Tag: Grants Pass

Back to court: City wants relief from Settlement Agreement Chico leaders reject plaintiffs' proposed revisions

photo by Dave Waddell

by Leslie Layton
posted Aug. 8

The City of Chico plans to file a court motion next week asking for “relief” from the Warren v. Chico Settlement Agreement, an effort to give City leaders the latitude they seek to enforce anti-camping ordinances, conduct evictions and generally address homelessness.

As negotiations between the City and Legal Services of Northern California (LSNC) came to a crashing halt, the City today issued a press release that says “… with regard to the Warren Settlement Agreement itself, the City expects to file a motion to seek judicial relief” next week.

LSNC represents the homeless plaintiffs in the Warren lawsuit that was filed against this City in 2020.

The City released the July 31 LSNC letter that ChicoSol described in its Aug. 7 story here that proposed revisions to the agreement. It also released the City’s rejection of that proposal. read more

Chico moves to dissolve lawsuit settlement Winslow: The pallet shelters are "hostage" in the homeless case

photo by Dave Waddell
Eric Johnson

by Leslie Layton & Natalie Hanson
posted July 17

The City of Chico announced today that it plans to dissolve the lawsuit settlement that for the past 18 months has restricted its ability to conduct eviction sweeps at homeless encampments. It says it will return to court.

The January 2022 Settlement Agreement produced by the Warren v. Chico lawsuit requires the City show it has shelter beds available before evicting unhoused people from public property. If the City prevails in a new round of litigation, it will once again be able to enforce anti-camping ordinances and conduct eviction sweeps freely.

In today’s press release from the City, it said the agreement should be replaced following the 6-3 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Grants Pass v. Johnson. The City said it’s proposing “a new agreement that would supersede the Warren Settlement Agreement …” read more

Divided Supreme Court ruling delivers victory to Grants Pass ‘Either stay awake or be arrested’

photo by Karen Laslo
The City-sanctioned campground in north Chico that was opened to meet a court requirement.

by Natalie Hanson
posted June 28

The country’s highest court dropped a landmark decision on the question of civil rights for America’s unhoused people today.

In a decision that many attorneys and activists had predicted, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that cities enforcing anti-camping laws are not committing cruel and unusual punishment during evictions of unhoused people. It remanded the City of Grants Pass v. Johnson case back to the lower courts with a ruling that could affect policy in cities like Chico.

“We are reviewing the legal aspects of the opinion and how those legal aspects may apply to the City of Chico …,” said City Manager Mark Sorensen in a statement released this afternoon. “The City Council will be considering options and will provide direction as to next steps.” read more