SANTA CLARITA : Judge Prevents City From Closing VFW Post
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A Superior Court judge Thursday suspended an order by the city of Santa Clarita shutting down a Veterans of Foreign Wars bar and meeting hall, blocking enforcement until a hearing in his court on Oct. 29.
Judge Robert H. O’Brien ruled that VFW Post 6885 may remain open until that date, but upheld an on-site camping ban imposed by the city in March.
Attorney Gary Symonds, representing the veterans, had challenged a city order, issued Aug. 27, requiring the post to close immediately because of alleged violations of its agreement with Santa Clarita to prohibit camping there.
The city, responding to complaints from residents of nearby Sand Canyon, charged that some veterans were excessively noisy. City officials said that twice last summer some who had been drinking were allowed to sleep overnight in campers on the post parking lot.
Symonds argued that the veterans had been denied due process and that the city had defined “camping” too broadly.
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