"As Super Bowl LX brings a national spotlight and a surge of fans and celebrities to the region this weekend, officials in San Jose, San Francisco and Santa Clara say they have no plans to alter their approach to homeless encampments. The reason is simple: In many Bay Area cities, sweeps have already become standard policy - not a temporary response to a marquee event."
"As far back as 2022, when San Jose voters elected Mayor Matt Mahan, Bay Area residents ha backed candidates who ran campaigns almost focused heavily on clearing homeless encampments, including San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie. Both defeated better-funded, better-known opponents in cities where homelessness had become increasingly visible, signaling political support for aggressive enforcement. With encampment clearings already underway year-round"
San Jose, San Francisco and Santa Clara have no plans to change encampment policies for Super Bowl LX. Sweeps have become routine in many Bay Area cities rather than event-driven responses. Voters elected leaders in 2022 who prioritized clearing encampments, strengthening political support for enforcement. Year-round clearings and temporary shelter efforts have reduced large camps while pushing some people into vehicles and scattered sites. San Jose officials describe the strategy as an ongoing, year-round effort focused on compassion, dignity and long-term solutions rather than a one-time event response. Other cities historically moved homeless people for major sporting events, citing safety and visitor perceptions.
Read at The Mercury News
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