SACRAMENTO – (INT) – Governor Newsom has chided the counties and cities for not doing enough to shoot down homeless encampments he labeled as “unhealthy and dangerous.”

Newsom in a video called on local leaders to adopt a model ordinance rolled out by his office that calls for a ban on “persistent” encampments and those that block sidewalks, and that “every reasonable effort” be made to offer shelter and identify resources for homeless people before clearing encampments.

The US Supreme Court ruled last year that cities could ban people from camping in public even if there are no shelter beds available.

“It is time to take back the streets. It’s time to take back the sidewalks. It’s time to take these encampments and provide alternatives, and the state is giving out more resources than ever,” the Governor said.

Story Date: May 24, 2025