LORAIN, Ohio - A proposed city ordinance to prohibit sleeping in public is stirring an emotional debate over how Lorain should balance public safety, neighborhood concerns and compassion for the homeless.

The proposal before council would make it a fourth-degree misdemeanor to sleep in public spaces — including sidewalks, alleys, city parks and even parked cars. If passed, police could issue citations and order people to move along.

Mayor Jack Bradley frames the ordinance as a response to neighborhood complaints and crime concerns. But some residents say it effectively criminalizes poverty and homelessness without addressing the root causes.

A divided approach across Northeast Ohio

The discussion is unfolding after a 2024 U.S. Supreme Court ruling gave cities the authority to penaliz

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