Brockton City Council Delays Action on Controversial Camping, Loitering Ordinances
Mayor's veto prompts reconsideration of measures critics say target homeless
BROCKTON - December 23 - The Brockton City Council has postponed action on two controversial ordinances aimed at prohibiting camping on public property and loitering in public places until its Jan. 13 meeting. The delay comes after Mayor Robert Sullivan vetoed the measures, citing concerns about their impact on the city's homeless population.
The ordinances, which were previously passed by the Council, have drawn criticism from those who argue they unfairly target individuals experiencing homelessness. In his veto message, Sullivan urged the council to reconsider the measures, stating they "do not provide any solution" to problems related to the unhoused population.
"I cannot support any ordinance that seeks to criminalize homelessness," Sullivan wrote in his Nov. 25 veto letter to the council.
The camping ordinance would prohibit pitching tents or occupying campsites on public property, including sidewalks, streets, and parks. The loitering ordinance would ban congregating or standing in public areas in a way that obstructs passage or hinders others.
Councilor-At-Large Jean Bradley Derenoncourt expressed frustration with the repeated delays in addressing the ordinances.
"I hope that, you know, coming January that we will have the gut to vote on it because I feel like, you know, we are playing some kind of games, you know, with this ordinance," Derenoncourt said during the meeting.
He added that he had come prepared to "kill this in collaboration with my colleagues" but would now have to wait until January.
The mayor's veto highlighted several concerns with the camping ordinance, including its potential to violate constitutional rights and its lack of clarity on enforcement procedures. Sullivan recommended removing fines and criminal penalties, arguing they would be ineffective and potentially harmful to those unable to pay.
"Any sanctions given as a violation of this Ordinance must not be criminal, as any criminal charge can drastically affect one's access to housing," Sullivan wrote in his veto message.
The mayor also criticized the loitering ordinance as potentially unconstitutional, citing court decisions that protect the right to occupy public spaces for innocent purposes.
"Freedom to loiter for innocent purposes is protected by the Fourteenth Amendment," Sullivan noted, referencing several court cases.
The City Council's decision to postpone action on the ordinances came at the end of its final meeting of 2024. Council President Moises Rodrigues acknowledged the challenging nature of the issue but emphasized the need for resolution.
"I think we've done a decent job for the taxpayers and the residents of this city," Rodriguez said, reflecting on the council's work throughout the year. "So you should all be congratulated for your efforts and the work that we've all put together."
The postponement means the council will take up the controversial measures in the new year, with the Jan. 13 meeting likely to see renewed debate on how to address concerns about public camping and loitering while balancing the needs of the city's homeless population.