ARTICLE
On Tuesday, Berkeley's City Council is expected to consider a moratorium on enforcement of a recent ordinance that allows the city to clear homeless people's property from sidewalks. The city recently began enforcing the rule, which lets officials clear off the sidewalks during the day. People living on the streets are allowed to set up their camps between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., but must break them down during the day. Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín has said the new ordinance was meant to address the accumulation of personal items on walkways without criminalizing homelessness. But Councilmember Cheryl Davila said that the city first needs a robust homelessness response system in place to help before it can expect the unhoused — including seniors and the disabled — to break down their camps each day. After all, she said, they don't necessarily have anywhere to go with their stuff. Read more: https://www.kqed.org/news/11750209/berkeley-may-put-sidewalk-clearing-on-hold-until-homeless-response-system-is-developed