PHOENIX — Gov. Katie Hobbs has vetoed legislation that would have prohibited citizens from setting up tents or tarps in public areas.
Senate Bill 1024 passed through the Arizona Legislature with little support from Democrats and has expectedly been rejected by the governor.
The legislation would have prevented individuals from erecting makeshift shelters on sidewalks, alleyways, streets, parkways, and other public rights-of-way.
Some Republican lawmakers in support of the bill argued that enabling people to live on the street is "heartless."
"The problem is a lot of these people don't want to get help -- there is a lot of mental health issues, there's drug addiction. But I will tell you that the solution for this is not allowing them to get a tent and put it on the street..." said state Rep. Rachel Jones, R-District 17, on the House floor last week.
The veto comes at a time when the Valley is grappling with a rise in homelessness and the City of Phoenix is being sued for not addressing a large homeless encampment in the downtown area.
Hobbs acknowledged the need to address Arizona's housing crisis but argued that the bill was not the right solution.
"Rather than solving these issues in a meaningful way, this bill only makes them less visible," the governor wrote in her veto letter.
Up to Speed
What is the Valley?:
“The Valley” is what locals call the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. It is considered the largest metropolitan area in the Southwest.
The Valley is made up of various major cities other than Phoenix, including:
- Mesa
- Chandler
- Scottsdale
- Tempe
- Glendale
- Surprise
- Peoria
- Gilbert
- El Mirage
- Avondale
- Litchfield Park
- Goodyear
- Buckeye
Whether a city is in the “East Valley” or “West Valley” depends on where it is in relation to Phoenix.
The cities of the Valley have a combined population of 4,845,832 people, according to the 2020 United States Census. This makes it the 11th largest metropolitan area in the country right behind the Boston and Atlanta areas.
