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Nov. 18, 2019St. Joseph, MO |  By: AP

St. Joseph bars camping in parks & public spaces

St. Joseph has barred camping in most parks and public
spaces after getting complaints about homeless people sleeping under a bridge.

The St. Joseph News-Press reports Mayor Bill McMurray says the measure
approved last week is "not meant to hurt anybody." He says the city wants to
encourage those in need to take advantage of shelters and other services because
officials "don't want people out there getting hurt, especially now that winter
is coming along." Under the ordinance, camping is allowed in public places only
if the city or the Missouri Department of Conservation says it's OK.

Similar bans have been approved elsewhere, including recently in Las Vegas.
Critics decried that measure as a "war on the poor," while supporters say it's
necessary to deal with a homeless crisis.