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Las Vegas becomes first major city to make it a crime to sleep or camp out on the streets as it moves to tackle the homeless crisis blighting cities across America
By Ryan Fahey For Mailonline and Ap05:47 EST 08 Nov 2019 , updated 06:12 EST 08 Nov 2019
The measure will apply to the city's downtown urban core, not the tourist-heavy Las Vegas Strip, which is overseen by a different jurisdiction.
Las Vegas becomes the latest city in the US West - from San Francisco and Seattle to Honolulu and Salt Lake City - to try to deal with complaints about homelessness.
This image shows a homeless camp in Las Vegas on Las Vegas Boulevard North near Foremaster Lane. City officials introduced a law on Wednesday that will make this type of camping illegal on the streets of the city
The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals struck down a similar law from Boise, Idaho, last year - calling it unconstitutional to prosecute people for sleeping in public places when there aren't enough shelter beds.
City Attorney Brad Jerbic said the Las Vegas law was crafted to withstand a similar legal challenge, with its 'if beds are available' provision.
Opponents rejected city officials' assurances that there will be enough shelter space when necessary.
Las Vegas is one of many cities in the US with a large homeless population due to a perfect storm of high addiction rates, expensive housing, job losses and a lack of mental health service infrastructure.
Mayor Carolyn Goodman, the sponsor of the measure, called it imperfect but necessary to deal with what officials and downtown business owners characterize as a homeless crisis.
Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman points toward protesters during the council meeting where the city council issued a ban on homeless camping on Wednesday
Sitting on an installation on the downtown sidewalk, Sebastian Bach, 62, has been homeless and living in the arts district for a year and a half in Las Vegas, NV, pictured on February 20, 2016. The ruling will not extend to the tourist heavy Las Vegas strip as it is managed by a different jurisdiction
'This is flawed but it is a start,' the mayor said after noting Las Vegas' economy relies on its image as an attractive international tourist attraction.
'We have been having these conversations for 20 years,' she said, 'and we must have results.'
The issue spurred emotion and drama, including the ejection by city marshals of several audience members who Goodman deemed disruptive during a daylong City Council meeting that drew dozens of time-limited comments.
Most people spoke against the law before the 5-2 council vote.
In this October 15 photograph, patrons of The Salvation Army homeless shelter grab supplies near downtown Las Vegas. The new ruling will mean that if a bed is available at a shelter like the one pictured, homeless people will be fined or imprisoned for staying on the streets
The camping ban proposal drew opposition from Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden (2R), Elizabeth Warren (right), Bernie Sanders (3R), Kamala Harris (4R), Cory Booker (3L), Tom Steyer (2L) and Julian Castro (not pictured)
By Ryan Fahey For Mailonline and Ap05:47 EST 08 Nov 2019 , updated 06:12 EST 08 Nov 2019
- The law will be enforced across downtown Las Vegas not the Las Vegas strip
- People found sleeping rough when beds are available could receive $1000 fine
- Las Vegas has a large homeless population due to a perfect storm of expensive rents, drug addiction, recent job losses and a lack of mental health services
The measure will apply to the city's downtown urban core, not the tourist-heavy Las Vegas Strip, which is overseen by a different jurisdiction.
Las Vegas becomes the latest city in the US West - from San Francisco and Seattle to Honolulu and Salt Lake City - to try to deal with complaints about homelessness.
This image shows a homeless camp in Las Vegas on Las Vegas Boulevard North near Foremaster Lane. City officials introduced a law on Wednesday that will make this type of camping illegal on the streets of the city
The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals struck down a similar law from Boise, Idaho, last year - calling it unconstitutional to prosecute people for sleeping in public places when there aren't enough shelter beds.
City Attorney Brad Jerbic said the Las Vegas law was crafted to withstand a similar legal challenge, with its 'if beds are available' provision.
Opponents rejected city officials' assurances that there will be enough shelter space when necessary.
Las Vegas is one of many cities in the US with a large homeless population due to a perfect storm of high addiction rates, expensive housing, job losses and a lack of mental health service infrastructure.
Mayor Carolyn Goodman, the sponsor of the measure, called it imperfect but necessary to deal with what officials and downtown business owners characterize as a homeless crisis.
Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman points toward protesters during the council meeting where the city council issued a ban on homeless camping on Wednesday
Sitting on an installation on the downtown sidewalk, Sebastian Bach, 62, has been homeless and living in the arts district for a year and a half in Las Vegas, NV, pictured on February 20, 2016. The ruling will not extend to the tourist heavy Las Vegas strip as it is managed by a different jurisdiction
'This is flawed but it is a start,' the mayor said after noting Las Vegas' economy relies on its image as an attractive international tourist attraction.
'We have been having these conversations for 20 years,' she said, 'and we must have results.'
The issue spurred emotion and drama, including the ejection by city marshals of several audience members who Goodman deemed disruptive during a daylong City Council meeting that drew dozens of time-limited comments.
Most people spoke against the law before the 5-2 council vote.
In this October 15 photograph, patrons of The Salvation Army homeless shelter grab supplies near downtown Las Vegas. The new ruling will mean that if a bed is available at a shelter like the one pictured, homeless people will be fined or imprisoned for staying on the streets
The camping ban proposal drew opposition from Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden (2R), Elizabeth Warren (right), Bernie Sanders (3R), Kamala Harris (4R), Cory Booker (3L), Tom Steyer (2L) and Julian Castro (not pictured)
