Political pressure still works in Tempe, it seems.

Two months ago, the Tempe City Council unanimously passed a controversial new city parks ordinance in the face of vociferous opposition, with community groups decrying the ordinance as an attempt to crack down on mutual aid groups that help unhoused people in city parks. The vote sparked a referendum campaign to repeal the new ordinance, which gathered nearly 4,000 signatures to put the measure on the ballot for the city’s March elections.

The city council was set to hold a ceremonial vote to approve the ballot measure. Instead, in a virtual meeting on Tuesday, the council admitted defeat, voting to repeal the new ordinance before it ever took effect. The vote was again unanimous, though Councilmember Randy Keating was absent.

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