Norwalk extends ban on new homeless shelters, day after Gov. Newsom threatens ‘legal action’

The Norwalk City Council on Tuesday voted to extend its moratorium on emergency shelters for the homeless as well as single-room occupancy and transitional housing after Gov. Gavin Newsom threatened the city with a potential lawsuit if the ordinance wasn’t reversed.

The Norwalk City Council adopted the ordinance on Aug. 6, putting a moratorium on various establishments, including emergency shelters, along with transitional and supportive housing.

Council members extended the moratorium without discussion. The extension means that it will expire on Aug. 5, 2025.

121 homeless people removed from Southern California encampment

After its approval on Aug. 6, the moratorium, which was active for 45 days, was set to expire on Friday.

The initial ordinance has not sat well with state leaders, including Newsom.

“It is unfathomable that as our state grapples with a homelessness crisis, Norwalk would pass an ordinance banning the building of homeless shelters,” Newsom said in a statement. “It is counterproductive and immoral for any community to throw up their hands and say they’ve done enough while still having people in need. 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.”

On Monday, the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development sent city officials a “Notice of Violation and Corrective Action Letter” regarding the ordinance.

“The Notice of Violation warns that if Norwalk does not reverse course, HCD may refer the matter to the Attorney General’s Office for litigation and may revoke housing element compliance. HCD found the housing element in compliance in November 2023,” a news release said.

Norwalk has until Sept. 23 to respond.

Before the public meeting, a statement was read out on behalf of the city attorney that the city had received the letter from the state, was reviewing it and would eventually address the concerns, according to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.

Homelessness experts weigh in on Newsom’s executive order on encampments

Six members of the public spoke during Tuesday’s meeting, four in opposition to extending the moratorium.

In July, Newsom signed an executive order, which, among other things, allowed state and local officials to dismantle homeless encampments.

The executive order was issued in response to a Supreme Court decision in late June that granted officials authority to remove the encampments and ticket people for camping in public in Grants Pass, Oregon. While some city leaders applauded the executive order, others, like Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, called the decision “unfortunate.”

While Newsom cannot force local authorities to act, his administration can apply pressure by withholding money for counties and cities.

“The Norwalk City Council’s decision is disgraceful and clearly violates the law. The state will act swiftly to address this dereliction of duty. Stay tuned,” Tara Gallegos, a spokesperson for Gov. Newsom, told KTLA in an emailed statement.

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