At its last meeting, the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association welcomed a new neighbor. On Aug. 11, Carol Rossebo was officially added to the association board, which meets monthly at the Willow Glen Methodist Church at the corner of Minnesota and Newport avenues.

However, members also voiced concerns over another set of new neighbors that might not be so welcome—a group of transients who have set up camp on Almaden Road near the Almaden Expressway and Almaden River.

Lt. Ted Vasquez assured the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association that the San Jose Police Department is aware of the issue and is keeping an eye out for disturbances. But he also added that the issue is a sensitive one and the police department has to be careful not to violate the rights of the homeless people. Unless the vagrants create disturbances, the police department cannot remove them from the area.

"A lot of them are good people," he said, "but there are some undesirables. Some don't want the help. One of the goals of the Western Division is to monitor the situation and attend to any problems that may arise."

He cited the example of one homeless person who blocks the sidewalk in downtown Willow Glen, which forces pedestrians to walk in the street.

"This is a safety issue, and we'll take care of it," he said.

—Meghan O'Hare