By Molly Sullivan
The area off-limits to Chico vagrants has been expanded from just
downtown to the entire city.
The Chico City council voted 5-2 to expand an ordinance
prohibiting homeless people from inhabiting public spaces at a meeting on March
1.
Chico Police recommended the expansion despite public comment
cautioning against the motion.
“This ordinance supports every single person in the City of Chico
because we cannot say our business owners and homeowners don’t matter,”
Councilwoman Reanette Fillmer said.
The expansion allows Chico Police to write citations for unlawful
camping, storage of personal items on public property, urination and defecation
in public and destruction of plants and property.