Wealthy Mercer Island Moves To Ban Homeless Camping Across the City On 2/17/21 at 4:31 AM EST A city council in Washington state has near-unanimously voted to expand a ban on homeless camping from parks to all public property. The Mercer Island City Council members approved the ordinance 6-1 during a vote on Tuesday night, despite a number of objections and calls to at least find another solution. Councilmember Craig Reynolds was the only one to vote "no" on the motion. It is already illegal to camp in parks in Mercer Island—a city where the average home costs around $1.7 million—but the latest move from the council restricts people living outside or sleeping in their cars overnight.