Oakland is facing a serious issue that has drawn comparisons to a scene from a ‘zombie apocalypse film’. The city has been grappling with a surge in abandoned vehicles left along the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.
This peculiar ‘graveyard’ of deserted cars, ranging from GMC and Ford pickups to cargo vans, sedans, and Chevrolet Tahoes, has been expanding over the years. However, the situation has recently worsened, raising concerns among officials and residents.
Illegal dumping has been a major contributor to the problem, prompting both authorities and frustrated locals to address the issue. The severity of the situation has led some to liken the scene to that of a ‘zombie apocalypse film,’ as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.
On top of the growing trend, the city has been left in a transitional period as former disgraced Mayor Sheng Thao was recalled by voters in November.
Nearly 65 percent of voters wished to oust Thao from her role, as they blamed her for the crime outbreak and decaying city. An equal number also chose to kick Alameda County District Attorney Pamela out of office as well.
On Monday, an interim mayor, Kevin Jenkins, was selected to take Thao’s empty spot until the special election is held in April.
Despite the change in leadership, Oakland residents are determined to make the illegal dumping ground a high priority for the struggling city.
Oakland officials, who have been trying to tackle the surging issue for some time now, told the outlet they don’t have access to enough resources to fight the trend.
Oakland has continued to be plagued by a ‘graveyard’ of abandoned cars left along the Union Pacific Railroad
A massive ‘graveyard’ of ditched vehicles, including GMC and Ford pickup trucks, cargo vans, sedans and Chevrolet Tahoes have consumed the area for years, and has only gotten worse
What’s more is there is an issue with the location of the dumped cars, as it is technically owned by multiple parties – Union Pacific, Caltrans and Alameda County.
Union Pacific said it previously cleaned up the area in November, and plans to clear the impacted spot out again next week, the Chronicle reported.
Meg Siffring, a spokesperson for Union Pacific, told the outlet the company is currently ‘working on a plan’ with the county and city to clean up the cars.
Meanwhile, the Oakland Police Department said they have towed stranded vehicles, arrested people and installed barriers to try to fight the rising trend.
Despite the department’s best efforts, the police union said they can’t fully clear the slew of vehicles because towing abandoned cars in the city is a job for the transportation department.
In March 2023, 13 people who work for the city’s transportation department took over clearing the vehicles from the police, as ‘technicians’ towed cars. Two support staff and a supervisor were also present.
Although they came in to help, Oakland Police Sgt. Tim Dolan said progress has decreased since the transportation department took over because of training requirements and a heavy workload.
On top of the growing trend, the city has been left in a transitional period as former disgraced Mayor Sheng Thao was recalled by voters in November
Despite the change in leadership, Oakland residents are determined to make the illegal dumping ground a high priority for the depleting city
‘It’s mind-boggling,’ Dolan said. ‘It’s an ongoing issue. But it’s just gotten out of control over the last few years.’
The city previously implemented surveillance cameras in dumping hotspots in 2022 in a bid to catch those abandoning the cars and other items in the junkyards.
A total of 457 incidents were caught on camera from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024, but only 59 were given citations, the outlet reported.
The city was unable to issue more citations because 23 percent of the vehicles did not have license plates on them.
Another 41 percent of all dumping encounters had ‘ineligible’ license plate information.
As of last year, a license plate reader was installed, according to a 2024 city report, obtained by the outlet.
Amidst the growing chaos of stranded vehicles in Oakland, the city has seen a bit of an improvement as recent data revealed that out of 5,000 requests made in the first quarter of the fiscal year, 1,200 vehicles were towed.
Although those vehicles are slowly being cleared, vehicles in the city are being stolen at an alarming rate – nearly doubling in the past two years.
While officials try to figure out their next move, discouraged residents have taken matters into their own hands.
On Monday, an interim mayor, Kevin Jenkins, was selected to take Thao’s empty spot until the special election is held in April
One person who lives at the end of Bernhardt Drive, near the north side of the railroad tracks, put up a chain link fence over the summer to deter people from speeding down their block and driving stolen cars in the community.
In May, another local, Ken Houston, told CBS News: ‘It is getting worse day by day.’
‘I mean you can talk to some of the neighbors on Edes and Cary. This is just one section,’ he said, adding that many people are also intimidated by car thieves and feel ‘hostage in their own home.’
‘Neighbors are hostage in their own home because they are scared to report it because of retaliation,’ Houston explained.
‘One person said they told her “if you report me I’m going to burn down your house with your kids”.’
