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Homeowners and business owners sue Phoenix over downtown homeless encampment
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Tom Maxedon/KJZZ
Tents in the downtown Phoenix area known as "the zone" in August 2020.
Late last week, a group of homeowners and business owners in Phoenix filed a lawsuit against the city, specifically related to an encampment of people who are experiencing homelessness.
The 15 plaintiffs have land between Van Buren and Grant and between Seventh and 15th avenues, and the suit says they’re especially concerned about an area known as “the zone” — mainly between Eighth and 13th avenues along Jefferson, Madison and Jackson streets.
In addition, the suit’s language cites a “humanitarian crisis” and problems that include “loitering, disturbing the peace, drunken and disorderly conduct," among other things.
Karl Freund is one of the business owners involved in the suit. The Show spoke with him about the conditions at the encampment and what he views as the city’s lack of policy enforcement.
