San Francisco is planning to ramp up sweeps of homeless encampments after a pivotal Supreme Court decision last week gave cities more authority to deal with the issue.
The court ruled Friday that cities can enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outside in public places even if there is not enough shelter space, deciding that such laws do not violate the Constitution’s prohibit on cruel and unusual punishment.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed said that thanks to the Supreme Court’s ruling, the city will better be able to clean up the tents that line the city’s streets.
“With this opportunity, we’ll be able to do more to clean and clear our streets — especially for those who are refusing shelter and services,” Breed said during a press conference at City Hall. “This is very helpful to us as a city.”
“My hope is that we can clear them all,” she said when asked by…
