There are several groups of reasoning towards food distribution in city parks. One is in complete opposition, another may be unrestricted operation. Let’s consider balancing best practices especially if we are serving a vulnerable population especially the unhoused. Those who demonstrate a willingness or capability to adhere to healthy giving and sanitary food practices should meet a reasonable standard determined by policy within the ordinance. I would offer one per week as a frequency.
I support this ordinance as it a good compromise from the previous version(s) and helps to protect our vital park system. Everyone who uses the City's park system needs to feel safe and with that comes the need for regulations. By limiting medical care and food distribution to areas away from amenity and play areas for families strikes a good and safe balance.
We support Parks being maintained for their intended purpose: recreation + safe public enjoyment for everyone. Parks should not become de facto living spaces or hubs for unmanaged activity or resource distribution. Our Rangers and Volunteers already spend countless hours addressing excess litter, drug paraphernalia, needles, broken glass, human waste, and other hazardous conditions left behind in public park spaces after these type of distribution events.
My name is Cristina Gallardo-Sanidad. I represent North Glen Square Neighborhood Assoc in D5. My backyard gate opens to a public park so I see the issues plaguing our parks. I support item 49. I am sympathetic to those who receive medical services and food in Parks and to the providers, but I do not support this work happening in our public parks. It deters community members from using the Park for its intended purposes. City workers need this enforcement tool to keep the parks safe for all.
I SUPPORT this ordinance because it has guidelines to follow. Many neighborhood groups work hard to activate our parks and keep them clean and safe for children to enjoy. We volunteer a lot of time and energy to make this happen AND CLEAN UP after our events. I also DO NOT WANT NEEDLES IN THE PARKS. There are many resources who provide FULL SERVICES to help people get off of the streets and into shelter (and not just give food and supplies).
My city is attacking the people it should be caring for. It is attacking the people who are providing care, the people that are not using taxpayer dollars to do so - saving the city and taxpayers own money on this issue. Current officials are protecting the dollar bills of rich people over the lives of Phoenix residents. That's not what government is for. Reject the ordinance. Protect human beings not money extracted from working class people.
Food is a basic human right. To choose not to help those in need is a choice everyone is entitled to make but to take away the help that others are offering is unconscionable. This ordinance will make it more difficult for those of us who feed the homeless on a weekly basis. Matthew 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. Please Arizona have some compassion!
We support Parks being maintained for their intended purpose: recreation + safe public enjoyment for everyone. Parks should not become de facto living spaces or hubs for unmanaged activity or resource distribution. Our Rangers and Volunteers already spend countless hours addressing excess litter, drug paraphernalia, needles, broken glass, human waste, and other hazardous conditions left behind in public park spaces after these type of distribution events.
I oppose this ordinance because it criminalizes compassion & care. It also restricts compassion & care to 2 times a month. This ordinance is especially cruel since it takes effect in June, when our hottest days/nights start. If not repealed, this ordinance will be a death sentence for a lot of folks. Unhoused people are in public spaces (like parks) because they literally have nowhere else to go. Address the cause & stop criminalizing the symptom.
Feeding those who are hungry should not be an option, everyone should understand that. There are so few who provide meals and some people go days without eating, not because they chose to "fight the system" as many say but due to the few who actually do go out and feed them. Parks are public areas, those who throw birthday parties don't need a permit. Even when the non profit I help applied for a permit, they were denied... just like many others. The system is flawed.
I strongly oppose the amendment to city code section 24-45. If this passes, it will cost human lives and many will lose a bridge to resources and community that are vital. Feeding the needy should never be a crime. At a time where benefits have been cut, we even see housed families with their children come to the park to have a meal every week. We leave the parks cleaner than we find them. Never once in 5 years have any of us or our volunteers found a needle in the park we visit.
As a long time Sunnyslope resident who uses the park for events and recreation, I support the ordinance and regulation of medical treatment and food distribution within the parks. We have requirements for all other park uses which are a lot less impactful than medical treatment and food distribution. As a public health professional, I know what can go wrong when these activities are conducted without oversight. Please pass this ordinance to better protect the safety and wellness in parks!
Harm reduction fills gaps where formal services fall short, especially as programs are facing cuts. The crisis system is already carrying too much of the burden.
I support this ordinance. Parks need to be safe for everyone who uses them, families, children and unsheltered individuals. But in order for them to be a safe and useful public space there is a need for regulations. Food distribution for those in need will still be allowed, but with a permit. I believe needles are not safe in areas where children play so that should be prohibited. There are already community medical establishments for those purposes. This ordinance creates a safe balance.
Wanting to stop the feeding of the homeless is ridiculous, the people that sponsor make sure to clean up after themselves, the community that comes out to grab a meal are not robbing anyone, doing drugs, or cause havoc they just want a moment to feel like someone cares so making this change will destroy the hope so many have that we do not care...
Supporting this ordinance is about balance, not restriction. Providing food and medical care is important but like any regulated service, it should follow basic guidelines to ensure safety and coordination. Parks are for recreation too, and thoughtful rules help protect both uses. This doesn’t take services away it helps ensure they’re done responsibly and sustainably.
I strongly urge Phoenix City Council to repeal Ordinance G-7467 and reject proposed revisions. Criminalizing and restricting access to the provision of medical care, food, and harm-reduction services for our unhoused neighbors is complete misuse of funds and power - it will only EXACERBATE the need (and subsequent harm) this part of our population faces. It's inhumane, not a viable solution, and likely wouldn't hold in court when challenged; which will further fiscal waste. OPPOSE G-7467.
Public health policy should not come at the cost of compassion or access. Regulations must be carefully designed so they do not unintentionally criminalize or discourage acts of care by community members addressing urgent human needs. In extreme conditions like Arizona’s heat, restricting outreach can have immediate and life-threatening consequences, as consistent access to food and hydration is essential for survival
Phoenix City Council knows how unjust and cruel this measure is. I oppose it because I am pro-people not pro-policy. Had Phoenix City Council actually listened to the pleas of the community over the last two decades regarding how to help our unsheltered neighbors in the zone and elsewhere we wouldn't have to SCREAM at them to do the right thing again now. If it passes, people will die. We will make sure the world knows that they died because Phoenix City Council chose to not listen.
The outreach programs that take place in the parks, particularly for the homeless, provide critically needed food, clothing, resources and support. Taking this away will leave many of them without much needed assistance.
There are several groups of reasoning towards food distribution in city parks. One is in complete opposition, another may be unrestricted operation. Let’s consider balancing best practices especially if we are serving a vulnerable population especially the unhoused. Those who demonstrate a willingness or capability to adhere to healthy giving and sanitary food practices should meet a reasonable standard determined by policy within the ordinance. I would offer one per week as a frequency.
I support this ordinance as it a good compromise from the previous version(s) and helps to protect our vital park system. Everyone who uses the City's park system needs to feel safe and with that comes the need for regulations. By limiting medical care and food distribution to areas away from amenity and play areas for families strikes a good and safe balance.
We support Parks being maintained for their intended purpose: recreation + safe public enjoyment for everyone. Parks should not become de facto living spaces or hubs for unmanaged activity or resource distribution. Our Rangers and Volunteers already spend countless hours addressing excess litter, drug paraphernalia, needles, broken glass, human waste, and other hazardous conditions left behind in public park spaces after these type of distribution events.
My name is Cristina Gallardo-Sanidad. I represent North Glen Square Neighborhood Assoc in D5. My backyard gate opens to a public park so I see the issues plaguing our parks. I support item 49. I am sympathetic to those who receive medical services and food in Parks and to the providers, but I do not support this work happening in our public parks. It deters community members from using the Park for its intended purposes. City workers need this enforcement tool to keep the parks safe for all.
I SUPPORT this ordinance because it has guidelines to follow. Many neighborhood groups work hard to activate our parks and keep them clean and safe for children to enjoy. We volunteer a lot of time and energy to make this happen AND CLEAN UP after our events. I also DO NOT WANT NEEDLES IN THE PARKS. There are many resources who provide FULL SERVICES to help people get off of the streets and into shelter (and not just give food and supplies).
My city is attacking the people it should be caring for. It is attacking the people who are providing care, the people that are not using taxpayer dollars to do so - saving the city and taxpayers own money on this issue. Current officials are protecting the dollar bills of rich people over the lives of Phoenix residents. That's not what government is for. Reject the ordinance. Protect human beings not money extracted from working class people.
Food is a basic human right. To choose not to help those in need is a choice everyone is entitled to make but to take away the help that others are offering is unconscionable. This ordinance will make it more difficult for those of us who feed the homeless on a weekly basis. Matthew 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. Please Arizona have some compassion!
We support Parks being maintained for their intended purpose: recreation + safe public enjoyment for everyone. Parks should not become de facto living spaces or hubs for unmanaged activity or resource distribution. Our Rangers and Volunteers already spend countless hours addressing excess litter, drug paraphernalia, needles, broken glass, human waste, and other hazardous conditions left behind in public park spaces after these type of distribution events.
I oppose this ordinance because it criminalizes compassion & care. It also restricts compassion & care to 2 times a month. This ordinance is especially cruel since it takes effect in June, when our hottest days/nights start. If not repealed, this ordinance will be a death sentence for a lot of folks. Unhoused people are in public spaces (like parks) because they literally have nowhere else to go. Address the cause & stop criminalizing the symptom.
Feeding those who are hungry should not be an option, everyone should understand that. There are so few who provide meals and some people go days without eating, not because they chose to "fight the system" as many say but due to the few who actually do go out and feed them. Parks are public areas, those who throw birthday parties don't need a permit. Even when the non profit I help applied for a permit, they were denied... just like many others. The system is flawed.
I strongly oppose the amendment to city code section 24-45. If this passes, it will cost human lives and many will lose a bridge to resources and community that are vital. Feeding the needy should never be a crime. At a time where benefits have been cut, we even see housed families with their children come to the park to have a meal every week. We leave the parks cleaner than we find them. Never once in 5 years have any of us or our volunteers found a needle in the park we visit.
As a long time Sunnyslope resident who uses the park for events and recreation, I support the ordinance and regulation of medical treatment and food distribution within the parks. We have requirements for all other park uses which are a lot less impactful than medical treatment and food distribution. As a public health professional, I know what can go wrong when these activities are conducted without oversight. Please pass this ordinance to better protect the safety and wellness in parks!
Harm reduction fills gaps where formal services fall short, especially as programs are facing cuts. The crisis system is already carrying too much of the burden.
I support this ordinance. Parks need to be safe for everyone who uses them, families, children and unsheltered individuals. But in order for them to be a safe and useful public space there is a need for regulations. Food distribution for those in need will still be allowed, but with a permit. I believe needles are not safe in areas where children play so that should be prohibited. There are already community medical establishments for those purposes. This ordinance creates a safe balance.
Wanting to stop the feeding of the homeless is ridiculous, the people that sponsor make sure to clean up after themselves, the community that comes out to grab a meal are not robbing anyone, doing drugs, or cause havoc they just want a moment to feel like someone cares so making this change will destroy the hope so many have that we do not care...
Supporting this ordinance is about balance, not restriction. Providing food and medical care is important but like any regulated service, it should follow basic guidelines to ensure safety and coordination. Parks are for recreation too, and thoughtful rules help protect both uses. This doesn’t take services away it helps ensure they’re done responsibly and sustainably.
I strongly urge Phoenix City Council to repeal Ordinance G-7467 and reject proposed revisions. Criminalizing and restricting access to the provision of medical care, food, and harm-reduction services for our unhoused neighbors is complete misuse of funds and power - it will only EXACERBATE the need (and subsequent harm) this part of our population faces. It's inhumane, not a viable solution, and likely wouldn't hold in court when challenged; which will further fiscal waste. OPPOSE G-7467.
Public health policy should not come at the cost of compassion or access. Regulations must be carefully designed so they do not unintentionally criminalize or discourage acts of care by community members addressing urgent human needs. In extreme conditions like Arizona’s heat, restricting outreach can have immediate and life-threatening consequences, as consistent access to food and hydration is essential for survival
Phoenix City Council knows how unjust and cruel this measure is. I oppose it because I am pro-people not pro-policy. Had Phoenix City Council actually listened to the pleas of the community over the last two decades regarding how to help our unsheltered neighbors in the zone and elsewhere we wouldn't have to SCREAM at them to do the right thing again now. If it passes, people will die. We will make sure the world knows that they died because Phoenix City Council chose to not listen.
The outreach programs that take place in the parks, particularly for the homeless, provide critically needed food, clothing, resources and support. Taking this away will leave many of them without much needed assistance.