A new ordinance passed by the Yorkville City Council that would fine or jail homeless people for sleeping or camping in public spaces has caused backlash from some residents.
“This was put through really sneaky,” said Alicia Castillo, a Yorkville resident. “They added it to the agenda, [and] there was no public discussion. It was passed in two minutes.”
Castillo is leading the charge to repeal the public camping ordinance and has been camping outside City Hall since Friday morning to protest it.
“I was just flabbergasted; I was shocked,” she said. “I’ve been an advocate for displaced people for the last 10 years or more, and I never thought I would have to advocate for displaced people in my own hometown.”
According to the city, under the ordinance, people would not be allowed to sleep or camp in public, such as parks, benches, alleys, sidewalks and even in parked vehicles overnight.
The City Council cited in the ordinance their concerns about public health and safety created by public camping. Only one alderman spoke before the vote on Tuesday.
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“This was brought on because of several phone calls and emails I received,” said Ald. Arden Joe Plocher, Yorkville Ward 2. “One of the individuals had a property destroyed. This individual also volunteers her time for the past year and a half baking three to six dishes a week for Hesed House.”
The alderman added, “This individual also goes to the food pantry every week to understand the problem in this town regarding individuals. This person also understands it’s not acceptable for these people to break the law.”
The city said anyone who violates the ordinance will be fined $75 for the first violation, $150 for the second violation, $350 for the third violation and $500 for the fourth violation. The amount goes up to $750 at the fifth violation, and at the sixth violation, jail time is a possibility.
“It couldn’t possibly work that they could be arrested for being homeless,” Castillo said, “but if they are fined and they fail to pay those fines, then they go to court, and they’re court ordered to be removed from the premises and they return to the premises, that’s when they can be incarcerated.”
When asked about enforcement, the Yorkville Police deputy chief told NBC Chicago off camera they’re still evaluating the ordinance and that enforcement efforts will be to get people help, not to punish them.
A military vet who now lives in Sandwich said he was once homeless living under a bridge in downtown Yorkville.
“When I came home and I didn’t have nowhere to go, I’ll you what, it didn’t feel good,” said Brian Kubisak. “So every time we shun these people we’re only making it harder, harder for them to come up and harder for other people to help them.”
Castillo started a petition to repeal the ordinance, calling for more services and support to help the unhoused.
“There needs to be more social services in Yorkville, and there’s been cuts to them over time, so the hypocrisy is immediately evident when we’re removing the services that we’re demanding people seek in order to avoid fines or imprisonment,” she said.
The mayor and the six aldermen who voted in favor of the ordinance did not respond to NBC Chicago’s calls and emails.
Castillo said she plans to camp out until the ordinance is repealed.
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