Congress enacted this Wednesday (21) the law that prohibits the so-called “hostile architecture”, name given to the use of structures, equipment and materials with the aim of keeping people (in general people in a street situation) away from squares, viaducts, sidewalks and gardens.
The law was named the Padre Júlio Lancellotti Law, in honor of the priest from São Paulo who has a recognized work of assisting homeless people. The new law was published in the Official Gazette this Thursday (22), after Congress overturned a veto by President Jair Bolsonaro (PL).
In 2021, a video of Lancellotti breaking stones placed on the streets of São Paulo to remove homeless people went viral on social media.
Coordinator of Pastoral do Povo de Rua, Lancellotti used a sledgehammer to remove sharp stones installed under an overpass by the São Paulo City Hall. The gesture has already been repeated on other occasions by the priest, who uses his page on a social network to denounce hostile architecture in other cities.
According to the proponents of the proposal, one of the goals of hostile architecture is real estate speculation. Therefore, one of the main targets would be the homeless population.
The law amends the City Statute to establish among its guidelines the “promotion of comfort, shelter, rest, well-being and accessibility in the enjoyment of open spaces for public use, their furniture and interfaces with spaces for private use”, prohibiting the use of of stones or sharp objects, for example, to prevent some people from accessing a public space.
Source: CNN Brasil
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