On July 1, the Tempe City Council unanimously passed an update to its ordinance requiring permits for the use of public parks — but only after its members sat through six hours of overwhelming opposition voiced during public comment. A total of 77 people spoke out against the change, which many said they fear would infringe upon free speech and target groups that help unhoused people.
They also criticized the city for ramming through the change at breakneck speed, without meaningfully consulting the public. The proposed new ordinance was introduced on June 2 and approved a month later, a rapid process during which the city did not engage residents beyond allowing them to comment during two public meetings.
Last week, though, Tempe Mayor Corey Woods defended to Phoenix New Times both the rushed process and the relative lack of community buy-in. Woods said the council did not meet with anyone “specifically about this ordinance,” which a coalition of groups is now seeking to overturn via voter referendum. Woods said he “met with some of these same community members that are involved in this referendum about various other issues.”…