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Woonsocket Council adopts ban on camping on public property after heated debate, 4-3
Summary
The Woonsocket City Council passed Ordinance 25 O 21 prohibiting camping on public property on its second passage, 4 to 3, after hours of public comment and debate over public safety, homelessness policy and enforcement costs.
The Woonsocket City Council voted 4 to 3 on May 5 to approve Ordinance 25 O 21, a second passage ordinance that prohibits camping on city-owned public property.
Supporters said the measure is needed to address public-safety and sanitation problems at encampment sites, while opponents — including residents, service providers and some council members — said the ordinance will criminalize people with nowhere to sleep and shift costs to courts and police without solving homelessness.
Councilman Kevin Dubois framed the safety argument during the council debate, saying the encampments had become dangerous and unsanitary: “the filth, the drugs, the needles are just overtaking the precious lands that they're camping on.” He and others also pointed to a recent police operation on Privilege Street that recovered drugs and weapons.
Councilwoman Fox, who voted against the ordinance,…
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