Public encampments are now illegal in Fresno County following Board decision

In less than two months, the county and city have passed ordinances that will change the way both jurisdictions stymie the growth of public encampment sites and their homeless populations. 

The Fresno County Board of Supervisors finalized the passage of their anti-encampment ordinance on Thursday, ushering a new era of public camp removals and, local leaders hope, homeless population clearings out of Fresno.

The county unanimously passed the ordinance days after the city finalized the passage of their own anti-camp ordinance. The city and county are expected to begin enforcement in the next 30 days, around mid-September. 

Supervisor Steve Brandau, who crafted both the current county ordinance and a failed 2017 city anti-encampment ordinance while serving as city councilmember, continued to say that the new law would not criminalize the homeless, as it would be enforced on all members of the public equally. 

“I do appreciate everybody who is critical of the no-camping ordinance, but I would like to say that…sometimes there are just different viewpoints on how to best improve the lives of people,” Brandau said. 

“Nobody has the right to obstruct public places and create situations that are problematic for our business owners, kids walking to school, “ Brandau added. “We honor the homeless many times with votes that we take here, spending massive amounts of money to improve their lives, but this issue is really not about homelessness, it’s about all the rest of us that are impacted by people who do things that are not right in a public space.” 

Some leaders have also acknowledged that the unhoused would be the community most immediately subject to enforcement. 

The new laws come in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Grants Pass ruling, which made it legal to pursue such legislation as a means of addressing their local homeless issues. 

The ordinance is seen as a victory for local businesses and residents who felt the encampments usurped their right to enjoy public spaces unbothered. 

Enforcement questions loom with little time remaining

Questions have been raised, however, on how enforcement will be practiced. 

Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said during the city’s introductory hearing on their ordinance that county jail capacity has hovered around 90-95% for years. 

The City Council had a closed session item during last week’s meeting that a Fresnoland report revealed involved a possible solution: discussing the purchase of a correctional facility in Caruthers to increase homeless shelter bed capacity. 

But county officials pushed back on the idea, saying a sale would not be possible as the facility is already planned to be used as a training facility for law enforcement. 

Luis Chavez at the introductory city ordinance hearing said he would like to see more specific language on enforcement, adding that the ordinance as it is written may put law enforcement in an unfair position to make those “judgment calls.”

Fresno City Council President Annalisa Perea was the lone dissenting vote during the passing of both the city and county’s anti-encampment ordinance votes. Perea said she agreed with ordinance critics’ argument that the city ordinance language was too “broad,” and committed to adding amendments as needed when enforcement begins.

Board brings electorate’s attention to Proposition 36 

The Fresno County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution supporting Proposition 36 — a statewide measure on the ballot this November asking voters whether they want to undo portions of Proposition 47, which California voters approved in 2014.

Though the resolution is sponsored by Supervisors Brandau and Buddy Mendes, Proposition 36 has support from the entire Board — with Brandau adding that some of them helped gather signatures to get the measure on the ballot. 

Brandau said that he sees Proposition 36 as a way to “correct some of the errors of Proposition 47.”

Proposition 47 reduced several nonviolent drug and property crimes from felonies to misdemeanors as part of an effort to reduce California’s overcrowded prisons and jails. But critics say the law went too far and incentivized minor property theft. Proposition 36 seeks to allow prosecutors the ability to levy felony charges on those crimes.

Businesses across the country have endorsed Proposition 36 in light of what they believe to be increased theft in their stores. Walmart, Target and Home Depot are among the companies endorsing the proposition. 

“All the (District Attorneys) in the valley really worked hard on getting this on the ballot,” said Mendes. 

In 2014, Fresno County voted to reject Proposition 47, with about 15,000 more voters in opposition. The Central Valley, however, was outvoted by the progressive electorate along the coast as the measure ultimately passed by over a million votes. 

Now, Proposition 36 — considered a conservative policy by opponents — has seen support from Democratic and coastal leaders, including mayors of San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose.

A recently released study from the University of California, Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies showed that a majority of Californians — 56% — would support Proposition 36 in November.

Proposition 36 will only need a simple majority to pass.

County highlights growth in 2023 agricultural report 

The Fresno County Department Of Agriculture presented its annual Crop and Livestock report to the county Board of Supervisors on Thursday, highlighting record revenues. 

In 2023, the County saw $8.6 billion in gross value from their crops, a 6.1% increase from last year, with grapes leading the way, valued at $1.3 billion. 

Supervisor commits to safety changes following teen deaths

The Fresno County Board of Supervisors heard from the friends and family of Sandro Lazo, 16, and Kaiden Bailey, 25 — two residents who died in crashes on North Fowler Avenue near Perrin Road at the beginning of August. 

Board of Supervisor chair Nathan Magsig, who represents the district where the collisions happened said he would commit to conducting a traffic study to see what improvements could be made, as well as making his office available to other family and friends of the victims who wish to reach out to him.