Lodi High School softball team relocates practice over growing homeless encampment concerns
LODI – The homeless population is growing at a Lodi softball complex so much that the Lodi High School softball team had to move their practice this week over concerns about their safety after team members said they were harassed.
Over those decades, Joe Silva has seen more of the homeless make their way to the Lodi Softball Complex off N. Stockton Street with encampments growing right outside his front door.
"I'm concerned about the school because girls have been walking by and they start calling them over," Silva said. "I had a few come over here because they were scared and I had to go up to the guy and say, 'Get out of here, don't be talking to these girls.'"
But the problem isn't only impacting those who live in the area. It's now affecting the Lodi High School softball team.
"I get a call from my daughter, and she said, 'Mom, it's the worst I've ever seen it,'" said Erin Jubrey.
Jubrey is one of the team's softball moms who went and took pictures.
"Nothing like seeing somebody hang clothes on your fence to really get the point across," Jubrey said. "They weren't just hanging out, they had moved in."
But it's not just lingering bystanders that caused them to move.
According to Jubrey, it's been a problem for years.
"The coaches had to call the police because there was even an instance where a homeless person was exposing themselves to the girls," Jubrey said. "We've had girls being yelled at, ogled, homeless going through between the cars of the girls, and it's just been very frustrating and scary for them."
CBS Sacramento took their concerns straight to the Lodi Police Department but were told to contact the city. No one from the city would agree to go on camera.
The only response was a statement sent to CBS13, saying in part, "The Lodi Police Department has addressed encampment issues at the complex, including posting clean-up notices and removing excessive property that has been blighting the area."
But for neighbors and moms, more action is needed.
"Everybody is failing these girls right now, everybody is," Jubrey said.
The city also said they are working with the district to address the concerns.
CBS Sacramento was told the Lodi Unified Board of Education will be reviewing plans at its upcoming meeting to build a new softball field at Lodi High.
