LOS ANGELES (AP) — In the first use of new laws that passed earlier this year, Los Angeles has approved a ban on camping at dozens of locations across the city.
In a 12-2 vote, the City Council on Wednesday outlawed sitting, sleeping and lying at 54 spots in three of its districts, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The council enacted the new camping rules amid contentious debate last summer. They regulate sitting, sleeping and storing property near fire hydrants, building entrances, driveways, libraries, parks, elementary schools and elsewhere.
The council also asked that resources for outreach to homeless residents be expanded and for city departments to draft procedures to ensure people sleeping on the sidewalk aren’t forced to move without notice. Though some new procedures have been drafted, the city has yet to hire the staff to provide more outreach to accompany the new rules, according to the Times.
That worried several council members, who said their colleagues were rushing the process and should wait until there were more resources to help people.
“I am certain that a lot of work has been done, but it still isn’t to the level of what we committed to as a body,” said Councilman Mike Bonin, who helped engineer the removal of campers from Venice Beach over the summer.