Pueblo, Colorado (KRDO) — The City of Pueblo is working to clean up Fountain Creek. The amount of trash on the riverbed and the overall health hazard were worse than expected, police said.
On Monday, the Pueblo Police Department announced it had found trash, hazardous waste, needles, and more in the area.
All day they filled the front end loaders and dumpsters with debris.
âThere are some piles of trash: broken carts from various stores around the area, furniture, and lots of other things we never thought we would find,â said Cpt. Pueblo Police Officer Dustin Taylor.
Credit: Pueblo PD
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Taylor said it was not safe for anyone to be there.
âWe have to clear out this area. It is not safe for them to be there. It is not safe for people to stay in this area. I asked them to reach out to me and I can do that,” Taylor said.
PPD said it is essential to connect people experiencing homelessness with resources.
âThis is actually a floodplain, so if there is heavy rain or flooding in this area, the debris can hurt people. , can be transferred downstream to other communities. It’s not safe for them either,” Taylor said.
However, some question whether this cleanup will solve the problem.
Paul Montoya, an advocate for people experiencing homelessness, thinks the area needs to be cleaned up. But he also worries about where the homeless will go now that Fountain Creek has been cleared. doing.
“These people are about to be relegated to another part of the city, which can cause more problems. You know, I feel sorry for them,” Montoya said. Told.
Montoya said the city-provided resources aren’t a permanent solution, but they’re a good start. I said I know some people.
“I know some people who have lived here for 10 years. It’s been a long time being homeless on this riverbed. That’s all they know,” Montoya said.
It’s the biggest cleanup in years and is expected to last until Friday, according to PPD.
