THE PROBLEM: Rose Estrada and her neighbors are tired of living with a homeless encampment near their Spring Valley homes.
The Site: Near Quarry Road in Spring Valley
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For more than a year, Estrada said, up to 30 transients have lived in makeshift homes on private property off Quarry Road near the Spring Valley Swap Meet.
People have carried in wood and other building materials. There's even a horseshoe pit, Estrada said. People urinating and bathing in a creek are common sights, and some transients appear to have pit bulls. About a year ago, Estrada said, some trees caught fire.
Just Fix It visited the area recently and could see a makeshift home while looking down from a vacant lot on Leigh Avenue. Two people were sitting on a love seat in front of what appeared to be a camper shell. Another dwelling could be seen from Quarry Road.
Estrada said neighbors have called the Sheriff's Department on several occasions. Once, she said, deputies were called when neighbors heard a woman being beaten.
Estrada also said she called county Supervisor Dianne Jacob, who represents the area. She said an aide to Jacob told her to put her complaint in writing. She said she sent an e-mail but did not get a response.
STATUS: Sheriff's Sgt. Marco Garmo said the Sheriff's Department is aware of the illegal encampment and hopes to clear the area by the end of this month. Garmo said the department needs to coordinate with owners of the properties where transients are staying. Campers will be given time to gather belongings. Once they depart, property owners will be responsible for cleaning the area.
Jennifer Stone, who works for Jacob, could find no record of Estrada contacting the office and apologized if her request fell through the cracks.
Last month, a transient allegedly attempted to lure a 9-year-old boy into a riverbed encampment near some ballfields in Lakeside. Adults at a softball game intervened and called sheriff's deputies. A transient who was arrested is a registered sex offender.
WHO'S RESPONSIBLE: Sgt. Marco Garmo, who can be reached at (619) 337-2000 or marco.garmo@sdsheriff.org.
NEED A PROBLEM SOLVED: Is there a problem government hasn't fixed despite your complaints? Whether it's a missing bus bench or an unkempt park anywhere in San Diego County, Just Fix It might be able to help.
Complaint forms are at justfixit.uniontrib.com, or call (800) 820-8714.
