Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard said Tuesday that the city’s Homeless Bill of Rights — a measure he vetoed Friday — would have accomplished “nothing.”

The City Council passed the proposal earlier this month in an attempt to decriminalize living on the streets. Ballard explained in a statement Tuesday that “the rights enumerated already exist for all citizens.” Reiterating those rights, he said, would do “nothing.”

Proposal 291 explicitly protected the ability of homeless people to move freely and carry out basic functions in public spaces. It also would have outlawed discrimination against homeless people when they attempt to access city services, obtain emergency care, register to vote or maintain the privacy of their personal property.

Homeless advocates said Ballard’s view that the rights already exist fails take into account the discriminatory manner in which laws against sitting, standing, sleeping or eating in public areas are enforced by police.

“This argument that everyone already has these rights so therefore we don’t need to protect them" isn't backed up with the police record or street outreach, said Paul Boden, director of the Western Regional Advocacy Project (WRAP), on Tuesday.

The bill’s sponsor, Indianapolis City Councilman Leroy Robinson expressed his disappointment on Twitter, writing, “Very sad day for our city with the VETO by @MayorBallard of Proposal #291. NO protections or Bill of Rights for the HOMELESS in Indianapolis.”