After Supreme Court decision, Berkeley leaders vow to treat unhoused with compassion

Union City came tantalizingly close to entering into another East Bay flag controversy; Oakland officials won't inundated voters with ballot measure this fall; Newark has a surprising strong bench

Homeless encampment in Berkeley.

CITY NEWS

BERKELEY

—UNHOUSED STATUS QUO—Two weeks ago, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered stunning news to the unhoused in the East Bay and across the country.

—Laws that have hindered municipalities from mitigating the sprawling homeless encampments are now off the books. Cities can now take steps such as bans on sleeping and camping in public spaces, the high court ruled on June 28.

—In Berkeley, where the sight of homeless individuals is common, city leaders on Tuesday night assured residents that the city will continue to treat the unhoused with compassion regardless of the ruling.

—“The resolution is an assertion of our values,” said its co-author, Berkeley Councilmember Cecilia Lunaparra. “It does not change any policies. It asserts unhoused people in our city are not less safe than they were two weeks ago.”

—“Our policy is still the policy before this decision,” . Most volunteer “That is compassion and that is the right approach.

—Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín said he believes no change in the city’s policy toward homeless encampments is in order following the Supreme Court ruling.

—“We’re not going to crack down and do sweeps,” Arreguín said, but, instead, continue to build trust, and above all, offer shelter to the unhoused individuals.

—Fears among the unhoused and their advocates in Berkeley registered fears that a sweep of a local encampment was imminent.

—City staff said flyers posted at the site was merely routine notification of a garbage pickup.

—411 on the 510—Become an East Bay Insiders subscriber today and get full access to the inside scoop every weekday morning at 6 a.m. It’s what the insiders read.

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