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Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua on Tuesday proposed a new ordinance aimed at taking stronger action against homeless encampments in the name of keeping communities clean and safe, she said.
“We don’t want you defecating on our streets. We don’t want you attacking children in our communities. We don’t want you injecting drugs at our bus stops.” Amezcua spoke of residents living in camps without shelter. “We need to clean up the city.”
The proposed ordinance would ban sleeping in tents, public restrooms, benches and cars. People will also be restricted from staying in civic centers and public parks between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., and access to buildings and sidewalks will be blocked.
The mayor said enforcement will prioritize schools, parks and residential areas.
Amezcua pointed to the city’s two shelters, which have a combined capacity of 600 beds. But according to the latest homeless counts, there are 871 people living unsheltered in Santa Ana, meaning more than 200 people are unsheltered.
“Our city pretty much demonizes people like the homeless,” Santa Ana resident Anthony Delgado said. “So they’re trying to get them out of the way because if they don’t fix the problem, our city will look dirty.”
Santa Ana isn’t the only Orange County city trying to crack down on camping. The cities of Anaheim, Newport Beach, San Clemente and Aliso Viejo have amended their anti-camping laws following a Supreme Court ruling that allows cities to fine and arrest people who camp or camp.
Amezcua stressed that his proposal is not aimed at incarcerating unhoused individuals, but does address those who refuse services.
“There are organizations out there that we can refer to, but if we continue to be on the streets and refuse any kind of service, we hope that we will be cited for guidance, which could be a misdemeanor,” she said. . “But are we going to fill the prisons? No, we’re not.”
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