Court date set in ACLU-Alaska’s lawsuit over homeless camp raids in Anchorage
By APMonday, July 19, 2010
Court date set for Alaska homeless camps debate
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A court date has been set for the debate over whether raids on homeless camps in Anchorage, Alaska, are legal.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska has filed a lawsuit contending the raids are unconstitutional because they violate property rights of the homeless. A court last week issued a temporary restraining order halting the city from conducting more raids.
ACLU-Alaska Executive Director Jeffrey Mittmann says a court hearing was held Monday and a Nov. 3 date was set for oral arguments in the case. He says a preliminary injunction is in place that prevents the municipality from doing raids until the legal issues are resolved.
The city passed an ordinance in June giving the homeless five days’ notice to leave the illegal camps. Mittmann says property then is seized and destroyed.
