COUNCIL TO DISCUSS COURT'S RULING AGAINST HOMELESS ARREST.

Byline: RICK ORLOV Staff Writer

Faced with a deadline on whether to appeal a judge's far-reaching ruling on how Los Angeles treats the homeless, the City Council will meet Tuesday to decide its next course of action.

After hearing Friday from more than two dozen homeless advocates, including the ACLU attorneys who won the legal action against the city, council members said they wanted to debate the city's homeless policy and hear recommendations from City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo.

"This is an important public policy issue and is an ongoing problem," Councilman Bill Rosendahl said. "I went out with officers recently and we canvassed an area and found 1,200 to 1,400 people on the street and only 140 beds available.

"But, we are working with the county to try to improve it and I want to know what we should be doing to develop a plan and timetable that has accountability."

The council on Tuesday will discuss how to respond to the April 17 ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that the city could no longer arrest the homeless for sleeping on the streets if no shelter was available.

Councilwoman Jan Perry, whose district includes Skid Row, and police officials have been concerned that the ruling could mean an increase of homeless residents arriving from other areas. LAPD Chief Bill Bratton has said it won't prevent officers from arresting transients dealing drugs or involved in other crimes.

Capt. Andrew Smith, commanding officer of the Central Area, said the ruling has made it more difficult for his officers although it is too early to say whether it has resulted in an increase in the number of homeless.

Smith said his officers plan to try to take a homeless survey to see whether there has been an impact.

Councilman Jack Weiss said he hoped the council would debate how the city should respond in public.

"I know this is a touchy area, but the public is concerned with this and they should know where we stand on this issue," Weiss said. "And, because it's a touchy issue, it's precisely the type of thing we should discuss in public."

Delgadillo has not said whether he will recommend the city appeal the ruling. But homeless advocates urged the council to focus on providing more shelter.

"Service providers tell us that every available bed is taken by noon and it is a situation of musical beds," Sobel said. "And our county jail is overcrowded where people are being released because there is not enough space. It doesn't make sense to arrest people for being homeless."

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com

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