With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
California sues city of Norwalk over homeless shelter ban that Gov. Newsom called ‘immoral’

California housing officials are now suing Norwalk, following through on warnings that a local ban on homeless shelters would land the city in court.
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Monday, alleges that Norwalk officials violated a number of state housing laws when they voted in August to pass a temporary ban on shelters and housing projects for unhoused people. After state officials said the policy was illegal, the City Council voted again to extend the ban by more than 10 months.
Rob Bonta, California’s attorney general, said in a news conference that the lawsuit was a last resort. “We would prefer that Norwalk simply follow the law,” he said. “But they have chosen. It is their choice. They've decided to willingly, intentionally and deliberately violate the law.”
Norwalk officials did not immediately respond to LAist’s request for comment.
The backstory
The legal action ratchets up a conflict that has already led to officials in Sacramento revoking certification of Norwalk’s state-mandated plan for accommodating new housing. By taking that action, the state has taken away streams of state homelessness and housing funding and the city’s ability to stop large-scale housing projects proposed through the “Builder’s Remedy.”
Norwalk’s City Council moved to ban permits for new homeless shelters and supportive housing based on the premise that such developments posed a threat to public health and safety. The ban also applies to laundromats, payday loan businesses and liquor stores.
Margarita Rios, the city’s mayor, previously told LAist that local officials know the needs of the community better than those serving in statewide office.
The larger trend
State officials have grown increasingly impatient with what they see as stubborn NIMBYism (an acronym that stands for “Not In My Backyard”) from elected leaders in a number of cities across the state.
California has won court battles against Huntington Beach over the city’s efforts to bypass a state law requiring local governments to plan for more housing. In Northern California, the city of Elk Grove recently settled with the state in a lawsuit over alleged fair housing violations.
“The Norwalk city council’s failure to reverse this ban, despite knowing it is unlawful, is inexcusable,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement on the latest in this round of housing lawsuits. “No community should turn its back on its residents in need.”
What happens next
Bonta acknowledged that it could take months before a judge reaches a decision in the Norwalk case. He said the goal is to require the city to overturn its ordinance banning projects for unhoused residents, and to send a message to other cities that they will also face legal challenges if they attempt to enact similar policies.
“My office will continue to use the full force of the law to ensure Californians have a place to call home,” Bonta said.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.

-
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care.
-
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings.
-
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases.
-
Distrito Catorce’s Guillermo Piñon says the team no longer reflects his community. A new mural will honor local leaders instead.
-
The program is for customers in communities that may not be able to afford turf removal or water-saving upgrades.
-
More than half of sales through September have been to corporate developers. Grassroots community efforts continue to work to combat the trend.