In a move that has sparked controversy among community members and lawmakers, the Aurora City Council voted Monday to remove a previously mandatory 72-hour notice and the requirement to provide shelter options before clearing homeless encampments. The measure was passed by a vote of 6-3, as reported by Denver7, with opposition from council members Alison Coombs, Ruben Medina, and Crystal Murillo.
The change aims to swiftly address public safety concerns but has instantly become a flashpoint of contention. The original code forbade law enforcement to take action against unauthorized camps without offering shelter and a waiting period for occupants. According to The Denver Gazette, the city previously needed to ensure a shelter option was available and offered to those displaced from camps.
Councilmember Coombs critiqued the ordinance, highlighting the possible repercussions for those affected. "This ends up being punitive," she pointed out. "It will lead to more arrests and people end up losing their possessions if they don't comply," said Coombs, as per Denver7.
Advocates of the ordinance argue that it is necessary to flexibly address certain situations. "Sometimes you may need to, for the sake of safety, clear an encampment faster than normal," Councilmember Steve Sundberg defended the measure, asserting that actions will still be taken with compassion, as obtained by Denver7. Meanwhile, Coombs urged her fellow council members to consider the impact of their decisions on their most vulnerable constituents during an emotional appeal, as noted by KDVR. "If you are going to continue to move along people who are unhoused, at least continue to give them 72-hour notice,” Coombs said. “It is the very, very least that you can do.”
