TEMPE, Ariz. — A new ordinance in Tempe that received heavy criticism from opponents has been axed by the Tempe City Council, which unanimously approved it two months ago.

In July, the council approved an update to an ordinance that tightened the rules on lawful gatherings in city parks. Anyone hosting a gathering of 30 or more people would have needed to apply for a city permit. It led to residents gathering thousands of signatures to force the municipal code to be placed on the ballot in a special election held in November.

Many of them spoke out against the ordinance during Tuesday's virtual City Council meeting. They claimed it would be used to drive out homeless populations at parks and stop planned protests.

“Please stop enforcing and implementing new regulations that basically cr

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