ONE BIG THING: DEBUNKING THE 41.18 MYTHS
What Happened?
This Tuesday, City Council approved our motions to remove twelve revocable anti-camping zones that were established under the previous councilmember in District 13.
These zones were established through Los Angeles Municipal Code 41.18, which prohibits people experiencing homelessness from sitting, lying, or sleeping in certain public spaces. While these zones were initially created to address concerns about homelessness, the reality is that they make it more challenging to connect individuals to housing, while merely shuffling them from block to block.
Even though service providers, policy experts, and an independent city analysis have all found that these zones are counterproductive, the right wing media and even some elected officials are ignoring the facts to pursue their own narrative.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the biggest myths we’ve seen on this topic:
Myth: 41.18 enforcement keeps locations clear of encampments
Reality: A recent study by the City’s Chief Legislative Analyst found that almost all of the encampment sites cleared under 41.18 have been repopulated and 81% of those sites saw people who were previously at those encampments return after the enforcement.
The same study found that 94% of people living at these encampments wanted some form of shelter, but only 18% received it. At the time of the study, just 2 people from these encampments had been permanently housed.
Meanwhile, unhoused residents displaced by 41.18 enforcement operations often lost items, including critical medications and documents needed to get housing. When people are fined, or even arrested for simply trying to find a safe place to sleep — it makes it much harder to find stability.
Myth: School zones are being repealed
Reality: School zones will NOT be affected by these motions. Our motions removed ONLY the twelve specific zones in our district that were deemed revocable, and were preventing folks from getting housed. This does not remove or change any existing city-wide restrictions around schools, daycares, ADA compliance, or blocked driveways.
Our office will continue prioritizing sensitive areas like schools and parks for outreach, cleanings, and services. Before we took office, there were multiple longstanding encampments near schools that repeatedly returned despite years of 41.18 enforcement under the previous administration.
The difference came when we brought in Mayor Bass’ Inside Safe team and trusted service providers. Instead of simply enforcing 41.18, we connected every person living at those encampments with housing and services. As a result, 100% of the people at those specific encampments were permanently housed, and those sites have remained clear ever since.
Myth: We’re making it legal to camp in parks
Reality: Camping in City parks and recreation centers is prohibited under LAMC 63.44, which is a completely separate law.
Just like when we took down the fence surrounding Echo Park Lake, we wholeheartedly commit to keeping our public spaces safe, clean and welcoming for everyone.
Myth: Homelessness is up in District 13
Reality: Street homelessness is down 40% over the last three years, and for the first time, homelessness has decreased in the district for three consecutive years.
We’ve done this by creating the District’s first-ever homelessness team, opening a record number of new affordable housing projects, creating the first team in the city that supports at-risk tenants to slow the flow of eviction to homelessness pipeline, and investing in critical services like the new Hollywood Hub.
Myth: This means there will be no enforcement in these areas
Reality: Crime is still illegal and illegal behavior will be enforced appropriately.
If you witness a crime, dial 911 and ask to meet the police to tell them what you saw.
If you'd prefer a non-armed response team, dial 877.ASK.LAPD and request the CIRCLE Team, a unit trained in de-escalation techniques and trauma-informed care.
Why it Matters
With these 12 zones removed, we will now have more resources to focus on directing people to services and housing, and we will not have to deal with delays resulting from losing track of a neighbor because their belongings were lost, or because they were arrested for not paying a fine they could never afford.
Additionally as part of this process, we knocked on over 2,250 doors, and sent out 10,000 mailers to community members living near the zones.Of the respondents:
- 43% supported removing the 41.18 zones
- 4% opposed removing the 41.18 zones
- 53% were in the middle or undecided
What’s Next?
By investing in housing, outreach, and supportive services, we can create safer, more accessible neighborhoods, while helping more people move toward permanent housing.
Two More Quick Hits
- Fair Treatment for Fast Food Workers
In the Economic Development & Jobs Committee on Tuesday, fast food workers gathered at City Hall for an important vote, which directed the City Attorney to report back on language to include fast food workers in the City’s Fair Workweek Ordinance, which guarantees predictable scheduling for retail workers in the city.
Notably, our proposal also seeks to guarantee mandatory, paid, and in-person Know Your Rights trainings for fast food workers, which would be given in multiple languages, to ensure all workers know their rights and are equipped with the information they need to fight for them.
Unsurprisingly, the billionaire fast food corporations have been fighting this effort because they know that an informed workforce will mean less wage theft, abuse, and exploitation.
The legislation will now move to the full City Council for a vote.
- Keeping our communities safe & accessible!
Our office has officially put in a motion to allocate funding for a third LACC Clean Team in Council District 13!
Adding another CleanTeam means we can expand cleaning efforts and prioritize essential services such as bulky item pick-ups, litter & weed abatement, and overall neighborhood beautification across CD13 – all while providing paid work experience for at-risk youth.
And we’re not stopping there! Over the past year, our office has funded $250,000 in overtime for Los Angeles Sanitation (LASAN) to carry out their work & address the critical needs across our district including bulky item pick-up, hazardous waste, and more. Through our continued partnership with LACC and LASAN, we’re expanding services available to our communities, getting the work done, and making sure Angelenos have the clean, safe, and well maintained neighborhoods they deserve.
CD13 Pet of the Week
Meet Leo, our pet of the week!
It’s Leo season (yes we are referring to both this adorable kitten and the zodiac), which means fall is just around the corner…so a cuddling buddy is a MUST!
This sweet boy is looking forward to snuggling up on the sofa with his new best friend & enjoying the sweet fragrance of pumpkin spice in the air!
Looking for a cuddle buddy just in time for the fall season? Visit Leo at East Valley TODAY!