New Haven Corporation Counsel Victor Bolden has introduced amendments to the Park Ordinance that will criminalize the downtown homeless population. Among other things, the legislation will apply opening and closing hours to the New Haven Green and make “camping, cooking, open flames, sleeping overnight and/or erecting tents or other shelters on the Green” and other parks ticket-able offenses. Such changes will be seriously detrimental to people who call the Green their home.
The Legislation also includes provisions that will make events in New Haven parks cost-prohibitive for community groups by forcing organizers to pay for permits and police protection.