It’s been a month since two ordinances went into effect that shorten the time homeless people have to clear out their belongings after being asked to move, but concern from some about how the new laws affect the homeless community hasn’t ebbed.
The Los Angeles City Council’s homelessness committee met Wednesday night to consider dialing back the ordinances a bit at the suggestion of Councilman Mike Bonin, who would like to see the misdemeanor for violators who refuse to move eliminated, among other tweaks. Advocates for the homeless say police are citing older ordinances when dismantling the camps but using the tactics of the new ones.
The two ordinances, one dealing with encampments on streets and sidewalks and the other with parks, became law after Mayor Eric Garcetti refused to sign or veto them. He instead asked that enforcement of the laws be delayed until they could be further discussed and tweaked.
Guests:
Gale Holland, reporter for the L.A. Times covering homelessness and poverty. She was at last night’s meeting of the homelessness committee
Pete White, founder and co-director of the Los Angeles Community Action Network