A bill to ban homeless encampments statewide near parks, schools and transportation hubs failed in the identical legislative committee as last yr.
For the second straight day, Democrats voted against a bill Tuesday that aimed to ban homeless encampments near schools, bus stops and other areas across California.
Despite the undeniable fact that cities across the state are grappling with the proliferation of homeless encampments, lawmakers declined to punish squalid residents who sleep on public property.
“Just because unhoused people make people uncomfortable doesn’t mean it should be criminalized. And this bill does that,” said Senator. Aisha Wahab, a Democrat from Fremont and chairman of the Senate Public Safety Committee. “The penalties will only add to their already difficult situation paying for things.”
Senate Bill 1011 stumbled in its first committee hearing and failed within the Public Safety Committee by a 1-3 vote. The Senate GOP leader's measure Brian Jones and Democratic Senator. Catherine Blakespear, each from the San Diego area, would have made camping inside 500 feet of a faculty, open space or major public transit stop a misdemeanor or violation. It also would have banned camping on public sidewalks if beds were available at local homeless shelters.
“I am disappointed by the majority party members on the Senate Public Safety Committee's narrow-minded opposition to new approaches and their knee-jerk support for simply pouring more money into the problem without a real plan,” Jones said in a press release Tuesday. “Today’s continued rejection of real solutions during this health and safety crisis is immoral and irresponsible.”
After the defeat, Jones will proceed to talk with committee members to see if there may be a possibility to barter a path forward for his bill, spokeswoman Nina Krishel said in an email.
Sen. Nancy Skinnera Democrat from Oakland, said she appreciated that Californians don't wish to see encampments but couldn't support the bill.
“It's like trying to make a problem invisible instead of addressing the core of the problem,” said Skinner, who joined Wahab and Sen. Scott Wienera Democrat from San Francisco, voted no.
More than three dozen people voiced opposition to the bill at Tuesday's hearing, speaking on behalf of organizations including the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights and the American Civil Liberties Union California Action.
Supporters of the bill, of which there have been far fewer, included the mayor of Vista and a representative from the town of Carlsbad.
The only “yes” vote got here from the one Republican on the committee, the senator. Kelly Seyarto from Murrieta.
“A lot of people came forward and told us what not to do,” he said. “But what the hell are we supposed to do? Because at the moment we’re not doing anything.”
Sen. Steven Bradforda Democrat from Inglewood, abstained from voting.
Wahab granted reconsideration, meaning the committee could hear the bill again later this session. But last yr an almost an identical bill suffered the identical fate. SB 31, also introduced by Jones, failed within the Senate Public Safety Committee with one “yes” vote, one “no” vote and three abstentions. It was also re-examined but never revived.
Jones also leaned heavily on a brand new camping ban in San Diego, which he said he based his bill on. San Diego's ordinance, which went into effect at the top of July 2023, prohibits camps near schools, shelters and transportation hubs, in parks and, where shelter beds can be found, on public sidewalks. Jones called the ordinance a “success,” a sentiment shared by San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria.
But a CalMatters investigation paints a more complicated picture. While the variety of encampments has declined dramatically in some areas, reminiscent of downtown and near certain schools, they’re still just as prevalent — in some cases much more so — along the town's highways and along river banks. Opponents of the ordinance say it displaces people slightly than housing them.
And Jones' bill failed to duplicate a very important a part of San Diego's approach. When the town began enforcing its encampment ban, it also opened two massive “safe sleep sites” where about 500 people camp in city-purchased tents on vacant lots.
Jones' bill wouldn’t have forced cities to establish shelters for people displaced from the camps because, in his opinion, there is no such thing as a federal funding for that.
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