NATIONAL CITY, Calif. — The city council in National City voted against an ordinance that would make camping on public property illegal if shelter beds are available.
Dozens of residents attended Tuesday evening's meeting to speak out against the proposed ordinance. Ultimately, the National City City Council directed staff to do more research before they pass the proposed encampment ban.
Other cities, such as San Diego, have banned homeless encampments. San Diego’s Unsafe Camping Ordinance passed June 27, 2023 and was signed into law by Mayor Todd Gloria on June 29. The ordinance prohibits tent encampments in all public spaces throughout the city if shelter beds are available. It also bans tent encampments at all times in certain sensitive areas, including parks, canyons and near schools, transit stations and homeless shelters - regardless of shelter capacity.
The ordinance being proposed by National City models San Diego’s encampment ban.
National City Mayor Ron Morrison wants the ban to pass. He said it’s not to be punitive, it’s to give incentives.
“It’s not going to be that we are just going to go ahead and start cleaning out all the encampments. Most of our encampments in National City, we couldn’t anyway because they are on state property, but it gives them an incentive,” said Mayor Morrison. “Here is something else to do. Here is something else for you. And, you know, if you don’t want to do it and you want to stay out on the streets, I’m sorry you can’t do it here.”
Mayor Morrison also said the city has dealt with the issue of homelessness, but recently there’s been an influx of many unsheltered people who have migrated to National City because of San Diego’s encampment ban.
Morrison added that National City is getting caught in the middle of the migration from both sides as a result of San Diego’s ordinance and as Chula Vista considers a ban for their city.
National City saw 27% increase in homelessness in 2023. The council stopped short of approving the measure because currently, the city has no shelter availability.
“The city of San Diego, I don’t know if that’s been successful. I go to 12th and Imperial and it is a societal collapse when you go and you see it," said councilmember Marcus Bush, who made a motion to direct city staff to gather information about San Diego's encampment ban's results.
The immediate concern for National City is the city has no shelters available and that is one reason why the city is hoping to have an ordinance coincide with the future opening of a new rescue mission, which would have over 150 beds.
The council plans to meet again before July to discuss new information gathered by city staff.
The measure would require a second reading and if approved them, the ban would go into effect 30 days after adoption.
Watch Related: City of San Diego passes homeless encampment ban (Jun 27, 2023)