Can’t one establish a $20 per night ‘fee’ for camping on public property (within city limits)?
“Can’t one establish a $20 per night ‘fee’ for camping on public property (within city limits)?”
Sure, but once the city takes that first $20.00 and a receipt is provided, it will be easily viewed as a lease agreement and the city would have to start an eviction process which could take months.
Once the eviction takes place, the homeless person moves their camp fifty feet down the street, pays another 20 bucks and another months long eviction process starts again.
That wouldn't cover the cost of all the (direct and indirect) damages incurred during that one night.
Feces removal, rinsing vomit off the sidewalk, picking up and disposing of contaminated needles, etc. - not to mention reduced revenues of honest, hardworking shopkeepers whose customers are staying away in droves due to the stench, harassment, etc.
Then throw in the additional cost of policing the area.
Regards,
Hmmmm... does this mean I can camp in the National Parks for free if I tell the Park Rangers I’m homeless?