Fuming San Diego residents lash out at city officials over vagrants living in their cars and RVs in 'family-friendly' neighborhood

Residents of a San Diego suburb known for its seclusion from the busy downtown and beachfront views is furious as a group of vagrants have started living in their cars and RVs on the streets of the neighborhood. 

San Diego County is one of the largest segments of California's homeless population, with more than 10,000. 

Locals in Pacific Beach say that the vagrants have moved from the city's downtown to their neighborhood and are openly defying laws banning them from camping out in their vehicles. 

The homeless are accused of not just camping out but bringing in drugs and leaving their garbage on the streets, ironically right next to signs that tell them they're not allowed to park there. 

Debbie Turnbull, who lives in the area, claims that it's a problem of the city trying to take the homeless out of the downtown area.

Residents of a San Diego suburb known for its seclusion from the busy downtown and beachfront views is furious as a group of vagrants have started living in their cars and RVs on the streets of the neighborhood

Locals in Pacific Beach say that the vagrants have moved from the city's downtown to their neighborhood and are openly defying laws banning them from camping out in their vehicles

The law, known as the Vehicle Habitation Ordinance, also bans them from 500 feet of a residence or school at any time

'It's not as family-friendly anymore,' Turnbull told NBC San Diego about the ritzy neighborhood, which she calls 'a soft place to land.'

She added that these people are not just camping out during the day but spending the night as well.

'We don't like to take our dogs or animals out to walk at night because you don't feel safe. You don't know what's going on over there,' Turnbull said. 

Those in protest cite a law that isn't being enforced that prohibits people from living in their vehicle on a street or public property from 9pm to 6am local time.

The law, known as the Vehicle Habitation Ordinance, also bans them from 500 feet of a residence or school at any time.

The city, residents say, is simply not enforcing the law, giving those parked a chance to leave before being ticketed. 

A spokesperson for the city's Democrat Mayor, Todd Gloria, says they're looking for a permanent solution that can allow for what they call 'safe parking' while protecting locals.

'The city is actively working to create more Safe Parking options. In addition to enabling people to park overnight and sleep in their vehicles without risk of citation, Safe Parking provides access to services and case management to help them work toward permanent housing,' Rachel Laing said in a statement. 

Debbie Turnbull, who lives in the area, claims that it's a problem of the city trying to take the homeless out of the downtown area

Those in protest cite a law that isn't being enforced that prohibits people from living in their vehicle on a street or public property from 9pm to 6am local time

The homeless are accused of not just camping out but bringing in drugs and leaving their garbage on the streets, ironically right next to signs that tell them they're not allowed to park there

The city, residents say, is simply not enforcing the law, giving those parked a chance to leave before being ticketed

According to recent tabulations, San Diego County has more than 10,000 individuals who are either fully unhoused or in transitional housing. 

One San Diego leader proposed paying residents on the brink of losing their homes $1,500 each to help nearly 1,000 individuals avoid homelessness. 

Last year, the city opened the first of two 'safe-sleeping' areas in just weeks after the San Diego City Council voted to ban homeless encampments.

Mayor Gloria announced the plan to open the areas in June as a way to combat the city's homeless crisis, which has been exacerbated by opioids.

The city's leaders have spoken out in the past about the need for sites like that in an effort to get people off of the streets.

Last year, DailyMail.com reported on a homeless woman from San Diego who said that vagrants in the city are 'spoiled' with free phones, food and clothes.

The city is also dealing with a massive overflow from the migrant crisis at the US-Mexico border.