FRESNO (KMJ) — The author of the City of Fresno’s new no-camping ordinance says the new rule is already making an impact.
The “Unhealthy and Hazardous Camping Act” was passed by Fresno City Council in August, after it was proposed by District 2’s Steve Brandau (click here to read more).
“So we’re in the very early stages,” explains Brandau. “It’s been implemented for scarcely a week. But the early read is that everything is working.
“The word is actually out on the street that the ordinance is now in play and so our [police] officers are seeing a lot less resistance from the people that are doing these behaviors that we were trying to stop.”
The prohibited behaviors include: putting up a tent on any public or private property within city limits, preparing food in public, and bathing in public.
“In the past, those folks could be quite resistant to our officers and they’re almost like ‘Hey, we know our rights. We have the right to be here.’
“Now they know they no longer have that right.”
It comes after the first arrest of a homeless person under the new law, outside Downtown Fresno’s Poverello House.
“We spoke with the city and other folks to make sure what was the process, did he truly get arrested, and looks like he did,” reveals the non-profit’s CEO Cruz Avila.
“He wasn’t kept in jail for too long because now he’s out and now he’s actually going to be staying in one of our sheds.”
Councilman Steve Brandau believes the new ordinance is not going to overwhelm the service providers.
“But at the same time, that’s what they’re there for – and now we’re directing people.”
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
