Homeless camp tents slashed
Police seeking to identify vandal
Novato police are trying to identify a vandal who slashed two tents at an illegal camp in the Hamilton neighborhood.
The tents belong to activists who are living at the site in the hopes of refurbishing former military quarters to serve as a housing cooperative for the homeless. The attack happened on Sunday.
Police obtained surveillance footage of the vandal because the activists arranged for surveillance cameras after prior damage at the site.
Jason Sarris, whose tent was one of the damaged shelters, said one of the prior vandalism incidents happened on Christmas Eve. Aside from the tent damage, the occupants had their sleeping bags destroyed.
“For someone to do an act like that to someone who is homeless is the worst thing they could do,” Sarris said. “To keep a homeless person from being warm and dry is an attack on my well being, and in this weather it’s an attack on my life.”
He said the vandalism appears to be a response to the group’s renovation plans for the former military housing. The city issued a 72-hour notice to vacate the premises on Dec. 22.
The city also installed cyclone fencing around the property to keep the public out. City Manager Adam McGill said the fencing cost about $4,000 and the upkeep will be another $1,500 a month.
McGill said the city is still assessing what to do next.
“This is a complex legal and
humanitarian matter,” he said.
McGill said the city does not condone vandalism against the camp. Still, he said, occupying off-limits city property that is intended for sale is detrimental to homelessness services in the county.
“This stunt only serves as a distraction that appears to be for their own self-interest,” he said. “One of them should return to his house and the other should return to Lee Gerner Park, where there is an established encampment that has routine wraparound support services for all those present, rather than inefficiently divide our efforts at a new encampment across town.”
He said asking for public
money to fund supplies for the new camp in Hamilton takes away money from established organizations such as Homeward Bound.
“Persuading those living on our streets to refuse housing because of some ill- conceived notion that it’s better to be on the streets and in a communal homeless encampment is simply wrong,” he said.
Despite the city’s eviction notice, activists said they have no intention to relocate. Sarris said supporters hope to raise money to buy the building, which a city report valued at $6.9 million.
“We are there because there are not any long term solutions for homelessness in the county,” he said. “We feel have a longterm
solution. We have heavyhitters working hard to make these plans come to fruition. We plan to be serious contenders at the table when the bids go out.”
The police department said the vandal is a White man who wore a black mask and hat. He also wore a “North Face”style jacket over a red or orange sweatshirt, black athletic pants and light blue or gray Hoka sneakers.
Residents with potential information about the vandal can call the police department at 415-897- 4361. They can also email information anonymously tips to crimetips@novato.org or texting TIP NOVATO to 888-777.