91视频

By Tr芒n Nguy峄卬

The Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. 鈥� California filed a lawsuit against a Los Angeles suburb on Monday, alleging its recent moratorium on homeless shelters and temporary housing violates the state鈥檚 fair housing and anti-discrimination laws.

The lawsuit is part of an ongoing effort by Gov. Gavin Newsom to push back against what he sees as local resistance and defiance of state laws in the face of California鈥檚 desperate need for new housing. The crisis has prompted a surge in the homeless population in the nation鈥檚 most populous state.

Norwalk is a city of 100,000 people some 15 miles southeast of Los Angeles. The Norwalk City Council voted in September to extend聽its temporary ban聽on new homeless shelters and emergency housing.

City councilmembers in a recent statement said Norwalk has done its fair share to address the homelessness crisis but previous state programs, including one that聽puts homeless people in motel rooms, have led to public safety concerns. The moratorium, which remains in effect until next year, already has聽blocked a plan by the County of Los Angeles聽to move homeless people into a hotel in the city.

The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court argues that the city violated half a dozen housing laws by enacting such a moratorium. It is asking the court to halt the city鈥檚 law.

鈥淥ur message is clear; our message is consistent,鈥� Attorney General Rob Bonta said Monday. “If local governments attempt to skirt state housing laws, if they refuse to do the bare minimum to address the dire lack of affordable and accessible housing in California, we will hold them accountable.鈥�

The lawsuit comes after Newsom publicly blasted Norwalk and urged local elected officials to reconsider the policy. The state in September warned the city of potential legal action and last month revoked the city鈥檚 housing plan, effectively disqualifying it from receiving state funding for homelessness and housing programs. Also, state officials met with city representatives last week but to no avail, Bonta said.

鈥淭he Norwalk City Council鈥檚 failure to reverse this ban, despite knowing it is unlawful, is inexcusable,鈥� Newsom stated Monday. 鈥淣o community should turn its back on its residents in need.鈥�

Neither Norwalk鈥檚 mayor nor a city spokesperson immediately responded to emails seeking comment about the lawsuit.

California has ramped up enforcement of state housing laws in the past few years. It聽sued聽at least two聽cities聽last year for rejecting affordable housing projects and homes for homeless people. Last month, Newsom signed a package of聽32 housing bills聽to make it easier for the state to go after local cities that defy housing laws.

The lawsuit will likely escalate the conflict between the state and local governments over how many housing projects cities should approve, and how fast they should be built. California needs to build 2.5 million homes by 2030 to keep up with demand, according to the California Department of Housing and Community Development. But on average, the state each year gains only about 100,000 new homes, including 10,000 affordable units.

Newsom has made housing and homelessness a top priority as California鈥檚 leader. His administration has spent roughly $40 billion to help build affordable housing and $27 billion on homelessness solutions. This past summer he started to pressure local governments to聽clean up encampments聽that have lined streets and crowded business鈥� entrances, going as far as聽threatening to withhold state funding聽next year if he doesn鈥檛 see results.