Following the example of several other cities in southern California, the Municipal Council of Hermosa Beach voted on Tuesday to adopt an anti-camping policy for all public areas in order to maintain the city a “safe health environment”.
The new policy repeals the previous code, which has prohibited camping only in parks and the beach. To combat the homeless crisis, cities in southern California have recently adopted camping policies in all public areas after last year’s US Supreme Court decision, which allows cities more authority to regulate homeless camps.
Since the decision, Long Beach, Indio, Palm Springs and other cities in southern California have adopted similar rules.
The new prescription for Hermosa Beach will work with a program implemented by the city intended to help anyone who knows the roaming to find a shelter instead of sleeping at the beach or in the parks, depending on the city.
The breakdown of the new policy will lead to a fine that does not exceed $ 100 for the first violation, $ 200 for the second and $ 500 for any additional violation.
The defenders of the homeless say that such policies drain the resources of the city and that the fines against camping in the streets make it more difficult for the homeless to afford housing.
“No community in the country has enough resources to serve everyone who lives homeless,” Ann Oliva, director general of the National Alliance to End Homelessness last year.
In most of the County of Los Angeles, the homeless population should continue to decrease for a second consecutive year, according to a recent report by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. The agency provides for a decrease of 5% to 10% when a complete statistical analysis is completed in the coming months.
“The resulting final order prohibits not only camping in all public places, but also has more application options to ensure that Hermosa beach remains a safe and health environment for all,” said Mayor Dean François.
Under the new law, the municipal director can reject a quote to the offender by the offender of a hijacking program.
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