Lompoc Ordinances Ahead of Governor’s Escalation of Efforts to Clear Encampments
Jarrod Zinn
LOMPOC, Calif. – Governor Newsom announced this morning an escalation to the state’s efforts in combating homelessness, especially in visible public spaces.
Governor Gavin Newsom is urging cities and counties across the state to clear encampments.
He is releasing over $3 billion in voter-approved funds to help with enforcement and services.
“We stepped up a while ago to put these ordinances to play the urban camping ordinance, as well as the resolution in the city, in the riverbed,” says Lompoc mayor James Mosby.
Mayor Mosby says his city is ahead of the curve after passing an ordinance making urban camping illegal back in March.
“I guess we were a little ahead of Newsom in this matter. I think if you look at the north end of town, you’ll see most of those camps are cleaned up, and it’s happening. It’s happening fast,” says Mayor Mosby.
Ordinances like these were typically struck down as unconstitutional, until a Supreme Court ruling paved the way for stricter enforcement, even in places that lack shelter space and housing for homeless people.
“We share the governor’s concern that we can’t allow people just to migrate into encampments. It presents a danger to the community. There have been, you know, fires started because of people trying to warm themselves in encampments,” says John Polanskey, director of development at HASBARCO (Housing Authority of Santa Barbara County).
Lompoc is also incentivizing the development of more assistive housing facilities.
The council approved an ordinance at its last meeting to reduce the impact fees associated with land development.
“It’s just not a bunch of meanies out there, we’re trying to get em the help they need,” says Mayor Mosby.
Newsom also has a template ordinance he hopes local leaders adopt, emphasizing prohibitions on such things as persistent camping in one location and anything that blocks sidewalks, as well as urging law enforcement to offer shelter and services before cleaning camps out.