Press Release
Senator Pérez Statement on Governor Newsom’s Model Ordinance to Address Encampments with Urgency and Dignity
May 12, 2025
“The outline of Governor Newsom’s proposed local ordinance clearly states that no one ‘should face criminal punishment for sleeping outside when they have nowhere else to go.’ This is the same compassionate goal as SB 634, which originally aimed to allow encampment clearances, while banning criminal punishment against someone for simply being unhoused, while also protecting charity organizations who volunteer to serve those who are unhoused. Now, we have a model ordinance from the Governor affirming that we can both clear encampments without criminalizing people in the process.