Newsom threatens lawsuit against Norwalk over homeless shelter ban.
Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Monday that he may pursue legal action against the city of Norwalk unless it reverses its recently adopted moratorium on emergency shelters for the homeless, as well as single room occupancy and transitional housing.
The urgency ordinance was adopted by the Norwalk City Council on August 6, instituting a moratorium on a range of facilities, including emergency shelters, transitional housing, and supportive housing.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said: "It is unfathomable that as our state grapples with a homelessness crisis, Norwalk would pass an ordinance banning the building of homeless shelters. We can’t leave people in dangerous and unsanitary encampments — the city of Norwalk needs to do its part to provide people with shelter and services.”
The Norwalk City Council and Mayor Margarita Rios has provided the following statement -
"Gov. Newsom’s threats of a lawsuit 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. Norwalk also hosted one of the largest Project Roomkey sites during the pandemic. Despite these efforts, Norwalk has received no Measure H funding, forcing the city to use its own resources to manage the fallout from abandoned state-mandated programs, which puts both residents’ safety and the city’s finances at risk. We urge Gov. Newsom to recognize Norwalk’s proactive measures and provide direct resources to support its ongoing efforts."
