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Public forum spotlights PEDCO criticism, homelessness commission questions, grocery-tax worries and immigration fears
Summary
Residents used the public-comment period on Jan. 27 to raise concerns about PEDCO, the housing and homelessness commission, a proposed grocery tax and reports of ICE activity.
A range of community concerns drew public comment at the Jan. 27 Pueblo City Council meeting, with speakers urging action on local economic development, homelessness, proposed taxes and recent reports of immigration-enforcement activity.
PEDCO and local economic development Ted Freeman criticized the Pueblo Economic Development Corporation (PEDCO), saying the nonprofit has not produced new projects while receiving city and county funding. Freeman asked that the council terminate the economic-development contract and end the half-cent sales-and-use tax restriction that channels funds to PEDCO. The speaker listed previous unsuccessfully pursued projects and said that PEDCO’s contract has no sunset clause. Councilors later clarified in commentary that council members serve as PEDCO board representatives and that PEDCO does not own Everest Steel; Councilor Flores said PEDCO does not have the funds to buy the steel mill.
Housing and homelessness commission Faith Leaders in Action and the Community Commission on Housing and Homelessness raised procedural questions about whether the commission should pause work for a 90-day period and noted difficulties securing quorums. Councilors responded that the commission’s status and possible restructuring will be discussed at the council retreat in February; staff and city leadership agreed to meet with commission leadership and facilitate next steps. Councilor Boston encouraged continued work on ideas and noted a planned retreat to discuss the commission.
Proposed grocery tax, pallet shelters and blight Resident Elvis Martinez asked the mayor to hold a town-hall forum on the proposed grocery tax and offered to moderate. Martinez also supported pallet shelters for people experiencing homelessness but asked for background checks for shelter residents and more information on operations; he proposed ideas such as selling underused park property as a revenue source and suggested various local tax options (ride-share, entertainment, tobacco) for discussion. Councilors noted that ballot tax questions are typically placed on November general elections when appropriate and that the council’s role is to put items before voters, not to set tax rates unilaterally.
Immigration enforcement reports and community information Several councilors addressed recent reports and rumors of ICE activity. Councilor Sarah Martinez summarized state protections for immigrants, noting that Colorado law limits local law enforcement cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement and that impersonating officers is illegal. She also provided a Colorado Rapid Response hotline number (844-846-8341) managed by the Colorado Rapid Response Network for reporting and verifying ICE activity. Councilors and the mayor emphasized there have been no verified local school raids and cautioned against misinformation spreading on social media.
Procedural context and council response Councilors said some public questions require staff follow-up or legal clarification and that the proper venue for policy work is a work session or the council retreat. Several councilors urged civility and warned against vitriolic or unsafe conduct in the chambers.
