Walkers on Bernal Hill noticed something was a little different on their Thursday morning stroll: A string of RVs, which had been stationed along Bernal Heights Boulevard for several years, was no longer there.
“Yesterday they were here. Today? Gone,” said Bud Ryerson, in shock. Ryerson has lived in the neighborhood for 30 years, and frequently walks up the hill.
“I’m very surprised they’re not here,” said another man, jogging by.
Until today, some eight residents had been living in the RVs along the boulevard, to the disdain of some neighbors — but certainly not everyone.
Over the last few weeks, some neighbors fought the city’s eviction of the RV residents. Along with help from Supervisor Hillary Ronen’s office, they secured a moratorium on enforcement of the parking restriction, until today, March 28.
Last night around 8 p.m., the RV residents formed a caravan and descended the hill, in the pouring rain, according to Armando Martinez, who was among them.
A handful of neighbors came to see them off and lend a helping hand — and an umbrella. Some 10 volunteers with the Coalition on Homelessness were also there, with food, tarps and bungee cords.
Since most of the RV residents do not have a valid driver’s license, three of the volunteers helped them get on the road. Together they made their way to another curb-side spot in the Bayview.
“I don’t see how we could have done it without them [the volunteers]. I am very grateful for them,” said Martinez. “They even paid for gas.”
Back on the hill this morning, visitors saw a very empty street with the occasional runner passing by.
“It’s beautiful. It hasn’t been like this in years,” said Carine, a Bernal resident who was out walking with her son. “The neighbors here are certainly happy they are gone,” she added. “No offense.”
“[The boulevard] is here for the quiet enjoyment for the residents of San Francisco,” said Ryerson, who was equally pleased to find the pathway empty.
Others were apparently not as pleased.
“Frankly, I’m not sure what the difference is between then and now,” said Dan Purtell, who was on a walk, and said he was concerned about where they might have to go. “In effect, it was affordable housing.”
“I don’t see why they had to go,” he added.
On Thursday, Martinez said he opened his RV door and looked upon a new view: Bernal Hill, from below. There, he has joined some new neighbors and will wait to get through the city’s housing queue.
“It’s a very small, very quiet, very clean, organized little community,” said Martinez. “I think it will be alright.”
There’s something missing from this story. How is it that people who can’t drive were living in RVs? I don’t understand.
how do you know they can drive?
Nice, I hope they enjoy their new digs in the Bayview.
The whole point of an rv is that it moves. Why do you need to be in one of the most expensive places in the country? That’s a choice. If you’re just sitting might as well sit in a cheaper place where you might have a chance to stand on your own two feet. If I leave my car parked for more than 3 days I get towed. If we make laws, make them for everyone.
“The law in its majestic equality forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, beg in the streets and steal loaves of bread.” – Anatole France.
While there may be a few vocal supporters of the RV encampment on Bernal Hill, most of us are glad to see them go. I walk my dog around the hilltop often, and every time I approached the RV encampment three or four large dogs came out of, or were roaming around, one of the RVs. The owner would either disappear inside or tell me what nice dogs they were. Nice dogs? Maybe. Under his control? no chance. The unhoused bring with them a level of chaos that is incompatible with civilized communities. Peace be with you on your journey.
When are they going to start evicting those at SF State?
It’s not evicting. It’s enforcing the law about not squatting on public land indefinitely for free.
SF’s answer to homelessness. Move them from rich neighborhoods like Bernal to poor neighborhoods like Bayview.
Damn near every neighborhood cost a million now. It’s enforcement of laws that have been in place for a long time. Has nothing to do with economic status.
Not all of us in Bernal are happy that they were moved but I’m glad they are in a safe spot.
How dare SFPD criminalize poverty like this. These RV residents are our neighbors and friends! We must deliver them food, cash assistance, water, and narcotics if they are addicted. They are victims of capitalism and deserve our mercy. We must evict all single family home owners, jail them, seize their assets, destroy their homes, and build housing in its place for them.
I live on this hill and I don’t think it’s improved by the eviction of these neighbors. But I am glad it sounds like they landed on their feet without too much difficulty.
I have a issue with the city and mayor Breed, always using the Bayview and HP as a dumping ground for trash and unwanted folks! Why not move or house people in the Avenues, or Pacific Heights, or the Marina! We are suppose to be in this together as a People. We will put up a dog or cat in a nice clean home or environment before a human being. People are truly messed up when it comes to common sense. This city will put up immigrants before they help their own homeless community. Something is truly wrong here. Get it together S.F. London Breed.
Come on now, the reason folks move there and the l’s because it’s easy to access less legal things. Tired of ppl playing this class stuff, Frisco is a land of opportunity and hustles. You can make it if you have the will
“The neighbors here are certainly happy they are gone.” Carine… they WERE your neighbors. And I would dare say that while there are sometimes challenges, many unhoused or vehicularly housed people make better neighbors than folks who adopt a “screw you, got mine” attitude like Carine’s.
Campers (literally),
Looks pretty good to me.
Got a place for them to park with a better view.
Parking Lot of Harding Golf Course.
Which presently, due to his Purchase of the PGA and, with it, control of Harding Golf Course and its Parking Lot.
That’s the Saudi Prince with the initials who is rumored to have the head of a Washington Post journalist in refrigeration near his throne.
And, take 9 holes of the course with best view and have Walter Wong build a Campground for 2,000.
You think I’m kidding on any of this ?
Read the papers much ?
h.
I’ll give them gas and send them to the Mayors neighborhood or better yet to Supervisor Waltons neighborhood!
But that will only leave golfers with SIX other courses in our postage stamp of a city!!!!