Homeless push against Salinas shopping cart law

The City of Salinas is trying to tackle the problem of abandoned shopping carts in town with a new law, but some homeless are saying it is all targeting them.

If the city passes the proposed law, it would make it a crime under city code to take a shopping cart off store property without permission.

“Shopping carts are found pretty much in all areas of the city,” said Chris Callihan, the city attorney of Salinas. “It’s an issue city-wide. We’ve received complaints from residents of the community.”

The proposed ordinance would make taking a shopping cart without permission a misdemeanor under city code, making it easier for the city itself to enforce and prosecute.

You could face stiff fines or possible jail time depending on the charges the city decides to file. The charges range from a misdemeanor, an infraction or an administrative action.

Stores would also have to come up with a plan to prevent their carts getting stolen and collect abandoned shopping carts themselves.

“The plan should involve posting signs at the stores so that the customers are aware that it’s illegal to take a shopping cart off of their premises,” said Callihan.

Stores could also install automatic locks onto the cart’s wheels or put out a security guard to make sure nothing gets stolen.

But the many homeless who do use shopping carts off of store property say the city is picking on them.

“They pick on the homeless. I mean they don’t have the money to pay a fine,” said Newton McCarthy, who lives in Chinatown in Salinas. “So what does that mean? It means that they’re going to have a bench warrant out for them and then the police will come and arrest them and put them in jail.”

There are many shopping carts in Chinatown, all of which are used for storage. The city says the purpose of the ordinance is to clean up the clutter, but the homeless view it differently.

“The city can’t legislate homelessness away. It can mitigate the problem, but it can’t legislate it to go away,” said McCarthy.

“I understand what the homeless situation is, and I think it would be kind of tough to make that against the law,” said Gustavo Lopez, a Salinas resident. “I understand also on the other side, sometimes you have shopping carts left all over the place.”

The city attorney, however, is more resolute.

“Whether you’re homeless or not homeless, it’s not your shopping cart,” said Callihan.

The city council will make a final decision on the proposed ordinance in November. Should it pass, the new law would take effect in 30 days.