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Berkeley City Council Adopts Aggressive Homeless Encampment Policy on Tuesday

Sep 11, 2024, 06:41 PM

The City of Berkeley has adopted a more aggressive approach to handling homeless encampments, allowing city workers to remove them even if no shelter beds are available. The new policy also permits the citation or arrest of unhoused individuals in limited circumstances. This decision marks a significant shift for the city, which has historically been known for its liberal stance on homelessness. The Berkeley City Council voted Tuesday to enforce stricter rules, and the move has sparked controversy among residents and businesses. A group of Berkeley businesses, including prominent names in the food and drink industry, has filed a lawsuit against the city over the encampments near their establishments. The City Manager's office has been given authority to clear out two major areas of unhoused residents that the mayor says have been problematic for years.