I’ve watched local headlines regarding this come and go over the last few months, during which time 2 feet of snow has fallen, thousands of car accidents have occurred due to snow and ice, we ourselves have been snowed in for a solid week in a nice, warm home with food and power only 60 miles from Pueblo, also known as the “Steel City.”
Then yesterday, I read that the city passed an ordinance imposing a $1000 fine for outdoor camping:
Motion passes: people living in homeless camps in the steel city could face a fine up to $1,000
Pueblo City Council Bans Public Camping: Navigating Homelessness Crisis
"It's not right that they are wanting to impose a camping ban on the houseless community, because the camping ban will not solve the homeless issue," said Breeanna Guerra Rodriguez, a protester outside of city hall.
Once the meeting started, the chambers were packed. Public comment surrounding this ordinance took at least two hours to get through. People were speaking both for and against this ordinance.
krdo.com/...
Of course, on the other end of the hospitality issues Southern Colorado is dealing with, is the growing unease around immigrants finding their way to our very (haha) populated plains and hills. First Douglas County, then Pueblo, now Colorado Springs, all want it on the record that they will NOT be considered a Sanctuary City! Not us! No room for the stranger here! What would Jesus do?
Colorado has been thought of as a sanctuary state, but clearly there are many people very invested in making sure no one thinks this is a safe place to come unless...well. The usual.
{I know there are shelters, but they are often full, and they are not welcoming to Trans folk and often not to GLBTQ folk of any kind, who are the most at risk in these freezing temps. Last winter my daughter took coats and blankets and food each day during a bitterly cold spell, and the police would come and “sweep” the camps, throwing away all their belongings once a week. We can do better. We must do better.}