An unhoused man says he transformed an eyesore near a South Bay freeway only to have his improvements swept by Caltrans.
Now, that man and his 19-year-old special needs son say they’re left with next to nothing.
Miguel Maruyama set up a nativity scene for the holidays but Friday morning, it was taken down by Caltrans crews.
Maruyama said he’s lived next to this freeway with his son after losing his job and being evicted.
“I was homeless for two months already,” Maruyama said.
Maruyama said the 280 southbound on ramp area in San Jose near 7th and Virginia streets was filled with trash when he first came, so he worked to beautify it.
“Me and my son, we cleaned the whole area. We planted a total of 130 bushes, trees, palm trees, flowers,” Maruyama said.
Along with the plants, he also brought in several birds and in October set up an ofrenda for Dia de los Muertos.
It was around then that he first got notice that Caltrans planned to sweep the area.
The news got a lot of attention and Caltrans didn’t end up sweeping it when it said it would, so Maruayma put up a nativity scene. This time though, Caltrans followed through with its notice.
“I didn’t believe that they were gonna actually, you know, do the way they did it,” he said.
In a statement, Caltrans said that the encampment clearing was originally planned prior to Halloween but postponed until Friday. It said notice was given to local partners for outreach.
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Advocates say they’ve worked to get Maruyama services, but the process has been slow.
“Here’s a family that’s been out here for less than 90 days. They have special needs and we’re saying why can’t you house them rapidly rather than leave them outside with special needs that prevent them from going into a large shelter environment,” said advocate Shaunn Cartwright. “There should be exceptions, and this would be an exception. And so right now, the system failed this family.”
In its statement, Caltrans said Maruyama’s belongings are being held for 60 days and that contact info on how to get it back was provided.
Maruyama says he’s not even sure if his belongings are intact after the way they were handled Friday morning.
“I can see with my own eyes, how they started destroying everything, they took everything that I have,” Maruyama.
Maruyama says he’s not sure what’s next for him and his son he setup a GoFundMe page and is working on selling the plants that Caltrans left behind.
The removal of an unhoused man’s nativity scene in San Jose by Caltrans crews highlights ongoing tensions around public space, homelessness, and community expression. For the man, the nativity scene likely served as a meaningful, personal expression and symbol of hope, particularly during challenging times. Its removal underscores the need for more compassionate and effective solutions that address both the material and emotional needs of unhoused individuals. This incident draws attention to the broader conversation about homelessness in San Jose, emphasizing the importance of balancing public space management with empathy and respect for personal dignity.
The dismantling of an unhoused man’s nativity scene by Caltrans in San Jose reflects the complex challenges of homelessness and the use of public spaces for personal expression. For the man who created it, the nativity scene likely held deep emotional and symbolic significance, offering a sense of hope and spiritual connection amid difficult circumstances. Its removal by authorities highlights the limitations of current approaches to homelessness, which often focus on clearing encampments rather than addressing underlying needs. This incident calls attention to the need for more compassionate, community-based strategies that honor the dignity and humanity of unhoused individuals while working toward long-term housing and support solutions.