Giant Abandoned Homeless Camp on S. Fairview Removed
Source: Heal the Ocean
While many of us were having a nice weekend relaxing and being with friends this past weekend, something wonderful was going on in the So. Fairview Avenue area of Goleta we want you all to see.
Andrew Velikanje (we call him Andrew V.) was tackling the cleanup of a huge homeless camp spread widely in the So. Fairview area – by himself – and at breakneck speed. (Well, this little 4-minute video is fast-forwarded so it looks like breakneck speed – but this job took Andrew all day.)
This is “Site #5” on a list of 29 abandoned camps identified in HTO’s Homeless Survey done by HTO Field Advisor Harry Rabin at the request of the City of Santa Barbara Encampment Response Group.
Meanwhile, back at the HTO home camp, we didn’t know Andrew was working on this site going into the weekend, so when it was all bagged up, ready for pickup on Saturday, we had no one to call. Coming to our rescue (again!) was Brian Borgatello of MarBorg Industries, who sent his crew out to pick up all of the bags collected by Andrew, and everything was gone by early afternoon on Saturday.
Andrew’s business is Earthcomb, “For a Cleaner California,” and you can see his great videos on his website, which tallies all the trash and litter Andrew picks up (now, nearly 16,000 pounds). As he scurries about picking up trash, you’ll see “Vroom Vroom” superimposed on the videos – so at Heal the Ocean we’ve decided to anoint Andrew with the name “Mr. Vroom Vroom” as he proceeds through the rest of the abandoned homeless sites identified in the HTO Survey. HTO funded this survey, as well as Andrew’s great work.
Thank you, Andrew! Thank you, Brian Borgatello!
20 Comments
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Aug 26, 2021 12:39 PMWow, this is really awesome! Big pats on the back for you sir. Please wear gloves next time, I'd hate for you to get an accidental needle stick
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Aug 26, 2021 12:47 PMGo Andrew! Go Heal The Ocean!
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Aug 26, 2021 01:14 PMThis due is amazing, but I'd at least be wearing gloves.
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Aug 26, 2021 02:46 PMThank you Andrew V and HTO! Amazing job!
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Aug 26, 2021 03:43 PMThank you Andrew! Much work to do, I hope there'll be less in the future. Good job man!
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Aug 26, 2021 04:03 PMGood job. I can't help but think of Spaceballs when I hear the name "Earthcomb".
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Aug 26, 2021 04:14 PMGood work but unfortunately a drop in the bucket relative to the ongoing damage that the tsunami of Santa Barbara city voters have put in motion. It’s a sh-t show for the ocean and all of us.
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Aug 26, 2021 04:36 PMBASIC - tsunami of what? Honestly not sure what you mean?
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Aug 26, 2021 04:45 PMA tsunami of voters - people who don't want the silly policies advocated by 4:14 to be implemented.
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Aug 26, 2021 04:51 PM4:45 and BASIC - whoops, I misread, but still confused. What policies did the tsunami of voters put into place that will render this clean up useless?
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Aug 26, 2021 05:17 PMEncouraging, facilitating, allowing people to camp wherever they want.
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Aug 26, 2021 05:52 PMBASIC - what ordinance/measure/proposition, etc was passed by the voters to do all that?
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Aug 26, 2021 05:56 PMStart with Mayor. Add in the majority of current City Council. Done.
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Aug 26, 2021 06:02 PMBASIC - ok, well you made it sound like a "tsunami of voters" voted to approve some sweeping legislation allowing homeless people to camp where ever they want.
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Aug 26, 2021 05:02 PMAndrew is an incredible member of this community. He also volunteers with Wildlife Care Network as well and helps rescue animals from precarious places (helped me get a family of opossums out my car engine compartment). He really goes above and beyond for our community and deserves all the recognition! Thanks Andrew!
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Aug 26, 2021 09:26 PMI looked at the HTO's Homeless Survey Interactive Map. I found several large structures missing. If the drones flew over the area in 2020, as stated, why is the Direct Relief builing missing; or the Marriott hotel. Direct Relief opened the doors to the new building in 2019 and the Residence Inn opened in 2017, this begs the question "when was the drone survey done and how reliable is the data they are using?"
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Aug 26, 2021 10:29 PMGoes to show you how EASY it is to get things done when you just do it. This man is an inspiration and GREAT human being. Is there a way to donate? To volunteer to help him? Everyone complains but so few actually put their money or time where their mouth is. And, it doesn't take millions in tax dollars to do something so simple. Imagine that! The truth is WE the PEOPLE are the ones we have been waiting for to create the change NOT politics, crappy mayors, entitled workers etc. Now, if there was a way to apply our time toward such efforts to tax credits that would be a real solution. Imagine how many people would be out in the city getting things done in record time!
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Aug 27, 2021 03:41 AMThere's a link to his site in the last paragraph.
https://earthcomb.org/
With a tax credit, it wouldn't be volunteering, would it?
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Aug 27, 2021 08:55 AMI am so appreciative of the work Andrew is doing. Studies have been done showing that litter and tagging encourage more of the same. I hope seeing beauty and nature will discourage trashing.
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Aug 27, 2021 06:18 PMNow we're cooking with GAS!