Los Angeles City Council votes to lift anti-camping rules in key neighborhoods

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council voted 10-3 to strip Section 41.18 anti-camping safeguards from twelve locations in Council District 13, including areas around Hollywood, Silver Lake and Echo Park. The measure, pushed by Councilman Hugo Soto-Martínez, is intended to prevent the displacement of homeless individuals from one block to another. Residents and park supporters fear the change will bring back the fires, trash and drug activity that the city worked to eliminate after a massive 2021 encampment at Echo Park Lake.

The Barnsdall Art Park Foundation warned that historic sites such as the Hollyhock House could face renewed threats, while seniors near the Las Palmas Center worry about a resurgence of violence and unsanitary conditions. Councilmembers Traci Park, Imelda Padilla and Monica Rodriguez opposed the repeal, calling the protections essential for safety in parks and daycares. The decision also aligns with mayoral candidate Nithya Raman’s stance against expanding the law, contrasting with Mayor Karen Bass’s support for its continued use.