‘Definitely devastating’: Community divided on Antioch’s homeless encampment sweep

Antioch’s recent cleanup of Wilbur Avenue drew both the praise and ire of residents, with some saying the sweep of hazardous waste and blight was long overdue and others calling the event a heartless displacement of more than 100 unhoused people with nowhere to go. 

On March 19, a team that included city code enforcement, police, public works and the Angelo Quinto Crisis Response Team worked together to clean the area and remove 70 vehicles from Wilbur Avenue. Many of the vehicles were recreational vehicles that served as homes for the people and their pets.