Public comment at the Commerce and Travel Committee meeting (date not specified) included multiple speakers who urged the committee to address tourist and resident safety, homelessness and what they described as a lack of transparency or qualifications among members of the city’s tourism commission.

Several commenters described personal safety incidents or reported witnessing thefts and assaults in public spaces, and they said those incidents undermined confidence in the city’s ability to protect visitors and residents. One speaker said the elderly and people with limited mobility are particularly vulnerable if they are assaulted and lose personal belongings. Other speakers connected safety concerns to homelessness and substance use near transit corridors, arguing the issues would affect perceptions of the city before major events.

Multiple commenters criticized the tourism commission’s visibility and qualifications. One speaker said they had not been able to find the commission’s calendar or records and called the commission a “quasi” organization lacking real experience in airport or international travel logistics. Another raised concerns about a contract award for “Covington and Berlan,” calling it problematic; the speaker did not provide documentation in the public comment record.

A mix of speakers also raised broader civic complaints about governance and security, including references to state and federal officials; some remarks contained profanity and personal attacks. The committee chair apologized to the public for the abusive language they had to endure and noted that committee members did not endorse those remarks.

The meeting’s public comment rules were stated on the record: speakers have one minute per comment and up to two minutes for multiple items.

Ending: The committee proceeded from public comment to the regular agenda; no formal committee action was taken in response to the individual public comments recorded in the transcript.