The Jackson City Council voted 5-2 on Tuesday to advance a controversial Jackson homeless ordinance regulating tents and personal property on public land, delaying a final decision until August.
Stripped of its emergency status, the measure will undergo further review after more than four hours of heated public comment. The proposal addresses growing concerns about a homeless encampment near the Carnegie Library and rising complaints regarding downtown safety and accessibility.
Public Property Regulations and Storage Plans
Under the proposed amendment to Chapter 17 of the city code, unattended or excess personal property in public areas could be removed after notice. Most neighborhoods would require a 24-hour notice, while the downtown development authority district could see a shorter two-hour window. Tents would require permits on public property.
City Manager Jonathan Green noted that the city has already purchased two steel shipping containers to store confiscated property. Located in a downtown parking lot, the containers will be accessible during Department of Public Works hours. Stored items would be cataloged and held for up to 30 days, with no retrieval fees or identification required.
City Attorney Matthew Hagerty emphasized that the public property regulations target conduct rather than the status of being unhoused. “This is not intended to criminalize being unhoused or hit someone with a financial penalty we know they can’t afford,” Hagerty told council. The proposal includes a $50 civil fine, but Hagerty noted citations are optional; police could issue warnings or service referrals instead.
Downtown Safety Concerns Clash with Advocacy
The packed council chamber heard emotional testimony from both sides. Business owners argued that downtown safety has deteriorated, impacting staff and customers. Heather Kingsley, general manager of Oak + Iron, stated her staff has experienced harassment and no longer feels safe from the moment they park.
Greg Walker, a downtown business owner for 25 years, argued that allowing unsafe encampments does not help unhoused residents. “When you have needles on the ground and you’re not enforcing the drug laws, you’re not pushing those people toward the help that they need,” Walker said. Marvin Powell, a downtown resident who uses a walker, described being assaulted near his apartment, thanking Jackson police but urging officials to be more responsive.
Conversely, advocates warned that the ordinance would displace vulnerable people without solving the root causes of homelessness. Nick Cook of the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness argued the measure merely hides the issue. “A tent is not a nuisance. It is a shelter,” Cook said. “A backpack is not excess property. It may contain everything a person owns.”
Army veteran Jordan Moon highlighted the burden of the two-hour notice window for those without transportation. Others, like Ariel Maturine, emphasized the systemic nature of the crisis, citing rising costs and a shortage of affordable housing. Amador Ybarra urged the council to develop policy through a harm-reduction lens, ensuring all stakeholders, including unhoused residents, have a voice.
Several residents also questioned existing resources. Former council member Laura Schlecte urged the city to focus on opening the former T.A. Wilson building as a shelter. Jesse James, a Ward 1 resident and civil rights activist, reminded officials that public spaces must be maintained while protecting the dignity of unhoused residents. “Compassion and accountability are not opposites,” James said. “We can restore public spaces while restoring hope.”
What Happens Next
The Jackson homeless ordinance now heads to a second reading and potential final approval at the council’s Aug. 18 meeting. City staff have been directed to draft amendments addressing the notice period for removing property, civil fines, and protections for essential items. As the city council vote approaches next month, residents and business owners will be watching closely to see how the balance between public property regulations and compassionate outreach ultimately takes shape.
— Noah Williams, local desk, AXO News