HomeMy WebLinkAboutAB718_LtrToChu_20160816Office of the City Council
-------------
W rPaIn"I to', L U S T31 -324�",
8
August 16, 2016
The Honorable Kansen Chu
California State Assembly
State Capitol, Room 2179
Sacramento, CA 95814
Via FAX: (916) 319-2125
Re: AB 718 (Chu) — Removal of Regulatory Authority:
Vehicles Used For Human Habitation
Notice of Opposition
Dear Assembly Member Chu,
On behalf of the City of San Luis Obispo, I write to inform you of our opposition to
AB 718, which would prohibit local agencies from enforcing laws and ordinances, or
otherwise subjecting to civil or criminal penalties, the act of people sleeping or resting in a
lawfully parked motor vehicle.
While a vehicle may be "lawfully parked" in a residential neighborhood or in the
parking lot of a business or public facility, that does not render streets or other vehicle facilities
safe or appropriate for residential occupancy. The issues raised by AB 718 are less about
parking, and more about the use of vehicles for human habitation, including sleeping and
"resting" in front of existing homes and businesses.
City parking locations whether on public or private property - other than campgrounds
- were never intended or designed for residential occupancy. Such uses raise major issues of
sanitation, and compromise the ability of residents to feel secure in their homes and in the
conduct of business activity. The City of San Luis Obispo negotiated with local advocacy
groups on the specific issue of sleeping in cars and created the municipal code parking rules
that exist in our City today. These were determined to best serve all members of the
community and were given judicial approval, so to now overturn them by state law would
throw out all that input and community effort.
This measure should be rejected. Cities work hard to balance all of the needs of their
communities and residents, housed and unhoused, and there is no "one size fits all" solution
to the complex social and economic issues underlying homelessness. The City of San Luis
Obispo is continually working toward solutions to these complex problems through a variety
of local services and initiatives designed to understand the needs of our local homeless and
vulnerable community members and to focus resources and accountability tools in the manner
we believe best forwards the objectives of ending homelessness in our local community.
Given the complexity of these issues and varying local circumstances, it is simply
counterproductive for the Legislature to attempt to remove local government discretion and
authority to decide how best to protect the public health, safety and welfare of local residents.
These are not easy issues to deal with, but they cannot responsibly be ignored.
What is most needed at the State and federal level to combat homelessness is funding
for affordable housing, emergency shelters, and supportive social and mental health services.
There are several major pending measures that can help restore funds for affordable housing
and focus state efforts where they will be most impactful; we encourage legislators to support
additional funding for affordable housing and homeless solutions and to leave local regulation
to informed local decision makers.
Because this measure would undermine local authority to protect the public health,
safety and welfare of our residents, we must oppose AB 718 and encourage you to reject future
measures that may similarly seek to limit informed local discretion.
Sincerely,
an Howell Marx
U/Mayor
cc: San Luis Obispo City Council
State Senator Bill Monning, fax (916) 651 — 4917
State Assembly Member Katcho Achadjian, fax (916) 319-2135
Dave Mullinax, League of California Cities, dmqII1LnqxLa,,Lcqcities.org
Meg Desmond, League of California Cities, mdesmond���i)cqcits�'r�