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But Steinberg and Valenzuela didn’t understand Martin v. Boise. Or they intentionally misrepresented it.

In an important footnote, the court said cities can restrict camping in certain public areas. And cities can remove people who refuse services or can afford shelter. Steinberg and the City Council ignored that footnote.

Phoenix leaders viewed Martin v. Boise through the same goggles worn by Steinberg and Valenzuela. Homeless camps consumed a Phoenix neighborhood called the Zone. Property owners and residents in the Zone got fed up, sued the city and won.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Scott Blaney eviscerated Phoenix’s policies. Blaney wrote, “The City erroneously applied the Martin case; interpreting its narrow holding as precluding the enforcement of public camping laws whenever the homeless population in Phoenix exceeded the number of available shelter beds. The City also stopped or greatly decreased enforcement of other health, quality of life, and even criminal laws and ordinances in the Zone.”

Sound familiar? The judge rejected the notion campers can’t be cleared without sufficient shelter beds. And he confirmed the city can prevent camping by homeless people who refuse services or have resources.

“Structured campgrounds would solve the City’s concerns about the application of the Martin case because the additional shelter beds would provide an alternative to sleeping on the street,” Blaney wrote. “Thus, structured campgrounds would eliminate any legal prohibition on the enforcement of anti-public camping laws.”

I’m a slow learner, but I get it. With a mayor and councilmembers who support street camping, it’s no wonder homelessness blazes out of control.

R.E. Graswich can be reached at regraswich@icloud.com. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n