San Jose, California, is once again at the center of the Bay Area’s homelessness crisis as city leaders prepare to take down a long-standing encampment at Columbus Park. This area has sheltered a growing number of residents without homes for nearly a decade, and it has become ground zero for the hard questions cities face when weighing public safety, the restoration of green spaces, and the pressing need for more affordable housing.
In a letter to the community released over the weekend, Mayor Matt Mahan stated the cleanup will begin Monday. “It won’t be easy. It won’t happen overnight,” Mahan wrote. “And it may feel tougher in the area before any improvement is visible. But standing by as this encampment costs lives and damages the park is not a choice we will make.”
The encampment has turned Columbus Park into a landscape of broken RVs, tarp-covered camps, and widespread litter. Many nearby residents and supportive groups say the cleanup is long overdue, while others counter that the city is pushing people away without a clear path into stable housing.
Advocates Ask for Calm
Gail Osmer, a veteran San Jose advocate for those without homes, gets why the city is upset but still questions why the park cleanup is happening now. “Babe, exactly. I feel it. I really do. That camp has grown, but it didn’t grow overnight.” Osmer has been helping unhoused people for decades—long before the word “homeless” even came into everyday talk. Everyone in the camp recognizes her face and her voice, and they still trust her when she hands out socks or water.
Mayor Mahan says enough housing is waiting for anyone who wants to leave Columbus Park, but regional homeless advocate Osmer calls that misleading. “Tiny homes are coming, but they aren’t set up yet. They won’t be by next week, or next month. They’ll be here by the end of the year,” Osmer said. Asked whether the park eviction should wait until those homes are ready, she answered, “Absolutely. But the mayor won’t agree. All the RVs will still be moved; just from here to somewhere else. They’ll still be in the system, just shifted around.”
## Columbus Park: A Safe Refuge Beneath the Planes
Columbus Park sits directly on the airport glide path, which makes it a poor choice for building housing. People in RVs say the park’s isolation is why they keep coming back for the long haul. Resident Kat Daugherty thinks city policy has steered them here on purpose. “They kept clearing campers from every street corner, every vacant lot, driving the same crowd over and over into this one spot. Once they got to the park, no one bothered them again.”
Despite ongoing concerns, the city is launching “Operation Cleanup Columbus.” Over the next eight weeks, crews will clear RVs, trash, and temporary shelters from the park. When the operation is done, returning encampments will be banned, and city leaders plan to restore the park for public recreation.
**City’s Plan for RV Residents**
Not every RV will be towed right away. Vehicles displaying a city-issued sticker can stay for a short period. Their owners have signed a form agreeing to sell the RV for demolition. In return, the city provides a payout of about $2,000 and a nightly hotel stay. The city, however, does not have enough hotel rooms to move everyone indoors. Therefore, RVs with the sticker will be permitted to remain until September 5. All other vehicles and shelters will be removed sooner.
**Balancing Public Safety and Housing Needs**
Councilwoman Osmer said city leaders are frustrated with the park. “I get where they are coming from. But, at this park, the city dropped the ball! They let this end up looking like this. I call it a ‘third world country,’” she said.
City leaders Osmer and Mayor Mahan see the limits of RV living and agree the best answer is stable, dignified homes. The question they’re wrestling with is about timing: should the city clear Columbus Park now even if there aren’t enough apartments ready, or should they wait until every person has a roof over their head?
**The Broad Homelessness Challenge in San Jose**
The Columbus Park plan mirrors bigger challenges across the Bay Area. Sky-high rents, widening economic gaps, and a shortage of shelter beds mean homelessness keeps rising. Now, city leaders must juggle public safety, respect for parks, and lasting housing for those who need it.
When “Operation Cleanup Columbus” gets rolling, everyone will be watching to see how the city helps RV residents move and how fast temporary shelters turn into permanent homes. Both advocates and officials hope the project lets the park serve the whole community again while still honoring the dignity and safety of its most vulnerable neighbors.
