The law criminalizes being outside with “camping paraphernalia,” like sleeping bags or cookware, without written permission from property owners or the city. It includes a provision that anyone “causing, permitting, aiding, abetting or concealing” violations is subject to up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

“[The mayor] claims no service providers will get arrested, but ultimately, the law prevails,” said Vivian Han, CEO of the nonprofit Abode Services. “This is for all time, not just while he’s mayor.”

Greg Ward, a minister at Mission Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation, said his church hands out “blessing bags” of food and clothing.

“Putting [them] in the hands of the unhoused could be aiding and abetting,” said Ward. “That could make us criminals.”

  • Hazor@lemmy.world
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    12 hours ago

    So I can give money to a PAC or buy advertising to get a rich person elected to office because that money is “free speech”, but I can’t give money to an unhoused person because that money is not “free speech”? Do I have that right?

  • SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world
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    14 hours ago

    The law, in its majestic equality, forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal their bread.

    • FirstCircle@lemmy.mlOP
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      12 hours ago

      “From the slimy, spittle-drenched, sidewalk, they were picking up bits of orange peel, apple skin, and grape stems, and, they were eating them. The pits of greengage plums they cracked between their teeth for the kernels inside. They picked up stray bits of bread the size of peas, apple cores so black and dirty one would not take them to be apple cores, and these things these two men took into their mouths, and chewed them, and swallowed them; and this, between six and seven o’clock in the evening of August 20, year of our Lord 1902, in the heart of the greatest, wealthiest, and most powerful empire the world has ever seen.” ― Jack London, The People of the Abyss

    • ms.lane@lemmy.world
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      14 hours ago

      Actually if rich people want to sleep under bridges they do a ‘CEO Campout’ to pretend they know what it’s like to be homeless, they get paid to do those events.

  • fuzzy_feeling@programming.dev
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    16 hours ago

    “This won’t be utilized randomly. We have to articulate the ‘why’ behind this. It’s not just someone sleeping on the street and camping; it has to be a concern impacting community well-being,” he said.

    so you always have to fear, that you might be the next one.
    that’s basic nazi 101

    • FirstCircle@lemmy.mlOP
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      15 hours ago

      And Stalinism 101. Terror was wielded against all classes to make sure that nobody got out of line. Though I speculate that it probably started with the peasants/degenerates and killed far more of them than any other group.

      So you’re a lawyer or a businessperson or an ex-military officer in Fremont and you hand out a care package or even a $1 bill to someone who’s homeless? You’re under arrest, and you’d better implicate some of your comrades during your interrogation. Nice house and bank account you’ve got there, sweet smart kids too, it would be a shame if anything happened to them.

    • shalafi@lemmy.world
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      15 hours ago

      I get what they’re going for. Many of the homeless are far from harmless. But read between the lines; the law is clearly wishy-washy and up to the street thugs to enforce as they see fit.

      Middle-aged, well spoken, presentable white guy like me? I’d be fine. peter_griffin_meme.jpeg

      • protist
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        15 hours ago

        Many of the homeless are far from harmless

        People who are houses are pretty much the same level of safety threat to the community. People in cars are a significantly worse safety threat to the community.