Sacramento could follow the City of Los Angeles in banning homeless encampments within 500 feet of daycares and schools
The proposal comes from Sacramento Vice Mayor Angelique Ashby, who is also running for the California State Senate.
“…We have kids to keep safe. And this is an important step in that goal,” she said at a Tuesday news conference in East Sacramento.
Ashby made her proposal in the wake of a troubling incident last week. A man who is believed to be unhoused allegedly harassed young students as they made their way to Sutter Middle School.
“...Sutter Middle School administrators responded to reports of an individual demonstrating either mental or intoxicated behaviors making sexual gestures toward students who were off-campus walking to school. Sacramento Police were called and the individual was arrested as a result. A message regarding the incident was then sent to notify Sutter Middle School families,” the Sacramento City Unified School District confirmed.
Ashby’s proposal has already received pushback from homeless advocates and Councilmember Katie Valenzuela.
In Los Angeles, the 500-foot school and daycare buffer became an enormously contentious issue that drew protests, chaos, bodily injury, and one arrest. The restrictions were ultimately approved by a majority vote.