Residents press council over two‑year encampment at 2929 Howard Street; city says abatement warrant sought

Multiple Richmond residents addressed the council Thursday about a long-running encampment behind homes at 2929 Howard Street, describing two years of noise, generators, fires, drug use and impacts on children’s safety.

“After that, my kids are terrified to go in their own backyard,” said Anna Mendoza, a resident of 2929 Howard Street, who described finding someone living inside an outdoor shed and said police response often took hours. Deborah Garcia, another neighbor, said piles of garbage and burning debris posed a fire risk next to residences.

City staff explained the encampment occupies private property owned by two separate owners; the city cannot perform a standard abatement without court access. Staff said owners were notified and citations issued but that the city must seek an abatement warrant from the courts to obtain access to remove the encampment and that the process could take up to three weeks while the city accelerates enforcement. Staff also said housing and shelter options are being offered to occupants and that coordination with the city of San Pablo was underway because of jurisdictional property-line issues.

Multiple council members and staff said they were following up with residents and that community members could expect continued communication. No formal council action or appropriation was taken on the spot; staff said they would provide updates and continue enforcement efforts consistent with property-ownership and legal requirements.