The city council in National City is set to introduce a proposal for an ordinance that would make camping on public property illegal if shelter beds are available. Other cities, such as San Diego, have banned homeless encampments. San Diego’s ordinance passed June 27, 2023 and was signed into law by Mayor Todd Gloria on June 29. The ordinance prohibits tent encampments in all public spaces throughout the city if shelter beds are available. It also bans tent encampments at all times in certain sensitive areas, including parks, canyons and near schools, transit stations and homeless shelters - regardless of shelter capacity. The ordinance being proposed by National City models San Diego’s encampment ban. National City Mayor Ron Morrison wants the ban to pass. He said it’s not to be punitive, it’s to give incentives. “It’s not going to be that it’s going to be that we just go ahead and start cleaning out all the encampments. Most of our encampments in National City, we couldn’t anyway because they are on state property, but it gives them an incentive,” said Mayor Morrison. “Here is something else to do. Here is something else for you. And, you know, if you don’t want to do it and you want to stay out on the streets, I’m sorry you can’t do it here.” MORE: https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/draft-national-city-set-to-consider-homeless-encampment-ban/509-94f5fefd-8084-473b-bcfb-93a7c1a55f5c