Nuisance Gatherings Ordinance

Delivered a wide-ranging statement on illegal immigration and urged the council not to vote on the nuisance ordinance.

Said the ordinance unfairly targets law-abiding young people and that existing laws already cover the problem behavior.

Organizer of Fight for Democracy Mid-Michigan warned the ordinance's open-ended wording threatens constitutionally protected protests.

UAW Local 668 president said the ordinance is too broad and would open doors to rights violations; the focus should be jobs and youth programming.

Said the promised constitutional-safeguard language isn't in the ordinance and that the ACLU of Michigan has now flagged it as too broad and vague.

Listed five existing city ordinances covering the same conduct and said Saginaw has a poverty problem, not a violence problem.

Described being threatened at a protest by an armed man whom police declined to act against, and said she fears the ordinance would be enforced against protesters instead.

An organizer of 300 events a year in the city urged a no vote and described the armed confrontation at the Court and Michigan protest corner.

Speaking for Saginaw CAB, argued the ordinance lacks due process, is unconstitutionally vague, imposes collective punishment, and duplicates existing law.

A regular protester who asked the council to reconsider, citing the ACLU letter and an armed man who frightened women protesters without police consequence.

UAW Local 668 CAP chair asked whether the 2019 strike picket or a United Way food distribution line could violate the ordinance, and warned against painting with a broad brush.

Said police-community relations are already strained and recounted the armed man incident at the protest corner, urging third spaces for youth instead.

A law enforcement family member who worked both sides of the issue, she concluded the ordinance needs revisiting to avoid duplicating existing law.

In her fourth appearance, she asked what the ordinance adds beyond existing law and urged the council to send it back with the community at the table.