Manhattan Beach makes it illegal to sleep on the streets

Sheridan McKnight

News Editor

Members of the Manhattan Beach City Council passed a law on Sept. 4 making it illegal to sleep on the streets and in all public areas.

The new law will help the city maintain a clean, sanitary and safe environment in public areas. The goal of this measure is to keep public areas accessible for city residents and visitors,  said the anti-camping ordinance press release.

“The ordinance can help facilitate the city’s efforts to keep public areas accessible to all residents, businesses and visitors in the city,” Senior Management Analyst George Gabriel said.

While members of city council discussed creating this law, a federal appeals court stated that it violates homeless people’s rights under the eighth amendment by not providing the homeless population with shelters in Manhattan Beach. Members of the council responded to this statement by saying that the MBPD offers transportation to nearby homeless shelters.

“The City has taken measures to enforce the ordinance in a manner that is in full compliance with the Constitution, while addressing homelessness in a deliberate and humane manner,” Moe said.

City Manager Bruce Moe believes this new law will reduce homeless presence on the streets and as a result will lead to a cleaner city. However, residents such as Monica Kendall who are opposed to this ordinance have questioned if shelters will be available for people who turn to the streets as a place to sleep.

“If Manhattan Beach has come up with a solution to provide safe bedding solutions for those people who are displaced, then I think it is a great resolution,” Kendall said. “If they haven’t, then they’re just going to displace those people to the next town over which does not resolve the issue.”

The city now possesses the authority to arrest any individual who ignores this ordinance, such as ignoring this ordinance, Moe said. Officers from the Manhattan Beach Police Department will continue to exercise that authority, according to the Manhattan Beach City Manager.

“If the city has arranged for adequate and available shelter, and an individual chooses not to use it, the city will enforce the new ordinance,” City Manager Bruce Moe said.