Senate Bill 608, the Right to Rest Act, introduced by Senator Carol Liu the last of February, would protect the rights of homeless people to move freely, rest, eat, and perform religious observations in public space as well as protect their right to occupy a legally parked motor vehicle.
The bill has become a “two-year bill” and will be heard again in January at the Senate Transportation & Housing Committee. Oregon, Hawaii, and Colorado are also considering similar legislation. This bill would greatly affect Venice in that homeless could not be removed from sidewalks, parks, and other pubic spaces at any hour.
Marie Rumsey, legislative staff for Central City Association, announced Friday that the City Council’s Rules Committee unanimously supported the opposition resolution to SB 608. Central City Association is a collection of major property owners in downtown Los Angeles.
Mark Ryavec’s story on 8 March in LA Times explains the proposed bill and its ramifications.
Assembly Member Autumn R. Burke , District 62
Senator Benjamin Allen, District 26
Leave a Reply