California Pastor Won't Disperse Homeless From Church Steps

Today's Los Angeles Times reports that the pastor of Long Beach, California’s First Congregational Church is refusing to comply with orders from the city prosecutor’s office to disperse the 15 to 20 homeless people who camp each night on the steps between the sidewalk and the front door of the church. The prosecutor says that its office has received complaints about urination, defecation and littering, and that the church could face fines of $1000 per day for maintaining a nuisance. The church is relying on a ruling in by the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals protecting a similar situation at midtown Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. (See prior posting.) The prosecutor’s office says a number of the homeless people, who cart cardboard and blankets through the neighborhood to the church each night, have been informed that nearby shelters are available to them. However City Council member Bonnie Lowenthal says the city does not have enough housing for the homeless available. The city and First Congregational Church’s pastor Jerald Stinson will meet shortly to see if a compromise can be worked out.