Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Homelessness Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Speakers urge Tempe to stop strict enforcement of urban-camping ban and protect mutual-aid efforts
Summary
Multiple speakers during public comment urged the council to stop enforcing the urban camping ordinance against houseless people and to allow mutual-aid groups to provide food, blankets and other aid without citations.
Speakers at the Feb. 6, 2025 Tempe City Council meeting urged the city to ease enforcement of the urban-camping ordinance and to stop citing volunteers who provide aid to people experiencing homelessness.
Leidy Spitak, who identified herself as a lifelong Tempe resident, asked the council to “stop enforcing strictly the urban camping ban that illegalizes not only homelessness, but also just being seen in public parks.” Spitak said enforcement has led officers to confiscate blankets and other personal items during cold weather and that mutual-aid volunteers who distribute supplies have faced threats of citations.
Several speakers framed the issue as a gap between available shelter capacity and residents who remain unsheltered because of pets, health issues or other barriers to shelter entry. Tom Brown, speaking later in the public-comment period about parks generally, said criminalizing people who are unhoused is “both impractical and flat wrong” and urged the council to take humane policy steps, including transitional housing and additional affordable housing production.
Speakers did not ask the council to adopt a specific ordinance at the meeting. Under Arizona's open-meeting law, the council limited itself to receiving comments; the mayor noted individual council members may ask staff to review matters or request future agenda items.
No formal policy changes or votes on the urban camping ordinance were taken at the Feb. 6 meeting.
