Ritzy Town Sued Over Treatment Of Homeless

ACLU Says Laguna Beach Ban On Sleeping Outdoors Is Unconstitutional

Civil rights attorneys filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against this exclusive coastal town and accused its leadership of engaging in a campaign of harassment against the homeless.

The American Civil Liberties Union alleged in its lawsuit that a city ban on sleeping on the street is unconstitutional, particularly because there are no year-round city-sponsored shelters. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana.

"There are even more art galleries than homeless residents," said Mark Rosenbaum, ACLU's legal director for Southern California. "Yet city leaders have chosen to attempt to eliminate the homeless, rather than eliminate homelessness."

The lawsuit seeks a change in policy, but no money for the homeless, Rosenbaum said.

Assistant City Manager John Pietig objected to the characterization of the city as an exclusive, oceanfront hamlet bent on driving out fewer than 100 chronically homeless people.

"We're a very tolerant community," he said. "We have one of the most aggressive programs in the state of California to address homeless issues."

The City Council recently considered revising the 1950s ordinance that bans street sleeping, but postponed the matter for further review, Pietig said.

He said there was no policy to harass homeless people sleeping outdoors, but officers occasionally ticket people camping illegally in wooded areas because of the wildfire danger from campfires.

In a grassy downtown park that fronts a beach and a dazzling blue ocean, more than a dozen homeless people, many with large rucksacks, sat on benches.

Alan Olson, 39, said he'd been homeless for two years and was frequently harassed by police. He's received two tickets for illegal camping in an area on the outskirts of town, he said, and faces a fine of up to $180 at his court date next month.

"They come up and shine the lights in my eyes so I can't see who they are and they give me a ticket," he said. "I want to see everything change. Maybe now they can treat homeless ... better instead of harassing 'em."

Pietig said the city formed a homeless task force last year and has hired a community outreach officer, held community forums on the issue and approved a $100,000 interest-free loan to a local nonprofit dedicated to helping the homeless.

To combat panhandling, the city set up five collection sites around town for spare change that is donated to the homeless, raising $2,500 since July, Pietig said. The city also contributes $15,000 to $20,000 a year to a 41-bed cold weather shelter run by local churches.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/23/national/main4685135.shtml 

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{As you can see from this article there are two sides to every story. The town leadership is being accused of harassing the homeless but is putting money up front to help them. Poverty and homelessness is a fact of life in America and it simply can not be swept under the rug anymore. It's there for all to see in our nations biggest cities and in our towns and villages and in the hard economic times that confront us all there will be more. Many Americans are just a pay check away from losing it all.

Reaching out to help those not as fortunate as us is not a political issue. When you bend down to help someone to their feet it doesn't matter if you are conservative or liberal, Republican or Democrat. All that matters is that you care and want to help. There are many that need our help this Christmas, food banks need supplies, food kitchens need workers over the holidays, shelters need cots and blankets. If you can help in any way....please do.

Many of us could argue about just what "Christmas" means these days but it does not mean turning our back on those not as fortunate as we are. It is a wonderful opportunity to do good and such opportunity should not me wasted. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.

Rose}