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Residents tell council citations and shelter scarcity are pushing unhoused people from the library
Summary
Multiple speakers urged the Burbank City Council on March 10 to halt enforcement that pushes people out of the library at night, flagged illegible citations and out‑of‑area court directions, and asked for updates on the Homeless Solutions Center and expanded services at the library and outreach teams.
A series of public commenters at the March 10 meeting told the council the city’s unhoused neighbors are being criminalized and that enforcement against people sleeping outside the Burbank Central Library creates hardship.
MJ Kenny said three citations issued in late February were difficult to read, listed a Glendale Superior Court date, and that recipients may face warrants if they fail to appear. Kenny asked whether the court location could be changed to Burbank and whether citations could be rescinded.
Emiko (public commenter) and Jonathan Wilder urged the council to prioritize services rather than displacement. Emiko described limited hours at local service centers and said many clients lack IDs needed to access services; Wilder asked for an urgent update on the Homeless Solutions Center and recommended that library renovation plans explicitly incorporate services for people experiencing homelessness.
City staff said outreach and homelessness services exist and that a detailed follow‑up on the citation incident would be provided; Police Chief Rafael Canary later told council that illegible citations can be corrected and that affected people may visit the police department front counter for a legible copy and citation guidance.
Speakers repeatedly urged alternatives to citations and called for more in‑person social‑work presence, clearer citation paperwork, and relocation of court appearances to Burbank where possible. Council members asked staff to investigate and report back.
No formal action was taken at the meeting beyond staff commitments to follow up and to return a report on the Homeless Solutions Center that had been rescheduled for a future meeting.
