Practically three dozen tons of hazardous rubbish has been cleared from an Oxnard homeless encampment Thursday after native residents expressed alarm.
The waste-riddled, lawless tent encampment has seen a number of drug overdoses and officers discovered weapons, needles, and drug paraphernalia onsite.
Authorities additionally arrested 37 individuals for a wide range of offenses starting from drug possession, trespassing, and unlawful storage of property in public areas. Some additionally had excellent warrants.
“The Oxnard Police Division’s Neighborhood Policing Group (NPT), in collaboration with the Homeless Liaison Unit (HLO) and Union Pacific Railroad Police (UPPD), performed a directed enforcement operation alongside the railroad tracks within the E. Fifth Road hall,” the Oxnard Police Division wrote in a Fb submit.
“The operation was initiated in response to group considerations, latest deadly and non-fatal drug overdoses, ongoing trespassing on railroad property, and the unlawful storage of non-public property alongside the practice tracks,” they added.
Photographs at scene confirmed assorted rubbish, furnishings and tents piled close to Union Pacific railroad observe. The rubbish and supplies took 11 truckloads to clear. Officers additionally discovered a big butcher knife and several other needles.
“Directed enforcement operations will proceed all through the Metropolis of Oxnard to deal with quality-of-life considerations and improve public security,” Oxnard PD concluded.
Fb commenters thanked authorities for cleansing up the encampment.
“Thanks for cleansing up this unsafe and ugly space. Fifth Road is likely one of the major entrances to the town – these camps are usually not a great, welcoming search for vacationers coming into the world,” one particular person stated.
“Thanks to all those who put within the work within the time and the unsanitary state of affairs,” one other famous.
California has a status for its appreciable homeless inhabitants, and constantly ranks among the many high states with the very best homeless inhabitants. Rising costs and premium housing costs within the Golden State have contributed additional to homeless disaster.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has insisted that the state has made progress with its homeless inhabitants, which dropped 9% between 2024 and 2025.
“It is a shame, what’s occurring in California for many years and many years,” Newsom stated in a latest interview with the San Francisco Customary, however “we’re seeing vital declines in among the large cities by way of encampments. We’re seeing declines in total homelessness.”
Oxnard is a coastal metropolis about 54 miles west of Los Angeles.
