A plan to amend Fremont's controversial camping ban ordinance

'Aiding and abetting' section of Fremont's ordinance may soon be excised; local Democratic Party faithful pick its Assembly District leaders, Dems again snub former Fremont Mayor Lily Mei

☕️MORNING BUZZ

—The Fremont City Council may soon take a second look at the contentious camping ban ordinance approved on Feb. 11.

Fremont Councilmember Kathy Kimberlin and Mayor Raj Salwan are offering a council referral tonight that seeks to remove the misdemeanor aiding and abetting charge, the most controversial section of the ordinance.

“The purpose of this referral is to request the City Council’s consideration of revisions to the Camping Ordinance that would remove language that has contributed to misinterpretation of the ordinance’s intent and application,” Kimberlin and Salwan wrote in the referral.

—Section 8.90.060(b)(1), the section proposed for deletion, reads:

Any person causing, permitting, aiding, abetting or concealing a violation of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and may be prosecuted as a misdemeanor and upon conviction be subject to a fine not to exceed $1,000.00 or imprisonment in the city or county jail for a period of not more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

It’s not a surprise that Kimberlin is interested in amending the ordinance. She, along with Councilmember Desrie Campbell, opposed the first reading of the ordinance. However, both supported the second and final reading last month.

Salwan reiterated last month that the aiding and abetting section would not be used against Good Samaritans providing food and water to homeless individuals, nor would it affect non-profits that help the unhoused as part of their mission. Fremont’s police chief also insisted the section would not be used on the unhoused.

—More inside:

• Pleasanton is still dealing with a complaint alleging its housing element is faulty.

• Budget SZN is here: Alameda and Emeryville are dealing with deficits.

• Alameda Police want automated red-light cameras, a technology passé in the county.

• California Democratic Party Assembly District election results. Winners will represent county residents at the state convention, among other duties.

• Oakland special election campaign finance data for Monday.

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