On Monday, Oct. 7, the full Newark City Council will hear an ordinance that would create a misdemeanor charge for sleeping on public property for the first time. 

The proposed ordinance, known as Ordinance 24-36, was first heard in the council’s Safety Committee in early September. At the committee’s Sept. 16 session, council members voted to send the resolution to the full council. 

Read more: Newark City Council considers ordinance that would make it illegal to sleep or ‘camp’ on public property

The proposal, if approved by council, would create fines and misdemeanor jail penalties for people found guilty of sleeping or camping on publicly owned land. 

The proposal has already spurred significant community response, with some Newark residents vehemently opposed and others in support of some kind of penalty for public camping. 

Read more: Newark’s proposed public sleeping ordinance moved to full council

“This ordinance will not change the way we respond to those calls,” Newark Safety Director Tim Hickman told the safety committee on Sept. 16. “Our safety forces, police department, property maintenance, and fire department constantly respond to these types of calls. If we as a community expect them to respond to those calls, we need to give them the direction and authority to properly handle those situations.”

Newark City Council will convene at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7, following committee meetings that begin at 5:45 p.m. 

Noah Fishman writes for write for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison University’s Journalism program, which is supported by generous donations from readers. Sign up for The Reporting Project newsletter here.