Advocates: Cities passing rules targeting homeless
By GILLIAN FLACCUSBy GILLIAN FLACCUS, Associated Press?
?In this photo taken Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, a homeless woman rests under a shade tree as children play at Lions park in Costa Mesa, Calif. The posh California coastal town recently passed a law banning patrons from lounging on furniture in its public libraries, having poor personal hygiene or emitting an odor bothers others. The ordinances are the latest in a rash of law-making in Orange County cities that some see as thinly veiled attacks on the homeless. But lawmakers defend the policies as necessary to ensure safety, protect public property and guarantee access to communal spaces. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
In this photo taken Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, a homeless woman rests under a shade tree as children play at Lions park in Costa Mesa, Calif. The posh California coastal town recently passed a law banning patrons from lounging on furniture in its public libraries, having poor personal hygiene or emitting an odor bothers others. The ordinances are the latest in a rash of law-making in Orange County cities that some see as thinly veiled attacks on the homeless. But lawmakers defend the policies as necessary to ensure safety, protect public property and guarantee access to communal spaces. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
In this photo taken Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, homeless people rest under shade trees at Lions park in Costa Mesa, Calif. The posh California coastal town recently passed a law banning patrons from lounging on furniture in its public libraries, having poor personal hygiene or emitting an odor bothers others. The ordinances are the latest in a rash of law-making in Orange County cities that some see as thinly veiled attacks on the homeless. But lawmakers defend the policies as necessary to ensure safety, protect public property and guarantee access to communal spaces. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
In this photo taken Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, Don Matyja, a homeless Army veteran poses for a picture at Lions park in Costa Mesa, Calif. The posh California coastal town recently passed a law banning patrons from lounging on furniture in its public libraries, having poor personal hygiene or emitting an odor bothers others. The ordinances are the latest in a rash of law-making in Orange County cities that some see as thinly veiled attacks on the homeless. But lawmakers defend the policies as necessary to ensure safety, protect public property and guarantee access to communal spaces. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
In this photo taken Oct. 6, 2012, Don Matyja, a homeless Army veteran poses for a picture with his dog Tyson at Lions park in Costa Mesa, Calif. The posh California coastal town recently passed a law banning patrons from lounging on furniture in its public libraries, having poor personal hygiene or emitting an odor bothers others. The ordinances are the latest in a rash of law-making in Orange County cities that some see as thinly veiled attacks on the homeless. But lawmakers defend the policies as necessary to ensure safety, protect public property and guarantee access to communal spaces. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
In this photo taken Oct. 6, 2012, Don Matyja, a homeless Army veteran walks his dog Tyson at Lions park in Costa Mesa, Calif. The posh California coastal town recently passed a law banning patrons from lounging on furniture in its public libraries, having poor personal hygiene or emitting an odor bothers others. The ordinances are the latest in a rash of law-making in Orange County cities that some see as thinly veiled attacks on the homeless. But lawmakers defend the policies as necessary to ensure safety, protect public property and guarantee access to communal spaces. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) ? Army veteran Don Matyja was getting by on the streets of Costa Mesa until he got ticketed for smoking in the park.
Matyja had trouble paying the fine and now he says a $25 penalty has ballooned to $600.
The ticket is one of many new challenges facing the homeless in Orange County, where a number of cities have recently passed ordinances that ban everything from smoking in the park to leaning bikes against trees.
The laws echo what homeless advocates say is an unprecedented spike in such rules nationwide as cities struggle with how to address homelessness with tight budgets.
The homeless say the rules are intended to push them out of one city and into another by criminalizing their daily activities.
Associated Press
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