Santa Cruz officials make it illegal for cities to drop off homeless without prior authorization: Here’s what to know [Video]

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KGO) — Leaders in the City of Santa Cruz want to support the homeless community in their city, but do not want to be a dumping ground for other cities to send their unhoused. So, they are making it illegal to do so.

The City of Santa Cruz is working to clean up the town’s image, by cleaning up the streets and addressing their homelessness problem.

Mayor Fred Keeley says efforts have led to a more than 50% decrease in street homelessness in the past two years.

But he’s concerned that a city in the central valley is threatening to impede their progress.

“We don’t need, under the cover of darkness and stealthy and tricky maneuvers, for some city to move their problem to us,” Keeley said. “That’s not the right way to do it.”

MORE: EXCLUSIVE: Video shows San Rafael officer dropping off homeless man in San Francisco