On Wednesday, the Phoenix City Council voted 8-1 to bar organizations from providing testing kits, medical treatment and performing needle exchanges in city parks — but not before the meeting got heated and one councilmember chastised residents who opposed it.
Community health advocates, medical officials and state Sens. Lauren Kuby and Analise Ortiz packed the city council chambers to oppose the ordinance, which many public health experts said will make it more difficult to help unhoused residents struggling with addiction and other health issues.
“It is shameful that our answer to an overwhelming need for access to care is to lean forward criminalization and restrictions in our public parks,” said Councilmember Anna Hernandez, who provided the lone vote against the ordinance. “Nothing in this ordinance will make our parks safer.”…