Is LA Criminalizing Homelessness?

The Los Angeles City Council this week gave the city more power to dismantle homeless encampments. That’s despite the loud objections of homeless advocates. About a dozen protesters disrupted Tuesday’s City Council meeting, calling the rules “criminal” until security officers escorted them out. City leaders went ahead and voted to speed up the process for removing personal property left by the homeless on sidewalks and in city parks. City leaders say the new rules are needed because of a sharp increase in the transient population. Homeless advocates say the city should focus on building more housing instead. NPR's Kirk Siegler and LA Times columnist Steve Lopez spoke to KCRW's Steve Chiotakis about how to address the homeless issue in LA.