Brockton now third Massachusetts city council to ban homeless encampments on public property
BROCKTON - Brockton, Massachusetts is cracking down on homeless encampments in their city. It's a move some leaders are calling immoral.
It's not hard to spot the problem in downtown Brockton, where the city council voted 7-to-4 Tuesday to ban camping on public property.
The city's shelters are full. The Brockton mayor's office estimates that between 50-to-70 people sleep on the streets each night.
Brockton homeless encampment ban
The ordinance would prevent any type of camping on sidewalks, streets, parks or under bridges in Brockton. Anyone who violates it would get a written warning first. After that, it's a $200 fine per day.
Brockton City Councilor Jeffrey Thompson said the encampments have been on public property and "in the parks next to our schools."
"A lot of times it breeds trash. At times and, unfortunately, feces, needles," Thompson told WBZ-TV.
City Councilor Jean Bradley Derenoncourt voted against the ordinance.
"We have a moral obligation to help those who are not able to help themself," he said at the council meeting Tuesday night.
"No one is immune of being homeless. None of us," he said. "And by virtue of having something like this, in my view, I think is unacceptable. And it's morally wrong."
The $200 fine would be issued even if the person is homeless with little to no money.
"Any ordinance that we establish to deal with this problem has to have some penalty mechanism," Thompson told WBZ.
"It's a recipe for disaster," Derenoncourt argued. "And there will be unexpected consequences. And it's an opportunity for a lawsuit and I'll leave it there."
The ordinance would need Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan's signature before it becomes official. His office said Sullivan is currently reviewing the measure with city lawyers and he has not made a decision yet. However, if he decides not to sign it, the city council has the votes to override him.
Massachusetts homeless encampment bans
Lowell and Fall River, Massachusetts have also both issued bans on homeless encampments on public property.
Last summer, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed camping bans to target homeless encampments. The nation's highest court sided with a town in Oregon that punished homeless people who were sleeping in public places.