The Stockton City Council this week has discussed possibly implementing stricter laws for the homeless population following a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision.
On June 28, the Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision stating that unhoused people could be prohibited from camping out in public spaces by local or state governments even if they do not have enough shelter beds.
The Stockton City Council in the following months will have to discuss and consider homeless camping bans.
City Manager Harry Black said from now until August, there will be code recommendations developed and a study session held on the issue. Other considerations that will be discussed will be fiscal implications and logistics such as where to store people’s belongings as needed.
Black said although the City Council will have to talk about policy changes and receive information, Stockton is not necessarily waiting around to act on the homeless crisis.
The city has already begun seeing what they can do, such as the Stockton Police Department and Public Works working together to develop a “take back our parks” strategy and plan.
He said parks will be the first priority, meaning to clear out the parks of homeless camping.
However, one speaker who spoke during public comment reminded the City Council that homelessness is a complex issue that requires compassion and comprehensive solutions.
One speaker said criminalizing homelessness won’t address the root problems and it rather fails to provide meaningful assistance.
Mayor Kevin Lincoln said he agreed wholeheartedly that the city needs to continue providing housing and services and temporary shelters, but the city also needs to make sure to protect public spaces for the community.
He said he and his colleagues would be committed to proactive and measured approaches to implanting policies.
Councilmember Dan Wright said he was worried about the Supreme Court decision because other cities will be acting quickly with strict laws, which could force unhoused people from those communities to go to other cities.
“If we wait too long to come up with any kind of plan, we will be reacting and not being proactive,” Wright said.
A 2022 Point-in-Time count showed that Stockton’s unsheltered population made up 66 percent of the total unhoused number of people in San Joaquin County.
Data showed that Stockton in 2022 had 893 people were still living in homelessness. In 2019, Stockton had 921 unsheltered people.
Wright said the city needs to identify safe spaces for homeless people who can’t go to shelters.
He along with Vice Mayor Kimberly Warmsley said the city also needs to focus on waterways and sidewalks, not just parks when it comes to the unhoused.
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