TUCSON, Ariz. – On Saturday, March 8, residents of Tucson gathered at the Donna Liggins Center to discuss an important city ordinance. This meeting, part of a series of community dialogues organized by the Tucson Parks and Recreation Department, focused on Ordinance 21-4. This law requires a permit for distributing food in parks to groups larger than ten people.
The discussion aimed to allow community members to share their thoughts about the ordinance. However, many expressed frustration during the event. “I think a lot of us are really worried that the city’s just kind of not going to really listen to the community inputs here,” said Garland Speight, a concerned citizen.
The city maintains that the law is meant to ensure safe food distribution in parks. Mike Edmonds, the Ward 3 Community Liaison, stated, “I like organization, so on the surface, I don’t have a problem with the ordinance. We’re talking about letting us know what is and isn’t going on.”
Despite this, many attendees worry that the ordinance disguises a broader issue. Speight noted, “People say they’re concerned about open-air drug use in the park, but really they just don’t want to see unhoused folks in their parks.”
The feedback gathered during the dialogues will be reported by Tucson Parks and Recreation and discussed in a future city council study session. Edmonds suggested there could be room for changes to the ordinance instead of a complete repeal. “My guess is just, initially, I feel there could be potential modifications,” he said.
However, most residents seemed to prefer eliminating the ordinance altogether. Speight expressed the common sentiment, saying, “I’d like to see the city repeal this ordinance. Reducing barriers to providing help to folks just makes sense.”
Check out this related article: Discover Metro Atlanta’s Must-Visit Spring Events: Food Festivals, Thrilling Boat Rides, and More!
Source linkparks and rec,tucson,food,unhoused,homeless,parks
