Watsonville Bridge Street Encampment Can Stay For Now: Judge

WATSONVILLE, CA — The homeless encampment on Bridge Street can remain there until Jan. 3, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.

Residents of the encampment agreed to leave the site on that date, the city of Watsonville said Wednesday.

The city of Watsonville said it has space for 25 people to stay at local hotels and shelters. Staff will continue to offer shelter until the encampment may be cleared Jan. 3.

The site will subsequently be cleared and cleaned by city crews, the city said.

The ruling came days after the Pajaro/Watsonville Homeless Union filed an emergency motion in federal court to stop the city's planned evacuation of the encampment Wednesday, the Santa Cruz Sentinel reported.

Watsonville residents who spoke at a special city council meeting largely said they supported leaving the encampment there as the holidays and wet weather loomed, the Sentinel reported.