Fear, rumors and resistance rippled through Beard Brook Village prior to this week’s scheduled relocation to a site just a few hundred yards away. The wildest rumor was that the new location was actually a FEMA camp. Some villagers had more reasonable concerns, especially about the size and placement of the tents. “Camp Mom” Melanie Slagle posted some reservations that seemed justifiable: “10×10 isn’t big enough for me, my guy, […]
History
Visions of the Homeless: A Cop’s View
One day a few weeks ago, volunteer homeless worker Jeri Lynn Matoza was watching Modesto Police Sergeant Mike Hammond cruise slowly through Beard Brook Village, Modesto’ s permitted homeless encampment. Every few yards, Hammond had to stop because someone wanted to talk. “Look at that,” said Matoza, “How often do you see homeless people voluntarily approach a cop? That’s the sign of a good cop.” Hammond says he wanted to […]
Faces of the Homeless: Alvaro
“I want to work, but my hands hurt all the time. They hurt real bad,” says Alvaro Gayton, who’s been at Beard Brook Village in Modesto’s Beard Brook Park since last September. Gayton’s last job was at a Modesto Restaurant specializing in barbecue and smoked meats. “I cooked all day and washed dishes at night,” he says. “I was the only one who really knew how to smoke meat the […]
Homeless: There were Only Eight of Us
With the wind kicking up and another storm on the way, Bobby Short spent part of last Wednesday making sure his tent and tarps were tied down. Then he helped a neighbor wrestle a lightweight tent into a place where it too could be secured. Bobby has been at the homeless camp in Modesto’s Beard Brook Park for about three months— ever since a dispute with his landlord. He says […]
Homeless? Poor? It’s the (STUPID!) Economy
An overflow crowd at Modesto’s first permitted tent encampment in Beard Brook Park has grown to over 400 residents in a few short months and there’s still no shortage of homeless people in their usual haunts, including downtown Modesto. And until there’s better comprehension of the realities behind traditional economic indicators like stock market reports and official unemployment figures, the numbers of homeless and poor people will only continue to […]
Homeless: Stanislaus County Workers Bring Christmas Spirit
A bevy of Stanislaus County service workers, many wearing purple T-shirts emblazoned with the motto, “Together We Rise,” brought food and comfort to the homeless encampment at Beard Brook Park Saturday, just three days before Christmas. Working off the clock, many of the workers are part of the county’s outreach effort and know village residents by name. They helped distribute pizza, pillows, blankets and Christmas cheer to the hundreds of […]
Deputy Sheriff’s Death both Rare and Tragic
Retired attorney and investigative journalist Steve Ringhoff pursues the stories he believes the people need to know. Read more of his fine work here. –Deputy Sheriff Antonio Hinostroza’s case is rare, because his death was the first vehicle pursuit related death of a Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Deputy; and, even more rare because only about 1 percent of law enforcement officers are killed in those crashes which result in deaths each […]
Tracking Effects of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning is Tricky
Steve Ringhoff is a retired attorney and investigative journalist who formerly wrote for the Modesto Bee. His recent investigation (see link below) into the deaths of Jason Garner and Raschel Johnson is a classic of investigative reporting. Read more of Steve’s fine work here. Understand: There is no real “canary” for carbon monoxide poisoning. You may get a headache, or not; be fatigued, or not, be nauseated, or not. You can […]
Homeless: Time to Commit to Beard Brook Village
Flooded and collapsed tents at Beard Brook Village became routine as the first real storm of the season hit Modesto this week. The heavy downpour ran off the road above the tents at Beard Brook Park, cut channels along the sloping hillside, and wreaked havoc with campers ill-prepared for heavy rains. With little to no vegetation on the hillside, the clayey soil became dangerously slick on its surface and sticky […]
Homeless: Will Beard Brook Village Survive?
Modesto — News that Stanislaus County Sheriffs enforced removal of a homeless camp in Turlock has prompted increased concern among homeless advocates that the encampment in Beard Brook Park may soon suffer the same fate. Now rechristened, “Beard Brook Village,” Beard Brook Park has long been a favored site for homeless campers, some of whom have frequented it on and off for a dozen years. Its isolated location in an […]