Santa Ana ordinance upheld.(A Santa Ana, California, law prohibiting camping and the storage of personal property in public places is upheld by the California Supreme Court)

Nation's Cities Weekly, May, 1995 by Ryan, Jim

On a 6-1 vote, the California Supreme Court ruled that a strict Santa Ana law barring camping and the storing of personal property in public areas does not violate the constitutional rights of homeless people.

The case was the first of its kind to reach a state high court and drew national attention, with support for Santa Ana's position coming from more than 90 cities in California and from other cities and counties throughout the nation.

Santa Ana City Attorney Ed Cooper said the decision affirms, the police powers of cities to make laws that regulate the health and safety of citizens by protecting open, public areas.

Writing for the court majority, Justice Marvin Baxter said, "There is no fundamental right to camp on public property. A city not...

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