The state of California filed suit against Norwalk Monday, alleging the southeastern Los Angeles County city’s moratorium on new homeless shelters and supportive housing violates a half dozen housing laws.
“No community should turn its back on its residents in need,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement announcing the lawsuit.
In August, Norwalk’s city council passed a law banning the facilities along with new laundromats, liquor stores and payday lenders until at least next summer. Councilmembers said the city of 100,000 had been a dumping ground for homeless projects that were straining the budget and leading to disorder. Norwalk’s ban has already led to the cancellation of a hotel leasing effort that county officials believed would have sheltered 80 people.
Calling Norwalk’s law “beyond cruel,” Newsom has threatened litigation for months and already withdrew state approval for Norwalk’s development blueprint, making it ineligible for certain affordable housing dollars.
Monday’s suit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court contends Norwalk’s ordinance violates anti-discrimination, fair housing and other laws.