Police Issue Curfew Violation Notices at Albany Bulb

Albany police issued notices of "Curfew Violation" to some of the people at the Albany Bulb Wednesday night in an apparent sign of the police department's intent to carry out the City Council's request to begin enforcing the no-camping law at the Bulb. 

The warning cites the Municipal Code section making it illegal to be on any waterfront area or Albany Hill between 10 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. They also encourage recipients of the notice to take advantage of the city efforts to help Bulb inhabitants secure social services and alternative housing.

"We wish to coordinate our tasks with you to assist in making enforcement of these regulations in as cooperative a way as possible," the warning says. "Please read the other side of this warning for more information."

The back side of the notice provides a short description of Albany's "Project Hope," in which the city is working with the Berkeley Food & Housing Project to assist those living illegally on the Bulb.

Attached to this article are images from both sides of the warning.

Patch asked the city's public information officer, City Clerk Nicole Amalguer, about the warnings and their timing.

"Issuance of warnings is a component of the City’s overall action as directed by the City Council regarding transition of the Albany Waterfront Park," she in an email response. "The warnings provide additional notice to people at the park that may be acting in violation of park rules. The warning notice also includes a full page of information regarding available services currently being facilitated by the City’s consultant, Berkeley Food and Housing Project via Project HOPE to connect people with services, support and shelter...

"The police department has been tasked with enforcement of the ordinance at the direction of City Council.  Now that enforcement of the park ordinance is authorized, enforcement action may take place at any time violations are observed. When and how this takes place is within the operational purview of the police department."

An estimated 60 or so people live the longstanding collection of tents and makeshift shelters on the city-owned Bulb. A long-established goal of the city government, along with conservation groups, has been to remove the Bulb encampments so that it can become part of McLaughlin Eastshore State Park.
The City Council has asked police to enforce the no-camping law at the Bulb beginning this month. 

The issue has generated significant community interest, debate and protests, as well as many news articles and community blog and board posts on Patch. Below are recent ones:

News articles

• Albany Bulb Outreach: 22 Homeless Show Interest in Housing, City Says
• City's $500,000 Plan for Albany Bulb Includes Temporary Shelter
• Protest 'Camp' on Solano Ave. Against Albany Bulb Eviction
• Activists Vow Camp-Out on Solano to Protest Albany Bulb Eviction
• City Mum on Lawsuit Alleging Violation of Affordable-Housing Law
• Suit Accuses Albany of Breaking Law on Affordable Housing
• Albany Holds 'Services Fair' for Albany Bulb Inhabitants
• Opponents of Albany Bulb Eviction Attend 'Camp-Out'
• Upcoming Albany Bulb Events: Services Fair, Camp-Out, Art Discussion…
• Dozens Gather at Albany Bulb to Oppose Eviction of Encampment
• Short Film Profiles Albany Bulb Residents on Eve of Eviction
• Council Reaffirms Plan to Remove Albany Bulb Homeless Next Month
• VIDEO: Homeless March from Albany Bulb
• Petition, March Seek to Block Eviction of Albany Bulb Homeless
• Fate of the Albany Bulb Artworks?
• Condition Placed on Housing Aid to Albany Bulb Homeless
• Council Moves Ahead on Transferring Albany Bulb to State, Park District Control
• City Council Asks Police to Enforce 'No Camping' Rule at Albany Bulb

Posts from members of the community

• New Numbers About the Citizens of the Albany Waterfront
• Protesters Camped Out at Solano and Santa Fe
• Bulb Library and Recent Visit.
• Anarchist Vandals Deface Symbol of Law and Order! (Or, Did They...)
• Homeless advocates file lawsuit against City of Albany
• Bringing the Bulb to - Solano Avenue ?
• The Bulb: 'Report Back' on Bulb Gathering
• The Bulb: Enter the Anarchists
• Question (again):
• Save the Albany Bulb
• Get to Know the Facts About the Citizens of the Albany Waterfront Park
• A Phased Transition for the Bulb ?
• Albany Community Foundation Seeks Funds to Help Albany Project Hope
• There's No Place Like Home: Part 1
• After many rhetorical questions, directed at Bulb residents, beginning with the words, "Who are you people...", I thought I'd clarify: Who "We" are...
• How the Albany City Council Broke the Law to Keep a "Promise"
• Houseless in Albany
• Time to Pull Together for People and for Parks
• The Care and Feeding of an Urban Waterfront Park
• The Albany City Council Pulls a Fast One on the Homeless

Please let us know if there are any recent news articles or reader posts that you think should be added to the lists above.

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