Pueblo brings order to the “Jungle” – Carswellfamilyfoundation

PUEBLO, Colo. (KKTV) – A major cleanup project took place in Pueblo on Tuesday as the city cleaned up an area widely known as an eyesore. City officials have cleared an area near Benedict Park known as “The Jungle.”

Back in May, Channel 11 News interviewed Pueblo Mayor Heather Graham as part of her 100 days in office. In an interview, she mentions that “Jungle” is a project that she has been wanting to do for a long time.

On Tuesday, trucks were hauling away trash and dumpsters were filled to the brim. The city also evicted people living in the area illegally.

When we spoke with Mayor Graham, she said she wanted an innovative way for neighborhoods like this where people experiencing homelessness have access to important resources, saying, “I also want to put in place some sort of hotline.” for the homeless. , which will be able to travel with nonprofits throughout the community where people who are homeless can get in a car, meet with nonprofits, and get the resources they need.”

Not everyone was happy with the decision to clear the site, but Pueblo United non-profit co-founder Kevin Howard said in a statement: “My view of this is inhumane. This is a violation of their rights… On September 3, 2024 and October 29, 2024, Mayor Heather Graham and Pueblo City Council officials forcibly removed homeless people from private property along Fountain Creek and Jungle in what many lawyers and advocates say violated several key rights… By bypassing legal procedures, the city has ignored these fundamental rights that Pueblo United continues to challenge while advocating for the humane and legal treatment of homeless people in your community… They have rights… It’s wrong to break the law, but rights are rights “

The mayor’s office also released a statement saying, “The City of Pueblo is committed to ongoing efforts to clean up our community, which includes a plan to clean up the area known to many as ‘the jungle’ near Benedict Park. The jungle is on private property and the city is working directly with the property owner to remove trespassers.

Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated the site as a Smelter Superfund site and poses a significant health risk to anyone camping on the site due to lead and arsenic contamination, so the City worked directly with the EPA environment to ensure safety measures are in place and proper protocol is followed. The City of Pueblo is collaborating with various departments, including law enforcement, the municipal court’s public works program, public works, the Pueblo Police Department, Pueblo Parks and Recreation, and the Union Pacific Railroad as railroad property is included in the cleanup.”