MANSFIELD — Aurelio Diaz said Tuesday a proposed law banning people from camping in public spaces in the downtown central business district is not aimed at driving away the homeless.
“I know that it does seem easy to seem as though we as a city … city elected officials … are the bad guys and we’re trying to displace people,” said Diaz, who represents the 5th Ward on Mansfield City Council.
Diaz acknowledged intense public reaction surrounding the proposal, tracing the rise in the local homeless population back to late 2020 and early 2021.
Addressing social media commentary directly, Diaz pushed back against claims city leaders were seeking to displace vulnerable residents.
“That is not the case at all,” he said.
Diaz was one of several lawmakers who spoke during a caucus session about a proposal scheduled for a vote on Nov. 17 which would prohibit camping in public and unenclosed spaces downtown.
Council members framed the measure as a public safety tool, while calling for stronger coordination with local social service providers.
Diaz said while some downtown business owners consent to people staying in their doorways, public safety remains a concern for several downtown entities, including the Richland Carrousel Park and Richland Academy of the Arts.
“We also have to talk about people’s protection, their safety,” said Diaz, a downtown resident. “It’s a lot broader than just us saying we don’t want homeless people camping out in our beautiful downtown, so I think we should really eliminate that narrative.”
A preview story published Monday in Richland Source generated a great deal of social media discussion and debate.
Under the proposed ordinance, camping is defined as knowingly using an outdoor area as a place of habitation, as demonstrated by specific observable behaviors such as erecting tents, setting up bedding, storing personal belongings, or lighting fires for lodging purposes.
The restrictions would cover streets, sidewalks, plazas, and city-owned land in the downtown core– centered around Central Park and extending along Main Street and Park Avenue — as well as private property used without owner consent.
Prior to issuing citations or making arrests for the misdemeanor offense, Mansfield police officers would be required to identify themselves, explain the violation, request removal of the campsite and provide a reasonable opportunity to comply, except in cases of imminent safety threats or fire risks.
Violations would carry progressive penalties, though Mansfield Municipal Court judges would retain discretion to assign community service or treatment alternatives in lieu of jail time.
Sixth Ward Councilwoman Deborah Mount, chair of council’s zoning committee, opened discussion by clarifying the scope of the measure. She said it focuses on public space rather than private property, where conditions remain up to the property owner.
“This is going to address streets, sidewalks, alleys, the public rights of way. It does not address private property,” Mount said, pointing out that camping is already barred in city parks, including Central Park.
“When people are erecting tents, putting down mattresses, bedding, etc., basically living on the streets… starting fires, maintaining stoves, grills… so, this is addressing the fire safety, public health hazards,” Mount said.
Mount said the proposed law includes built-in exemptions for permitted festivals, special events, emergency weather sheltering and constitutionally protected assembly.
At-Large Councilwoman Shari Robertson agreed. She described the proposed law as a constructive instrument to connect individuals with assistance, rather than a strictly punitive measure.
“It’s not out there to punish people or just going to drag people off the streets,” said Robertson, a retired Mansfield police captain.
“It’s actually a tool in a lot of ways for us, law enforcement, for advocates for the task force to help direct some of these people in areas that they may need a little extra push sometimes.”
It’s not a new issue for the downtown area.
A Mansfield/Richland County Homeless Response Team was launched in 2022 to match social workers with Mansfield police officers to hit the streets and meet unhoused residents in the downtown and other locations.
In February, the team assisted residents at the Mansfield Inn in Mifflin Township when that hotel was closed by the Richland County Building Department for structural issues.
On Tuesday evening, 3rd Councilwoman Crystal Davis Weese cautioned the ordinance could cause unintended harm if it is not paired with after-hours support services. She said traditional social service providers often close at 5 p.m., while crises frequently occur later.
“I also want to just bring direction to the fact that two things can be true at the same time. This can be something that can be very helpful, but the same, the implementation will, in fact, create some harm to people in ways if we don’t collectively do these things,” Davis Weese said.
She urged city officials to collaborate closely with advocacy groups so individuals are not simply shuffled into the criminal justice system.
“Just removing them off the street and placing them [in] jail for a small period of time, you’re going to see them right back on the street when they’re back out with no resources, no help, no support,” she said.
Diaz concurred with Davis Weese on the need for a collaborative approach.
“Definitely a huge collective aspect to this, so that we aren’t being reactive,” Diaz said.
The lawmaker said the legislation remains in its early stages as council seeks further perspective from community partners.
