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Students, residents demand swift action on pedestrian safety after three students killed and press officials on police surveillance
Summary
Public commenters at the Nov. 5 call to the audience demanded immediate pedestrian-safety fixes at Euclid & 2nd after a fatal hit-and-run that killed three UArizona students; many also raised alarms about Tucson Police Department’s use of surveillance tools (Cobweb, Flock) and urged council to investigate and halt contracts. Council acknowledged grief and pledged follow-up with transportation staff.
A large contingent of University of Arizona students and Tucson residents filled call-to-the-audience time on Nov. 5 to press the council for action after a recent fatal hit‑and‑run at Euclid and Second Street that killed three students.
Students and residents described the crosswalk as treacherous — poorly lit, lacking a HAWK/Toucan beacon and subject to frequent speeding — and said the city’s planning discussions dating back to 2023 had not produced timely infrastructure changes. Multiple petition organizers reported thousands of signatures and demanded immediate installation of a HAWK flashing beacon, improved lighting, reduced speeds, and protected bike lanes. Several speakers said the city had accelerated some short‑term actions and thanked staff but urged faster delivery.
Separately, a set of public commenters alleged that the Tucson Police Department has used Cobweb open‑source intelligence software and contracted with Flock cameras, raising privacy and civil‑liberty concerns, including potential federal access to local surveillance data. Callers demanded transparency, an accounting of who has access to surveillance data, and consideration of cancelling city contracts. No official TPD response occurred in the meeting transcript; council acknowledged the concerns and pledged follow-up on safety infrastructure work at Euclid & 2nd with the Department of Transportation.
The public testimony shaped later agenda follow-up: councilmembers committed to accelerate crosswalk improvements and asked staff for updates at future meetings.
