Residents press council on homelessness, mowing liens and neighborhood safety

During the meeting’s public‑comment period, multiple Denton residents raised concerns about homelessness, property liens and local safety.

Tracy Duckworth ("Grama Chi") described her experience with homelessness and said she believed she was retaliated against while participating in the city's permanent supportive housing program; she said audit findings show contractor failures and urged the council to address accountability. No staff presentation rebutted specific contract claims at the meeting; the matter was recorded as public comment and the mayor acknowledged the allegation.

Prudence Sanchez asked the city to more actively assert mowing liens during sheriff sales and to improve communication so buyers are not blindsided by liens after purchase; she suggested a fund to help property owners mitigate biohazard cleanup related to encampments. Alfredo Sanchez echoed concerns about sheriff‑sale overages and said some surplus proceeds do not reach former owners, urging better public education about unclaimed funds and city procedures.

Sean William Blackwood, an Army veteran and UNT student, presented local crime data showing a drop in Part 1 crime but an increase in assault reports and a decline in officer‑initiated activity; he asked the council to commission a focused public‑safety review of Fry Street, UNT adjacent areas and the Denton Square to examine enforcement patterns and encampment responses.

Council members and staff responded with condolences to Mr. Blackwood for a recent family loss, offered to follow up on lien and sheriff‑sale questions and suggested residents could search unclaimed funds registries; staff committed to researching the lien and surplus process and following up with commenters. No immediate policy changes were adopted at the meeting.