Flagstaff City Council Chooses to Limit Community Use of Public Square 5/19 : AZ IMC

Flagstaff City Council Chooses to Limit Community Use of Public Square,
Disregards Community Opposition

FLAGSTAFF, AZ -- On Tuesday, May 19th 2009, Flagstaff City Council met to
pass a resolution to further limit community use of Heritage Square. The
resolution was prompted by an incident involving three young people that
were arrested last Tuesday (5/12) for what was called "inappropriate behavior" in Heritage Square. A police officer attacked one individual hitting him twice in the face while a crowd chanted, "Police Brutality!".

More than 40 people including members of Flagstaff Copwatch attended the City Council meeting to denounce the resolution and excessive police force.

The resolution was condemned as being, "far too subjective to be
enforced evenly and fairly." said a parent of one of a youth that had been
targeted by law enforcement officials at the Square.

"It's not certain groups, it's certain behaviors that wont be allowed
there," stated Mayor Sara Presler in response to repeated statements against the resolution.

The resolution will restrict people from skateboarding, bike riding, having
un-permitted amplified sound, using glass containers, smoking, posting
flyers, camping, writing on the square with chalk, begging, and
"loitering" in the public space. It will also require a $5500 - $8500 sign
to be installed listing the restrictions.

Council Member Coral Evans explained that she did not see anything in the resolution that would target youth or particular ethnicities. However, the majority of those in attendance disagreed due to loitering laws and vague rules that have historically been used to target homeless people and so-called undesirable groups. This was demonstrated by the recent police violence in Heritage Square.

A representative of Flagstaff Copwatch read a statement prepared by the
group listing concerns that the resolution (which they labeled as an
ordinance) would be a "further repression of public activity" and be
an "Irresponsible direction of precious community resources".

Flagstaff Copwatch also stated that the incident of police abuse at the
square was not isolated and connected the resolution to a context of rights
abuses in Flagstaff.

"We recognize that this City Council and Mayor have consistently maintained unfavorable policy positions towards Native Americans, LGBT, undocumented, homeless populations and the environment." stated the Copwatch representative, "[These] issues are a few examples of why it would not surprise us if this City Council & Mayor were to do anything but take further actions to restrict the basic rights of people in this community."

Additional members of the community at the meeting exclaimed that his
resolution has been supported and created by downtown business
owners looking to rid the downtown area of youth, homeless, travelers, and other undesirable community members.

The resolution was passed unanimously by the City Council members.

Please see the related links for more information.

05-19-2009: City Council Meeting Agenda Packet
http://www.flagstaff.az.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=1335

-- Three arrests in fracas
http://azdailysun.com/articles/2009/05/14/news/20090514_front_196327.txt

Heritage Square crackdown due
http://azdailysun.com/articles/2009/05/14/news/20090514_front_196297.txt

*FLAGSTAFF COPWATCH SUPPORTS COMMUNITY RIGHTS - OPPOSES HERITAGE SQUARE ORDINANCE*

Flagstaff Copwatch was formed October of 2008 to provide independent
community based accountability for law enforcement within the City of
Flagstaff. We formed to address police misconduct and empower community members to know their rights. In our short time of being an organization here in Flagstaff we have both witnessed and heard of numerous incidents of police misconduct including but not limited to; racial profiling, harassment, brutality and death.

We recognize that Tuesday’s (5/12/2009) incident of Police transgression in Heritage Square is not an isolated incident. Flagstaff CopWatch is deeply
concerned with not only the use of excessive police force, profiling and
discrimination, but also the subsequent ordinance that is being considered
tonight.

We have reviewed the proposed ordinance and oppose it for the following
reasons:

*1. *Furthered Repression of Public Activity.**

This ordinance will provide a new basis to target, harass and limit the
public activity of Flagstaff residents, non-resident homeless, and visitors.
In particular, Sec 6. (v) of Resolution No. 2009-22 prohibits *loitering*
which police officers and businesses may exploit to discriminate against
youth, homeless, and so-called transient people. Compounded with the current “anti-camping” ordinance that has resulted in the further criminalization of the homeless and visitor populations, this ordination will add to the burden that the poor and less fortunate already suffer in this community. With shelter and support services already limited, where are they free to go?

*2. *Irresponsible direction of precious community resources.**

The enforcement of this ordinance will add to city expenses that we view
have already been mismanaged and are burdening to the community. As last
week’s incidence shows, people are being jailed for several days after being
beaten in public, all at the expense of city resources and the public.
Additionally, the new sign is a questionable use of public funds and would
create expenses amounting to $5500-$8500; more than some Flagstaff citizens earned last year. This money would be better spent on feeding, housing, or employing people.

*3. *No Meaningful Public Consultation.**

We are further concerned that minimal public inclusion in the meetings
between City politicians, police officers, and downtown businesses has
occurred. This has generated disproportionate influence that moves City
Council to pass rules about the square rather than protecting its residents
from human right violations.

Finally, we recognize that this City Council and Mayor have consistently
maintained UNfavorable policy positions towards Native Americans, LGBT,
Undocumented, homeless populations and the environment.

The following issues are a few examples of why it would not surprise us if
this City Council & Mayor were to do anything but take further actions to
restrict the basic rights of people in this community:

The contract to sell treated sewage to Arizona Snowbowl for snowmaking
purposes in the precedent setting holy San Francisco Peaks case which
threatens human rights, religious freedom, the environment and public
health.

The lack of political will to protect the LGBT community from further
discrimination by NOT passing the Human Rights Ordinance.

The willful collaboration with federal ICE agents to terrorize the undocumented members of this community.

*We are here to urge you NOT to pass this ORDINANCE which would be one small step towards building and sustaining a more healthy and just community.*

Flagstaff Copwatch can be contacted at flagcopwatch@gmail.com