Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Gilroy residents urge action on Alexander Street encampment; city manager says site is Union Pacific property
Summary
Several East Side residents told the City Council Jan. 6 they fear for safety because of a growing homeless and RV encampment near the railroad; City Manager Jimmy Forbus said the land is Union Pacific Railroad property and the city lacks permission to abate, and that Union Pacific began cleanup on Jan. 2.
Several residents told the Gilroy City Council on Jan. 6 they are alarmed by a growing homeless and RV encampment near Alexander Street and the railroad tracks and pressed the council to take immediate action.
"We have a problem on Alexander. We have a homeless encampment over there, and it's getting worse and worse as the day goes on," Delmar Nielsen, an East‑side resident, told council during the public‑comment period. Nielsen described vendors, trash, and safety concerns that he said have made his family reluctant to walk to local stores.
The uptick in encampment activity drew multiple speakers. "It's getting enormous now. It's looking very, very bad," said Ron Kirkish, a resident who described seeing rodents and discarded needles on the site and said, based on his research, Union Pacific owns the land and had given the…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
