SAN DIEGO — California lawmakers, including two local state senators are pushing for San Diego's public camping ban to go statewide.
The proposed measure has bipartisan support and aims to address the homeless crisis by banning encampments in specific areas, but homeless advocates say it only makes the problem worse.
Senator Brian Jones, for the second time, is proposing a bill to make homeless encampments in certain areas illegal statewide.
“We got to find a way to compassionately clear these encampments and compassionately get these people back on their feet and into permanent housing," said the senator.
The proposed ban mirrors the unsafe camping ordinance passed in San Diego last year.
The ban would make it illegal to set up encampments near schools, open spaces, transit stops and sidewalks if shelter beds are available.
“Based on the success of that ordinance, I have taken their ordinance and bringing that to the state level and hopefully getting that passed," said Jones.
Jones first tried passing a similar ban last year, but it failed to pass the Public Safety Committee.
This time, the republican senate minority leader from Santee, along with democratic Senator Catherine Blakespear from Encinitas says modifications to the bill will make it more equitable for enforcement.
“We shouldn’t have our public spaces be living spaces," said Blakespear.
Modifications include reducing the distance from sensitive sites from 1,000 feet to 500 feet and replacing parks and libraries, with open spaces.
However, homeless advocates say the proposal would only create more problems.
“This bill would potentially harm families and children who are already in a precarious position," said Erin Tsurumoto Grassi, with Alliance San Diego.
Tsurumoto Grassi is the policy director at Alliance San Diego and says she doubts efforts to make the ban statewide will be successful.
“We’re still seeing more people fall into homelessness than are able to exit homelessness so that’s an indication that it’s not working," she added.
Instead, Tsurumoto Grassi says part of the solution is creating more affordable housing.
Last month, the Supreme Court said it will weigh in on whether cities can legally ban or limit people from camping in public spaces.
Senator Jones says he plans to move forward with the proposed bill and will make any modifications needed according to the court's ruling.
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