Novato passes anti-camping ordinance on city streets fueling some community pushback
Briefly

"The hundreds of people who live outdoors here will not have the means to protect themselves. No sleeping here, no camps, no sleeping bags, no tents, subject to arrests and misdemeanor citations," said protester Jennifer Mallow.
"We have a right to a degree of safety. The government can't deprive us of the things that we need to survive and put us in increased risk of harm," Powelson said.
Mark Shotwell, who runs the nonprofit Ritter Center in San Rafael, says he's not surprised by the council's decision. He emphasizes, 'the way that we're going to end encampments is that we're going to partner together around housing first.' This approach necessitates getting people into apartments with the necessary support.
The city of Novato stated that 'Novato's Municipal Code already prohibited unlawful camping with limited exceptions and Council's approved changes are similar to those being approved or considered in other jurisdictions.'
Read at ABC7 San Francisco
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