don’t think anyone has the right to sleep in their vehicle in front of my house. I’ve had neighbors watch people urinate, defecate. I have neighbors that have found crack pipes,” he said.
But Grischy, who lives in her RV, said a few bad actors do not represent the majority.
“We are not the ones making those messes. It is our community and we don’t want it to be trashed either,” she said.
While the city has opened three safe parking lots where people can park for the night, some said more needs to be done.