by Yucheng Tang
posted April 1
U.S. District Court Judge Dale A. Drozd has denied the City of Chico’s motion for relief from final judgment in the case Warren v. Chico.
The case led to a settlement agreement in 2022 that prohibited the City from enforcing anti-camping ordinances when adequate shelter was unavailable. The City later sought to modify or terminate that agreement, citing changes in the law (the Grants Pass v. Johnson decision by the U.S. Supreme Court) and changed circumstances, such as public health and safety concerns.
The court order says the City failed to prove that some public safety issues, like fires and crimes, have worsened after entering the Settlement Agreement.
“It is undisputed by the parties that the number of fires attributable to homeless people in general has been reduced during the operation of the Settlement Agreement compared to the number that took place prior to their entry into the Settlement Agreement,” the order says. “…nor have they presented evidence showing that the level of crime in Chico has changed since their entry into that agreement.”
District 4 Councilmember Addison Winslow commented in an Instagram post.
“What the judge gave us is the resounding rejection of everything that the City claimed,” Winslow says.
“We can negotiate a plan that can outlast the Settlement Agreement so we find a way to really workably handle homelessness in our community,” Winslow said, “or we can sit and complain.”
This story will be updated in the coming days.
We Chicoans have spent and continue to spend $ multi-millions on capital projects while dozens of elderly local Chicoan women sleep unsheltered. This was unheard of here in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. This is new and it is a shame on us and our legacy. This ruling by the Judge is a movement towards “liberty and justice for all.” Now is the time to contact Mayor Reynolds and Councilor O’Brien (P.O. Box 3420 Chico 95927) to encourage them to get going on a tiny home village, a managed campground, and tiny homes in church parking lots. They have the Proposals from North State Shelter Team for a more effective (and humane, and more ethical) way to address our shelter crisis.