Gallagher Applauds SCOTUS Decision to Hear Homeless Encampment Case

SACRAMENTO – Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher (Yuba City) applauded the United States Supreme Court’s decision to hear the case of City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, which seeks to end the prohibition on enforcing local anti-vagrancy laws unless there is a shelter space for each homeless individual. The prohibition was imposed by a ruling in the 2018 case of Martin v. Boise, and has been blamed for contributing to California’s current homelessness crisis. Following the Court’s announcement, Gallagher issued the following statement:

“Democrats’ handling of homelessness in California is a national embarrassment.

“The Boise case is being abused by activists, and some cities have used it as an excuse for their complete failure to solve the homelessness crisis and clean up our streets. Removing that excuse will allow us to begin holding politicians accountable for their inaction and incompetence.

“I am confident the Supreme Court will agree there is no right to vagrancy and to fill our parks and sidewalks with trash, needles and human waste.

“Removing this barrier to cleaning up encampments is a good first step, but we need to go further: stop wasting money on ineffective programs, demand results from officials and organizations that are supposed to be solving this problem, and stop tolerating the drug use and crime that have become hallmarks of many California cities.”

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