NOTN- The Juneau Assembly proposed updates to the city’s disorderly conduct laws, tightening rules around blocking sidewalks, public disturbances, and behavior in public spaces. However, it is expected that this action will be tabled at tonight’s meeting, possibly indefinitely, after community backlash.
“We’ve heard a lot from the public, not positive things.” Said Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon.
The focus of the new update was to make it easier for the Juneau Police Department to arrest individuals for disruptive actions in public areas.
The ordinance adds language allowing police to intervene when people stand, walk, or camp in places like sidewalks, stairwells, parking lots, and garages.
Organizations like Juneau for Democracy, argued the ordinance would unfairly target people experiencing homelessness and could also infringe on First Amendment rights, since the language does not specifically exempt lawful protests or public gatherings.
The systemic racism Review Committee also had a real problem with this.” Said Mayor Weldon, “as well as some of the members of the assembly, so we decided that that wasn’t right for now.”
Deputy City Manager Robert Barr said the changes would have brought city code in line with state law, removing steps that currently delay enforcement, which lie within officers arresting individuals for trespassing rather than disorderly conduct.
“Our first course of action whenever we’re engaged in that sort of activity with folks who are unhoused, is to try and connect to resources and seek voluntary compliance.” Said Barr, “but sometimes it’s not possible.”