The Tucson City Council on Tuesday voted to find a spot further away from City and Pima County buildings for the homeless protesters who had populated the downtown are with pods over the past several weeks. The “pod” people were occupying areas in and around Viente de Agosto Park in protest.
The park is in the heart of the government complexes on the west end of downtown. Most of the privately owned businesses are on the east end of downtown.
Many are concerned that the City will simply shift the protestors to other parts of the metropolitan area where neighbors will not have the clout to secure the same protections from law enforcement that the business owners and government employees had.
Councilman Steve Kozachik has been particularly vocal in his demands that the homeless must be removed and a urban-camping ordinance be put in place. Kozachik wants to criminalize their protest, but wants to ensure that any ordinance they create does not criminalize homelessness.
Kozachik angered the police during the Study Session, when he said that he didn’t want Police Officers to “roust” the homeless from the parks “with their billy clubs,” according to the Tucson Police union (TPOA). “The reaction inside the Council chamber was immediate, and it was clear to everyone present that Steve’s comment was inappropriate and offensive. Chief Villasenor, who was present at the meeting, immediately reacted and let Steve know his comment was unacceptable, claimed the TPOA in a “message to the Tucson community” posted on its Facebook page.
The TPOA is demanding that “…Kozachik to publicly apologize to the Chief of Police, and to the men and women who have dedicated their lives to keeping our community safe.”
City Manager Martha Durkin advised the Council, “While we are doing all we can to maintain safety and sanitary conditions during the protest, it is clear that we need to work on both a short-term and long-term solution.”
As the 5th poorest metropolitan area in the country, Tucson’s homeless population has grown and is expected to continue its growth. While it has little over 3,000 homeless shelter beds, it does not have shelters for couples, pet owners, and those with addictions.