Meeting Time: December 16, 2020 at 2:30pm MST
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Agenda Item

91 Public Hearing - Appeal of Hearing Officer Decision - Abandonment of Right-of-Way - ABND 200534 - Various Segments generally located south of Jefferson Street and north of Harrison Street (railroad tracks) between 7th and 13th Avenues

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    Sarah Elizabeth over 4 years ago

    This is a blatant attack on the houseless population. These areas are necessary for those requiring assistance from Human Services.

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    Jessica Knight over 4 years ago

    I strongly oppose this proposal that I believe will criminalize and displace our unsheltered neighbors. This is not a solution to the problem. Finding shelter, protection, and help for the houseless during this period of record unemployment will be far more effective rather than criminalizing our neighbors who don’t have other options or resources at this time.

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    Lisa Potter over 4 years ago

    Stop criminalizing homeless people. It is cheaper and more economical to create homes and resources for homelessness than to continue to penalize this population. This measure does nothing to help only hurt.

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    tessa farrell over 4 years ago

    The city cannot and should not privatize public land. Land that is used primarily as access to resources for our community's unsheltered residents. This stands to further criminalize, marginalize, and vilify their existence. We must seek to protect our most vulnerable residents. We have an obligation as a community, as people.

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    Molly Spilger over 4 years ago

    There are not proper resources available to those who are unsheltered. Passing this item makes it even more difficult for people to access adequate shelter, food, hygiene and products. The LEAST you can do is oppose. Some who support this agenda item are saying there needs to be an alternative for the unsheltered community. We all know this isn’t truly an option. Yes, there needs to be accountability and action taken, but why should those who are unsheltered suffer more during that time?

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    Janette Jones over 4 years ago

    Please think of our houseless neighbors- and the much support that they are needing year round. PRIORITIZE UNSHELTERED COMMUNITY MEMBERS

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    Wil Meister over 4 years ago

    Whether it's intended to or not, this proposal will further criminalize the unsheltered. The notes from the September hearing are telling: nearby business owners want these people out of sight and out of mind. Will the proposal ensure these people are sheltered? Will it treat these people in dire circumstances like people? Nope, it will just push people further into a cycle of violence and overpolicing, but at least it will make property owners feel slightly more comfortable (for now).

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    Luna Parker over 4 years ago

    Privatizing easements criminalizes unsheltered folks in our communities who are already so vulnerable during a time of record unemployment and high eviction rates. We shouldn’t be limiting their ability to exist.

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    Jessica Kephart over 4 years ago

    Strongly oppose. this is no remedy to any situation, this will just displace people and create the same issue in another neighborhood. This is a horrible bandage on a bigger issue that needs to be addressed.

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    Sid Femino over 4 years ago

    Prioritize unsheltered community members.

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    Mac Allen over 4 years ago

    We should not being criminalizing houseless folks and create a higher risk of people in our community to be arrested. There should be more efforts in finding shelter, providing food and safety and relief. Not more people in jail.

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    Bill Morlan over 4 years ago

    This appeal is not about criminalizing homeless. It is about protecting and beautifying our neighborhood. Having people sleeping on the easements is NOT a solution to homelessness. The City, the County and the State need to work together to find places for the campers to live so we can protect these vulnerable people and make out neighborhood a better place to live and work.

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    Jennifer Helland over 4 years ago

    A commitment to helping solve homelessness does not include finding ways to jail more of the homeless population. Please put more effort into helping rather than criminalizing homelessness.

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    Emily Balli over 4 years ago

    Homelessness is not a crime. A city shouldn't make it easier for residents to be arrested, ticketed, jailed and/or harassed in the area they go to for services. City council already voted to address homelessness and stop criminalizing homelessness in October. Do what you said you were going to do and stop failing the most vulnerable people in our city.

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    Benjamin Lewis over 4 years ago

    Here we are, considering giving the police a raise the same day we're asked to criminalize being unhoused during a period of record unemployment. If the unused space folks have claimed is no longer safe, they will find other unused spaces to survive. These will probably be privately owned spaces and accessing them will likely result in property damage. Why force that scenario? We should be helping folks, not shooing them through the cracks in our social floor. I implore you to vote no on 91

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    Laurel Langmade over 4 years ago

    Approval to reduce violence, crime, & unsanitary conditions, accompanied with influx of urban campers using the area in question as a campground. Need to reduce number of homeless in area with all parties involved, including HSC, and comply with Capitol District Guidelines, “3. Plan and design an environment that will discourage crime, provide alternative location(s) for the homeless outside the area, and discourage land uses and conditions which cause high noise levels or emit noxious odors.”

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    Chelsea Hickok over 4 years ago

    If council supports this item you will be further criminalizing poverty in a time when unemployment and eviction rates are soaring. You would also be breaking the commitment you made in October to NOT criminalize our unhoused community members. You should be prioritizing taking care of these people, not further limiting their ability to exist.

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    Nichole Roether over 4 years ago

    Homelessness is not a crime. Coercing people out of that space is not a solution to homelessness, investing in social programs and housing is. Consider allocating money from the Phoenix PD budget, who are grossly overfunded, to help pay for such programs.

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    Corin Puckett over 4 years ago

    The land between the sidewalks and streets should be kept public NOT private, with them becoming private criminalization increases, making our community live out of fear. this is not ok, the people should be able to be allowed to walk on land that is in a public space be kept public! NOT PRIVATE. we should be devoting this energy to creating more housing for our community members. not restricting where people can and can not be.

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    Lauren Watford over 4 years ago

    Please vote no on item 91. The city of Phoenix refuses to provide sufficient emergency shelter, thus forcing our unhoused neighbors to put up tents in this zone. By removing public easements, the city subjects these individuals to law enforcement action through no fault of their own. Please invest in our communities instead of responding to social problems with criminalization.