Committee Clash Highlights Debate Over Homeless Encampment Enforcement

The Housing, Homelessness and Planning Committee meeting briefly turned contentious Monday as Mayor Victor Gordo and Councilmember Rick Cole sparred over whether Pasadena has treated homelessness with sufficient urgency.

The dust up occurred as the committee considered stronger enforcement measures, possible safety zones around schools and expanded services for people living on the streets.

“For 22 months, I’ve been asking to treat this as an emergency, and suddenly today it’s an emergency,” Cole said.

Gordo responded that declaring an emergency without taking substantive action would have accomplished little.

“We can proclaim it, but with no substance, it’s going to do nothing,” Gordo said, arguing that Los Angeles’ emergency declaration generated headlines but did not produce meaningful changes on the street.

The two continued talking over each other briefly before Gordo asked Cole to allow him to finish. The discussion later returned to a more collaborative tone, with both agreeing that Pasadena needs additional tools and resources.

Gordo said the city had reached a “tipping point,” pointing to photographs depicting encampments and suspected drug activity near the Hill Avenue Branch Library, Pasadena City College and St. Philip the Apostle School.

The committee received information on homeless encampment ordinances in Glendale, Los Angeles and Santa Ana. Pasadena does not have a single ordinance specifically addressing homeless encampments but uses several sections of its municipal code to address camping, blocked sidewalks, public drug use and other prohibited conduct.

Committee members Cole and Councilmember Jason Lyon expressed skepticism that passing yet another law would be any more effective than enforcing existing laws unless the city comprehensively addressed the overall issue of street homelessness.

“The problem doesn’t go away because you pass a law saying it should go away,” Cole said.

The latest count in Pasadena showed a total of 577 unhoused individuals. The “bad weather” shelter was open on the night of the count, with 322 counted as sleeping outdoors or in cars.

The committee ultimately directed a multi-departmental city team that was recently set up at the urging of Councilmembers to return with recommendations for additional policies, laws, enforcement methods and resources addressing public safety and quality-of-life concerns. The recommendations could include possible safety zones around schools, civilian enforcement mechanisms, increased enforcement of existing laws, shelter and service options and additional funding.

Cole made the motion, which was seconded by Lyon. The motion passed without objection.