Redwood City Council on Monday passed a ban on homeless encampments, but some say it’s too punitive.
The ban, approved 6-1, allows the homeless living in an encampment to be charged with a misdemeanor if they’ve been given two warnings, decline shelter and that shelter is available.
“This isn’t going to solve homelessness and we’re not going to see the number of encampments drop overnight,” said Councilmember Chris Sturken, the only vote against the ban. “My concern is that we’re setting ourselves up for failure, overpromising and underdelivering.”
The ban was modeled after an ordinance passed by the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, but differs in calling for a smaller penalty of $100 to two-warning violators. Violators can also be placed in jail for up to six months.
Under the ban, most encampments can be removed after two notices and 72 hours later.
In cases where an encampment is within 200 feet of “sensitive areas,” such as schools and the 240-person homeless shelter, the time is reduced to 48 hours.
Of the almost two dozen speakers who spoke, most said they opposed the ban because it criminalized being homeless.
“Our city vision is a community where all people of backgrounds and income levels can thrive, but how can we achieve that if we arrest people just for being unhoused?” said Clara Jaeckel, a member of Faith in Action Bay Area, a group of nonprofits that organize in communities around various issues. “Adding the threat of arrest does nothing to help. Instead, it motivates people to evade contact and refuse to speak with outreach workers.”
Councilmember Isabella Chu said this wasn’t a case where homelessness was being criminalized.
“For a certain segment of the population, housing is necessary, but not sufficient,” she said. “(The ordinance) requires that housing is available … there are multiple offers of housing given, and they’re given a lot of time. There’s a lot of room and discretion to be patient with the person to ensure they’re successful in becoming sheltered.”
Since being passed in January 2024, County Manager Mike Callagy said no citations have been issued for violations related to the county ban.
“We hope to never issue a citation or incarcerate anyone,” Callagy said.
In the city for June, 141 people were considered unsheltered and authorities counted 29 encampments, according to Assistant City Manager Patrick Heisinger. Eighty-eight people are spread across those encampments.
More than $16 million in city and outside funds have been used to address homelessness since 2018, Heisinger said.
A group of residents on bayfront Bair Island backed the ban because of theft and fires they said were caused by the homeless living at nearby encampments.
Tony Crapo, who spoke on behalf of Bair Island neighborhood residents, asked for the neighborhood to be designated as a sensitive area where encampments would be illegal within 200 feet. Over the last three and a half years, 13 fires were caused by encampments, he said. Four of those happened in the last three months.
“The danger to our community is real, it’s growing and it’s unique to our part of the city. Please don’t wait for another tragedy on Bair Island to force your response,” said Crapo. — Bay City News
I was a 5th generation Californian who pulled my family in 2016 because of the crazy policies of the unchecked left politics.
The #1 export from California are high income taxpayers.
I’m fiscally conservative and socially moderate.
Good luck to those staying in California.
When the family buying our old house is paying over $60k a year in property taxes, there is something wrong.
A larger house and property where we relocated is under $5k a year and I’ve got a “rebate” check on taxes 2 out of the 5 last years.