Gavin Newsom wants to crack down on homeless camps. Sacramento already does
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s latest call for a statewide crackdown on homeless encampments is unlikely to prompt changes in Sacramento, where anti-camping ordinances have shaped enforcement in recent years.
The city has two ordinances that are intended to prevent such encampments on public property. Sacramento’s sidewalk ordinance, which was updated in 2022, classifies blocking sidewalks as a misdemeanor. The city’s unlawful camping ordinance prohibits camping, occupying camp facilities or using camp paraphernalia on public or private property.
These ordinances have contributed to recent increases in camping-related offenses, according to previous Bee reporting. Sacramento police handed out 543 citations from August 2023 through December 2024 — compared to just 30 during the prior 17 months.
Newsom reiterated his support for such ordinances on Monday, saying homeless encampments are “unhealthy and dangerous.” He also pushed for municipalities to adopt an ordinance to ban “persistent” encampments that block sidewalks.
Mayor Kevin McCarty said that the city is “already committed to encampment enforcement.” He cited the 15 million pounds of trash attributed to encampments removed in the last five years by the city. McCarty did not respond to a question asking if Newsom’s latest comments would lead to any changes in enforcement or the city’s unlawful camping ordinance.
“We support the governor’s directive addressing encampments,” McCarty said in a written statement on Monday.
Newsom’s comments come nearly one year after he applauded the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision allowing cities to ban public camping, even when shelter beds are unavailable. At the time, Sacramento leaders said they did not expect significant changes in enforcement.
On Monday, Newsom reinforced his previous statements, rolled out a template for local governments to use to ban encampments and said it is time to “take back the sidewalks.”
“It’s time to take these encampments and provide alternatives, and the state is giving you more resources than ever, and it’s time, I think, to just end the excuses and call the questions about accountability,” Newsom said at a press conference.
Sacramento homelessness advocates, who have long argued against anti-camping ordinances, worried about the potential affect of Newsom’s latest comments. In recent months, they have spoken out at City Council meetings about what they say is a rise in homeless encampment sweeps.
“It’s a refresh of the green light,” said Sacramento Homeless Union president Crystal Sanchez. “The governor is telling people — the cities, the cities — to step it up. Every time he speaks on that, it empowers the push to clear these encampments.”
Councilmember Caity Maple said on Monday that Newsom’s template largely mirrors the ordinance that Sacramento already uses. She did not support adopting another law, but said the city should continue to “evaluate what’s working and what isn’t.”
Councilmember Lisa Kaplan said she remained “open to the discussion” of adopting a new ordinance and called for changes in Sacramento’s approach to homelessness. She remained hopeful that an ongoing city audit on homelessness would offer the data needed to inform potential solutions.
“Are we spending too much on the unhoused and not enough on people who are at risk of homelessness?” Kaplan asked. “Would it be better to spend more money for those who are at risk of ending up on the streets? I don’t know the answer, but I have a lot of questions and not a lot of data to be able to make a decision.”
This story was originally published May 13, 2025 at 7:00 AM.
