OFFICIALS: SKID ROW ARRESTS TO CONTINUE.Byline: RICK ORLOV Staff Writer Criticizing a federal court decision they fear could exacerbate the homeless problem downtown, Los Angeles City Attorney The Los Angeles City Attorney is an elected official whose job is to prosecute all of the misdemeanor criminal offenses within the city of Los Angeles, California, United States. Rocky Delgadillo Rockard John "Rocky" Delgadillo (born July 15 1960) is the current City Attorney of Los Angeles, California. Career
Preceded by Rita Walters Los Angeles City Councilwoman vowed Monday that police will continue to arrest crime suspects on Skid Row skid row a run-down area frequented by alcoholics. [Am. Culture: Misc.] See : Alcoholism Skid Row district of down-and-outs and bums. [Am. Usage: Brewer Dictionary, 1008] See : Failure . The ordinance prohibiting anyone from sleeping, sitting or lying on public streets was declared unconstitutional Friday by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which said it amounted to cruel and unusual punishment Such punishment as would amount to torture or barbarity, any cruel and degrading punishment not known to the Common Law, or any fine, penalty, confinement, or treatment that is so disproportionate to the offense as to shock the moral sense of the community. . While Delgadillo and Perry refused to say whether they'll seek City Council permission to appeal the court's 2-1 ruling, they promised they won't let downtown be used as a dumping ground for the homeless or the criminal element. "We want to be humane, but we will not allow a return of the gangs and drug peddlers who prey on the homeless," Delgadillo said at a City Hall news conference. The American Civil Liberties Union American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), nonpartisan organization devoted to the preservation and extension of the basic rights set forth in the U.S. Constitution. filed the challenge in 2003 on behalf of six transients who were unable to get shelter the night they were cited or arrested. ACLU ACLU: see American Civil Liberties Union. officials said the appellate court's decision does not affect the city's efforts to control crime. "There is nothing in this decision that prevents the police or the city from enforcing its laws," attorney Mark Rosenbaum said after last week's decision. "All it says is that it cannot arrest someone for being homeless." Delgadillo said the ACLU misunderstood the city's actions in enforcing the law. "For the past five-plus years, people have been allowed to camp and sleep on public rights-of-way, something that has become a common sight on the streets of Skid Row," he said. "The ordinance in question has been used to target only those who violate the law and has never been intended as a means of targeting the poor." However, the court ruling notes that none of the six plaintiffs in the ACLU suit was suspected of committing any other crime. Perry said she worries that the ruling sends the message that Skid Row - which has the nation's largest concentration of transients - will be a sanctuary for the homeless. rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com (213) 978-0390 |
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