In response to the growing homelessness crisis, the Stockton City Council unanimously declared a local emergency and amended its anti-camping ordinance during a meeting on November 19, 2024. This action strengthens the city’s ability to address homelessness by emphasizing "cleanups, diversion, and enforcement," according to City Manager Harry Black.
Under the updated ordinance, camping is prohibited on all public property not designated for such purposes. Additionally, unhoused individuals cited twice within a year for camping in city parks may now face a 30-day ban from all city parks. The emergency declaration gives Black the authority to take necessary actions to combat homelessness in Stockton.
The decision follows a significant rise in homelessness within San Joaquin County. According to the 2024 Point-in-Time Count, the county's homeless population has increased by 104% since 2022, with Stockton accounting for 2,996 of the 4,732 individuals experiencing homelessness.
Councilmember Michael Blower described the emergency declaration as a "good first step," while emphasizing that much work remains to address the crisis. The ordinance revision comes after a June U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowed cities to enforce camping bans even without adequate shelter beds, reversing the 2018 Martin v. Boise decision.
Despite the council’s actions, advocates like Jessica Velez, founder of Red Rabbit Advocacy Programs, voiced concerns. Velez argued that enforcement measures, such as ticketing and jailing, are not solutions, stressing the need for diversion programs and safe camping spaces. "Our systems are the problem. The people are not the problem," Velez told the council.
Stockton’s move aligns with statewide efforts to tackle homelessness following Governor Gavin Newsom's executive order in July, which urged local governments to act urgently to remove encampments. San Joaquin County has also implemented stricter homelessness policies, including fines and jail time for those sleeping outside or in vehicles.
The debate over enforcement versus resources continues as Stockton and surrounding areas explore additional measures, such as the potential conversion of Oakmoore Golf Course into a safe camping site.
This summary is based on an article by Hannah Workman from The Stockton Record. You can read the full article here.
