The city of Norwalk voted to extend its ban on new homeless shelters and supportive housing through August 2025. It comes after Governor Gavin Newsom threatened to file a lawsuit.
Following a 5 to 0 vote, the moratorium was extended to 10 months and 15 days, according to Whittier Daily News.
A couple of residents said during the meeting that they support the ban.
“Billions of dollars have been spent yet the crisis has only deepened,” one resident said. “Norwalk should not be forced to bear the brunt of the region's homeless population.”
One resident, however, told KNX News’ Jon Baird the city should help the homeless.
“I think they should always support it,” he said. “I was in the streets and I was homeless and a shelter in North Hollywood helped me and my son out…and I've made a dramatic change.”
On Monday, the California Department of Housing and Community Development sent a letter to city officials, saying the moratorium violates multiple state housing laws.
Gov. Newsom wrote in a statement that passing the ordinance would be “unfathomable.”
Want to get caught up on what's happening in SoCal every weekday afternoon? Click to follow The L.A. Local wherever you get podcasts.
In a statement, Mayor Margarita Rios and city council members wrote that Newsom’s threats “overlook Norwalk’s long-standing and effective efforts to address homelessness.”
"The city has made significant strides, including opening affordable housing for homeless veterans, supporting L.A. County’s Homekey project, funding its own homelessness engagement teams, and being one of the few cities in L.A. County with a dedicated Social Services Department to assist people experiencing homelessness,” the statement read.
City officials continued on by saying that Norwalk has not received Measure H funding and that the city has had to use its own resources to “manage the fallout from abandoned state-mandated programs.”
KNX News has reached out to Gov. Newsom, Mayor Margarita Rios, and other Norwalk city council members. We are waiting to hear back.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
