Unhoused people in Salinas and their supporters protest the Supreme Court’s decision.

About a dozen people gathered at Bataan Memorial Park in Salinas on July 19, to rally support for the city’s unhoused population. They carried signs and chanted “sweeps are not the solution” and “we need a place to be safe.”

What sparked the small gathering was a recent Supreme Court decision. In June, the justices sided 6-3 – the three Democratic appointees dissenting – with the city of Grants Pass, Oregon that local governments could prohibit people from sleeping outdoors on public property, overturning years of legal protection for people without homes who have no other sleeping options.

Many elected officials, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, praised the decision as allowing cities more leeway in cleaning up camp sites. Critics of the decision charge that this will allow cities and counties to essentially criminalize homelessness. Governments can now establish new ordinances concerning sleeping outdoors.

In Salinas, the act is a misdemeanor. The ordinance prohibits camping on public property from 7am to 7pm and restricts how close camps can be from schools, liquor stores and other places.

Angela Monique Viniegra, 45, an unhoused resident in Salinas, says she has to pack and remove her tent constantly.

“Everyday day is like a start over,” Viniegra adds.

Sophia Rome, Salinas’ community relations manager, says the ruling has not yet impacted the way the city addresses the unhoused community. Rome says the city focuses on connecting people with needed resources.

Wes White of the Salinas/Monterey County Homeless Union says there have been recent sweeps of homeless camps on private property.