Markets Reclaim Carts From Homeless
Between 100 and 150 shopping carts used by the homeless to carry their possessions were repossesed by three supermarkets Wednesday afternoon under an agreement arranged by the Legal Aid Society of Orange County.
Last week, Legal Aid attorneys and representatives from Viva Mart, Vons and Ralphs markets agreed to arrange the return of the carts as long as the possessions of the homeless were not thrown away, said Legal Aid attorney Crystal Sims.
The belongings were placed in plastic bags and tied with a tag listing the name of the supermarket on it, Sims said.
Santa Ana Police Lt. Collie Province said 10 officers monitored the removal of the carts at the Civic Center to make sure everything went smoothly.
“We were out just to make sure there were no confrontations,” Province said.
He said the cart collectors did not run into any problems and will continue to reclaim other carts in the future.
Last April, Viva Mart’s shopping-cart collection agency seized dozens of carts and dumped out the belongings of the homeless. Under the settlement, the market has agreed to distribute money, food and jobs to the poor.
Viva will donate $25,000 to the Latino immigration rights group Hermandad Mexicana Nacional, which will distribute it to Santa Ana’s homeless.
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