June 20, 2012 12:25 AM UTC

Denver: Urban Camping Ban has No Effect on Other Cities

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• by: Colorado Pols

Denver’s nascent urban camping ban has been rife with unintended consequences, including the incentivization for homeless populations to break the law in the hopes of being punished with free food and shelter. Some critics also alleged that the ordinance would push Denver’s homeless out of the city limits and into neighboring municipalities where they could “camp” outside without breaking the law.

According to 9News, Denver is denying any such migration is taking place:

Denver officials say there is no evidence a camping ban in the city is forcing the homeless into the suburbs.

The city says a check found no mass exodus to Aurora, Littleton, Adams County and other communities.

Denver police tell the Denver Post they have not been strictly enforcing the ban since it went into effect two weeks ago.

What, exactly, was the “check” that Denver performed? The ban’s been in effect only two weeks, after all, with only light enforcement. How much data could really be collected in the course of two weeks?

The urban camping ban has been so contentious an issue that its effect on the homeless should probably be comprehensively gauged. While there may indeed be no effect on neighboring communities, there’s no doubt that the city can only come to that conclusion after several months of in-depth study.

A long-term policy, after all, can’t really be judged by its short-term effects, good or bad.