Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment Johnson Street Closure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident warns Johnson Street closure could increase homelessness, alleges ADA concerns
Summary
A resident during public comment said planned closure of Johnson Street will displace people into unsheltered locations, suggested ADA violations and questioned police interpretation of related laws; the committee did not act on the claim during the meeting.
An unidentified resident addressed the Land Use and Planning Committee during the public comment period to raise concerns about the planned closure of Johnson Street and the potential effect on people experiencing homelessness. The commenter said the closure will reduce available housing options and increase the number of people living on city property and in the streets.
The resident said the closure would likely force more people from shelters or city property into unsheltered locations and added that the change could violate the Americans with Disabilities Act. "So instead of having a hundred people, using our city property, we're gonna have, like, 250 people," the commenter said, adding that "especially for those with disability, [this] likely violates ADA." The speaker also expressed concern about law enforcement: "The police also don't seem to know how to interpret the law," the commenter said, and urged the committee to reconsider the ordinance.
Committee members did not take action on the comment during the meeting; the comment was recorded during the public comment period prior to the rezoning presentation. No committee staff or members provided factual findings or a legal analysis in response during the meeting.
