Supreme Court tackles whether cities can ban outdoor sleeping

• San Diego's law prohibits camping near schools, shelters, transit stations and in parks at all times — and anywhere else in the city when shelter is available.

The big picture: California leaders, like those in other states hit by the homelessness crisis, are monitoring the high court's decision, which could reshape how cities can respond to the problem.

• Newsom, in a brief from his office to the court, said "homeless people should not be criminalized for sleeping outside when they have nowhere else to go."
• Yes, but: He argued that cities should be able to set specific time-and-place limitations, so it's possible to clear encampments.

Zoom in: Despite the caveats in San Diego's policy, Stephan argued the entire ordinance was threatened because it prohibits stoves in all public encampments.

• Her office interpreted that as a violation of the lower court's ruling, because stoves used for warmth or cooking would qualify as "human activity that cannot be avoided."

The intrigue: San Diego was mentioned in the hearing, but not for its homeless policy.

• Justice Samuel Alito asked Deputy Solicitor General Edwin Kneedler whether San Diego could restrict outdoor sleeping by a homeless person who relocated from Fargo, North Dakota, because sleeping outside here would be more comfortable.
• Kneedler said it wouldn't matter other legal protections guaranteeing people the right to travel, and not due to the specific constitutional question presented by the case.

What's next: The Supreme Court's ruling is expected in June.