Due to the Monday holiday, next Tuesday’s City Council Agenda was released a day early, and it offers the first glimpse at a much discussed ordinance banning camping on City Property. (ordinance published below)
In a memo to the council and the City Manager, Solicitor Corey Williams indicates Lowell’s version was pieced together using both the City of Boston’s Ordinance and the one from Grants Pass, Oregon.
The latter served as legal battleground in which the U.S. Supreme Court decided on June 28, 2024 that such bans are indeed constitutional.
Of note, the Boston version features a provision that when emergency shelter space is unavailable, the camping ban will not apply.
Lowell’s version includes the same provision, which the Oregon ordinance does not.
Following the “First Reading” Tuesday night, the ordinance then heads to a public hearing and vote on October 29th.
2 responses to “1st Look at Proposed Camping Ban”
This is a step in the right direction. Allowing a temporary permit in cases when there is no available shelter space seems like a reasonable compromise. Next step would be getting the state to help fund more mental health programs. Surrounding towns should also be put under pressure to do their “fair share”(to use that popular term)in helping with this issue instead of depositing these folks here in the city. Lowell taxpayers can only handle so much! There are zero shelters in the surrounding towns. Time to step it up.
These ordinances are great except for one thing. Enforcement. I’m still waiting for the study on how the 25mph speed limit is going. How many tickets vs. same time last year? How many more people bagged on outstanding warrants?
I completely understand and agree that “public camping” (good one) makes this city look nasty however what’s the penalty for some indigent napping on the sidewalk? Three hots and a cot? Take their stuff and impound it for thirty days? By then they’ll have found another sleeping bag and umbrella.
The previous comment hits the nail on the head. This city has done its share. Some of our state reps/senators have multiple towns in their districts. Lay some pressure on these folks to be the lead in putting this problem to bed.