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With signs up for Mountain View's oversize parking ban, vehicle residents wonder where they'll go

Original post made on Feb 9, 2022

The signs prohibiting oversize vehicles in Mountain View from parking on public streets are being installed in the last area of the city, leaving residents living in vehicles wondering where they will go once the law takes effect.

Read the full story here Web Link posted Wednesday, February 9, 2022, 1:38 PM

Comments (16)

Posted by Polomom
a resident of Waverly Park
on Feb 9, 2022 at 2:37 pm

Polomom is a registered user.

A map of the 81 streets sat aside for oversized vehicles should only be shared with our current vehicle dwellers. Only once everybody accommodated should the city make this map public. Neighboring cities will otherwise print this map and send their unwanted RVs our way. A huge camp in Contra Costa County is currently dismantled, San Jose is clearing areas around the airport. We are known in the area as RV city. Let’s protect the ones currently here and give them a first shot at a new street spot.


Posted by Proud Taxpayer
a resident of Shoreline West
on Feb 9, 2022 at 3:11 pm

Proud Taxpayer is a registered user.

Vehicle residents wonder where they'll go?
They are literally residing in vehicles. They can go anywhere.


Posted by defund the police
a resident of Stierlin Estates
on Feb 9, 2022 at 3:48 pm

defund the police is a registered user.

We claim to be pro-immigrant but we're forcing out immigrants trying to get their footing here.
We claim to be anti-displacement but we're using the force of law to displace people.
We claim to be pro-inclusivity but this is definition of exclusion.
Where are our values? Who with a heart does this? The council members who supported the RV Ban should be ashamed of themselves.


Posted by ivg
a resident of Another Mountain View Neighborhood
on Feb 9, 2022 at 8:57 pm

ivg is a registered user.

People living in vehicles are a sure sign that we have too much parking and not enough homes!

In other words, NIMBYs got what they asked for.


Posted by Local
a resident of Martens-Carmelita
on Feb 9, 2022 at 10:30 pm

Local is a registered user.

Mountain View had done more for the RV dwellers than any surrounding city, yet Michael Trujillo (Staff Attorney at the Law Foundation suing Mountain View) said, "Measures like the proposed parking ban that intentionally make life more difficult for people who are homeless or housing insecure offend bedrock notions of fairness and equality and send a message that the City of Mountain View is not really open to all."
Why are they not suing Los Altos, LAH, Menlo Park, Sunnyvale and other cities that outright PROHIBIT any RVs on their streets, nor have made any of the efforts to help RV dwellers to gain housing? Instead, these law firms harass and sue the one city that has spent well over $1.5M of taxpayer funds to help these people by opening "safe lots", providing garbage collection, offering raw sewage removal, and providing services to help them gain employment and housing. Other cities do nothing but suggest their homeless move to Mountain View!
I'm astounded these attorneys attack the one city that has shown compassion.


Posted by Peter
a resident of Cuesta Park
on Feb 10, 2022 at 11:31 am

Peter is a registered user.

@Local
Well said. I always felt that had Mountain View just not allowed this to begin with, they wouldn't be demonized like they currently are. Meanwhile, as you pointed out, neighboring citied simply don't allow it and they get a pass.Go figure!


Posted by Waldo
a resident of Waverly Park
on Feb 10, 2022 at 9:54 pm

Waldo is a registered user.

@ Local:

Thanks for your comment; well said.


Posted by Lenny Siegel2
a resident of Old Mountain View
on Feb 12, 2022 at 11:34 am

Lenny Siegel2 is a registered user.

If you look, you will find people living in oversized vehicles on the streets of Palo Alto and Sunnyvale, at least.


Posted by SalsaMusic
a resident of Cuesta Park
on Feb 12, 2022 at 4:13 pm

SalsaMusic is a registered user.

The citizens of Mountain View voted for this. This is how democracy works. Some commenters should realize this was not a council decision.


Posted by Loren Peters
a resident of St. Francis Acres
on Feb 13, 2022 at 10:08 am

Loren Peters is a registered user.

The transient RV problem/issue will not be resolved until the city provides a cost-effective large-scale, mobile-home park (with all of the amenities including restrooms, shower facilities, electricity,
and laundromat) for those residing in their RVs.

Being a progressive and humanitarian community (unlike Los Altos), Mountain View can become a leader in accommodating the less fortunate and economically depressed.


Posted by SalsaMusic
a resident of Cuesta Park
on Feb 14, 2022 at 2:26 pm

SalsaMusic is a registered user.

So Loren, you’re saying that you are 100%. absolutely sure this problem of RVs on our streets will be resolved as soon as we provide land and utilities for 250 RVs. Then, presto, the problem will go away. Right?


Posted by Randy Guelph
a resident of Cuernavaca
on Feb 14, 2022 at 2:43 pm

Randy Guelph is a registered user.

SalsaMusic, what problem are you talking about? As I understand it, and as the city is claiming in court, this is only a traffic issue. Surely, if they've identified the narrow streets using a rigorous danger and traffic analysis, there is no longer a problem when they are on any other street.


Posted by Steven Nelson
a resident of Cuesta Park
on Feb 14, 2022 at 3:00 pm

Steven Nelson is a registered user.

Ah - U all - Just why are there no RV parking prohibited street signs on every block in Los Altos? There are not even signs posted about this on EVERY public road entering the City of Los Altos. (which I thought was necessary if there was a 'city-wide' ban.)


Posted by Polomom
a resident of Waverly Park
on Feb 14, 2022 at 5:09 pm

Polomom is a registered user.

@Steven Nelson Most city have an overnight parking ban of oversized vehicles on public streets. None of them needed signs. It is in their code of ordinances for motor vehicles. We used to have something to the effect of regulating sleeping in vehicles which was changed and is no longer regulated. Sleeping in vehicles in MV was always allowed. Talking to concert attendees during our 3 day summer events at Shoreline: they loved MV, they did not have to get a hotel and could just sleep in their vehicles close to the concert venue. This was years before COVID. Try and sleep in your vehicle in Los Altos. You will be chased away immediately. San Diego has one of the strictest parking rules, so does Boise. Park your RV overnight in those 2 cities on a public street you will get a knock on your door. Both cities have no signage anywhere regarding their ordinance. You have to know when you drive there!


Posted by Otto Maddox
a resident of Monta Loma
on Feb 15, 2022 at 4:52 am

Otto Maddox is a registered user.

Why doesn't Los Altos has this problem you ask? That's easy. Because they enforce the law.

Enforce the 72 hour parking law and the majority of these junk heaps are done in a week. Most can barely move. All you have to do is drive down these streets and you'll see at least half with a bucket under their waste water drains. That means their waste tank(s) is leaking. Another violation easily enforced. Enforce vehicle registration requirements. Enforce vehicle equipment violations.

There are a ton "storing" so much junk around, under, on top. Easy dumping violations.

Not really sure why Mountain View had to go and create a new law and why we had to spend the money on posting ugly signs all over the city. There are plenty of laws already on the books to deal with the issue.


Posted by Steven Nelson
a resident of Cuesta Park
on Feb 15, 2022 at 7:32 pm

Steven Nelson is a registered user.

Thank you 2. I don't knbow 'the Vehicle Code' that well but I can see the point - Throughout California there is a 72 hour "move it" law. But if I sleep in my vehicle, don't move it for 60 hours (most of 3 days) then it seems that I am keeping within the 72 hours state-wide 'move it' law, Yes?

With schools and our City Adopted 15 MPH when children present ordinance - the Stare Vehicle Code only allows this on 25 MPH two lane roads. (odd maybe but I think still true), That is why Graham on Castro (2 traffic lanes) can have this special speed limit - while St. Joseph and St. Francis on 4 lane Miramonte cannot have "15 MPH" school related restriction.

thanks again - makes U think


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