It’s encouraging to see the Colorado Springs City Council restart a proposal for a much-needed ban on “car camping” in the city, as reported this week in The Gazette.

The proposal would consolidate local laws and penalties against illegal camping in public places by the chronically homeless — and include a provision curbing those who camp out on wheels. Dilapidated cars, SUVs, RVs and other vehicles that have seen better days too often have become abodes of the moment for drifters, who park them at the roadside for weeks on end, blighting and disrupting Colorado Springs neighborhoods.

The council originally had mulled the proposal in November but voted at the time to postpone action for six months — kicking the can down the road and disappointing Springs citizens who had hoped for the added measure of public safety. The council’s majority shifted tack this week and decided to resurrect the proposal Feb. 24 for an initial hearing and vote on it March 10. Six council members approved moving the date; two opposed it, and one member was absent.

As The Gazette reported, the council’s David Leinweber supported advancing the proposal in part to give clearer guidance to the city’s police in enforcing laws against camping.

“The idea of this law is just to say ‘no camping’ and do a broad spectrum,” he said. “As a city do we want to allow people to camp just wherever they want to? No. We need to give a clear simple (message) and make laws understandable.”

Exactly. And it’s good to know most of the council is on board. While the law hasn’t been formally debated, yet — that will happen this month — it appears the council majority will support it.

In a commentary published in The Gazette last year, City Councilman Dave Donelson, who had proposed the version of the camping ban that was tabled in November, contended that if it were put to a public vote, citizens would embrace it. He’s probably right.

Most Colorado Springs voters no doubt reason they, too, have rights as residents. That includes the right to the peaceful enjoyment of their private property.

They likely also realize there’s nothing compassionate about tolerating urban “camping” in its various forms. 

The chronically homeless campers in most cases aren’t on the streets due to economic misfortune. The are overwhelmingly substance addicted and also disproportionately suffer from mental illness. They need help — like rehab and therapy — and the first step is getting them off the streets.

Letting them continue to languish in their itinerant lifestyle — and pretending they have some “right” to do so in public spaces like parks and streets — is, in fact, cruel to them. It reflects a callous disregard not only for residents trying to keep their neighborhoods secure and livable, but also for the campers — who too often are on a road to nowhere.

The City Council’s reawakening on this issue is welcome news. It stands to improve the quality of life for all of us.