The Brockton City Council's decision to override the mayor's veto on a ban on public camping highlights the ongoing challenge of addressing homelessness and related issues in the city.
The Brockton City Council voted to override Mayor Robert Sullivan's veto on Monday, enacting a ban on camping in public spaces. The decision came after months of contentious debate regarding how to address the growing issue of homeless encampments and drug use in the city. The council initially passed the new rule in a 7-4 vote, with Mayor Sullivan subsequently issuing a veto.
He argued that the restrictions would 'criminalize homelessness' and urged the council to modify the ordinance to eliminate the $200 fine for violating the ban. During Monday's meeting, an additional councilor, Maria Tavares, aligned herself with those supporting the measure, enabling the council to override the mayor's veto with an 8-3 vote. Councilor Jeffrey Thompson, who was elected council president on Monday, passionately advocated for overriding the veto, presenting a slideshow depicting individuals appearing to live on city streets. The visuals included images of discarded needles and other items associated with encampments. Councilor Jean Bradley Derenoncourt expressed his opposition to the ban, stating that 'being homeless is not a crime' and criticizing his colleagues for seeking to penalize individuals experiencing homelessness. He emphasized the challenging conditions faced by those living on the streets, particularly during the cold weather, and called for support and assistance rather than punishment. Derenoncourt, along with councilors Susan Nicastro and Winthrop Farwell Jr., voted against overriding the veto. Farwell expressed skepticism that the ordinance would effectively address the underlying issues, pointing out existing laws against littering, open lewdness, disorderly conduct, drug use, and trespassing, which he argued had not adequately resolved the problem
Homelessness Public Camping Ban Brockton City Council Mayor Veto Drug Use
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