It was presupposed to be a trial that may be intently watched by California homelessness advocates, public defenders and authorized consultants. However as a substitute, the case was thrown out by the decide — leaving some stakeholders questioning whether or not it is smart to arrest homeless folks in any respect.
As CalMatters’ Marisa Kendall explains, following a U.S. Supreme Courtroom ruling final yr granting native governments extra authority to clear homeless encampments, cities throughout California have enacted extra punitive insurance policies banning public tenting — together with citing and arresting unhoused residents.
However some attorneys and the unhoused residents they symbolize are desperate to deliver their instances earlier than juries with a view to display the shortcomings of implementing tenting bans and clear their names. That features Wickey Two Fingers, a 77-year-old homeless man who was poised to be the primary individual tried in court docket underneath Fresno’s anti-camping ban after police arrested him final yr.
On April 10, nevertheless, a decide ended up dismissing all costs as a result of the town waited too lengthy to prosecute.
The case’s conclusion underscores the appreciable period of time, labor and sources used — not solely from the town and county, but additionally Two Fingers’ lawyer, activists and native journalists — to implement a coverage that seeks to penalize public tenting.
- Ron raised treea legislation professor on the College of the Pacific: “When you think about all the people who were involved, from police to the city attorney’s office to judges and court clerks and so on. That’s probably hundreds of hours of work and thousands of dollars wasted. And that money would be better spent by simply offering Mr. Two Hands housing without arresting him.”
CalMatters occasions: Be a part of CalMatters’ Marisa Kendall and coverage leaders on April 24 as they deal with what’s working to handle homelessness and reasonably priced housing — and what’s not. Register right now to attend on-line or in individual on the SAFE Credit score Union Conference Middle in Sacramento.
And earlier on April 22, Fresnoland and CalMatters’ Yousef Baig are teaming as much as discover the way forward for the Excessive-Pace Rail venture with key resolution makers and native leaders on the Fresno Metropolis Faculty Outdated Administration Constructing Auditorium. Register right here.
How have Trump’s govt orders and different current actions affected you? CalMatters is working with public radio companions to assemble views throughout the state. Share your ideas right here.
Different Tales You Ought to Know
What is going to occur with new crop of CA crime payments?
Within the aftermath of voters passing Proposition 36 in November to extend penalties for theft and different crimes, some Republican legislators have discovered their tough-on-crime payments are advancing additional than earlier than in a Legislature dominated by Democrats, stories CalMatters’ Jeanne Kuang.
Senate GOP Chief Brian Jones of San Diego, for instance, authored a invoice that may add regulatory guardrails earlier than the Division of State Hospitals releases sexually violent predators. In his fourth try to push the proposal, the Senate Public Security Committee unanimously accredited the invoice earlier this month. Final yr the proposal died within the Meeting after advancing via the Senate, and in earlier years the invoice by no means handed via committee.
Jones says that after Prop. 36, he seen a shift amongst Democrats and their attitudes towards stricter incarceration measures.
- Jones: “The smart Democrats are getting it. The voters spoke overwhelmingly.”
However some felony justice advocates don’t see it that approach. Tinisch Hollins, the manager director of Californians for Security and Justice, identified that the Legislature can also be advancing payments the group is sponsoring, together with ones that may broaden the state’s efforts to clear felony data and require the California Division of Corrections to use extra good conduct credit to scale back prisoners’ time served.
- Hollins: “Even Prop. 36 wasn’t a referendum on reform. There’s still plenty of support for different approaches to public safety that really address the root cause and prevent crime from happening in the first place.”
Extra federal assaults on CA school college students
As a part of President Donald Trump’s push to chop help to undocumented immigrants, his administration is revoking one important coverage that permits California to assist college students who don’t have authorized standingwrites CalMatters’ Adam Echelman.
In 2022 the federal TRIO applications — which offers monetary help and counseling to low-income and first-generation school college students — granted California particular permission to additionally serve college students who don’t have authorized standing. However in March, the U.S. Division of Training stated it was revoking waivers to California faculties and universities that use federal funds to “provide services to illegal aliens.”
It’s tough to trace what number of California school college students lack authorized standing, however some knowledge means that it may quantity within the 1000’s — most of whom attend group faculties. Greater than 100,000 California college students are reportedly enrolled in TRIO applications.
And lastly: LA’s cell residence parks; homeless train applications
California Voices
Although shutting down salmon fishing for the third yr in a row is just not excellent news, the state has made crucial headway to assist restore salmon populations, writes Chuck Bonhamdirector of the California Division of Fish and Wildlife.
Different issues value your time:
That is the foremost query on the coronary heart of CA’s tariff problem // San Francisco Chronicle
Invoice would make CA faculties ‘safe havens’ from immigration enforcement // The Mercury Information
CA loses tens of millions to license plate covers. This lawmaker goes after retailers // The San Francisco Commonplace
CA climate service workplace will not reply public telephone calls amid staffing cuts // San Francisco Chronicle
Amid lethal measles outbreakCA’s childhood vaccination charges are falling // EdSource
Destiny of CA Black maternal well being applications is unclear amid federal cuts // California Healthline
To maintain Canadians coming, Palm Springs hangs love letters in its streets // The Washington Submit
LA County is strolling away from LAHSA. Housing for Well being is the mannequin for what’s subsequent // Let
LA’s faculties chief is aware of what it’s wish to be undocumented // The New York Occasions
San Diego veterans and supporters voice opposition to Trump’s proposed VA cuts // The San Diego Union-Tribune
