Hide Transcript Show Transcript

GROUNDSKEEPERS HAVE GONE TO THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE OF THOSE ATTACKS. IT WAS RIGHT OUTSIDE THE SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE WHERE THE MOST EGREGIOUS ATTACK ALLEGEDLY HAPPENED. A GROUNDSKEEPER WAS USING A BLOWER TO CLEAR DEBRIS, DOWN THE BLOCK FROM A HOMELESS PERSON, WHEN SUDDENLY, HE GOT UP AND -- SUDDENLY, >> HE GOT UP AND PUNCHED MY GROUNDSKEEPER IN THE FACE. MARLEI: ONE OF FIVE ALLEGEDLY VIOLENT ATTACKS THIS YEAR. THAT ONE TOWARDS THE END OF AUGUST. THE MOST RECENT, EARLIER THIS MONTH, NEAR THE VETERANS MEMORIAL. IT WAS STILL DARK OUTSIDE, AROUND 6:30 IN THE MORNING WHEN TWO GROUNDSKEEPERS WERE CLEANING UP FOR A SEPTEMBER 11 EVENT. >> THEY HAPPENED HERE AT THE CAPITAL. MARLEI: THEIR UNION SPOKESWOMAN SAYS THEY STARTED CLEANING A HOMELESS PERSON’S PROPERTY WHEN HE REFUSED. >> HE PROCEEDED TO PUNCH AND SCRATCH ONE OF THE GROUNDSKEEPERS IN THE FACE. MARLEI: THAT EMPLOYEE SUSTAINED SUCH SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA, HE ONLY RETURNED TO WORK TODAY. NOW THE UNION FILED THIS HEALTH AND SAFETY GRIEVANCE WITH THE GROUNDSKEEPER’S DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES, REQUESTING SECURITY, PEPPER SPRAY AND TRAINING. >> OUR GROUNDSKEEPERS ARE NOT TRAINED IN SELF-DEFENSE OR HOW TO DEAL WITH A HOSTILE SITUATION. MARLEI: ONE MOM VISITING THE CAPITOL GARDENS TODAY SAYS SHE ALWAYS BRINGS HER PEPPER SPRAY AND THE GROUNDSKEEPERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO TOO. >> YOU CAN’T COME TO A BEAUTIFUL PLACE LIKE THIS AND PRUNE THE ROSES OR DO YOUR JOB? I MEAN, WHO’S GOING TO DO IT THEN? ARE WE ALL JUST GOING TO HIDE? MARLEI: DEBRA MCDADE HAS BEEN HOMELESS FOR 10 YEARS. >> THIS IS WHERE I GO TO SLEEP AND TAKE A NAP. MARLEI: SHE AGREES THAT THE GROUNDSKEEPERS SHOULD CARRY PEPPER SPRAY BECAUSE SHE SAYS THE PARK, >> NOT VERY SAFE. MARLEI: IN RESPONSE TO THE GRIEVANCE, THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AGENCY AND CHP, WHICH OVERSEES SECURITY AT THE CAPITOL, ISSUED THIS STATEMENT WHICH READS IN PAR

Advertisement Groundskeepers want pepper spray after attacks at California Capitol Share Shares Copy Link Copy

The groundskeepers who maintain the California Capitol are requesting security, pepper spray and training following a string of alleged violent attacks by homeless people.“We are treading on new territory on how to arm our members,” said union spokesperson Brandy Johnson. Johnson, with the International Union of Operating Engineers, said the union filed a grievance with the state’s Department of General Services on Wednesday following five alleged attacks by homeless people this year. “Our groundskeepers are not trained in self-defense or how to deal with a hostile situation,” Johnson said. “They’re there to do the job of cleaning and making the grounds beautiful."The most recent attack allegedly happened earlier this month when two groundskeepers were cleaning the Veterans Memorial along N and 14th streets ahead of a Sept. 11 memorial event. Johnson said the groundskeepers asked a homeless person to remove his belongings. “The individual did not want to, so they began to do it themselves as they’ve been instructed by management,” Johnson said. “That irritated and upset the homeless person. He proceeded to punch and scratch one of the groundskeepers in the face.”According to the union, that groundskeeper sustained such significant trauma that he was out of work until Wednesday. Before that incident, another homeless person allegedly punched a groundskeeper outside of the Secretary of State’s Office near the end of August. “Their focus is to make sure the environment is pretty,” Johnson said. “Now that they have to turn around and protect their backs or be dealt with altercations with the homeless because they have to remove their items, I think they feel extremely vulnerable.”In response to the grievance, the Government Operations Agency and the California Highway Patrol, which oversees security at the Capitol, issued this statement:“Any violent attacks against visitors or staff that work around the Capitol are unacceptable, and taken very seriously. Everyone has a right to a safe and secure working environment. The California Highway Patrol, which oversees security at state buildings, including the State Capitol, is enhancing patrol efforts to ensure the safety and security of staff and members of the public. There are also ongoing referrals to city and county services for resources available to homeless individuals. We will continue to track this issue closely."A spokesperson with the Government Operations Agency would not say whether groundskeepers can now carry pepper spray.