LONG BEACH : Council Acts to Outlaw Sleeping in Public Areas
The Long Beach City Council Tuesday took the first step to make it illegal for the local homeless population to sleep overnight in public areas.
The council unanimously voted to ask the city attorney’s office to draft an ordinance that would ban overnight camping or sleeping on public property.
The move comes as city management adopts a get-tough policy with homeless encampments. While local authorities have in the past tolerated various small homeless camps on the western edge of downtown, city workers last month started cleaning out the settlements, telling the homeless to move on or go to shelters.
“The purpose is to have them removed and placed somewhere where they can get help if they want help,” said Councilman Wallace Edgerton, who introduced the motion.
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