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Mayor Garcetti Plans To Block Harsh Crackdown On Homeless
Facing an uphill battle (Photo by Ryo Chiba via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
Mayor Garcetti plans to block the enforcement of strict new measures that target homeless camps until changes can be made to make them more humane.
The mayor initially supported two ordinances that made it easier for law enforcement to break up homeless camps and remove personal property from parks and sidewalks. But yesterday Garcetti changed his stance , saying that though he will allow the harsh policies to become law without his signature, he will order city departments not to carry out aggressive sweeps on the homeless. He said he plans to block enforcement until safeguards can be added to better protect the homeless and their belongings.
The ordinances, passed by the City Council last week, reduce the warning time for homeless individuals to move their possessions from 72 hours to just 24 before they can be seized or destroyed in the case of large items. Violators could be ticketed or in some cases charged with a misdemeanor. The mayor's proposed amendments would remove the misdemeanor penalty, better clarify when property is considered unattended, and removes medications and documents from the list of items that can be forcibly removed. According to a statement from the mayor's office the current ordinances do “not adequately achieve the proper balance” between keeping the streets clean and protecting the rights of people.
And while Garcetti's proposals soften the strict measures, critics like retired UCLA law professor Gary Blasi, argue that they are "purely cosmetic" and won't "change the practical effect at all." Blasi contends that the city is not doing enough to proactively end homelessness and instead choosing policies of force and intimidation .
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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
