Federal Judge Orders City of Santa Cruz to Halt Closure of Ross Camp

Today Federal Judge Edward Davila granted the plaintiffs suing the City of Santa Cruz in Quintero v. City of Santa Cruz a restraining order that prevents the city from removing, seizing, or destroying the property of the homeless residents of the Ross Camp until the matter can be heard on Friday in federal court. Quintero et al v. City of Santa Cruz et al, a historic lawsuit filed by a group of homeless residents living at the Ross/Heroes' Camp, is the first lawsuit of its kind initiated by homeless individuals after the Martin v Boise ruling of September 2018, which states that homeless persons cannot be punished for sleeping outside on public property in the absence of adequate alternatives.