New regulations in Fullerton impact public spaces and homeless individuals.
The Fullerton City Council has enacted an ordinance that restricts camping and loitering, deeming it illegal to sit or lie on city benches and sidewalks. This measure follows the Supreme Court’s decision empowering local governments to regulate homeless encampments. While some see it as a necessary move for public safety, advocates argue it further marginalizes the homeless community. Despite the stricter laws, local authorities emphasize a focus on outreach and support for unhoused individuals, indicating a continued effort to find solutions to homelessness.
In a significant move, the Fullerton City Council has voted 3-2 to tighten its grip on anti-camping and loitering laws. With this latest ordinance, it will now be illegal to lie down on bus benches, sit on sidewalks, or even place bags down on medians. This decision comes hot on the heels of a Supreme Court ruling from last year, which affirmed the power of local governments to implement bans on homeless encampments.
Fullerton isn’t alone in this approach. Over two dozen cities throughout California have followed suit by enacting similar anti-camping laws since the landmark ruling in the case of Grants Pass v. Johnson. This ruling essentially reversed a previous lower court decision that indicated individuals couldn’t be penalized for sleeping on the streets when there were no available shelter options. This has opened the floodgates for cities grappling with homelessness to take measures they deem necessary.
For Fullerton, this law is particularly poignant given its storied history with homelessness. The situation intensified after the tragic death of Kelly Thomas in 2011, a man without a home who was beaten to death by local police. The fallout from this incident included multi-million dollar settlements for Thomas’s family, although the officers involved were ultimately cleared of criminal wrongdoing. Following this event, Fullerton settled a lawsuit in 2019 mandating the city enhance its shelter capacity and provide services to the unhoused before resorting to any arrest tactics.
As with many legislative moves, the introduction of these new anti-camping laws has sparked controversy. Advocates for the unhoused are sounding the alarm, calling the new restrictions a worrying regression in the fight for homeless rights. They argue that criminalizing everyday actions like sitting or lying down only worsens the plight of those without homes.
On theFlip side, supporters, including some council members, argue that these changes are essential for public safety. They believe that having guidelines and structures in place can lead to a cleaner, safer environment for residents and visitors alike. However, there are voices of concern among the Council, with members like Ahmad Zahra expressing fears that the law might be too broad, setting the stage for possible profiling.
In light of these changes, Fullerton’s police chief has made it clear that officers will still prioritize outreach efforts. Before handing out citations or making arrests, they plan to offer services to the unhoused community. This approach seems to suggest a softer touch, even as stricter laws are now on the books.
In conjunction with the enactment of the new laws, city leaders are also looking at ways to expand their motel voucher program. The goal is to extend assistance beyond just families and seniors, ensuring that more unhoused individuals can find temporary shelter. This multifaceted approach demonstrates that while laws are changing, the city is still keen on providing support and finding solutions to homelessness.
The anti-camping laws introduced in Fullerton are part of a larger state-wide shift triggered by the Supreme Court ruling. Cities across California are divisively reacting to this trend, with opinions split on the effectiveness of such measures in addressing homelessness. As Fullerton takes this step forward, it’s clear that the conversation surrounding homelessness continues to evolve, bringing with it both challenges and responses in a quest for effective solutions.
Big Changes Coming to Fullerton with Anti-Camping Laws
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