SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) —The city of Sioux Falls still wants to lease the parking lot next to the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House in central Sioux Falls.
Officials want to build a $70,000 fence on the property to address some of the ongoing behaviors. At the agenda item’s second reading, many people voiced their opinions about building the fence.
During the hour long discussion, police chief Jon Thum reiterated how the central Sioux Falls parking lot has become a problem area.
“The lots of easy access has turned it into a convenient gathering spot where disorderly behavior is pretty prevalent and has turned violent, and other activities are taking place fairly often,” Thum said.
However, when the time came for public input, many people were unhappy with the idea of putting up a $70,000 fence.
“Downtown Sioux Falls has been undergoing a gradual gentrification, and it’s not hard to see why the city would want the unhoused to be relocated elsewhere. This would follow the current trend of addressing symptoms and not fixing the root cause.”
“Eventually you’re going to have to deal with them. This fence, it’s just temporary.”
“We do not expect this to solve the issues that are happening in the area. We have been clear and consistent with our messaging on a holistic approach towards this topic,” Thum said.
“We should be putting our energy into solutions, to taking care of our neighbors and the members of our community, not into building fences that will only displace people and that will not reduce the pain or the suffering or the, it will not reduce the amount of service calls.”
People who live in surrounding neighborhoods also voiced their opinions. Their opinions were mixed.
“You wouldn’t have the fence that’s putting up a barrier against people pushing those people out into the local area, into the homes. We’re already having a problem with the homeless coming into our area.”
“The fence is not about criminalizing homelessness or ignoring those in need. It’s about creating a safer and more secure environment for everyone.”
