FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 5, 2023
Hobbs' Irresponsible Veto of Bill to Address Homeless Encampments
Advances Chaos, Not Sanity
PHOENIX, ARIZONA— The homeless crisis plaguing communities across Arizona is not only a public health issue for these individuals living on the streets, but it also creates safety concerns for our citizens while deterring business and economic opportunities for our state. In response to the lack of action from local government, Senator Justine Wadsack sponsored SB 1413 (homeless encampment; removal) as a commonsense tool to address this problem. However, the Governor recklessly vetoed the bill today.
If a citizen reports a homeless encampment, SB 1413 would have required counties, cities and towns to provide the owner of that campsite with a 24-hour removal notice. After that time, the county, city or town would have been required to retain the property for 14 days so that the owner may have an opportunity to retrieve it. Any unclaimed property after that period would have been disposed of. Counties and municipalities would have then been required to clean the area.
"The City of Phoenix and the City of Tucson are two prime examples of local governments long ignoring a public safety issue that is now spiraling out of control. Murders, drug abuse, sexual assaults, human feces, fires, hypodermic needles and piles of trash are just some of the issues plaguing homeless encampments and spilling into areas where families, children and small businesses inhabit," said Senator Wadsack. "This bill was to serve as a tool for municipalities to use in an effort to get these individuals off the streets and into services connecting them to shelter, sanitation facilities, health care and meals. Various outreach groups, like Gospel Rescue Mission, have availability right now to serve these individuals and get them back on their feet. If Governor Hobbs' goal is to turn Arizona into California, her veto of this bill will surely contribute to our state's demise. In no time, our cities will resemble that of San Francisco, with major corporations withdrawing operations and lawlessness filling our streets. This is unacceptable governance from Hobbs and only advances chaos, not sanity, within our state."
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For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus
kquintero@azleg.gov