Norwalk City Council members voted unanimously Tuesday night to extend the ban on homeless shelters and other types of housing, defying state warnings that the move is illegal.

California Governor Gavin Newsom called on Norwalk to do so this week.

“It is counterproductive and immoral for a community to raise its hands and say it has done enough while there are still people in need,” Newsom said in a statement on Monday.

“We cannot leave people in dangerous and unsanitary camps,” the governor said. “The City of Norwalk must do its part to provide people with shelter and services.”

At a meeting Tuesday night, Norwalk’s five council members voted to extend the ban for 10 months and 15 days. The staff who recommended the extension said at the meeting that the time would be used to study the impact. Before that vote, the city attorney read a statement acknowledging the state’s letter and saying he was currently in the process of reviewing it.

What participants said at the meeting

Some speakers at the gathering, which was streamed live on YouTube, protested the ban.

“I strongly oppose this proposal because I don’t believe it makes Norwalk safer,” said Christina Sanchez, a self-described union member and Norwalk resident. “Also, banning emergency shelters or permanent supportive housing does nothing to solve our housing and homelessness crises… Many people live one paycheck away from sleeping in their cars or sleeping on the couch. And housing insecurity is unfortunately more common than we’d like to admit, and often right in front of our eyes.”

Another speaker pointed out that at the last homeless count, 144 people in Norwalk were homeless and called on the city government to work on establishing additional shelters rather than extending the ban.

Others praised the city for its actions.

Brian Lopez, who said he has lived in Norwalk his entire life, spoke in favor of the ban. Lopez called Newsom’s threat of a lawsuit a reflection of a “failed approach” to dealing with the crisis.

How we got here

The Norwalk City Council voted on August 6 to impose a 45-day ban on issuing permits for emergency shelters, transitional housing and assisted living for the homeless because they pose an “imminent threat to public health, safety and welfare.”

The restriction also applies to new permits for liquor stores, laundromats, car washes, short-term lending companies and discount stores.

This is how local authorities react

Before the vote, Norwalk Mayor Margarita Rios told LAist she opposed the state telling her city what to do.

“As local leaders, we know best what our population looks like here, including those who are suffering,” Rios said. “We are just asking the governor to take a hard look at what we have done as a city before he tries to impose further demands or mandates on us.”

Norwalk has issued permits for 175 new homes in recent years, state officials say, well below the city’s target of more than 5,000 new housing units by 2029.

What happens next?

The California housing authorities sent the city a letter On Monday, it said the ban on emergency shelters “violates several state housing laws” and that the city must “repeal the ordinance to immediately allow the development and operation of emergency shelters” and other types of housing.

If you do not respond to the letter within one week, the case may be referred to the state Attorney General’s Office, the letter said.

Rios said city attorneys would legally review the state’s letter. But she said the council plans to move forward with a vote on extending the homeless ban.

Why the state is becoming more involved in local housing struggles

The conflict between California and Norwalk follows efforts by other states to force local governments to provide more affordable housing and resources for the homeless.

State officials have argued with politicians in Huntington Beach because of the city’s failure to plan new housing in accordance with state law. Newsom also recently threatened Beverly Hills with a possible lawsuit over the city’s efforts to block the construction of a high-rise building in which 20% of the apartments would be reserved for low-income tenants.

How to join or follow the meeting

• Location: Norwalk City Hall, 12700 Norwalk Blvd.
• Time: 6 p.m., public meeting
• Watch the replay on YouTube
• Read the agenda ▶

Editor Megan Garvey contributed to this report.