Voice of OC (https://voiceofoc.org/tag/american-civil-liberties-union-of-southern-california/)
United Nations monitor Philip Alston said many American communities are criminalizing homelessness – and thus making it more difficult for people to find jobs and housing – after a nationwide tour in which he heard from Orange County homeless advocates and civil rights lawyers, among others across the country.
From 2003 to 2016, 33 people died following use-of-force by an Anaheim police officer. The Anaheim Police Department is the ninth deadliest police force among 60 of the largest U.S. cities, the ACLU report states.
The unanimous decision came after more than three dozen public commenters spoke against the expansion and none supported it. Sheriff Sandra Hutchens said the expansion will bring an additional $5 million in revenue to the county without requiring more staff.
In a unanimous vote Wednesday, the City Council told city staff to work with nonprofits and law schools and develop a plan to provide lawyers for Santa Ana residents who are at risk of deportation but can’t afford an attorney.
The ACLU claims county officials illegally trapped dozens of homeless people living along the Santa Ana River, which the county disputes. However, both sides were in support of canceling a key court hearing for Thursday as they appear to be seeking an agreement.
As county officials move to push homeless people from an encampment next to the Santa Ana River, the American Civil Liberties Union has jumped into the fray with threats of legal action.
Advocates want state Attorney General Kamala Harris to block federal access to the controversial CalGang database out of fears that the Trump administration will use it to deport unauthorized immigrants who’ve been erroneously labeled as gang members.
The forum showed how district elections have made it possible for a new crop of political hopefuls — whose experiences are bringing to the fore issues that affect underserved communities — to run for Anaheim City Council seats.
A coalition of homeless advocacy groups, led by the ACLU, asked the Orange County Board of Supervisors Tuesday to devote $55 million in county taxpayer dollars toward ending homelessness.
On any given day, as many as 500 souls call the bed of the Santa Ana River home. While the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California has been sounding alarm bells about the situation, little has been done. Here is a glimpse into life in the riverbed.