SAN DIEGO — Caltrans and law enforcement cleared a large encampment near Interstate 5 and Palomar Street in Chula Vista Tuesday morning, just days after CBS 8 spoke to frustrated neighbors about the situation.
Crews hauled away several piles of trash and belongings, including shopping carts filled with items.
Our cameras captured an officer pushing over a large luggage cart filled with bags and items. The same officer then appeared to get into an argument with a woman.
CBS 8 was told people were only allowed to bring with them what they could carry.
Chula Vista Manuel Lopez told CBS 8, for the past year the encampments have grown, and trash, piles of debris and hazards have ended up in the roadway.
"I believe that this is a great embarrassment to the City of Chula Vista," he said during an interview Friday. "This does not represent what Chula Vista is all about."
Last week, we called Caltrans and CHP about this encampment and two others along freeways in Spring Valley.
Friday, notices went out to people at the Chula Vista encampment, warning them they had until Tuesday to gather their belongings and leave.
A man living at the encampment told CBS 8 they have nowhere else to go. He said Chula Vista Police moved them off city streets so they migrated to the freeway.
While Palomar Street is under Cal Trans jurisdiction, CBS 8 reached out to the City of Chula Vista regarding some of the concerns people living in the encampment shared.
Chula Vista's Homeless Solutions Manager, Angelica Davis says services were offered to those who were told to move, adding it's common for their unhoused population to deny services, which is a big part of the problem.
"There is enough housing and housing opportunities for those open to services," said Davis.
Davis says Chula Vista's homeless population has doubled in the past two years.
Moving forward, the city has applied for a grant to help clear out freeway encampments, is in the process of purchasing a motel for more housing, and is discussing adding a safe camping space to address the growing issue.
The city is also working with neighboring agencies.
Next month, the city council plans to vote on an encampment ban, which would ban encampments of all public properties in Chula Vista.
WATCH RELATED: Caltrans posts notice to vacate for freeway encampments (July 19, 2024)