Advocate urges Oxnard to address encampments, cites hotel overdoses and counts of RVs

Lane Martinez, a homelessness advocate, told the Oxnard City Council on Dec. 17 that local outreach and encampment-removal efforts have not solved the city’s homelessness problems and that people have died while sheltered in hotel programs.

Martinez said he has worked with law enforcement on encampment removals and described media coverage of overdoses in hotel programs. “When they were putting when room key came on board, they were dying in the hotels of overdoses,” Martinez said. He also said he has counted “75 motor homes” in one area and described conditions affecting women and children.

Why it matters: Martinez’s remarks highlight continuing public concern about both unsheltered encampments in Oxnard and the safety and oversight of sheltering approaches that use hotel rooms. Martinez framed his comments around his experience advising police and working with media outlets and local programs.

Martinez said he advised law enforcement during removals at Ormond Beach and that Oxnard Police Department contacted him about overdose incidents identified in hotel placements. “It was actually Oxnard Police Department that contacted me and told me about the situation, knowing that I would advocate for that,” he said. Martinez referenced coverage in the Ventura County Star and other outlets and described himself as a subject-matter expert and advocate with media appearances.

The council did not take action during public comment. Earlier in the meeting the council convened in closed session under Government Code section 54957.6 for labor negotiations; the city attorney reported there were no reportable actions from that closed session.

A range of public speakers followed the council’s rules for public comment, which the clerk said limited speakers to three minutes each. Martinez’s remarks took place during the public-comment period and were not debated or acted on at the meeting.