Over 4,600 automobiles and RVS remained in usage as living quarters this year in Los Angeles, an increase that has actually sparked bitter grievances that homeless individuals are taking up limited street parking, disposing garbage and bringing enhanced crime and security threats into neighborhoods.
A federal appeals court in 2015 struck down the city’s ban on automobile dwelling, calling it an invite to victimize the poor. Now, exactly what could be a new legal fight with homeless advocates is shaping up as the City Council is positioned Friday to embrace a brand-new restriction that could link enforcement to providing limited parking for homeless individuals to sleep in their vehicles.
At the town’s homelessness and poverty committee Wednesday, Councilman Mike Bonin proposed disallowing homeless people from “lodging” in cars parked by homes and schools, while enabling them to oversleep their vehicles and campers from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. in industrial areas and in designated city, nonprofit company and church lots.
Bonin stated his proposition could prevent a more sweeping ban and avoid repeating what he called “absurd and pathetic” situations of the past, when police would ask individuals to get out of their automobiles to sleep on the walkways.
Legal advocates affirmed that the revised restriction, which would consist of a misdemeanor charge, would criminalize the poor.
“They are the working poor, and we need to not make them criminals,” stated civil liberties attorney Carol Sobel, who represented Venice automobile residents in the lawsuit that caused the old restriction being overturned.
“I sense we’re most likely to get sued,” Bonin stated, to applause from the largely anti-ban audience.
Bonin stated “there is a great possibility the council will pass some version” of a ban.
