Norwalk City Council voted Tuesday night in favor of extending the moratorium on shelters and transitional housing for homeless people until August 2025.
With this determination, the City of Los Angeles County defied a potential lawsuit by the California government.
Governor Gavin Newsom hints at possible lawsuit against Norwalk for its emergency ordinance banning homeless sheltersas well as supportive housing facilities.
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The vote took place a day after Newsom sent a violation notification letter to the city of Norwalk which said the moratorium on several facilities, including emergency shelters, single-room occupancy, supportive housing, and transitional housing, was unlawful.
During the town hall meeting, Norwalk City staff recommended approving the motion to extend the moratoriumso that it can conduct further study on how banning the facilities would affect the community and whether the city would need zoning amendments.
At the meeting, a man who identified himself as a Norwalk resident, criticized Newsom’s threat about the possible lawsuit against the small town.
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“It should not be forcing Norwalk to bear the brunt of the region’s homeless population“There are 88 cities in this county, why is this being targeted on our working-class community of color?” said the alleged resident, identified as Brian Lopez.
Another person, speaking on behalf of a restaurant in the city, urged the council to extend the moratorium, because The area surrounding the business was a disaster sitewhile the city operated a Project Roomkey site directly across from the restaurant.
Prior to Tuesday’s council meeting, Norwalk Mayor Margarita Rios, urged Newsom to recognize the proactive measures the city has taken to address the problem of homelessness, while also calling for direct resources to support their efforts.
Keep reading:Los Angeles Mayor Calls on Private Sector to Help Tackle Homelessness Problem
“Norwalk also hosted One of Project Roomkey’s largest sites during the pandemic. Despite these efforts, Norwalk has not received any Measure H funding,” the mayor said.
Measure H was passed in 2017 to establish a sales tax A quarter of a dollar is earmarked for homeless services.
The mayor said that because Norwalk was unable to take advantage of Measure H resources, The city had to use its own resources to manage the consequences of state-mandated paid programs, which put both the safety of residents and the city’s finances at risk.
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When it passed the ordinance, the city council noted the city’s power to create and enforce ordinances for regulate the use of land within its jurisdictional limits.
Norwalk approved the moratorium based on the Housing Crisis Actwhich allows local governments to issue a housing or facility ban when there is an imminent threat to public health and safety.
However, the state argued in its letter that There were no findings of a specific threat to housing subject to the moratoriumnor any finding of a threat to the entire city.
Keep reading: City of Los Angeles audits “Inside Safe” program addressing homelessness crisis
Norwalk, a city of 100,000 people, could suffer the same fate as Anaheim and Huntington BeachOrange County cities that had to submit new housing plans after losing similar lawsuits filed by the state.
Keep reading:
· Los Angeles Mayor Announces Two New Operations to Relocate Homeless People
· Los Angeles City Receives $9 Million to Address Homeless Crisis
· 2024 Homeless Count Concludes in Los Angeles County
– What are the implications of Norwalk City Council’s decision to extend the moratorium on homeless shelters and transitional housing until August 2025?
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Norwalk City Council Defies State Pressure, Extends Moratorium on Homeless Shelters and Transitional Housing
In a bold move, the Norwalk City Council voted on Tuesday night to extend the moratorium on shelters and transitional housing for homeless people until August 2025, defying potential legal action from the California government. This decision comes despite a warning from Governor Gavin Newsom, who hinted at a possible lawsuit against the city for its emergency ordinance banning homeless shelters and supportive housing facilities.
The City Council’s vote was made a day after Newsom sent a violation notification letter to Norwalk, stating that the moratorium on various facilities, including emergency shelters, single-room occupancy, supportive housing, and transitional housing, was unlawful. However, the city council remained resolute in its decision, citing the need for further study on the impact of banning these facilities on the community and potential zoning amendments.
During the town hall meeting, city staff recommended approving the motion to extend the moratorium, citing the need for a more comprehensive approach to addressing homelessness in the region. The decision was met with support from local residents, including Brian Lopez, who criticized Newsom’s threat of legal action, stating that Norwalk should not be forced to bear the brunt of the region’s homeless population. Lopez argued that the city’s working-class community of color should not be unfairly targeted, and that other cities in the county should also take responsibility for addressing the homelessness crisis.
Another resident, speaking on behalf of a local restaurant, urged the council to extend the moratorium, citing the negative impact of a previously operated Project Roomkey site on the surrounding area. The site, which was located directly across from the restaurant, had created a “disaster zone” that affected local businesses and residents.
Prior to the council meeting, Norwalk Mayor Margarita Rios called on Newsom to recognize the proactive measures the city has taken to address homelessness, while also requesting direct resources to support their efforts. The mayor highlighted Norwalk’s role in hosting one of the largest Project Roomkey sites during the pandemic, despite not receiving any Measure H funding. Measure H, a sales tax measure passed in 2017, allocates a quarter of a dollar to homeless services.
The mayor emphasized that the city had to use its own resources to manage the consequences of state-mandated paid programs, which put both resident safety and the city’s finances at risk. Rios reiterated the city’s power to create and enforce ordinances regulating land use within its jurisdictional limits, citing the Housing Crisis Act, which allows local governments to issue a housing or facility ban when there is an imminent threat to public health and safety.
In response to the state’s argument that there were no findings of a specific threat to housing subject to the moratorium, the city council remained firm in its decision, citing the need for a more comprehensive approach to addressing homelessness in the region.
The extension of the moratorium on shelters and transitional housing marks a significant development in the ongoing debate over homelessness in California. As the state continues to grapple with the crisis, cities like Norwalk are taking a stand and demanding more resources and support to address the issue.
Key Takeaways:
Norwalk City Council votes to extend moratorium on shelters and transitional housing for homeless people until August 2025
Decision defies potential lawsuit from California government and Governor Gavin Newsom
City council cites need for further study on impact of banning facilities on community and potential zoning amendments
Local residents express support for decision, criticizing state’s threat of legal action and calling for more resources to address homelessness
Norwalk Mayor Margarita Rios calls on Newsom to recognize city’s proactive measures to address homelessness and requests direct resources to support efforts
Optimized Keywords:
Norwalk City Council
Homeless shelters
Transitional housing
Governor Gavin Newsom
California government
Moratorium
Homelessness crisis
Measure H
Housing Crisis Act
Project Roomkey
Los Angeles County
Homeless population
Working-class community of color
Zoning amendments
Land use regulations
Local governments must find a way to collaborate effectively to address this pressing issue.
Norwalk City Council Extends Moratorium on Homeless Shelters and Transitional Housing Amid State Pressure
In a bold move, the Norwalk City Council voted on Tuesday to extend the moratorium on homeless shelters and transitional housing until August 2025, defying a potential lawsuit from the California government. The decision comes after Governor Gavin Newsom threatened legal action against the city for its emergency ordinance banning homeless shelters and supportive housing facilities.
The council’s vote is a significant development in the ongoing debate over how to address the homelessness crisis in California. The state has been pushing cities to do more to provide housing and services for the homeless, but Norwalk has taken a different approach. The city’s moratorium was initially approved in response to concerns about the impact of homeless shelters on the community, and city officials argue that it is necessary to study the issue further before allowing new facilities to be built.
Defying the State’s Threat
Governor Newsom’s administration has been critical of Norwalk’s approach, arguing that it is unlawful and that the city is not doing enough to address the homelessness crisis. In a letter sent to the city on Monday, the state warned that it would take legal action if the moratorium was not lifted. However, the city council was not swayed by the threat, and instead voted to extend the moratorium.
Community Concerns
During the town hall meeting, many residents expressed their concerns about the impact of homeless shelters on the community. One resident, Brian Lopez, criticized the state’s threat, saying that it was unfair to expect Norwalk to bear the brunt of the region’s homelessness problem. “There are 88 cities in this county, why is this being targeted on our working-class community of color?” he asked.
Another resident, speaking on behalf of a local restaurant, urged the council to extend the moratorium, citing the negative impact that a nearby homeless shelter had on the business.
CITY’S PROACTIVE EFFORTS
Norwalk Mayor Margarita Rios has been vocal about the city’s efforts to address the homelessness crisis, and has called on the state to provide more resources to support those efforts. “Norwalk has hosted one of Project Roomkey’s largest sites during the pandemic,” she said. “Despite these efforts, Norwalk has not received any Measure H funding.”
Measure H is a sales tax measure that was approved in 2017 to provide funding for homeless services. However, Norwalk has not received any of those funds, despite its efforts to address the homelessness crisis.
THE CITY’S POWER TO REGULATE
The city council argues that it has the power to regulate the use of land within its jurisdictional limits, and that the moratorium is necessary to protect the health and safety of its residents. The city approved the moratorium based on the Housing Crisis Act, which allows local governments to issue a housing or facility ban when there is an imminent threat to public health and safety.
However, the state argues that there is no evidence of a specific threat to housing subject to the moratorium, and that the city’s actions are unlawful.
CONSEQUENCES OF DEFYING THE STATE
Norwalk’s decision to extend the moratorium could have significant consequences. The city could face legal action from the state, which could result in a court order to lift the moratorium. Additionally, the city could be forced to comply with state housing laws, which could impact its ability to regulate the use of land within its jurisdiction.
The city’s actions could also have implications for other cities in California that are struggling to address the homelessness crisis. If Norwalk is successful in defying the state, it could embolden other cities to take similar actions. On the other hand, if the state is successful in forcing Norwalk to lift the moratorium, it could set a precedent for other cities.
THE FUTURE OF HOMELESSNESS IN CALIFORNIA
The debate over homelessness in California is complex and multifaceted. While the state is pushing cities to do more to provide housing and services for the homeless, cities like Norwalk are pushing back, arguing that they need more resources and support to address the crisis.
As the situation in Norwalk continues to unfold, it is clear that the battle over homelessness in California is far from over. The state and
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