NORTH COUNTY (California) TIMES

July 8, 2006

Carlsbad migrant camp remnants slowly being removed

By: BARBARA HENRY - Staff Writer

CARLSBAD ---- The remnants of the makeshift, illegal huts that once nestled in the hillsides along Cannon Road are being removed piece by piece.

The camps, which were built by migrant laborers who often work the region's agricultural fields, were initially knocked down by Carlsbad Police in late June. Now, the area's private property owners are responsible for removing the debris.

"They've got to haul everything up the slope and get it out of there," said Cpl. Kevin Lehan, a Carlsbad police officer who is responsible for handling illegal encampment issues for the city. "It's a considerable expense. That's one of the problems we run into (when trying to get migrant camps removed from private property.)"

Two groups own most of the steep canyon area, which is just southwest of Cannon Road's intersection with Faraday Avenue. One property owner ---- San Diego Gas & Electric ---- sent crews out on Monday and planned to work throughout the week, company spokeswoman Anne Silva said Thursday. The second property owner ---- a group of private investors known as the Rancho Agua Hedionda Association ---- is expected to handle its cleanup effort this coming week.

Meanwhile, the estimated 50 some people who used to call the canyon home have scattered. A visit just before the city's June 20 move-out deadline revealed that most personal items had been removed from the campsites. The few people who remained told a reporter that they knew the city was coming to kick them out and they were making plans to leave.

A 21-year-old farmworker said he planned to move into a rental apartment with a group of people, while a 42-year-old farmworker said he was going to another illegal camping spot in Del Mar.

When police returned to the area June 27, they found no one, Lehan said.

"They'd gotten the message and they were gone," he said.

While the former Cannon Road-area residents look for short-term housing solutions, local farmworker housing advocates are attempting to create a long-term solution.

Tom Maddox, a member of the Carlsbad Farmworker Housing Coordinating Committee, said Thursday that his organization is waiting for the city to schedule grant application workshops. The housing committee hopes to receive a grant from a city agricultural fund.

Plans call for the group to use the money to purchase several trailers and locate them at La Posada de Guadalupe, a Carlsbad-based program that offers beds to homeless men from a variety of backgrounds.

The grant would pay only part of what's anticipated to be a $100,000 project. Community donations also are being sought.