‘We cannot go backwards’ : SoCal leaders react to SCOTUS’ homeless encampments decision

Officials in Southern California are responding to a ruling by the Supreme Court which allows cities to enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outdoors,

In a statement, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass called the decision not surprising, but disappointing.

“This ruling must not be used as an excuse for cities across the country to attempt to arrest their way out of this problem or hide the homelessness crisis in neighboring cities or in jail,” the statement read. “Neither will work, neither will save lives and that route is more expensive for taxpayers than actually solving the problem.”

She added that bringing people indoors “with housing and supportive services”  is the only way to address the homelessness issue and that she will continue with this approach.

“We cannot go backwards – we must continue innovating and moving with intention and urgency until every person experiencing homelessness is able to access housing, services and support,” she said.

Councilmember Monica Rodriguez told KNX News’ Craig Fiegener she believes the ruling will encourage “homeless dumping,” citing the video of Burbank officers dropping a homeless man in North Hollywood as an example.

“Other municipalities have been far more aggressive in their enforcement approaches, and as a result, many of these individuals, just as we saw in the case of Burbank delivering this individual into North Hollywood, we've seen those types of acts occur with regularity,” she said. “My concern is that this Supreme Court ruling is only going to encourage more of that behavior as a result because of this ruling.”

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Rodriguez, who also chairs L.A.'s public safety committee, added that she thinks the ruling will encourage more compliant behavior.

Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley wrote on X that the decision allows the county and cities to “enhance efforts to move people from unsafe encampments to shelter, treatment, wraparound care, and ultimately permanent supportive housing.”

“In order to truly solve homelessness, enforcement must accompany an aggressive effort to build all types of housing opportunities from permanent supportive, affordable, & workforce housing,” she wrote.

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