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Day laborers and street vendors at Home Depot cite repeated harassment; advocates seek meeting and halt to enforcement
Summary
Day laborers, street vendors and advocates told the San Bernardino City Council they face ongoing harassment from code and court enforcement officers outside the Home Depot at 20 First Street and urged the city to pause enforcement and meet with community groups to craft alternatives.
During public comment the council heard repeated complaints from day laborers, vendors and advocates who said San Bernardino court enforcement and code officers have been harassing workers who gather outside the Home Depot near 20 First Street to seek employment.
Speakers described officers photographing vehicles, blocking exits, issuing citations to street vendors and mocking or intimidating workers. Multiple community representatives asked the city to halt court enforcement in the immediate area until the city meets with advocates and city staff to develop an alternative approach, and several asked the council to consider creating a day labor center modeled on programs elsewhere.
Alexis Teodoro, worker‑rights director for the Pomona Economic Opportunity Center, read a letter describing repeated incidents and asked the council and code enforcement to stop actions that she said violate day laborers' constitutional right to seek work in public spaces; she requested an in‑person meeting within 15 days. Other speakers who identified themselves as day laborers said they want a safe place to wait for work and urged the city to stop taking photos of vehicles and blocking exits, which they said escalates fear and humiliation.
Eddie Torres, policy director with Healing Coalition for Immigrant Justice, cited California Senate bills that decriminalized street vending (SB 946 and SB 972) and asked staff to meet with advocates; he also proposed work‑site solutions such as a day labor center and asked for a meeting with the mayor and the district councilmember whose district includes the Home Depot.
City staff told the council they would meet with advocates; multiple councilmembers thanked speakers and said they would pursue follow up. No council action was taken at the meeting; advocates said they expect staff engagement and asked for a timeline for the requested meeting.
