The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that a policy in a small town in Oregon, which fines people for setting up tents and sleeping in parks, is constitutional.
On the 28th , the Supreme Court overturned the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling that the homeless fine policy in Grants Pass, Oregon, violated the 8th Amendment.
The city authorities of Grants Pass had enacted an ordinance imposing a $295 fine on people sleeping in this park, filled with homeless tents. The ordinance also stipulated that repeated violations could result in a maximum of 30 days in jail.
Homeless advocacy groups filed a lawsuit, and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the ordinance violated the 8th Amendment, which prohibits excessive fines or cruel and unusual punishments.
However, the conservative-majority Supreme Court concluded 6 to 3 that the ordinance is constitutional.
Even within the progressive camp, reactions to this Supreme Court ruling were mixed.
Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California and a potential future Democratic presidential candidate, welcomed the ruling, saying, “Today’s Supreme Court ruling gives state and local officials clear authority to implement and enforce policies to remove unsafe encampments from the streets.” This surprising shift by Newsom is seen as a swift move to evade responsibility for worsening homeless situations.
Governor Newsom added, “Legal ambiguities that have tied the hands of local officials and hindered common-sense measures to protect community safety over the past few years have been removed.” Newsom’s actions have sparked controversy even within the Democratic Party.
On the other hand, Karen Bass, the Democratic Mayor of Los Angeles (LA), criticized the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Mayor Bass said in a statement, “It’s a disappointing ruling. Today’s ruling does not solve the homeless problem and does not save lives.” She insisted, “The only way to solve this crisis is to bring people indoors through housing and support services.”
