San Diego state senators from both sides of the aisle joined forces on Tuesday to introduce a bill to compassionately clear homeless encampments in California.
Minority Leader Brian Jones of Santee and Democrat Catherine Blakespear of Encinitas joined other legislators in Sacramento to pitch Senate Bill 1011, a measure to compassionately clear the state’s persistent encampments.
The legislation, modeled after San Diego’s successful Unsafe Camping Ordinance, would prohibit encampments within 500 feet of sensitive community areas such as schools, parks and transit stops, as well as on sidewalks, while providing individuals with a 72-hour warning before clearing.
Law enforcement would be required to provide information about sleeping alternatives, homeless shelters and mental health services before clearing.
“Californians should not have to tolerate the encampments that now fill our open spaces with trash, needles, and human waste,” said Jones. “We know that clearing encampments is possible when there is the political will to do so.
“Our bipartisan SB 1011 will help compassionately clear encampments, clean up California, and protect public safety and health,” he said.
Blakespear, who is the principal co-author of the bill, said, “Public spaces are not living spaces. People deserve to live inside, and the public deserve to use their parks, sidewalks and streets as they were designed. This bill is a step toward creating that reality.”
Californians can sign a petition in support of the measure online.
