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Mayor Mike Johnston vetoed the ordinance passed 7-6 on Monday that would have prevented sweeping camps when temperatures fall below 32 degrees.
DENVER — Denver Mayor Mike Johnston on Friday vetoed an ordinance passed by the Denver City Council that would ban sweeps of homeless camps in freezing conditions.
The council narrowly approved the move on Monday in a 7-6 vote that would ban clearing camps in temperatures under 32 degrees.
Johnston said in a letter Friday to the council that the legislation would “restrict the city’s ability to life-saving work four months out of the year.”
The ordinance was intended to keep the city sweeps from disrupting homeless people while they are trying to stay warm in current shelter, such as tents, when temperatures can pose a threat, according to the ordinance’s primary sponsor, at-large Councilwoman Sarah Parady.
“I want to make clear that we have not, nor intend to, do large encumbrance removals when the temperature is 32 degrees or below without housing or shelter options, with the exception of major public health and safety risks,” Johnston said.
Johnston said the legislation:
- Prevents the city’s ability to close encampments and move people into housing,
- Overturns the city-adopted camping ban for up to a third of the year,
- Eliminates the city’s ability to close or move encampments that are in the public right of way,
- Eliminates the city’s ability to prevent encampments near new shelter sites and maintain closures of encampments that have been resolved,
- Restricts the city’s ability to close encampments due to public heath and safety risks.
Johnston thanked the sponsors of the ordinance for open and ongoing engagement about the legislation and their help supporting the design and implementation of a pilot program that would expand the city’s cold weather sheltering system.
“Dialogue and discussion, especially when we disagree, are cornerstones of our commitment and obligation to serve Denver constituents and I appreciate the spirit in which the sponsors have engaged during every step of the process,” Johnston said. “We all share the common goal of protecting our most vulnerable neighbors as we work to end unsheltered homelessness in Denver. Despite this specific disagreement, I know we will continue to work together toward delivering on this shared goal. I look forward to our continued collaboration.”
The Denver City Council said that at the request of he bill’s sponsors, the bill will appear on the council’s meeting agenda on Feb. 12.
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