{"id":367757,"date":"2026-06-19T23:09:12","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T23:09:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/367757\/"},"modified":"2026-06-19T23:09:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T23:09:12","slug":"tone-deaf-praise-for-encampment-cleanup-enrages-locals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/367757\/","title":{"rendered":"Tone-deaf praise for encampment cleanup enrages locals"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Central Valley Caltrans crew praised themselves for a so-called homeless encampment cleanup<\/a> that has been slammed by locals who said the job was only half completed.<\/p>\n

The post was made by California Department of Transportation District 6 located in Fresno, and includes a before and after shot of an encampment filled with trash and debris<\/a> in the city. It was shared both on X<\/a> and Caltrans Facebook accounts<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cCaltrans removed an encampment on June 16th located on State Route 180 near Abby Street in Fresno,\u201d the post read.<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring their work, Caltrans crews collected 2.5 cubic yards of debris. Affected individuals were offered services by our outreach partners.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A Central Valley Caltrans crew praised themselves for a so-called homeless encampment cleanup that has been slammed by locals who said the job was only half completed.<\/p>\n

\"\u201cCaltrans<\/p>\n

\u201cCaltrans removed an encampment on June 16th located on State Route 180 near Abby Street in Fresno,\u201d the post read. Kenneth Cantrell for CA Post<\/p>\n

\"\u201cDuring<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring their work, Caltrans crews collected 2.5 cubic yards of debris. Affected individuals were offered services by our outreach partners.\u201d Kenneth Cantrell for CA Post<\/p>\n

The top photo shows the spot located near a residential area littered with shopping carts, a mattress, blankets, clothes and trash.\u00a0 The area also contains tons of graffiti on the walls and dry brush.<\/p>\n

The second photo shows that the carts, bedding, and clothes have been removed. However, the massive graffiti wall is still there and has not been painted over and none of the dry grass area has been cleaned up.<\/p>\n

In response locals have reacted to the pat on the back post, calling it \u201ctone deaf.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile the clean up is appreciated, the self-congratulatory photo with dry grass and extensive graffiti comes across as totally tone deaf,\u201d one local told Caltrans in a message shared with The California Post.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease wait to pat yourselves on the back until the area is actually clean.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The top photo shows the spot located near a residential area littered with shopping carts, a mattress, blankets, clothes and trash. The area also contains tons of graffiti on the walls and dry brush.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe slogan is Clean California, not Somewhat Clean California,\u201d the person added. \u201cHappy Friday, have a great day, appreciate your hard work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reactions to the FB celebratory post were similar, with people sharing laughing face emojis to the post showing the area definitely not cleaned up.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t the only time the agency touted their cleanup in an area that wasn\u2019t complete.<\/p>\n

In a post on June 11<\/a>, Caltrans District 6 posted about the removal of another encampment<\/a> on June 9th near Highway 41 and Olive Avenue in the city.<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring their work, Caltrans crews collected 4 cubic yards of debris. Affected individuals were offered services by our outreach partners.\u201d<\/p>\n

The before photo shows tons of tents, appliances, boxes and clothes in an area next to a wall covered in spray paint and dry grass.<\/p>\n

\"Kenneth<\/p>\n

Kenneth Cantrell for CA Post<\/p>\n

The after photo shows the giant graffiti wall and dry brush everywhere, calling into question once again just how cleaned up this area had been.<\/p>\n

Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer has faced some pushback lately after touting the city\u2019s handling of the homeless problem.<\/p>\n

During a recent press conference, Dyer said there were \u201czero encampments in the city of Fresno,\u201d while admitting that the problem has yet to be completely solved, the Fresno Bee<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n

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He went on to explain that the city defines an encampment as \u201c10 or more people staying in a location for 10 or more days.\u201d<\/p>\n

But the claim is misleading, said homeless advocate Dez Martinez.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat concerns me most is the message being sent to the public,\u201d Martinez told the Bee.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen officials say there are no encampments, it creates the impression that homelessness is being solved when many people on the ground know that is not the case.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"But<\/p>\n

But the claim is misleading, said homeless advocate Dez Martinez. ABC30<\/p>\n

Residents in Fresno also reacted to Dyer\u2019s \u201czero encampments\u201d comment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need a new Mayor. If the job can\u2019t be done by the current one,\u201d one person wrote on Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cMajor audit needed in California and every city. Fresno has failed and tax funds have been wasted\u2026or stolen,\u201d another person wrote.<\/p>\n

The numbers show that in Fresno-Madera Counties there was a 9.2% increase in homelessness in 2025. However, Dyer said preliminary data shows it\u2019s decreasing this year.<\/p>\n

Preliminary 2026 numbers from city officials showed 3,250 homeless compared to the last count in 2023 of 4,905 unhoused\/sheltered in the two counties, per a city report<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The California Post reached out to Cal Trans in the Central Valley for further comment.<\/p>\n