Oakland has approved a major change in how the city handles homeless encampments, voting Tuesday to adopt a new policy that gives officials more authority to remove RVs and vehicles from public spaces without offering an alternative.
After months of debate and delays, the City Council signed off on the updated Encampment Abatement Policy, marking a significant shift in how the city can respond to encampments and vehicle dwellers on public streets.
Supporters say the change is long overdue and will help improve safety and quality of life in neighborhoods that have dealt with encampments, abandoned vehicles, and illegal dumping for years…