OVERNIGHT: A resurrected proposal to ban urban camping in Aurora got its first stamp of approval by the city council just before midnight Monday.
, the body voted 6-5 in favor of the proposed ordinance that would set regulations for removing unauthorized camping on public or private property. Police could remove homeless encampments after city officials give campers at least 72-hours notice to move themselves and their belongings — with some exceptions — or face citations or arrest. The city would also have to make sure shelter space is available for the individual or people in an encampment before requiring them to move.
“I’ve had responsibility before for a business location that had an encampment on it where the police had to respond eight different times because they couldn’t serve a trespass notice because we did not have a policy like this in place,” he said. “That is not acceptable. Further, our first responders are already going to these locations and they’re encountering things like needles, human feces, booby traps, a whole variety of things.
Councilmember Juan Marcano said the ordinance “will not do a damn thing to improve the quality of life for our residents” and is not a real solution or investment of money to actually solve the problem. Director of Aurora’s Housing and Community Services Department Jessica Prosser told council members that current capacity for shelter space is about 200-250, without it being cold weather. She said she doesn’t think the city can have a lot of new options within 30 days when the camping ban is implemented, but city staff could bring back some potential options for new implementation later in March.
“I think it’s definitely missing the forest for the trees,” Ruddock said. “The problem is lack of investments in housing and shelters.” She, like other commenters, noted that people experiencing homelessness who may be ticketed will not be able to pay their fines and she said they will instead be harassed by a police agency she accused of targeting marginalized communities. An attorney general’s office investigation of Aurora police foundthat routinely violated state and federal law.
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