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.
LA City Council Votes to Enforce Anti-Camping Ordinance in Westside, parts of NoHo
A worker with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) and activists with Services Not Sweeps help a person experiencing homelessness move a cart with possessions so they are not removed as Los Angeles City Bureau of Sanitation workers conduct a cleanup sweep of a homeless encampment in the Harbor City in January.
(
Patrick T. Fallon
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
The City Council decided Wednesday to enforce its anti-camping law — known as the "41.18 Ordinance" — in the Westside of Los Angeles and to five zones in North Hollywood. That means no sleeping, sitting, and placing personal property within 500 feet of public spaces, including schools and daycares, according to the ordinance.
Why it matters
The decision comes after the election of Traci Park, who represents the 11th district. Her predecessor, Mike Bonin, voted against the ordinance after it was amended last year to expand the anti-camping ordinance to schools and daycares.
Here are the areas where the ordinance will be enforced in the Westside:
- Linnie Canal Park
- Abbot Kinney Memorial Branch Library
- Venice Beach Recreation Center and Boardwalk
- Bill Rosendahl Del Rey Park
- Westchester Recreation Center and Park
- Venice A Bridge Home
- Iowa Safe Parking
- Super 8 Homekey
- Extended Stay Homekey
The ordinance will also apply to five zones in North Hollywood, which are:
- Riverside Drive and 134 Freeway Underpass
- North Hollywood Red/Orange Line Station Active Railway
- North and South Weddington Park Public Park
- Vineland Avenue and 134 Freeway Underpass
- Tujunga Avenue and 101 Freeway Underpass
The vote
The council voted 9 to 4, with councilmembers Nithya Raman, Katy Yaroslavsky, Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Hugo Soto-Martinez in opposition.
Sponsored message
At the meeting, Yaroslavsky, who represents the fifth district, expressed concerns in expanding the ordinance.
"It just blows up encampments and spreads people around. Homelessness has gotten worse in my district. And I don't think that if we're forcing 41.18 without credible offers of housing and services, we're doing what's right," she said.
The majority of public comment supported the ordinance, with voices coming mainly from the Westside of Los Angeles, expressing their safety concerns about seeing encampments pop up. Park reassured the council that her district has the resources to help unhoused residents get off the streets.
"We do have the beds available. We have the resources, and this is something that our community has asked for," Park 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.
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.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
