Judge Susan van Keulen just granted a 7 day extension of the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) protecting the campers at San Lorenzo Park from eviction for one more week.

Federal Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen just granted a 7 day extension of the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) protecting the campers at San Lorenzo Park from eviction for one more week. Another hearing will be held on January 13, 2021.

The judge questioned the need to clear the park in the winter during a spike in COVID -19 cases. Judge Susan van Keulen also pointed out that hotel voucher providing rooms for 2 to 4 days was not a solution.

City Attorney Cassie Bronson noted that if the camp was not cleared that many more people might move in possibly increasing the numbers to as many as 300 people highlighting the fact that hundreds of people have no safe place to sleep in Santa Cruz. She also suggested that the unhoused are more likely to contract COVID-19 in the shelters.

For more information please contact Anthony Prince, attorney for the California Union of the Homeless at 510-301-1472