The Los Angeles City Council will consider giving final approval Tuesday to restrictions against living in cars near homes, parks, schools and daycare facilities.
Under the proposed ordinance, parking for habitation purposes would be prohibited from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. along residential streets with both single- and multi-family homes. The restriction would apply all day for any street that is within a block or 500 feet of a school, park or daycare center.
The ordinance, tentatively approved earlier this month, would theoretically still allow people who live in their cars to park their vehicles in commercial and industrial zones. Those who violate the ordinance would receive citations requiring them to pay penalties ranging from $25 to $75.
The ordinance would end after about 18 months. City officials said they need time to come up with an alternative homeless parking plan, such as one modeled after a Santa Barbara “safe parking” initiative that allows the homeless to park in parking lots.
City Council members who supported the proposed ordinance say the ban would replace an existing ban that was in effect citywide but was deemed unconstitutional.
Several attorneys and advocates for the homeless have warned that the new ban could still run afoul of the rights of the homeless, raising concerns that the proposed ordinance would be a financial hardship on homeless people and, in effect, make homelessness a crime.
The ordinance is also being opposed by a few council members. Joe Buscaino and Nury Martinez have said they represent communities with more industrial and commercial zones than other areas, so the ordinance would likely drive disproportionately more homeless people to their districts.
