The San Francisco Board of Supervisors will hear a proposal Tuesday that would close all city parks from midnight to 5 a.m. each day.
Supporters say the law is meant to cut down on park vandalism and dumping, which has become a daily problem costing the city about $1 million each year. Vandals have moved beyond graffiti, smashing toilets with sledgehammers and lighting trees on fire in recent weeks, according to the SF Examiner.
But homeless advocates worry the legislation will be used to displace those who rely on the parks as a place to sleep each night.
Supervisor Scott Wiener, who is introducing the legislation, says his proposal has nothing to do with hurting the homeless.
“It is already illegal today to sleep and camp in parks and it has been for a number of years,” he said, noting that the law is not often enforced. “This legislation is not going to change how the police approach homelessness in our parks. ”