Strung Out in Sligo

Megan would not come out of the brambles. Calling, cajoling and even yelling "TREAT!" did not yield my dog's presence. Finally I trudged in her direction and came upon a startling site: an enormous trash heap that was an encampment. Megan was happily nosing through the dozens of styrofoam take-out containers, thus revealing her hesitation. Cleverly hidden amid invasives just yards away from Sligo, the den was a mess: bottles, cans, food containers, cardboard, clothing, plastic tarps and bags, household items, electronics, a sleeping lean-to, tapes, and inevitably, human waste permeated the small clearing.

My initial response was horror. I would not allow such contamination in my section of Sligo. But perhaps coincidentally, I had just read The Tortilla Curtain, which contrasts a migrant Mexican couple forced to camp in a canyon with a self righteous nature-loving yuppy family living in a hillside gated community. The story gave me pause: some poor soul was living here.

For months, I sought many people's opinions about "outing" the squatter. Ultimately, it came down to this: the filth. A neat camper would be have been far more tolerable. But it was not my choice to make. It was my moral and civic duty to report the scene (upstream of New Hampshire Ave and downstream from Becca Lily Park).

Temple Shalom's "Mitzvah Day" seemed a good time. (Every year we get a group of volunteers) I arranged for Park Police to meet us at the scene, to be sure it was safe. The brave and enthusiastic crew were up for the challenge, clearing out a good deal of the trash. But in the end, it was too much. The human waste, the volume of stuff, the rat. Sergeant Waters had experience with "these situations" and was compassionate and understanding. He left a note telling the occupant to clear out within 72 hours--allowing him or her to collect their important belongings--and a homeless informational pamphlet, written in both English and Spanish. The Park staff will clear out the area in the coming weeks.

What have I learned? Sometimes a walk in the park is not a walk in the park. Reading gives you perspective. Invasives are bad. My dog has a really heightened sense of smell. Nature is a sanctuary. Report violations to the authorities. Thank God I am not homeless.