SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento city officials plan to close self-governing homeless encampment Camp Resolution by the start of June as the variance to use it as a 'safe parking' site is set to expire.
A letter sent last month by Sacramento assistant city manager Mario Lara to Safe Ground Sacramento, Inc. executive director Mark Merin asks Safe Ground Sacramento to remove personal property and occupants by May 16 and deliver the Colfax Street site back to the city by June 1.
Camp Resolution residents formed the group Safe Ground Sacramento with civil rights attorney Mark Merin to oversee the encampment.
"The city has met with Safe Ground Sacramento leadership to discuss the possibility of a new safe parking site. The city will share more information as soon as it becomes available," said Sacramento city spokesperson Tim Swanson. "The city remains committed to helping unsheltered individuals connect with all available resources and to working with community partners to explore new ways to address the ongoing homelessness crisis."
The letter from Lara states the reason for the camp closing is because the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board issued a variance to use the property as 'safe parking' on Jan. 13, 2022, and it expires June 1, 2024.
The variance from the Central Valley Water Board outlined specific conditions for use of the property outside of the city's land use covenant.
Camp Resolution recently came under criticism by Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho, who accused residents and operators of criminal violations, charges disputed by city officials.
This is a developing story.
