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Silicon Valley lawmakers want to decriminalize homelessness
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Silicon Valley lawmakers want to decriminalize homelessness

  • By JOYCE CHU/San José Spotlight
  • Updated

As cities across California ban homeless encampments and Gov. Gavin Newsom encourages more sweeps, San Jose lawmakers are standing up against criminalizing homelessness. State Sen. Sasha Perez along with Assemblymembers Ash Kalra, Alex Lee and Matt Haney have co-authored a bill that would make it illegal for cities to prohibit organizations or people from helping homeless residents. The bill has passed the Senate and is being considered in the Assembly. Lee said homelessness is a societal failure and preventing criminalization is necessary to alleviate the crisis. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said each city should have the ability to tackle homelessness "in ways that balance public safety with effective support."