Opposition to the anti-camping ordinance has united a number of community organization to host a protest tonight, Jan. 23, 2023, from 5:45 to 7pm, in front of the Culver City City Hall. The proposed local legislation would allow the city to dispose of almost any items belonging to those living on the street without their consent, before adequate housing and services have been offered.
According to a recent study by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), “Street Sweeps” and policies that criminalize homelessness do nothing to help the unhoused. The data reveals that very few homeless individuals have actually been moved indoors as a result of the outreach associated with encampment sweeps. The study found that losing belongings to sweeps can have a direct impact on unhoused residents’ health, as they lose medical supplies, prescription meds, and equipment such as walkers, as well as their community, and sentimental belongings like photos and childhood items that are often irreplaceable.
Supporting organizations include Culver City Action Network, Culver City for More Homes, Culver City Democratic Club, and the formidable list of featured speakers includes Bubba Fish, Vice Chair of Culver City’s Committee on Housing & Homelessness, Ndindi Kitonga, the co-founder, Palms Unhoused Mutual Aid (PUMA), Olga Lexell, an organizer with Streets for All, Shannon Theus, of the Culver City Democratic Club, Salina Rahim, of the King Fahad Mosque.
To hear to directly from our unhoused neighbors, watch interviews at www.facebook.com/CulverCityAction
If you wish to sign up to speak on meeting agenda item A-1, in person or remotely, here https://tinyurl.com/5b4pu9kz. For details on the ban, go to CulverCity.org, then click on Meetings and Agendas. The anti-camping ordinance is item A-1 on the agenda for the Jan. 23 City Council meeting.
