San Francisco, Grants Pass appeal court bans on clearing, ticketing homeless people

TWO WEST COAST CITIES — ONE LARGE AND ONE SMALL — ARE APPEALING TO THE COURTS — LOOKING FOR RELIEF FROM THEIR CRISES OF HOMELESSNESS.

EACH CITY HAS BEEN BANNED FROM TAKING CERTAIN STEPS TO ADDRESS HOMELESS.

LAST DECEMBER — A FEDERAL JUDGE  BANNED THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO FROM CLEARING HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS UNTIL THERE ARE MORE SHELTER BEDS AVAILABLE THAN THERE ARE HOMELESS PEOPLE IN THE CITY.

LAWYERS FOR THE CITY ARGUED AGAINST THE BAN IN COURT WEDNESDAY.

THE SAN FRANCISCO CITY ATTORNEY SAID BECAUSE OF THE BAN — HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE REFUSING OFFERS OF SHELTER MORE OFTEN.

HE ADDED IT WOULD COST AT LEAST 1-POINT-5 BILLION DOLLARS TO HOUSE EVERY HOMELESS PERSON IN THE CITY.

ON WEDNESDAY — MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE — INCLUDING SAN FRANCISCO MAYOR LONDON BREED — SHOWED UP AT THE 9th CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS — URGING THE COURT TO VACATE THE BAN.

BREED SAID QUOTE — “WE ARE COMPASSIONATE, WE ARE SUPPORTIVE, WE CONTINUE TO HELP PEOPLE, BUT THIS IS NOT THE WAY. ‘ANYTHING GOES IN SAN FRANCISCO’ IS NOT THE WAY.”

MEANWHILE — THE CITY OF GRANTS PASS OREGON IS ASKING THE SUPREME COURT TO DECIDE WHETHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN TICKET HOMELESS PEOPLE FOR SLEEPING ON PUBLIC PROPERTY — OR WHETHER THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT UNDER THE CONSTITUTION.

ACCORDING TO COURT RECORDS — THE CITY OF 38-THOUSAND HAS ANYWHERE FROM 50 TO 600 HOMELESS PEOPLE IN IT.

CITY OFFICIALS SAY A BAN ON GIVING OUT TICKETS HAS CREATED A DIRE SITUATION WITHIN AND AROUND ENCAMPMENTS — AND HAS MADE IT TOUGH FOR OFFICIALS TO DO THINGS LIKE DEAL WITH CRIME AND FIRES IN THE CITY.

THE SUPREME COURT WILL LIKELY DECIDE WHETHER TO HEAR THE CASE EITHER LATER THIS YEAR OR EARLY NEXT YEAR.

THE QUESTION OF WHETHER HOMELESS PEOPLE CAN BE PUNISHED UNDER LAWS DESIGNED TO REGULATE PUBLIC CAMPING AND SLEEPING OUTSIDE IS GROWING IN PROMINENCE — WITH HOMELESSNESS IN THE U-S ON THE RISE SINCE 20-18.

IN 20-19 — THE SUPREME COURT DECLINED TO HEAR A CHALLENGE TO A 9th CIRCUIT RULING THAT HOMELESS PEOPLE COULD NOT FACE CRIMINAL PROSECUTION FOR SLEEPING OUTSIDE.