Council debates how to respond to person camping on Central Avenue benches

Council member Laskowiak told the City Council that a single person has taken up residence on Central Avenue benches and urged more active removal of that person’s belongings if he did not move: “The only 1 that can save him is himself.”

The exchange unfolded during the council’s standing-committee reports, where members and city officials discussed enforcement limits, outreach and the legal boundaries for dealing with people experiencing homelessness. The city’s police chief said officers have been trying to connect the person with services but noted limits on enforcement: “There is no law against being homeless.” Attorney Reynaldo said the city could adopt a local law but warned that repeated arrests could result in court releases and continued return to the same site: “We could we could do a local law. The problem is, obviously, if the individual keeps returning to the site over and over again, he's gonna go before the judge and, you know, he'll be released.”

Council members and staff described ongoing outreach. The chief told the council that the mayor’s office and departments are trying to get the individual “any resources we possibly can.” Council members expressed frustration with residents leaving clothing and food at the site and with the repeated relocation of the person to different benches. Several speakers said the city has removed a damaged bench for repair and that removing benches is not a long-term solution.

No formal motion or ordinance was introduced at the meeting; council remarks emphasized outreach and coordination among the mayor’s office, police and social-service providers. The discussion closed with council members saying they would continue to pursue available community resources and enforcement options within existing law.

The council did not adopt new local legislation or a formal policy change during the meeting; members said further steps and details would be addressed in future meetings.