A Law to Criminalize Sleeping ?

RLF · 12-29-2007, 07:05 PM

As winter approaches and the Santa Cruz, California homeless shelter at the armory opens, many are discussing the Santa Cruz sleeping ban.
The camping ban, commonly called the sleeping or blanket ban, prohibits sleeping on public property between the hours of 11 p.m. and 8:30 a.m. It is also against the law to set up cooking equipment, or to cover oneself at night with the intention of sleeping.
According to attorney Kate Wells and members of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the law is “a human rights violation which criminalizes homelessness.”
Is this law against what Jesus instructs us in Matthew 25 ? Should we fight it as Christians ?? as Humans ???
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A Law to Criminalize Sleep?

7960 · 12-29-2007, 11:11 PM

So you'd be ok with it if you woke up and someone was sleeping in your living room? Maybe had a little fire and was making coffee or cooking a bit of ham?

Galactic Gigolo · 12-30-2007, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by 7960

So you'd be ok with it if you woke up and someone was sleeping in your living room? Maybe had a little fire and was making coffee or cooking a bit of ham?

The camping ban, commonly called the sleeping or blanket ban, prohibits sleeping on public property between the hours of 11 p.m. and 8:30 a.m. It is also against the law to set up cooking equipment, or to cover oneself at night with the intention of sleeping.

I don't think the law is infringing on anyone's civil liberties, but it's sidestepping the actual problem of homelessness. Unless, of course, their solution is to give them homes ... in jails ... at the expense of the taxpayer.

7960 · 12-30-2007, 08:34 PM

^

My point was this is not criminalizing SLEEPING. Saying it's "a law to criminalize sleeping" is bullshit extremist propaganda to rally support from people who will hear "criminalize sleeping" and call their representatives without knowing what the fuck the law really says.

So rather than talk about the "ZOMG TEHY HAS A LAW AGAINST TEH SLEP!!!

" how about we discuss the actual law. It's an extension of loitering and/or trespassing. Should we get rid of those laws?

Ardentfrost · 12-30-2007, 09:16 PM

I think I'd rather homeless people sleep in a park than in jail which is paid for by me. Them sleeping in a park I pay for doesn't increase the amount I have to pay.

tbone · 12-30-2007, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

I think I'd rather homeless people sleep in a park than in jail which is paid for by me. Them sleeping in a park I pay for doesn't increase the amount I have to pay.

Amen!

avsp · 12-31-2007, 07:54 AM

It does criminalise homelessness & is disgusting

Cities have always had people sleeping in parks & doorways etc, ..., what has changed? Why are the citizens of Santa Cruz so cold-hearted? What do they expect the homeless to do instead?

I'd like to see the homeless organise break it en-masse & demand swift due process & clog up the courts with this crap

Stylerod · 12-31-2007, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by avsp

It does criminalise homelessness & is disgusting

Cities have always had people sleeping in parks & doorways etc, ..., what has changed? Why are the citizens of Santa Cruz so cold-hearted? What do they expect the homeless to do instead?

I'd like to see the homeless organise break it en-masse & demand swift due process & clog up the courts with this crap

It depends. If there are ample places for the homeless to go and sleep (shelters, Churches, etc) and there is no reason for them to be in the middle of a playground, drunk and or high, sleeping then the law is a good one.

Ardentfrost · 12-31-2007, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by Stylerod

It depends. If there are ample places for the homeless to go and sleep (shelters, Churches, etc) and there is no reason for them to be in the middle of a playground, drunk and or high, sleeping then the law is a good one.

I dunno the situation in Santa Cruz, but in Atlanta there isn't enough space in the shelters for the homeless, not to mention the shitty conditions of the shelters (I've been to a few to help try to clean it up a bit). If I were homeless, a park would be much more appealing.

However, I will say that I used to live next to a park in a nicer part of downtown. We had a private police force in the area, and one of their main functions was to pick up homeless people who had wandered into the area and drive them to a homeless shelter. They didn't have to stay at the shelter once dropped off, it was just a way to get them out of the area.

7960 · 12-31-2007, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

However, I will say that I used to live next to a park in a nicer part of downtown. We had a private police force in the area, and one of their main functions was to pick up homeless people who had wandered into the area and drive them to a homeless shelter. They didn't have to stay at the shelter once dropped off, it was just a way to get them out of the area.

NIMBY?

Ardentfrost · 12-31-2007, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by 7960

NIMBY?

Pretty much. I had lived in complexes that had done that (my current one keeps out the hobos), but never an entire area of a city before.

RMNIXON · 12-31-2007, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by avsp

It does criminalise homelessness & is disgusting

No it does not. Nor does it criminalize sleep. It does tell us about an important problem. One that needs a rational solution and some responsibility all around. Not more self-righteous emotional bullshit.