Atlantic City has launched a major campaign to tackle its homeless problem across the board, which officials said includes passing a law banning sleeping in public places.
After the Supreme Court ruled that local governments could ban homeless camps, Mayor Marty Small said he would introduce legislation in the coming weeks to do just that as part of a sweeping effort to clean up the famed Atlantic City Boardwalk.
“We are not going to ignore the homelessness issue in our city that has been overlooked for far too long,” the Democrat told The Post.
“We can’t be a world-class tourist destination if we can’t find ways to help the people who live in our city.”
In early July, the city rolled out a plan developed by the Boardwalk Improvement Group (BIG) that will send city officials to reach out to hundreds of homeless people across Atlantic City and connect them with shelters and service groups.
Officials are helping some of the homeless find their way home, and officials say other municipalities are also transferring their own homeless people to Atlantic City in an attempt to shift their homeless problems.
“It’s unfortunate, but we’ll address it,” Small said of the issue.
Despite the work being done under the BIG plan, Atlantic City Health and Human Services Director Jarrod Barnes said many of the people living in the encampments are refusing assistance.
That’s why Burns believes laws banning camping are needed, as they could finally pressure residents to accept the help they need.
“Many of the people we evict believe that because they’ve been on the streets their whole life, it’s OK for them to stay on the streets, but that’s not true,” Burns said.
“Nobody deserves to live on the streets,” he added. “Most of the people who live on the streets are down on their luck or have substance abuse problems.”
Small said the law, being drafted with the help of city attorneys, would closely follow standards set out in a June Supreme Court ruling that allowed local governments to clear encampments and fine people who sleep on public streets.
Kenneth Mitchem, who took over as social services commissioner last year, said it was urgent that the city crack down permanently on homeless encampments under the city’s famous walking trail because they pose a fire hazard.
In April, a 67-year-old man who lived in a campground below the boardwalk Died after the fireThe fire spread to shops on the upper floors.
City officials warned that such a tragedy could very well happen again, especially given the ingenuity of some people who live under the Boardwalk.
“We had someone who was able to install circuits that would provide power to the multi-bedroom apartments that were built under the boardwalk,” Burns said.
“Another guy cut in line at the beer counter at the casino so he could get a free drink,” Small added. “I was kind of impressed, to be honest. We even tried to get him a job with Public Works.”
In addition to the fire danger, Mitchem said encampments can pose other health risks.
“Our campsite is right on the coast and trash and debris was washing onto the beach and into the ocean,” Mitchem said. “This is a problem.”
The Supreme Court’s decision has had critics, with Jesse Rabinowitz, communications and campaigns director for the National Law Center for Homelessness, expressing concern that cities will use the ruling to arrest homeless people as a first line of solution to the problem.
Small did not elaborate on what Atlantic City’s new law might specifically include, but said more details will be available when it is announced in August or September.
“I expect some pushback, that always happens, but as mayor I’m going to see this initiative through,” he said.
