Over fierce objections from homeless advocates and repair suppliers, Fremont, the Bay Space’s fourth-largest metropolis, has adopted one of many strictest encamping bans wherever within the area and California.
In a 6-1 vote Tuesday night time, the Metropolis Council accepted the ordinance, which prohibits tenting on all public property and permits prosecutors to criminally cost anybody “aiding” or “abetting” a homeless camp.
The penalty for violating the brand new regulation is a nice of as much as $1,000 and as much as six months in jail. It takes impact in 30 days.
Fremont officers have maintained the aim is to not criminalize homelessness however as an alternative to offer officers the “power to change behavior” of these residing in encampments. They are saying they haven’t any intention of arresting homeless folks or service suppliers.
Fremont residents, pissed off with sprawling encampments that trigger hearth hazards and pollute waterways, gathered greater than 1,600 on-line signatures in help of the ban.
However advocates have assailed the measure as merciless and counterproductive. They’ve raised fears the aiding-and-abetting provision may deter nonprofits and group teams from serving to these in encampments and deter homeless folks from accepting wanted companies.
Fremont officers, nonetheless, say the supply isn’t unusual, noting that another cities have basic language of their municipal codes prohibiting the aiding and abetting of any crime.
Initially Revealed: February 12, 2025 at 8:55 AM PST
