March 19, 2024 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

LA City Council Approves Expanded Anti-Camping Ordinance

Bonin one of three not votes in expansion of LAMC section 41.18

Los Angeles City Council has banned homeless encampments within 500 feet of schools and day-care centers, among other locations. The motion passed 11-3, with Councilmember Mike Bonin, Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Nithya Raman voting against the ban. 

On Tuesday, August 9, the second and final vote to extend section 41.18 of Los Angeles Municipal Code (Los Angeles’ anti-encampment rule) came before the Los Angeles City Council. The second vote was necessary because the first vote was not unanimous.

There was another protest in council chambers and two arrests, but after a recess, activists left the chambers and the City Council meeting. After comments from city council members, the vote was taken. During the city council members’ portion of public comment, a number of council members were recognized and spoke including Councilmembers Mike Bonin and Joe Buscaino. 

Under the anti-camping rule, areas in which camping are prohibited include within 2 feet of any fire hydrant, within 5 feet of any operational entrance or exit and within 10 feet of a loading dock or driveway. The ordinance also allows the Council to include, by resolution, areas within 500 feet of a range of locations, including overpasses, underpasses, freeway ramps, tunnels, bridges, pedestrian bridges, subways, washes or spreading grounds, railroad tracks, schools, daycare facilities, parks and libraries, and any placed deemed to be a threat to public health or safety. 

In addition, Council can pass resolutions to prohibit sleeping within 1000 feet of any homeless shelter opened since 2018. 

City Councilmember Mike Bonin said, “I submit, as I have before, that this issue is misguided energy and that what we are going to do is a lack of strategy, a lack of tactics and, as Mr. Koretz said, unthinkable. The two people who spoke said, yes, of course, this isn’t going to solve homelessness, no one thing does and that we’re going to have to do a bunch of things. The fact of the matter is that this is going to make the problem worse. This is going to disconnect people from services. This is going to channel our time, our money and our energy into moving people around instead of moving people inside. It is actually harmful. 

I don’t think that the Council has done its due diligence on this issue at all. At least when Mr. Buscaino attempted this last year, which I opposed, there were specific addresses listed. On this, we don’t have a map, we have not done any study of how comprehensive and how impactful this will be…I cannot for the life of me figure out how this is consistent with the Boise Decision and I cannot for the life of me figure out at all how this is consistent with the settlement of the Alliance case that the Council has entered into. I will close by just saying this: every time we discuss this issue it is a waste of time and energy and attention and by approving this ordinance, you are guaranteeing that you are going to be back into conversations over lawsuits and settlements and what the city can and cannot do and that is what the time and energy and focus will be and you are going to be discussing 41.18 like a nightmare Groundhog Day for years and years to come. 

City Councilmember Joe Buscaino said, “Boy, has the tide turned. Thank you, Mr. Cedillo and Mr. Bonin for recognizing this effort. A year ago, I heard loud and clear, from parents, faculty, from a number of schools. Not only in my district, but throughout the city. In my district Normont Elementary School, in CD 8, Miller Elementary School, 118th Elementary School, Barratt Elementary School, Marka Middle School, Joiner Elementary School…We’re not making this up here. Members, thank you. I anticipate that this will pass today. Thank you on behalf of the students, the parents, the teachers, the administrators, and Mr. Carvallo, who had the backbone to come here as a new Superintendent of Schools, demanding that we take action. This is an issue of restoring order and safety among our most precious sites in the city of Los Angeles. Our school sites. Our students are already traumatized with social-economic issues let alone. They should not be exposed to sex acts, they should not be exposed to drug use, they should not be exposed to psychotic behavior that has taken place right next to our schoolyards. But here is another challenge, this will pass, but it is now up to us to hold the people in this building accountable for enforcing 41.18 at our school sites. And a school is a school is a school. You don’t need a sign to indicate where a school is located anywhere in the city of Los Angeles. A daycare is a daycare is a daycare facility. You don’t need a sign to indicate where a daycare facility is. And lastly members, 41.18, if you want to see how useful 41.18 is and how effective it is, come to my district. We have actually saved lives for ensuring that people have a choice to make. Go into an available bed, get help, or if it’s not your choice to get help, move along. We owe it to everyone, not only our residents, our businesses, but to those who need the most help among us.”

in News
Related Posts

Time is Running Out To Give Public Input on Malibu’s Revised Housing Element

March 18, 2024

March 18, 2024

City Asks Residents to Comment on Strategies for Addressing Housing Needs The City of Malibu has released an updated Revised...

Fatal Crash Claims Life of Woman on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu

March 18, 2024

March 18, 2024

Accident Victim Identified in Thursday Night Accident A woman tragically lost her life in a Thursday evening crash along the...

California Wildlife Center Responds to Distressed Marine Mammal at Little Dume Beach

March 18, 2024

March 18, 2024

Third Gray Whale Stranding of 2024 Prompts Concern in Malibu On the morning of Saturday, March 16, the California Wildlife...

Woman Drives Car In Ocean After High Speed Police Chase

March 18, 2024

March 18, 2024

Law enforcement officers pursued her along the I-110 and I-405 until she reached the vicinity of Venice Beach A woman...

Santa Monica Authorities Seek Public’s Help After Sexual Assault Incident

March 17, 2024

March 17, 2024

SMPD Urges Anyone With Information to Come Forward Authorities in Santa Monica are seeking information from the public after a...

FBI Seeks Victims of Alleged Online Exploitation Scheme Allegedly Run by Resident of Santa Monica

March 17, 2024

March 17, 2024

Individuals Urged to Come Forward in Investigation of John Douglas Burch The FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office is urging individuals to...

(Video) Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD Responds to News of Nex Benedict’s Cause of Death

March 15, 2024

March 15, 2024

Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD, responds to the release of the Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Ruling on Nex...

Venice Family Clinic Announces Inaugural HEART Gala to Celebrate Health and Art

March 15, 2024

March 15, 2024

Event Honors Creative Community and Supporters of Vital Health Care Services Venice Family Clinic, a non-profit community health center dedicated...

“Love Lies Bleeding” is Ripped: Actress Katy O’Brian Talks Love, Sex, and Vulnerability

March 15, 2024

March 15, 2024

Katy O’Brian is a Breakout Star Who Shines in Loving and Hilariously Violent Crime Film English film director Rose Glass’...

Pacific Park on Santa Monica Pier Sold to SC Holdings, $10M Investment Planned

March 14, 2024

March 14, 2024

The Cultural Institution Set for Exciting Upgrades Santa Monica Amusements LLC (SMA), the operating group of Pacific Park on the...

Woman Returns $1K Worth of Stolen Items After Store Finds Her Social Media Account

March 14, 2024

March 14, 2024

For the Owner, the Incident Is Perhaps Indicative of an Environment at the Palisades Village Where Smaller Businesses Are More...

LAPD Identify Suspect Who Struck 6-Year-Old Girl Last Weekend

March 14, 2024

March 14, 2024

An Arrest Was Made Following “Another Incident” in Venice By Zach Armstrong  The Los Angeles Police have identified Ahsante Lamar...

SMC to Host Free Screening of West Coast Hip Hop Documentary

March 14, 2024

March 14, 2024

Free Presentation Includes Audience Q&A with Hip Hop Icons Santa Monica College (SMC) is set to host a complimentary screening...

IRS Launches Direct File Pilot of Free Filing Tool for Taxpayers in California, 11 Other States

March 14, 2024

March 14, 2024

Free, Convenient Online Tax Filing Option Now Available for Eligible Individuals The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced the official launch...

SMPD Arrests Man Who Allegedly Attacked Girlfriend, Brandished Replica Firearm at Her Daughter

March 13, 2024

March 13, 2024

The Man Faces Charges of Felony Domestic Violence and Misdemeanor Child Abuse A suspect is in custody after a domestic...