Public commenters urge city not to evict people living on Derrick Street as sanctioned tent site is planned

Multiple public commenters at the April 10 council meeting urged Huntsville leaders not to evict or forcibly remove people living on Derrick Street as the city prepares to introduce a sanctioned temporary tent program.

David Snyder, who identified himself as non-binary, said he opposed an ordinance change that he understood would restrict recording in certain city settings and opposed notices to vacate residents living on Derrick Street. Snyder said the city planned to issue notices within about a month and that a sanctioned tent program was expected to arrive within the same timeframe. He said the city should not issue notices to vacate without ensuring there is a safe, sanitary shelter option and criticized existing shelters as unsanitary.

Sarah Colletti, another public commenter, contrasted rules the city will apply when acting as landlord on Derrick Street with landlord-tenant rules she said private landlords must follow, including notice and property protections. She said the city’s approach to sanitation on Derrick Street — providing one garbage can for every 10 people and relying on nonprofits for additional sanitation — was inadequate and ‘‘disgusting and embarrassing.’’

Both speakers urged that tent programs be voluntary and a step toward stable housing rather than enforced displacement. Council did not take action during public comment; the statements were placed on the meeting record.

The Record: Public comments opposing forced eviction and urging better sanitation and shelter alternatives were recorded during the council meeting and are part of the official meeting record.