The Los Angeles City Council has approved a 1.1 million dollar payment to resolve a lawsuit filed on behalf of four homeless people in the Venice area who, were cited or arrested as part of a 2010 crackdown on people living in their cars in the area.
Carol Sobel, the attorney who challenged the law that served as the premise for the crackdown, says she plans to use proceeds from the settlement to challenge future and existing laws targeting homeless people in the city.
Councilmember Mike Bonin, says Los Angeles could follow Santa Barbara’s example by setting up a “safe parking program” in which a lot is set aside where people can park their cars as long as “they are enrolled in social services” that help them find a place to live.