Parks already have a code of conduct, what needs to be done instead is conscious and consistent effort of the city council to help homeless folks instead of disappearing them. Where else will they go? If a human cannot exist anywhere how will they exist? It is heartless to throw these members of the community to the wolves. Do better!!
I oppose this ordinance because tax paying residents do not need more regulations on our parks and Phoenix PD does not need more of our tax dollars. More police presence in our parks will only limit community care for our unhoused neighbors and limit their ability to find housing and employment in the future.
I oppose this ordinance change. Phoenix should not use its resources to make public spaces uncomfortable and ugly for the sake of deterring unhoused people who need a safe place to land. Instead of pushing unhoused people out of public spaces, I urge you to use your power and resources to support unhoused people and make more safe spaces for them to live instead.
I am deeply concerned with the language in this ordinance surrounding Section 6, particularly that Phoenix PD, who are able to “liberally construe” the definitions of this section.Phoenix PD has a poor history of not abiding & respecting the civil rights of others, especially the most vulnerable populations. I believe this actually further endangers the preservation & protection of the natural environment, public peace, health, safety, & welfare of our guaranteed, tax-payer access to our parks.
I oppose this ordinance, particularly Section 24-48(A) because it expands policing in public spaces & criminalizes low-level, survival-based behavior. Issuing misd for benign conduct risks attaching records that create long-term barriers to housing and employment, harming already marginalized people.
Public parks are often the only accessible spaces for those without stable housing. We should focus on outreach, access to water, and services. Helping people works better than creating new crimes.
We need the code of conduct to be codified and able to be enforced by both the park rangers and the police. This ordinance will provide for that move to make enforcement more effective.
Why is the city of Phoenix imposing regulations on public parks that are already funded for with our tax dollars? Why are they limiting the hours and spaces that their own residents can gather, and making it a crime to simply be present? What kind of dystopian society is the aim here?
Is it not enough to harass people of color for existing, to lock and remove public bathrooms, to cut staffing and public health resources so that Phoenix PD can get $40 million more above the already $1 billion?
I am a frequent hiker and have seen people needing rescue off of the trails. This ordinance could prohibit the provision of emergency services in our trails and parks. It is clearly biased against the unhoused, which is wrong, but also puts anyone who needs medical or other attention in public parks and trails at risk.
To enact this would be a fiscally irresponsible act. Nonprofits filling in the gaps of the healthcare system without unnecessary red tape prevents the spread of communicable diseases such as Hepatitis. If this proposal is approved, non profits will have less ability to provide this care, and the burden will be put onto county hospitals. Conditions that could be healed with fairly cheap care, will spiral into life or death situations requiring expensive treatments, paid by the tax payer.
This ordinance concerns me because increased law enforcement presence in our parks puts our communities at risk. This solution sounds like a proposal to remove the “problem” instead of engaging in a restorative, long-term solution to give our communities access to resources. I oppose any ordinance that encourages more involvement from law enforcement or criminalizes our most vulnerable communities.
The reference to "an exercise of the Police Power of the City" is deeply concerning. The solution to some of the issues encountered in the parks (use of drugs, sleeping, using fountains to wash up) is increasing access to services NOT increased law enforcement engagement.
This ordinance criminalizes poverty, not harm. Turning benign and harmless acts into Class 1 misdemeanors adds fines, records, and bans that make jobs and housing harder to secure. Punishment over support will push people further into homelessness, not improve park safety or community well-being. ---Sincerely, a district 6 resident that wants evidence-based solutions and support, not further marginalization of our neighbors and increased barriers to stability.
Parks and preserves are for residents to enjoy for recreation. Please help keep them safe and clean and crime free.
Parks already have a code of conduct, what needs to be done instead is conscious and consistent effort of the city council to help homeless folks instead of disappearing them. Where else will they go? If a human cannot exist anywhere how will they exist? It is heartless to throw these members of the community to the wolves. Do better!!
Criminalizing poverty does nothing to address its roots.
In response to other comments there is already a "code" of conduct for those in the park. People should not be harassed out of our parks.
For most, housing is already unaffordable. This only serves to ensure unhoused people stay that way.
I oppose this because we don't need even more punitive posturing toward unhoused people. We should be trying to make their lives easier, not harder.
I oppose this! Public parks should be welcoming for all, not made hostile on purpose for those who are unhoused.
I oppose this ordinance because tax paying residents do not need more regulations on our parks and Phoenix PD does not need more of our tax dollars. More police presence in our parks will only limit community care for our unhoused neighbors and limit their ability to find housing and employment in the future.
I do not support this.
I oppose this ordinance change. Phoenix should not use its resources to make public spaces uncomfortable and ugly for the sake of deterring unhoused people who need a safe place to land. Instead of pushing unhoused people out of public spaces, I urge you to use your power and resources to support unhoused people and make more safe spaces for them to live instead.
This ordinance will not solve any issues, it will just further police and restrict and punish members of our community who are already struggling.
I am deeply concerned with the language in this ordinance surrounding Section 6, particularly that Phoenix PD, who are able to “liberally construe” the definitions of this section.Phoenix PD has a poor history of not abiding & respecting the civil rights of others, especially the most vulnerable populations. I believe this actually further endangers the preservation & protection of the natural environment, public peace, health, safety, & welfare of our guaranteed, tax-payer access to our parks.
I oppose this ordinance, particularly Section 24-48(A) because it expands policing in public spaces & criminalizes low-level, survival-based behavior. Issuing misd for benign conduct risks attaching records that create long-term barriers to housing and employment, harming already marginalized people.
Public parks are often the only accessible spaces for those without stable housing. We should focus on outreach, access to water, and services. Helping people works better than creating new crimes.
We need the code of conduct to be codified and able to be enforced by both the park rangers and the police. This ordinance will provide for that move to make enforcement more effective.
Why is the city of Phoenix imposing regulations on public parks that are already funded for with our tax dollars? Why are they limiting the hours and spaces that their own residents can gather, and making it a crime to simply be present? What kind of dystopian society is the aim here?
Is it not enough to harass people of color for existing, to lock and remove public bathrooms, to cut staffing and public health resources so that Phoenix PD can get $40 million more above the already $1 billion?
I am a frequent hiker and have seen people needing rescue off of the trails. This ordinance could prohibit the provision of emergency services in our trails and parks. It is clearly biased against the unhoused, which is wrong, but also puts anyone who needs medical or other attention in public parks and trails at risk.
To enact this would be a fiscally irresponsible act. Nonprofits filling in the gaps of the healthcare system without unnecessary red tape prevents the spread of communicable diseases such as Hepatitis. If this proposal is approved, non profits will have less ability to provide this care, and the burden will be put onto county hospitals. Conditions that could be healed with fairly cheap care, will spiral into life or death situations requiring expensive treatments, paid by the tax payer.
This ordinance concerns me because increased law enforcement presence in our parks puts our communities at risk. This solution sounds like a proposal to remove the “problem” instead of engaging in a restorative, long-term solution to give our communities access to resources. I oppose any ordinance that encourages more involvement from law enforcement or criminalizes our most vulnerable communities.
The reference to "an exercise of the Police Power of the City" is deeply concerning. The solution to some of the issues encountered in the parks (use of drugs, sleeping, using fountains to wash up) is increasing access to services NOT increased law enforcement engagement.
This ordinance criminalizes poverty, not harm. Turning benign and harmless acts into Class 1 misdemeanors adds fines, records, and bans that make jobs and housing harder to secure. Punishment over support will push people further into homelessness, not improve park safety or community well-being. ---Sincerely, a district 6 resident that wants evidence-based solutions and support, not further marginalization of our neighbors and increased barriers to stability.