On Tuesday, Republicans on Fort Wayne’s City Council voted against the funding package for the Anchor Resource Center proposed for 333 E. Washington Boulevard.
The vote came weeks after they outlined a series of steps they wanted Mayor Sharon Tucker to take before they would approve what Council President Marty Bender called “the little project.”
Before the vote, the mayor described the ways she felt her administration met those requirements, including hosting a public hearing and addressing security concerns.
It still wasn’t enough. The proposal failed five to three. After the vote, the packed council chambers exploded in boos at the outcome.
As each Republican member of council explained their "no" votes, the packed council chambers became more restive, shouting them down and booing them.
City officials urged quiet, and threatened to have the noisiest removed.
It wasn't until Mayor Tucker turned from her seat to the crowd and asked them to sit quietly for her, even though they knew how the vote was going to go.
They complied.
After the vote, Mayor Tucker said that she will take a minute to let the vote soak in. She described the constantly "moving goalposts" set up by the council.
“I will go back to the Anchor Resource Center and tell them that the council is not supportive of helping to address homelessness in our community,” she said.
The board will then decide next steps, she said.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, most who spoke expressed outrage and hurt at the vote that had just occurred.
