GOOD NEWS REAL NEWS HOMETOWN NEWS
SINCE 1889 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CXXXV, NO. VIII
THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2024
pasoroblespress.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
Governor Newsom’s executive order addresses homelessness post-Supreme Court ruling 2013 to 2018 for violations of the anti-camping ordinances.” At the time, the federal district court blocked Grants Pass from enforcing its public camping ban during nighttime hours and during the daytime unless it gave 24 hours’ notice. A divided 9th Circuit panel By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com upheld a district court ruling that Grants Pass couldn’t enforce NORTH COUNTY — anti-camping ordinances against A month after the Supreme homeless individuals with no Court’s ruling in court in the other shelter. The full 9th Circuit case known as City of Grants declined to rehear the case. The Pass v. Johnson, California Gov. Supreme Court heard arguments Gavin Newsom issued an execu- in April, with justices suggesting tive order directing state agencies that policy decisions on hometo “urgently address homeless lessness should be left to poli- Winning contestants pose with their medals and event coordinators Jon Fuller (front middle left) and Mattie Work (front middle right) during the first annual Farmer’s encampments while respecting cymakers, not judges. Supreme Olympics. Photo by Brittany App the dignity and safety of Cali- Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, in fornians experiencing homeless- his opinion, emphasized that Americans have the right to ness.” But how exactly does this experiment with various policies executive order affect us here to address homelessness without in San Luis Obispo County, federal judicial interference. where addressing homelessness “The Constitution’s Eighth This year featured two sold The opening day also included the Miss and Comedian Nate Bargatze got the is a frequent topic of discussion? Amendment serves many out concerts and full stands California Mid-State Fair Scholarship grandstand laughing. The main stage also We spoke with officials in important functions, but it does Pageant, where 11 local girls competed featured shows from TLC and Shaggy, at the rodeo Paso Robles and Atascadero not authorize federal judges to for the honor of CMSF queen and her Sublime with Rome, Cheap Trick, and to see how the executive order wrest those rights and respontwo princesses. Megan Pagnini (18 from Canadian rock band Nickelback. By CHRISTIANNA MARKS Paso Robles Press attended the Nickeldirectly affects the cities and take sibilities from the American Paso Robles) was crowned Queen and and CAMILLE DEVAUL Miss Congeniality, while Ashlee Holt back show, and even though it wasn’t quite a look at the essence of what the people and in their place dictate Grants Pass v. Johnson ruling is. this nation’s homelessness NORTH COUNTY — Now that the (18 from Paso Robles) was crowned first sold out, the lines for merch were longer policy,” Gorsuch wrote. 78th California Mid-State Fair (CMSF) runner-up, and Logan Rutherford (21 than we’d seen them in a long time. The Grants Pass v. Johnson history Within the Supreme Court has come to a close, we’re here to celebrate from Paso Robles) was crowned second grandstand was packed with fans singing In June, the Supreme Court ruling, the prior Martin v. Boise the highlights from the 12 days of family runner-up. along to every song that the band “Everymade a 6-3 decision siding with decision was referenced. This fun, concerts, animal auctions, pageants, This year’s concert lineup included one Loves to Hate” played. The energy in country stars Miranda Lambert, Brad the venue was electric, and every audience the City of Grants Pass, Oregon, ruling was a 2018 decision by the and everything in between. in a case involving its anti-camp- Court of Appeals for the Ninth The CMSF opened at 4 p.m. on Paisley, Zac Brown Band, and the sold- member fed off the band’s camaraderie ing ordinances. In 2018, three Circuit in response to a 2009 Wednesday, July 17, with a new tradi- out Jelly Roll show. Mexican singer-song- and talent. homeless people from Grants lawsuit by six homeless plaintiffs tion of a rope drop, giving fair-goers their writer Carin Leon also packed the The band sounded great, from vocals CONTINUED ON PAGE A2 Pass filed a lawsuit against the against the city of Boise, Idaho, very own Disneyland-type experience. Chumash Arena with a sold-out show, city on behalf of its homeless regarding the city’s anti-camppopulation. They alleged that the ing ordinance saying that cities city’s ordinances against camp- cannot enforce anti-camping ing violated the Eighth Amend- ordinances if they do not have ment’s prohibition on cruel and enough homeless shelter beds unusual punishment. available for their homeless Annual event brings A CBS News article reports population. together families, that in Grants Pass, “violators The Grants Pass appeal noted volunteers, and local face fines starting at $295, and that following the Martin v. repeat offenders may be banned Boise suit, lawsuits against cities businesses to support small shops during fair from a city park for 30 days. like Grants Pass increased. If a person violates that order The decision, in favor of the By MAYLIA BAIRD by camping in a park, they are homeless plaintiffs, had trickled Guest Contributor subject to criminal trespass down to other cities and states charges, punishable by up to 30 across the country, including PASO ROBLES — Bright days in jail and a $1,250 fine. California, which is leading the and early, the Paso Robles According to the city, more than nation with the highest home- Downtown City Park was 500 citations were issued from CONTINUED ON PAGE A2 filled with tables and chairs, and volunteers working hard to make enough pancakes for the crowd of many families and local citizens who attended on Thursday, July 25. “It’s a bigger group than usual,” said Patti Lucas, who Richard Castro tends to the pancakes on the grill during the annual Downtown Paso Robles pancake breakfast on Thursday, helped run the event this year July 25. Photo by Rick Evans and who is also the California and chaos that — aside from is going on. tion. It’s to give locals and folks Mid-State Fair pageant coor- all the fun — comes with the “The purpose of this event coming into town a reason to dinator. “Compared to last year, Mid-State Fair. It’s also to raise is to bring the community come check out downtown this year the numbers have awareness to both residents and together to [the] downtown while we have the fair going on,” already tripled.” visitors that downtown is still park and to celebrate the part- says Jeffry Wiesinger, president The purpose of this event is here and how important it is nership that the Mid-State Fair of the Paso Robles Main Street essentially to thank the commu- to continue supporting Paso’s has with the downtown Paso Association and owner of local nity for enduring the traffic small businesses while the fair Robles Main Street AssociaA homeless emcampment is shown in the Salinas Riverbed. Contributed Photo CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
Paso Robles and Atascadero officials respond to how the order will affect us locally
Wide Open Spaces were enjoyed by all at the California Mid-State Fair
Paso Robles Park Pancake Breakfast Grows, Uniting Community During California Mid-State Fair
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