LOS ANGELES, CA – Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua has proposed a new ordinance to tackle homeless encampments, citing public safety and cleanliness as primary concerns.
The proposal, introduced Tuesday, seeks to prohibit activities such as sleeping in tents, public restrooms, on benches, or in cars, and would impose restrictions on access to parks, the civic center, and sidewalks between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
“We need to clean up our city,” Amezcua said during a public address. “We don’t want you defecating on our streets. We don’t want to assault our children in our community. We don’t want you injecting drugs on our bus stops.”
Santa Ana currently has two shelters offering a combined 600 beds, falling short of accommodating the 871 unsheltered individuals identified in the city’s latest homeless count. This leaves more than 200 people without access to shelter, a key concern raised by critics of the ordinance.
Amezcua emphasized that the proposed measures would focus enforcement around schools, parks, and residential areas. She stated that the ordinance is not intended to incarcerate individuals experiencing homelessness but to cite those who refuse offered services.
“There are organizations that we can refer to,” Amezcua said. “But if they’re going to continue to be on the streets and refuse any services at all, I would hope that they would be cited for an infraction that could be a misdemeanor. But are we going to fill the jail? No, we’re not.”
The proposal has sparked mixed reactions within the community.
“Our city pretty much villainizes humans like homeless people,” said Anthony Delgado, a Santa Ana resident. “So, that’s pretty much what they’re trying to do—just get them out of the way because they make our city look dirty when they’re not fixing the problem.”
Advocates for unhoused residents argue that punitive measures fail to address the root causes of homelessness, including lack of affordable housing and mental health support.
Santa Ana is not alone in its approach. Other cities in Orange County, including Anaheim, Newport Beach, San Clemente, and Aliso Viejo, have recently updated anti-camping laws. These moves come in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling permitting cities to fine or arrest individuals for camping and sleeping outdoors, provided adequate shelter is available.
The ordinance, if passed, could lead to increased tensions as the city grapples with balancing enforcement against limited shelter capacity. Amezcua has expressed hope that the measures will encourage unhoused individuals to accept available services, while critics worry it may exacerbate existing challenges.
Santa Ana officials are expected to hold further discussions on the proposal in the coming weeks.
