Reno Tightens Public Safety Laws Amid Rising Concerns Over Homelessness

The Reno City Council has taken decisive action to enhance public safety by adopting an updated ordinance that prohibits sitting, lying, sleeping, or camping in public places such as sidewalks, streets, alleys, and even the Truckee River area. As Reno continues to grow, the City Council argues that modernizing outdated laws is critical to address public safety and maintain access to shared spaces.

The new ordinance consolidates four previously fragmented laws that have been on the books for over a decade but were described as “geographically confusing” and inconsistently enforced. Reno Police Officer Chris Johnson emphasized the importance of the measure, citing repeated complaints from local business owners about individuals camping or sleeping in front of their establishments, sometimes creating an unsafe atmosphere for customers.

Safety First, Rights Balanced

For business owners like Jaime Chapman, who runs a small business in Midtown, the issue isn’t about profits but public safety. “Customers feel unsafe bringing their families to the area when they see someone passed out in a doorway,” Chapman said, while also noting the importance of expanding services for those in need. The ordinance gives business owners the legal right to address such concerns while ensuring that law enforcement officers prioritize education and resource outreach over immediate punitive action.

However, not everyone agrees with this approach. Protestors, like C McCombs, are rallying against the ordinance, claiming it unfairly targets the homeless and pledging to boycott businesses that support the measure. Advocates for the homeless, such as Tara Tran and Steven Markley, have called for a “housing-first approach” instead of what they describe as “criminalizing poverty.”

Markley, a formerly homeless individual who turned his life around, stressed that care and compassion—not stringent laws—helped him escape life on the streets. He argues that the focus should be on providing affordable housing and resources, not increasing enforcement.

The Council’s Perspective

Reno officials, however, stand by their decision, emphasizing that this is not a “city-wide roundup” but a necessary step to promote public health and safety while providing support to those who need it. Officers will begin with education and offering resources, resorting to citations or arrests only as a last measure. Washoe County remains responsible for improving and expanding resources for the homeless, with bed availability accessible through the Shelter Census dashboard.

While this move has sparked controversy, it also reflects a broader debate about balancing community safety with compassion for the less fortunate. Does cracking down on loitering and public camping ultimately help or harm those in need? Reno’s new ordinance will undoubtedly test that balance.

Source: KOLO 8 News