Local News

Grants Pass City Council President Vanessa Ogier and her mom Cindy Ogier arrived Saturday in Washington, DC, and snagged the first spot in line to camp outside the US Supreme Court, hoping to be among those allowed in the limited public seating for today's oral arguments on a case that originated in their hometown.

Lawyers for Grants Pass are urging Supreme Court justices to overturn a lower court's ruling that barred the southern Oregon city of 40,000 from enforcing anti-camping regulations against "involuntary homeless" people who have nowhere else to go.

The Oregonian reports a decision, expected by the end of June, is expected to be one of the most significant rulings to address homelessness in more than four decades.

Vanessa Ogier and her mother Cindy Ogier rented an Airbnb nearby and took turns maintaining their space. Sitting in camping chairs beside the hedge bordering the south edge of the courthouse, they were dressed in extra layers Sunday night under cloudy skies as the temperature was forecast to dip to the low 40s.

The elder Ogier said attending a Supreme Court hearing has always been on her bucket list and this one drew her because of the local connection and the issue's complexity. She said she opposes the use of the city's parks for public camping and hopes for a humane solution, though she isn't sure what that is.

Council President Vanessa Ogier said she's glad the Supreme Court agreed to review the lower court's ruling, but directed any other questions to the city's legal counsel. She said she's been on the local council for four years but took the helm as its president in January.