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08/11/2022

LA City Council Votes To Outlaw Homeless Camps Near Schools, Day Care Centers

The 11-3 vote came after a tense meeting interrupted by protesters, resulting in one arrest and two police officers getting injured.

by Marita Vlachou. Huffington Post Aug 11, 2022, 09:58 AM EDT

Homeless people will be banned from setting up camps within 500 feet of schools and day care centers in Los Angeles, following a tense City Council meeting.

The 11-3 vote came after the session was interrupted by protesters, resulting in two police officers getting injured and one arrest, according to the Los Angeles Times. Last week, protesters had interrupted another session discussing tightening encampment rules.

Council President Nury Martinez condemned the protesters’ move, saying it was inching “one step closer” to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection in Washington.

“We cannot legislate in fear,” Martinez said.

Earlier this year, Alberto M. Carvalho, superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, and some middle school parents argued for tighter measures around encampments near schools.

“I’ve seen elementary schools with conditions that none of us as parents would find acceptable for our children: individuals with mental illness, some of them absolutely unclothed, shouting profanities to the listening ear of children,” Carvalho told City Council members, according to the LA Times.

However, the measure has also faced strong criticism from those who argue it does nothing to address homelessness in the city. READ MORE HERE:

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