The City of Lomita, which is located in Los Angeles county, has repealed its residency restrictions which prohibited registrants from living permanently or temporarily within 2,000 feet of schools and parks as well as 300 feet from child care centers. As a result of the restrictions, registrants were unable to stay even one night in a hotel or motel in the City of Lomita.
The Lomita City Council repealed the city’s residency restrictions during a regularly scheduled meeting on September 3. The repeal will become effective on October 2.
“Registrants and their families will soon be able to live together in the City of Lomita,” stated ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci. “The Lomita City Council is to be commended for deciding to comply with both the state and federal constitutions.”
A lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court challenging residency restrictions in the City of Lomita on July 10, 2019. A letter warning the City that its restrictions violated the state and federal constitutions was sent to the Mayor of that city almost two years earlier, in May 2017.
A total of 39 lawsuits have been filed in California challenging residency restrictions in cities and counties. The most recent lawsuits were filed against the City of Delano and San Bernardino County. Of that total, there are five cases still pending. More than 30 of the lawsuits have been resolved by complete repeal of, or significant revisions to, the residency restrictions.
The oldest lawsuit challenging residency restrictions that is still pending was filed in federal district court against the City of San Diego in August 2017. The City of San Diego filed a Motion to Dismiss that case, however, the court denied that motion in January 2019. Plaintiffs filed a Motion for Partial Summary Judgment in the case on June 27, 2019, however the court has not yet ruled on that motion. A hearing in this case is scheduled for October 7.
So Janice brought several hundred more people off the street and is allowing them to have homes, addresses, and opens the door for them to become productive members of society and significantly lowers the risk of violating or reoffending. Thank you Janice. Janice devotes her life to repairing the wreckage of the politicians and the justice system.
How many of these local jurisdiction s have gotten notice from ACSOL?
Intriguing story. Wow. Lomita is a lower income area of LA with high crime rates. There are (I don’t want to hear how you think prostitution should be legalized) more illegal massage parlors/brothels in Lomita then almost any city in LA. These places draw crime, drugs, destroy families, create financial ruin for sex addicts, draw sex trafficking and many are located near schools, parks and even general neighborhoods. Search: Lomita rubmaps. Who wants a brothel near where your son or daughter might walk to or from school? Seriously Lomita?
@Janice:
You’re continuing to do such wonderful work for the RCs in and visiting CA. I don’t have plans to visit there anytime soon, but I still thank you profusely for your passion and dedication to this and us.
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@ALL:
Federal lawsuits cost $400 just to file, and that’s before the many other costs of time, documentation, other staff, etc. That means **at minimum** Janice and ACSOL have spent $15,600 fighting for RC rights just against cities and counties. With 5 of those cases still going on (read: more time and costs), that number is woefully below the actual cost. Time to pass the hat, folks… Again, ANY amount is welcomed, I’m sure. It can be $1 or $1,000. It can come from CA RCs or non-CA RCs. We all have a dog in the fight, regardless of the State or issue. We all benefit from every little chip and chink put in their walls and armor. (And yes, I’m walking the walk. Before I even hit “Post Comment” I made my meager contribution.)