Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
Anti-Camping Ordinance Allows Officials To Clear Encampments After Shelter Offer Is Made
The homeless encampment on Rose Avenue along the Penmar golf course in Venice.
(
Chava Sanchez
/
LAist
)
A new anti-camping ordinance went into effect Friday, allowing the city of Los Angeles to clear homeless encampments from certain areas. Officials may only clear the encampments after an offer of shelter is made.
L.A. City Councilmembers determine which areas to target for clearing through resolutions. They may aim for areas near parks, schools, or transportation infrastructure, or areas that they believe pose threats to public health and safety.
L.A. Daily News reporter Liz Chou told our newsroom's AirTalk program that the ordinance gives the city officials a lot of latitude.
“There are limitations, but those … categories could potentially cover a lot of areas,” she said.
Chou added that Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas is attempting to include an outreach strategy with the ordinance, in order to get unhoused people into shelter before any enforcement.
“It's outside the law itself, but the goal is to get that into place, not just for this law, but also for any other efforts around the city to clear encampments,” she said.
A joint statement was issued by L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, the City Council and the L.A. Police Department noting that enforcement will not start until the outreach strategy is in place.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
