One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
LA City Council considers banning tents in city parks
Gino Ramirez, from Los Angeles Sanitation Department, picks up blankets during cleanup of the Occupy Los Angeles encampment.
(
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
)
Listen
0:50
LA City Council considers banning tents in city parks
The Los Angeles City Council considers on Wednesday whether to ban the use of tents in city parks. The move comes as the city prepares to re-open City Hall Park, where Occupy L.A. set up hundreds of tents during a two-month protest last fall that left the park in shambles.
“We had a multitude of issues that arose out of the tent issue – health issues, some criminal behavior,” Councilman Richard Alarcon said. During the Occupy protests outside City Hall, police said tents provided cover for criminal acts, although Occupy activists have denied that.
One civil rights lawyer said Occupy L.A. tents may be protected under the First Amendment.
“The United States Supreme Court and other courts have recognized that a tent represents expressive activity,” attorney Carol Sobel said.
Sobel, who has advised Occupy activists, pointed to one ruling that allowed homeless activists to set up tents in Lafayette Park outside the White House. “There is a difference between sleeping and living in the tent and using the tent for expressive activity.”
It’s illegal to camp in L.A. city parks. The proposed ordinance would prohibit setting up tents for any reason. Structures that provide shade for farmers market and other vendors would be allowed.
Alarcon said his motion to ban tents in Parks is supported by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and City Attorney Carmen Trutanich. He said Occupy L.A. and other protestors could still set up tents on sidewalks. “They have the right to do that on sidewalks,” he said.
Sponsored message
Alarcon was referring to a previous federal court ruling that says homeless people in L.A. are allowed to set up tents and sleep on sidewalks between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. In the past, police have removed tents blocking sidewalks during the day.
“By and large, the Occupy folks were very peaceful,” Alarcon said. “But the tents are problematic on parks.”
In response to last year's Occupy L.A. protest, the City Council is also considering shortening the hours City Hall Park is open. Previously, it was open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Councilman Jose Huizar has proposed making the hours 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
