[dropcap size=big]F[/dropcap]ollowing a summer recess that lasted nearly a month, the L.A. city council reconvened at city hall yesterday to vote whether or not to reinstate 85.02, an ordinance that criminalizes people sleeping in their vehicles on all residential streets at night or anytime within 500 feet of a park, school or daycare.
The law expired at the beginning of July, making vehicle dwelling in the city briefly legal. Originally amended in 2016, the law has been extended for six months several times in the past. The last time the city council voted to extend 85.02, six months ago, they promised to study the issue and expand safe parking–designated streets where vehicle dwelling is permitted. But the safe parking program is only projected to create 300 parking spots for the estimated 16,500 people living in vehicles countywide.
During Tuesday’s meeting, members from the city council heard from dozens of organizers, activists, and community members. As well as people who have experienced living in their cars firsthand. All stated their reasons—one by one—for opposing the bill which ranged from environmental concerns to violations of constitutional rights.
These working-class homeless residents sleep in their cars and use their vehicles to get to work. They also use them to charge their phones and have access to an alarm clock to wake up in time for work.
“We can sleep in ditches but we can’t sleep in our cars?” Ryan Davis, a former homeless marine veteran asks while addressing the city council. Davis was homeless for 5 years.