San Francisco Steps Up Homeless Encampment Sweeps Amidst Newsom's Directive

San Francisco ramps up sweeps of homeless encampments under a directive by Mayor London Breed following Governor Gavin Newsom's order. The city will offer shelter but will prevent small camps from expanding and returning to cleared areas. Los Angeles adopts a different approach despite Newsom's order.

San Francisco is intensifying efforts to dismantle homeless encampments following an order from Governor Gavin Newsom urging cities to enforce anti-camping laws. Mayor London Breed's directive ensures shelter and services for the homeless, while aiming to prevent encampments from growing and reappearing in cleared areas, per an official statement.

The directive aligns with a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that strengthens city enforcement capabilities when individuals refuse to vacate homeless camps. Authorities will issue warnings and citations with increasing penalties, possibly leading to arrests. However, the city's statement made clear the objective is compliance, not punishment.

In contrast, Los Angeles has decided to stick with its existing policies that emphasize services over criminalization, despite Newsom's directive. The Los Angeles approach aims to mitigate negative impacts from the Supreme Court decision, focusing on expanding services and treatment to address homelessness. The county reported a decrease in homeless numbers for the first time in five years.

(With inputs from agencies.)