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Common sense prevails

Strong community opposition has led one city to put plans to clear out homeless camps on hold.

Merced, California, had planned to start enforcing a "no camping" regulation on Jan. 23 that would mean citations and jail for anyone living in a tent on city land who refused to move.

But community members and church volunteers complained that the ordinance does not address where those living on the street would go.

So the city postponed enforcing the ordinance until churches and other groups can develop a plan to shelter the homeless during the winter.

That's pretty much the whole story, but -- for the record -- it was published in the San Diego Union-Tribune here.

Full post as published by the 13th juror on January 03, 2009 (boomark / email).