More Curfew Citations, Warnings at Albany Bulb

Albany police continued their stepped-up enforcement of the city's no-camping, or curfew law at the Albany Bulb Monday evening by issuing two citations and three warnings, according to City Clerk Nicole Almaguer.

Last week, on Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, police issued citations to three people, along with verbal warnings to six others, Almaguer said.

The police actions are part of the city's planned eviction of the long-established illegal encampments on the Bulb. The city is pursuing a multi-pronged "Transition Plan" that also involves a 30-bed temporary homeless shelter, housing assistance offered in collaboration with the Berkeley Food and Housing Project, removal of the campsites and clean-up of trash and waste.

An amended lawsuit against the city filed Monday by opponents of the eviction asserts that the three people who were cited last week "have significant disabilities that prevent them from being able to access the 'transitional shelter'" (the city's temporary homeless shelter near the Bulb).

The city's curfew law forbids being on any waterfront area, which includes the Bulb, between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.

Three arrests at the Bulb

Almaguer, who serves also as Albany's public information officer, said that three people were arrested at the Bulb over the past three days.

A Bulb camper was arrested on Monday on a "No Bail" warrant "concerning prior felony counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance for sale," she said.

Another Bulb camper was arrested on Sunday "after being found in possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine)," she said.

And on Saturday, a Bulb camper was arrested on a "$15,000 warrant for possession of a controlled substance," she said.

Almaguer also said that the number of people staying in the 30-bed shelter continues the recent trend of 1-3 per night.

She also said the Berkeley Food and Housing Project, which is under contract from the city until the end of this month, "continues to seek people interested in transitioning into housing from the Albany Bulb." She noted three Bulb residents have found housing with the assistance of the city and the project, as previously reported. 

Monday also saw an amended version filed of the federal lawsuit seeking to block the Bulb eviction. See the Patch article, "More Albany Bulb Dwellers Join Suit Against Eviction."

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