Homeless camp ban modeled after San Diego's stalls in California Senate
The California Senate Public Safety Committee shot down a bill banning homeless encampments Tuesday.
State Senator Brian Jones (D-40) based the bill on the city of San Diego Unsafe Camping Ordinance passed in June last year.
Data from the Downtown San Diego Partnership shows a downward trend in the number of unsheltered individuals in the area in the second half of 2023.
"The number of homeless individuals in downtown San Diego has been reduced by over 60% from May 2023 to this March," he said. "We simply cannot continue allowing people to camp at our transit stops or in front of our schools. This is a public health and public safety crisis."
State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-10) said the bill criminalizes homelessness.
“Just because individuals that are unhoused make people uncomfortable does not mean that it should be criminalized, and this bill does that,” she said.
State Senator Brian Jones (D-40) based the bill on the city of San Diego Unsafe Camping Ordinance passed in June last year.
Data from the Downtown San Diego Partnership shows a downward trend in the number of unsheltered individuals in the area in the second half of 2023.
"The number of homeless individuals in downtown San Diego has been reduced by over 60% from May 2023 to this March," he said. "We simply cannot continue allowing people to camp at our transit stops or in front of our schools. This is a public health and public safety crisis."
State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-10) said the bill criminalizes homelessness.
“Just because individuals that are unhoused make people uncomfortable does not mean that it should be criminalized, and this bill does that,” she said.
