This is an ACTION email. The time is now to weigh in or risk below as a permanent fixture in Brentwood
Concerned About the Homeless Encampment on San Vicente?
Many BHA Members have expressed concerns about the growing homeless encampment on the sidewalk outside the VA fence on Wilshire Blvd and at the east end of San Vicente Blvd. The threats to the health and safety of the persons in the encampment as well as the surrounding community are obvious. However, what is not clear are solutions.
All parties are constrained by the ruling in a Federal case (the Boise decision) that said: "[S]o long as there is a greater number of homeless individuals in a jurisdiction than the number of available beds in shelters, the jurisdiction cannot prosecute homeless individuals for involuntarily sitting, lying, and sleeping in public."
Even absent that Federal decision, enforcement would be problematic because that sidewalk is under the jurisdiction of the County of Los Angeles (not the City) and the County may not have adequate laws prohibiting such encampments.
There is a case pending in Federal court before Judge David O. Carter that involves these issues. Here is a link to the Complaint in that case: LA Alliance for Human Rights v. City of Los Angeles; County of Los Angeles.
BHA has written a letter to Judge Carter requesting that he consider certain circumstances and certain possible solutions in connection with adjudicating and/or settling the Complaint in the LA Alliance case. Here is a link to that letter: BHA Letter.
If you have input that you believe would be valuable for Judge Carter to consider, you may email him at DOC_Chambers@cacd.uscourts.gov and reference the the LA Alliance for Human Rights case. Please remember to blind copy info@brentwoodhomeowners.org
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