Scaled-down homeless rights law advances

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | April 23, 2013 | Wyatt Buchanan

[artichokegrower]

Homeless people in California would have the right to rest in public spaces, including sidewalks, without the threat of arrest, and local governments would have to provide access to bathrooms and showers, under a bill that passed its first major test Tuesday.

The bill, called the Homeless Person's Bill of Rights and Fairness Act, could supersede local laws - including in San Francisco - that bar people from sitting or lying on sidewalks unless those localities meet certain requirements.

It was introduced by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, and passed the Assembly Judiciary Committee on a 7-2 party-line vote, with Democrats in favor and with the opposition of many local governments and business groups.

Ammiano significantly scaled back the scope of the bill from when it was first introduced last year, removing provisions that would have applied to private property and businesses. He called it a narrow bill to provide "a few basic protections" that would ensure California does not criminalize homelessness.

[artichokegrower]

So a homeless person could set up camp in your front yard and if you tell him to move along he can get a taxpayer supplied lawyer to sue you. Only in California

[BenLurkin]

Related thread: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3011587/posts

[Kevmo]

bar people from sitting or lying on sidewalks unless those localities meet certain requirements.
***Elitism in action.

[skeeter]

Sure why not. We've got tons of money.

In fact, why not a mandatory homeless rec center with free coffee and scones in every community?

[JimSEA]

You think too small, you must be a conservative. How fair is it that you have money and they don’t? A guaranteed annual income for all.

[RugerMini14]

I think it’s evil to deny those homeless who prefer donuts that right.

[Standing Wolf]

I missed the beaches for a long time.

[artichokegrower]

“Ammiano significantly scaled back the scope of the bill from when it was first introduced last year, removing provisions that would have applied to private property”

Private property? Oh yeah that would have ended well.

[SoldierDad]

A vagrant last week was rummaging through our trash receptacle that had been placed on the curb for pickup. My wife ordered the individual to move along and stay out of our receptacle. Apparently she committed an offense. Thankfully we do not live in SF.

[oldasrocks]

I hear Fargo ND is also considering a similiar bill where the homeless are allowed to camp on the sidewalks in December and January.

[SoldierDad]

I’d support that bill!

[sergeantdave]

As long as Californians can still feed the pieces of the homeless and Hollywood actors to sea lions I don’t see a problem.

[Windflier]

"...passed the Assembly Judiciary Committee on a 7-2 party-line vote..."

... sigh ... If you ever wanted to see a numerical formula that explains why I left California, there it is.

[Windflier]

So a homeless person could set up camp in your front yard and if you tell him to move along he can get a taxpayer supplied lawyer to sue you.

You may have missed this:

"Ammiano significantly scaled back the scope of the bill from when it was first introduced last year, removing provisions that would have applied to private property and businesses."

[CIB-173RDABN]

You reward behavior you want more of...
Punish behavior you want less of...

I can only conclude democrats want more homeless people.

I wonder if I will live long enough to see the end of this madness?

[Cementjungle]

We have three sets of vagrants who go through ours weekly without fail. Within minutes of putting it out, and old white guy goes through them first. Later in the evening, 2 Mexicans have their go at them, and around midnight the black guy searches through whatever's left.

At first I tried to stop them, but that was like talking to a cat. They do at least leave the area neat and tidy, so no harm I guess.