The last residents of Sacramento's "Tent City" moved their belongings off SMUD property today, as police and advocates debated the fate of the homeless campers.
Most of the 150 to 200 people who once lived on the property north of downtown have moved onto private property just a short walk down the American River levee, where Sacramento police said they remain in violation of the city's law against camping.
Police vowed to take "enforcement action," including issuing citations and seizing possessions, while homeless advocates promised to go to jail if necessary to highlight the plight of about 1,200 people in the area who are without permanent shelter each night.
City officials have offered shelter beds to residents of the encampment, whose ragged community along the parkway has drawn national and international attention, but most campers have remained outdoors.
The situation developed into a standoff today, with police and advocates debating their positions in front of dozens of members of the news media.
One way or the other, "these folks are going to be gone from here," said police Officer Mark Zoulas, who along with partner Mike Cooper has for more than a decade patrolled areas where homeless people gather.
"We don't want to be out here bothering homeless people," Zoulas said. "But we have to do our jobs."
Sister Libby Fernandez of Loaves & Fishes, which provides services to homeless men, women and children, led a group of advocates demanding a moratorium on camping citations and pushing for a place where people can camp legally and with basic services including toilets and garbage pickup.
"We've been campaigning for this for more than a year," she said. "Now we're back to square one again."
Fernandez and others said they will engage in nonviolent "civil disobedience" if campers are forced to leave, and will risk going to jail to make their point.
Police declined to discuss when citations might be issued.
Call The Bee's Cynthia Hubert, (916) 321-1082.
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