FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — The city of Fresno is looking to implement a handful of ordinances, aiming to grant the Fresno City Attorney more power to pursue legal action against violators of its anti-encampment law.
Several cities across the state have already adopted similar measures.
Two cities I spoke with, Palm Springs and Fremont, say the ordinances have helped keep their communities clean and safe, though they acknowledge results can vary from city to city.
Removing a shopping cart from private business property, taking someone else’s trash bin, or camping in public spaces; these are actions that could soon land you behind bars if you’re caught in Fresno.
The proposed ordinances are part of the city’s plan to strengthen enforcement of its anti-encampment laws.
Cities like Fremont in the Bay Area and Palm Springs in Southern California already have similar ordinances on the books.
“Option number one is to go back to wherever you’re from, if you’re not from Palm Springs, and we’d be happy to help you get there. And many took us up on that, almost 100. And then option #2 was we have a navigation center that was built at great expense by the state, the county, and the city of Palm Springs. The third option is jail. And that’s where the ordinance comes in,” said Palm Springs Chief of Police Andrew Miller.
Palm Springs police chief Andrew Mills says the approach has reduced the city’s unhoused population from about 500 people to roughly 80.
“Yeah, if you talk to our residents and our visitors, because we have a large tourist population, as you probably are aware, we have about three and a half million visitors a year just to the city. Everybody says that it’s so much better than it has brought relief,” said Miller.
Up north in Fremont, the ordinance was adopted earlier this year, but officials say enforcement hasn’t been necessary.
“We have not had to use the ordinance as most people comply when they’re asked to move along, especially if they’re in the public right of way, like a roadway, or they’re blocking a sidewalk,” said Geneva Vasquez, Director of Communications in Fremont.
On Thursday Fresno City Council will decide whether to implement similar ordinances.
Both the city of Fremont and Palm Springs say each city may have different results.
“The cities are doing their best to try to find balance in the, you know, in the operational side of how we’re addressing it by trying to identify and provide resources when we can.
Penalties for some of the ordinances, for example, if you’re caught with someone else’s trash can, would be considered a misdemeanor, and you could get charged with a 1-thousand dollar fine or up to 6 months in jail. This city will vote on this tomorrow at 9 am.