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Council Proposal re: Homelessness “Eliminating the Sleeping Ban” The City Council will consider a proposal by long-time council member and past mayor Don Lane to amend the city’s camping ordinance to eliminate what has come to be referred to euphemistically as the “sleeping ban.” Council member Lane’s report to the council contends that these provisions “penalize” people who have no place else to go for falling asleep or covering up with a blanket while being outside late at night or early in the morning. He continues to support the City’s limitations on camping in other than designated camping areas, but in a heartfelt argument says, “I continue to wonder what the harm is from the act of sleeping or wrapping oneself in a blanket on a cold night. And, more importantly, I wonder what the harm is when a government penalizes people for behavior they cannot and should not avoid.” The Chamber, like Lane, believes that this rings of the absurd. But much of public policy seems to deny reality. That we are unable or unwilling to provide appropriate care for the mentally ill is one measure. That our policies address those without a home as a homogenous problem to be solved with blunt instruments such as a camping ban also seems preposterous. But the notion that we would return to having people sleep in their cars in commercial and residential neighborhoods is no less improbable. Sanitation comes to mind first. Limitations on our ability to insure protection against late night larceny, exemplified by problems in the Lighthouse Field neighborhood, are next. We cannot support the amendment as written. We encourage you to submit your thoughts on the matter to the Council prior to the 7 PM session on Tuesday March 8, 2016 cmathews@cityofsantacruz.com cchase@cityofsantacruz.com mposner@cityofsantacruz.com dterrazas@cityofsantacruz.com pcomstock@cityofsantacruz.com dlane@cityofsantacruz.com rnoroyan@cityofsantacruz.com or to attend the meeting and speak on the proposal. Following are links to: The Report to Council on this item. The“redlined” amendments to the ordinance