Sacramento County supervisors voted to advance two anti-camping ordinances at Wednesday’s board of supervisors meeting. It will be officially approved in two weeks, on August 23rd.
Supervisors vowed that the ordinances would only be enforced when necessary. However, the final approval of the two ordinances could lead to the clearing of homeless encampments along the Dry Creek Parkway, under bridges, on the shores, and in the fields.
These ordinances were highly supported by Rio Linda Elverta residents. Some of the local organizations that mailed letters in support of the new laws are:
- Rio Linda Elverta Chamber of Commerce
- Rio Linda Elverta Neighborhood Association
- Twin Rivers Unified School District
During the public comment section of the 9-hour meeting, many homeless advocates complained about the lack of housing and where the homeless were expected to go from the parkway. On the opposite side of the fence, the majority of speakers were homeowners, desperate to be able to do anything to remove the vagrant homeless from nearby properties.
The 2022 Homeless point-in-time count indicated that nearly 9,300 people are homeless in Sacramento County, up 67% in just 3 years. Officials also noted that there were 170 fires on the parkway in 2021, 100% more than in 2017.
The ordinances are written to apply mainly to infrastructure to avoid challenges based on the Boise decision, but most feel that the challenges will come in short order.
The second reading and final adoption will take place at the Board of Supervisors meeting on August 23rd. County sources expect fiery public comment from homeless advocates once again.
