Unsafe-camping ordinance makes its way to San Diego

San Jose mayor Matt Mahan drew backlash for establishing no encampment zones as a priority in March's city budget. Some needlessly worried the ordinance—borne out of “humanitarian” safety and dignity concerns—illegalizes homeless folks. On 6.13, the San Diego City Council voted 5–4 on a similar law, citing the need for safer areas around schools, shelters, and in parks. From the La Jolla Light.

The San Diego City Council voted 5-4 on June 13 to adopt a controversial policy to ban homeless encampments on public property after hearing hours of public testimony.

The ordinance, proposed by Councilman Stephen Whitburn, was supported by him and council members Joe LaCava, whose District 1 includes La Jolla, Marni von Wilpert, Jennifer Campbell and Raul Campillo.

Mayor Todd Gloria also supported what backers referred to as an unsafe-camping ordinance, with Gloria and Whitburn saying it would address a public safety issue while helping to get homeless people off the streets and into a shelter and connected to services.

The ordinance would prohibit encampments on public property, and people could be cited or arrested if they refuse an available shelter bed. The ordinance was written to be in accord with a federal court ruling in Martin v. Boise that prohibits a person from being cited for sleeping outside if no shelter beds are available.

But in one of the more controversial aspects of the ordinance, encampments would be banned in many areas because of public safety concerns, even if no shelter beds are available. That ban would be in place two blocks from existing shelters or schools and in all city parks, riverbeds, waterways, trolley stops and transportation hubs.

Encampment bans in those areas also would not follow a settlement the city agreed to years ago that allows people to sleep in public areas from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Under the ordinance, camping in areas seen as a public safety issue would be prohibited around the clock.

This article originally appeared in the La Jolla Light. Read the whole thing here.

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