(The Center Square) – Tacoma has passed a new ordinance to expand its public camping ban, establishing new “buffer zones” where camping is prohibited around public parks, schools, libraries and permanent shelters. Approval of the ordinance is at least partially a response to the closure of several temporary shelters, which had previously created buffer zones.
Ordinance proponents say it prioritizes safety and accessibility in public spaces, but critics argue it criminalizes homelessness and exacerbates challenges for the unhoused.
Ordinance 29064, introduced by Tacoma City Councilmember John Hines, amends the city’s municipal code governing public camping to establish a two-block buffer zone around public schools, parks, libraries and permanent shelters. Earlier drafts of the bill proposed a five-block radius, but that was reduced following discussions by the council…