This was certified and approved by the city; this is legal. Keep them safe until they find a home.

The City cannot do that. This City officials now violating numerous city laws, ordinances, regulations and statutes. There are more than 50 listing for shelter services in Oakland. There is a small army advocates out there These people have chosen to not take advantage of these and other housing services. Why numerous addiction issues unable to follow the simplest rules. All this pandering and enabling needs to stop. Everything needed to maintain them is funded by the taxpayers.

Have you even talked to anyone in the encampment to find out why they're there?

Anon-user, could you offer just one of them a couch in your home?

No space, but I will vote to pay more taxes for shelter and programs every time.

Do you have the space?

Anon-user I have been involved with several camp clean ups. I have talk to lot of these street people two hundred plus. Our volunteers only were able to help two young single mothers to get help the rest refused all help that required them to be part of society. All most of the street people I have dealt with are receiving SSDI, food stamps, cash debit cards that allow them to buy alcohol and tobacco. Move have free/ tax payer funded phones to call there dealers. I have personally picked thousands of used syringes. I am KOCB volunteer and pick up litter twice a week. At one point we had more than 120 illegal campers in my neighborhood more than 20 died of d>ug overdoses all but 5 simply left because we were on them to keep our neighborhood clean. Its taken three years but we finally gotten most of the urine stench out of the park and ride lots.

Talked "at" or talked "with"?

There are a lot of people who are dealing with mental health issues that make holding a regular job difficult and are trying to self medicate.

We need better mental health facilities to take care of these people, all aspects, not just psychosis but neurosis -- the "invisible" mental illnesses.

I personally know all the street people in my neighborhood. Joe I have known for 22 years Vietnam Vet PTSD to start on his issues . Anthony Rippee is 33 years old needs a walker and is drinking him self to death. He averages 20 trips a month to Highland. The cost of EMT service per trip is $2,197 then add what ever the stay at hospital is. All do have metal heath issues living on the streets, drinking, taking with out knowing want ever narcotics the dealer are offering. Most have burned every bridge to get where they at. It would be much cheaper to just intern them and if they what to drink do narcotics let them just get them off the streets. Put social services and advocates there as well.