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Council advances ordinance barring fines for sleeping on public property amid heated debate
Summary
The Providence City Council passed first reading of an ordinance that would prohibit fines for individuals sleeping on public property, prompting disputes over enforceability and park safety; the vote was 10–2 with two abstentions and one absence.
The Providence City Council on March 20 approved, on first reading, an ordinance that would bar the city from imposing fines, fees or monetary penalties on individuals for sleeping on public property.
Councilman Juan Sanchez, sponsor of the ordinance, said it responds to a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision and is intended to prevent further criminalizing people experiencing homelessness. “This bill would prohibit fining people, whether they’re housed or…
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