In a week when Oakland reported a 47% increase in its homeless population, corporate attorneys from Home Depot are in town to meet with city officials over a growing encampment outside of the company's Oakland store.
The front lot of the Home Depot off I-880 at High Street resembles a third-world slum with rats, trash, tents and campers. Behind it, the fencing gets torn down as residents steal plywood to create sheds.
Councilman Noel Gallo said the store has already had to hire security, which includes a police car stationed outside the exit. The store claims there were about 30 thefts a day inside the store, Gallo said.
“Having the police officer there, they dropped down to one,” Gallo told KCBS Radio. “And then having the other police car there, and all he does is drive around their parking lot to make sure they’re not stealing, breaking into cars, or stealing their property, plants or other building material.”
A Home Depot spokeswoman said the Oakland store suffers the highest losses of the company's 2,000 locations across the country.
Gallo and other city leaders are trying to save 300 jobs and $5 to $8 million in business taxes that Home Depot brings in, but it’s not just commercial businesses complaining.
Encampments are spreading to people’s private property, bringing up the possibility of lawsuits.