Homeless Camps in Old Town Goleta

Good morning,

Thanks so much for sharing this. The City of Goleta and SB ACT host a monthly Zoom call to discuss community concerns related to homelessness in the City of Goleta. We'd encourage you to join us if you're able - this is a setting to discuss what is being done about this trash buildup and other encampment-related impacts throughout the City. The meeting is next Monday, 9/26 at 9am. The Zoom link is https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87413377706 .

We hope to see you there!

Two million new migrants, hard working and low paid are taking all the entry level jobs. Due to the lack of opportunity citizens turn to homelessness, drugs, and alcohol. Hopelessness we have created.

Being homeless is one thing being a tweaker junk hoard is another.

A good majority of these homeless individuals have serious drug, alcohol and mental issues. One just can't just put them in housing. I myself was homeless and I do know what it is like trying to survive out in the streets of SB. In April of 2015 I finally received housing at a residential old hotel (more like a insane asylum) with the majority of the residents here, and they did not want to adjust to a normal way of living. They still had that street mentality do what I want, no one tells me what to do and not following the rules attitude here. Drugs, alcohol, destruction of the property, threats and violence to other residents. I myself was threaten quite a few times. Just a couple of months ago, a male (a trust fund baby) resident in their late 30's who had mental and drug issues OD on fentanyl in his room. The cleaning lady hired by his parents to clean his room found him dead. He had his room filthy like a homeless encampment. And there is a lady here that she has her room like a homeless encampment that the housekeeper can't even go there for weekly cleaning. It was about 4 or 5 years ago somebody made a suggestion here on edhat to put all the homeless individuals out on the oil rigs that are not in operation. Not too bad of an idea. They cannot buy any alcohol or illegal drugs. Teach them how to fish and lobster trapping, and drop off of monthly supplies of food, water, clothing and have Doctor Without Walls to go out there for medical check ups.

TGOD805 has it entirely correct. The gangs used to be the enforcers and keep the area clean, but now the "unhoused individuals" steal from the neighborhoods and are a market for the drugs the gangs sell, so it is a recurrent cycle. If you well meaning folks want to go out there with trash bags and pick up after them, good on ya. You might run across things that have "gone missing" from your yards and garages. Maybe your kid's bike !!

Is goleta a “sanctuary “ city?

Its a Mexican old town mostly. It's mostly old white people that live at those tracks behind the M streets. Back then when I was young the gangs (PJS) would make sure they didn't stay. Harass beat then up and stuff. Why because they would steal. They didn't buy all that stuff they stole it. But now those are the druggies these guys sell 2 so they are more than happy to let them be around. This is reality

The railroad right of way is the private property of the RR. They send out crews regularly to clean up the mess. Someone can contact them to ask for intervention. But the question not being asked or answered is why do we have, in a affluent society, people living like this? It should be an embarrassment to our nation that we do not provide housing and medical care and food for our least competent.

Why are you out at the railroad tracks?

I say organize a community led clean up. Get the word out for everyone who wants to help to be there at a particular day/time with gloves/bags/pickers. Just do it. I bet the cops would be there in a flash. Then you and the volunteers can have a face to face until those in charge come and take care of the issue. How about this Saturday at 9 am.?

That's nothing compared to behind juvenile hall and page youth center

I used to ride my bicycle along the tracks in certain places..kind of a shortcut if it's any of your business. How odd and it just seems to me an avoidance of the obvious.
Society has rolled off the rails.

It's okay because we banned plastic straws. All good.

OP - I think if you got "Andrew" involved, things wold progress nicely:
https://earthcomb.org/contact/ he'd probably just bust it out if the container's were put out to fill
& as Minibeast says HTO!!!
https://earthcomb.org/report-liter/

Try contacting Heal the Ocean. They had some info on Edhat about a man working to clean up these encampments: Phone: (805) 965-7570

If you wait for the government to address a decades old problem you may die of old age.

Charge the government, City, for the time and clean up. Send them a bill.

Here’s an idea, deduct it from your taxes as you are performing a government action, maintaining public land, or list it as charity donation to the community.

Either way don’t hold your breath.