The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday added more anti-camping zones around parks, underpasses, streets and other areas in the San Fernando Valley.
The council voted 11-4 to approve a resolution introduced by City Councilwoman Imelda Padilla on May 12, prohibiting unhoused people and any resident from sitting, lying, sleeping or storing personal property in designated areas under the anti-camping law, known as L.A. Municipal Code Section 41.18.
Members of the council’s progressive bloc — Eunisses Hernandez, Hugo Soto-Martinez, Ysabel Jurado and Nithya Raman — voted against the resolution.
Padilla, who represents the Sixth Council District, which encompasses parts of Van Nuys, Lake Balboa, Panorama City, Arleta, North Hills East, North Hollywood and Sun Valley, did not provide comment about her resolution during Tuesday’s council meeting.
The resolution states the “council hereby finds that the public health, safety or welfare is served by the prohibition, and further finds that sleeping or lodging within the stated proximity to the designated area(s) is unhealthy, unsafe or incompatible with safe passage…”
In total, the resolution added 26 anti-camping zones in CD 6 at some of the following locations:
— San Fernando Road between Truesdale Street and Branford Street —Tujunga Wash — wash and active railway;
— 11219 Penrose St. to the Hollywood (5) Freeway underpass;
— Sheldon Street from Arleta to Roscoe Boulevard, around a public park; and
— Haskell Avenue from San Diego (405) Freeway to the Sherman Way underpass.
LA’s has long had anti-loitering laws. In 2021, the City Council enhanced Section 41.18 to ban encampments within 500 feet of sensitive zones such as public schools and libraries. Council members later expanded what constitutes these zones to include daycare centers, parks, underpasses, areas near the Los Angeles River, and other places.
The city defends its anti-camping law, citing concerns over public safety.
Housing and homeless advocates have challenged the city’s implementation of the law. Critics argue enforcement of the law leads to forcibly removing unhoused people, moving them from place to place, and disconnects them from critical medical care, outreach and support.