- A Pueblo City Council member has reintroduced an ordinance to ban sitting or lying down near public rights of way, such as sidewalks and alleys, to improve pedestrian safety. The proposal, which failed in 2022, is back due to a rise in vandalism in the area.
- Some local business owners support the ordinance to reduce crime, but others argue it will harm the homeless community and worsen homelessness issues.
- The ordinance would only be in effect during business hours.
Full Story
A Colorado city council member is proposing an ordinance aimed at improving pedestrian safety in downtown Pueblo, but critics argue it could unfairly target the city’s homeless community as homelessness continues to rise.
Council member Joe Latino is pushing for a ban on sitting or lying down near public rights of way, in places like sidewalks, streets and alleys. This ordinance is a reintroduction of a similar proposal that failed in 2022, but Latino told KRDO, a local news station, that he is bringing it back due to an uptick in vandalism in the area.
Point phone camera here
Increase in vandalism reported
The Pueblo Police Department reported a 13% increase in vandalism in 2025 compared to the same period last year. Some downtown business owners said they support the rules to help curb crime, but worry about who will enforce the ordinance. Others believe the proposal is systemic and will only worsen conditions for people experiencing homelessness in the city.
Exceptions and penalties
The ordinance emphasizes ensuring areas are walkable rather than targeting specific individuals. However, it would make bedding, chairs or stools illegal in these public spaces.
The proposal would only be in effect during business hours to reduce hazards, and improve public safety, with exceptions for people using wheelchairs, children in strollers or those experiencing medical emergencies.
Violations could result in a fine of up to $200, depending on the number of offenses. The Pueblo City Council is expected to vote on the ordinance in March.
[Kalé Carey]
A COLORADO CITY COUNCIL MEMBER IS PROPOSING AN ORDINANCE AIMED AT IMPROVING PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IN DOWNTOWN PUEBLO.
BUT SOME ARGUE IT UNFAIRLY TARGETS THE CITY’S UNHOUSED COMMUNITY AT A TIME WHEN HOMELESSNESS IS ON THE RISE
JOE LATINO WANTS TO BAN SITTING OR LYING DOWN NEAR PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY, INCLUDING AREAS LIKE SIDEWALKS, STREETS AND ALLEYS
THIS IS THE SAME ORDINANCE WHICH FAILED IN 2022, BUT LATINO TOLD KRDO, A LOCAL NEWS STATION, HE’S REINTRODUCING IT BECAUSE OF PUEBLO’S UPTICK IN VANDALISM.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THEY’VE SEEN VANDALISM INCREASE BY 13 PERCENT IN 2025 WHEN COMPARED TO THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR.
WHEN TALKING TO DOWNTOWN PUEBLO BUSINESS OWNERS, OPINIONS ARE MIXED. SOME AGREE THAT RULES ARE NEEDED TO CURB CRIME BUT WORRY ABOUT WHO WILL ENFORCE THE ORDINANCE.
OTHERS SAY THE ISSUE IS SYSTEMIC AND THAT THE PROPOSAL WILL ONLY MAKE LIFE HARDER FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
THE ORDINANCE’S LANGUAGE EMPHASIZES ENSURING AREAS ARE WALKABLE, NOT TARGETING SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS. HOWEVER, IT WOULD MAKE BEDDING, CHAIRS OR STOOLS ILLEGAL IN PUBLIC AREAS.
THE PROPOSAL WOULD ONLY BE IN EFFECT DURING BUSINESS HOURS TO REDUCE HAZARDS AND IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY.
THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS FOR SITUATIONS LIKE PEOPLE USING WHEELCHAIRS, A CHILD IN A STROLLER OR SOMEONE EXPERIENCING A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.
A VIOLATION COULD RESULT IN A FINE UP TO TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS, DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF OFFENSES.
THE PUEBLO CITY COUNCIL IS EXPECTED TO VOTE ON THE ORDINANCE IN MARCH.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M KALÉ CAREY.
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