North Park squatters’ neighbors meet with mayoral candidate

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Despite a notice to vacate, requests to upgrade the property and locks on the doors, the city of San Diego continues to receive reports of trespassers at two vacant properties on Dale Street in North Park, one of which was set on fire last month.

Now, neighbors are meeting with city officials and mayoral candidate Larry Turner to discuss potential solutions.

“Squatters have taken over these two homes, which have been vacant for decades,” said neighbor Andy Laub. He and his wife, Natalie, are hoping for answers, as are other concerned residents living near the properties.

Following repeated 911 calls, break-ins, drug accusations and now lawsuits, one of the homes was set on fire last month.

“Now that the fire has broken out, these houses have been randomly condemned. What’s next?” Laub asked.

The situation prompted the city of San Diego and the city attorney’s office to meet with neighbors last Wednesday to discuss next steps.

Laub and other residents also contacted Turner, Mayor Todd Gloria’s opponent in the upcoming election.

“We thought if we were already working with the city, we would see what the mayoral candidate would do about it,” Laub said.

Mayor Gloria was invited to the meeting but declined. A spokesperson for Gloria’s office said city staff is actively addressing the issue and it would be inappropriate to mix city resources with a campaign event.

Event organizers said the owner had not done enough to secure the homes and wanted to know how Turner would address illegal occupancy issues like this.

“I hope he takes concrete steps to address the problem,” Laub said. “This isn’t just two houses on the same block; this is happening all over the city.”

The city said the owner has been cooperative with police, although he is suing neighbors who filed complaints against him.