Police Chief Uses Unique Method To Control Homeless Population

November 16, 2012 12:07 AM

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NEVADA CITY (CBS13) – A police chief says he’s found a one-of-a-kind way to manage a growing problem in his city, and it’s putting the homeless on the hot seat.

A new law would give Nevada City the power to hand out permits to a small group of homeless, which would give them permission to sleep in public. While the new ordinance would give some homeless a place to stay, it would tell others, mostly the troublemakers and the criminals, to stay away.

“I come down here every fall,” said Bob Barton, who chooses to be homeless in Nevada City.

For Barton, the new ordinance that would essentially identify law-abiding homeless and reward them is music to his ears.

“The goal is to start managing the homeless population within our city,” said Chief James Wickham.

Wickham asked council members to pass a no-camping ordinance.

“It just basically means you can’t set up a tent. You can’t live in your vehicle. You can’t live in the woods in Nevada City,” he said.

That is unless you have a permit.

The chief says his program is one of a kind, making only a select few of the city’s homeless population an exception to the law, like William Peach.

“There’s some of us out there like me who try to blend in with the community,” said Peach.

However, others who come to Nevada City to commit crimes or with a criminal history won’t be so lucky.

“Those are the ones we really don’t want in our city and that we’re trying to keep from camping in our city,” said Wickham.

“We’ve seen a huge upsurge in homeless people,” Teresa Mann said.

Mann, who owns a business in downtown, says it’s about time. And so do the homeless who stay out of trouble and want trouble to stay away.

“If they’re homeless and heartless, hey, we got a place for them,” said James, who is homeless. “It’s called county jail.”

For now, the police chief will give out about six to 10 permits. He’ll check back in six months to see if the program is working. If it is, that’s when he says he’ll give out more.

Wickham says he’s identified at least 60 homeless in his community, and 500 homeless countywide.

Police Chief Uses Unique Method To Control Homeless Population

http://thesoundoffreedom1776.wordpress.com/2012/11/16/police-chief-uses-permits-to-control-homeless-population/ Police Chief Uses Permits To Control Homeless Population | The Sound of Freedom

[...] via Police Chief Uses Unique Method To Control Homeless Population « CBS Sacramento. [...]
http://www.reallibertymedia.com/2012/11/rlm-news-show-blog-november-16-2012/ RLM News Show Blog – 2012-11-16 | Real Liberty Media

[...] Police Chief Uses Unique Method To Control Homeless Population « CBS Sacramento [...]
http://endtimenewswithprophecy.com/blog/homeless-people-in-nevada-city-must-now-get-a-permit-to-sleep-in-public-in-the-woods-or-in-their-own-cars/ Homeless People in Nevada City Must Now Get a Permit to Sleep in Public, in the Woods or in Their Own Cars – Endtime News with Prophecy in Mind | Endtime News with Prophecy in Mind

[...] According to CBS News: [...]
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http://forum.grasscity.com/politics/1137406-homeless-must-now-have-licence-nevada.html#post16366337 Homeless Must Now Have A Licence In Nevada – Grasscity.com Forums

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http://infinitynewsnetwork.com/2012/11/17/unique-approach-to-manage-homeless-population/ Unique Approach to Manage Homeless Population | Infinity News Network

[...] Read more at CBS Local Sacramento [...]
http://fromthetrenchesworldreport.com/homeless-people-in-nevada-city-must-now-get-a-permit-to-sleep-in-public-in-the-woods-or-in-their-own-cars/26091/ Homeless People in Nevada City Must Now Get a Permit to Sleep in Public, in the Woods or in Their Own Cars | _

[...] According to CBS News: [...]
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http://www.policestatejournal.com/usadesk/la/2012/11/18/police-chief-uses-unique-method-to-control-homeless-population/ Police Chief Uses Unique Method To Control Homeless Population | PSJLA – The Police State Journal

[...] Source: [...]
http://www.policestatejournal.com/usadesk/blog/2012/11/18/police-chief-uses-unique-method-to-control-homeless-population/ Police Chief Uses Unique Method To Control Homeless Population | PSJ USA – The Police State Journal

[...] Source: [...]
http://ozhouse.org/2012/11/18/ozhouse-web-selections-18112012/ OZHOUSE WEB SELECTIONS – 18/11/2012 | OzHouse Alt News

[...] POLICE STATE: You’re homeless, you need a permit for that [...]
http://latestwire.com/2012/11/18/police-chief-uses-unique-method-to-control-homeless-population/ Police Chief Uses Unique Method To Control Homeless Population « Latest Wire

[...] A police chief says he’s found a one-of-a-kind way to manage a growing problem in his city, and it… [...]
http://www.peacefulassembly.net/police-chief-uses-unique-method-to-control-homeless-population-cbs-sacramento/ Police Chief Uses Unique Method To Control Homeless Population « CBS Sacramento | the peaceful assembly

[...] Police Chief Uses Unique Method To Control Homeless Population « CBS Sacramento. [...]
http://darinrmcclure.wordpress.com/2012/11/21/nevada-city-to-require-homeless-to-have-a-permit-to-sleep-outside/ Nevada City to Require Homeless to Have A Permit to Sleep Outside « Content Curated By Darin R. McClure & a few photos

[...] which essentially bans people from being homeless unless they hold a proper permit. Speaking to CBS, Wickham clarified his proposals: ”The goal is to start managing the homeless [...]
http://unofficialnetwork.org/nevada-city-to-require-homeless-to-have-a-permit-to-sleep-outside/ Nevada City to Require Homeless to Have A Permit to Sleep Outside – Unofficial Network

[...] to CBS, Wickham clarified his proposals: ”The goal is to start managing the homeless [...]
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[...] to CBS, Wickham clarified his [...]
http://newrepublicoftexas.com/news/homeless-in-nevada-city-youll-need-a-permit-for-that/ Homeless in Nevada City? You’ll Need a Permit for That |

[...] You can’t live in your vehicle. You can’t live in the woods in Nevada City,” Wickham told CBS Sacremento of the new ordinance which the city council has adopted the first reading of. Wickham says the goal [...]
http://incunabula.org/2012/12/the-criminalisation-of-homelessness-and-informal-settlements-in-us-cities/ The criminalisation of homelessness and informal settlements in US cities — Incunabula: Ong's Hat

[...] Similarly, town governments have experimented with legalised parking “programmes” for RVs. One in San Luis Obispo is limited to “only those people who commit to case management and remain drug-free and alcohol-free.” In nearby Arroyo Grande the police reviewed applications for spaces in a small parking area. The police chief of Nevada City, California, began to issue permits to sleep in public. [...]
http://independentnewshub.com/?p=63511 Homeless Must Now Have A Licence In Nevada | Independent News Hub

[...] CBS 13 Nov 17, 2012 [...]
http://huffsantacruz.org/wordpress/three-articles-in-defence-of-americas-informal-settlements/ Three Articles in Defence of America’s Informal Settlements | Huff Santa Cruz

[...] The police chief of Nevada City, California, began to issue permits to sleep in public. [...]