In an ongoing effort to address homelessness, Ithaca city officials are drafting a new enforcement protocol for their sanctioned encampment zones.
The city’s Common Council, after approving the creation of a sanctioned encampment zone in Ithaca’s West End, known as “The Jungle,” in September, is now revisiting the management approach for these areas, according to new reporting by The Ithaca Voice.
The initial enforcement protocol was removed from the city’s plan due to a lack of consensus among council members, particularly regarding the role of law enforcement in relocating individuals.
The proposal includes initial verbal notifications, reporting to outreach workers, and providing relocation assistance to individuals camping outside of the sanctioned zones.
Notably, the removal of encampments would involve city staff and potentially the support of an unarmed unit from the Ithaca Police Department.
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