The Los Angeles City Council is expected to pass a controversial ordinance Wednesday to restrict sleeping and homeless camps in certain areas of the city, including within 500 feet of schools, daycare centers, parks and libraries.
Thirteen council members voted to approve the ordinance on July 1But since Council Member Mike Bonin and Council Member Nithya Raman disagreed, the ordinance did not achieve the necessary unanimous approval on its first consideration. On Wednesday, it will only need eight votes to pass.
The ordinance would prohibit sitting, sleeping, lying down, storing personal property, or obstructing the public right of way in various areas of the city, including within two feet of any fire hydrant or fire outlet; within five feet of any operational or usable entrance or exit; within 10 feet of a loading dock or driveway; in a way that interferes with any activity for which the city has issued a permit; in a manner that restricts accessible passage as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act; or anywhere on a street, including bike lanes.
Local homeless advocates raised concerns about how city and county officials are treating the homeless in Venice.
It would also protect the public right-of-way within 500 feet of a “sensitive” facility, including schools, daycare centers, parks, and libraries.
“Some of those nights I slept in the car, some of those nights, when my car was in the shop. I slept on the beach. I can’t tell you how much confusion is in your heart when the sun goes down and you don’t know where to sleep, “Bonin said.
“I can’t tell you how demoralizing, dehumanizing and defeated that experience is when you don’t know where you’re going to sleep,” Bonin said, explaining her decision to vote against the ordinance on July 1, sharing with council members her own homeless experience, saying:
He said the ordinance tells people where they can’t sleep, but it doesn’t tell them where they can sleep.
“That’s what it all comes down to for me … where can people go, where can people sleep when they have no other alternative,” Bonin said.
He added that the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) said Thursday that the city only has enough beds to house 39% of the city’s homeless population.
Aspects of the ordinance
The ordinance would also restrict blocking of public right-of-way once the Los Angeles City Council passes a resolution to do so, posts signs, and provides notice in the following areas:
- up to 500 feet from an overpass, underpass, freeway ramp, tunnel, bridge, pedestrian bridge, subway, wash or extension plot, railroad track, or where staying without shelter or in tents is unhealthy, unsafe, and incompatible with a safe step; Y
- up to 1,000 feet from a facility open after January 1, 2018 that provides shelter, safe rest, secure parking, or homeless navigation centers.
The Los Angeles council has a controversial proposal to deal with the problem of homeless camps.
The ordinance would also allow the city to prevent camps for a period of no more than one year in areas that are considered a continuing threat to public health or safety, including due to:
- death or serious bodily injury to anyone on site due to a dangerous condition;
- Repeated serious or violent crimes or threats of serious or violent crimes, including human trafficking; and
- fires in the place.
By passing a motion on June 29 to request that the city attorney draft the ordinance, the council also directed the city administrative official to develop and implement a Street Engagement Strategy within 30 days to provide people with adequate and available shelter at night, temporary or permanent housing.
The motion also instructed all relevant city departments to minimize engagement between law enforcement and the homeless to:
- ensure that service providers lead the street engagement strategy and that people are offered temporary or permanent housing services, treatment programs, or other available interventions;
- deploy available alternative models to policing, including interventionists and conflict resolution experts; Y
- Limit the participation of law enforcement agencies only when there is criminal behavior or activity and circumstances that pose a serious threat to public health or safety.
Los Angeles City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez is coordinating with LAHSA to conduct outreach activities for the homeless in Brand Park on a weekly basis.
Support and rejection in the community
Several people called the City Council meeting on July 1 to express their support and opposition to the ordinance.
“Implementing restrictions without first providing clarity on how we are engaging homeless residents and where they may ultimately go increases the chances of displacement, further trauma, while putting housing and personal stability out of reach,” said Zachary. Warma, manager of legislative affairs for the Downtown Los Angeles Women’s Center.
He asked the City Council to amend the ordinance so that it depends on the development of “a solid strategy of participation in the street.”
On Tuesday, the Our Future Los Angeles coalition asked the City Council to reject the ordinance, saying that “criminalization of the homeless has no place in LA. We need to make sure everyone has access to safe and stable affordable housing.”
Councilman Paul Krekorian, one of the leaders of the motion to request the ordinance, responded on July 1 to people who alleged the ordinance would criminalize homelessness.
The West Valley area’s second homeless cottage community is available to Tarzana’s most vulnerable residents.
“This ordinance, first of all, does not make homelessness illegal. It does not criminalize homelessness. It does not make any conduct that is fundamental to the human being illegal. What it does do is ensure that we will restore walkable sidewalks, ”Krekorian said. “
Protects users of our public infrastructure and homeless residents of our city from being placed in positions of interaction with cars, around loading docks, driveways, etc. It guarantees access to our fire hydrants, entrances to buildings ”.
Many called the City Council meeting on July 1 to express their support for the ordinance, saying that street camps have gotten out of control.
“It is unacceptable that city leaders allow such camps so close to schools and other enriching places in our city. The impression on young minds is lasting, ” said a caller.
Nicole Mihalka, president of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, called the City Council meeting to qualify the “unsustainable” camps for businesses and children and asked the City Council to pass the ordinance and ensure strict enforcement.
A former parking lot in Echo Park has been converted into a small village to provide temporary housing for at least 74 homeless people.
Presentation of amendments and proposals
Councilmen Mark Ridley-Thomas and Marqueece Harris-Dawson introduced an amendment, which was adopted, to request monthly reports from the police and fire departments, as well as the Bureau of Sanitation on race, gender, location and type of application when produce any application in the city, in accordance with the ordinance ..
The motion to request the ordinance was introduced as a substitute motion to a stricter ordinance bill against the camps that has been stalled in the Poverty and Homeless Committee since November. Councilman Joe Buscaino, who is running for mayor in part in an agenda to enforce anti-camp laws The city council invoked a rarely used rule last Wednesday for the council to withdraw the draft ordinance from the committee.
Councilman Paul Krekorian, who said the draft ordinance would allow for a “draconian response” to homelessness, filed the substitute motion to request the new ordinance with council chairman Nury Martinez and Ridley-Thomas councilors Mitch O ‘ Farrell, Bob Blumenfield and Kevin. of Lion.
Homeless people have invaded various areas of Venice Beach.
The city’s current anti-camp ordinance, which has not been enforced during the COVID-19 pandemic, bans the mayor’s daytime tents from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and resumes enforcement of the current anti-camp ordinance. the camps.
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