SKID ROW'S OVERNIGHT CAMPS GET OK CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SAYS HOMELESS CAN BE ROUSTED IN MORNING.

Byline: KERRY CAVANAUGH Staff Writer

Los Angeles police can immediately begin rousting or arresting transients sleeping on Skid Row sidewalks during the day, but they should allow them to camp overnight for a 90-day trial period, the City Attorney's Office advised the City Council on Tuesday.

Under guidelines designed to comply with a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision, officers will allow transients to camp overnight on sidewalks within a 50-square block area downtown, except in front of doorways and loading docks.

``We do believe that the Los Angeles Police Department can begin enforcing immediately during what I call the non-nighttime hours, from 6a.m. to 9p.m.,'' Chief Deputy City Attorney Rich Llewellyn told the council.

Police can remove transients sleeping on the sidewalks in other areas of the city.

In the meantime, the city is appealing the 9th U.S. Circuit Court decision that prohibited enforcement of the city's sidewalk sleeping ban on Skid Row.

The LAPD and the City Attorney's Office also are developing a long-term policy on how to deal with Skid Row encampments.

Los Angeles leaders, homeless-services providers and business groups have been struggling to address the homeless encampments and tent cities downtown. Several years ago, the LAPD began using the sidewalk sleeping ban to remove encampments.

In 2003, the American Civil Liberties Union sued the LAPD and Chief William Bratton, arguing the city was criminalizing homelessness.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed and ruled the police could not arrest people who are sleeping or sitting on public sidewalks when shelter beds are not available.

Last week, the ACLU and city attorney proposed a settlement that would have allowed transients to sleep on Skid Row sidewalks at night.

But the City Council rejected that deal, saying it didn't want to set a precedent for other neighborhoods with large homeless populations. Instead, the city opted to fight the court decision.

The guidelines announced Tuesday, however, are similar to the proposed settlement.

``It's a step in the right direction. All the parties had agreed to these guidelines in the proposed settlement,'' ACLU spokeswoman Elizabeth Brennen said.

``This is progress, but it doesn't provide finality.''

Councilwoman Jan Perry, who represents downtown, said the city needs flexibility to respond to Skid Row, and she's looking forward to seeing how the new daytime enforcement works. ``I drove through there after the council meeting, and while I think things look slightly different, we still have a long way to go.''

Perry also asked the city to develop a phone line that police officers and homeless advocates could call each night to locate available shelter beds.

kerry.cavanaugh(at)dailynews.com

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