Portland Commissioner Gonzalez wants tougher stance on homeless camping

Portland Commissioner Rene Gonzalez has proposed a divisive alternative to a public camping ban proposal heading to City Council this month.

The current proposal, drafted by Mayor Ted Wheeler, gives Portland City Council the authority to draft and approve a policy limiting where and how people can rest outside. Gonzalez, who is running for mayor this year, wants this authority to lie solely with the mayor. His proposal, first reported by Willamette Week, also proposes harsher criminal sanctions for people living unsheltered if federal and state laws change.

And he might have the support needed on City Council to see this through.

The discussion comes as laws around public camping hit the national stage. Next week, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in the Grants Pass v. Johnson case, in which the Southern Oregon city is challenging a previous appeals court ruling that bars cities from enforcing laws that punish people for sleeping outside if no other shelter is available. The Supreme Court isn’t expected to issue a ruling for several months.

Gonzalez says that moving the decision to the mayor’s office will allow Portland to move more swiftly to adapt the city’s camping policy if the Supreme Court rules in favor of Grants Pass. This could also affect a state law enshrining the appeals court protections that Grants Pass is challenging.

Oregon Public Broadcasting is a Pamplin Media Group news partner. Read their full story here .