Speakers urge council to guard city revenue and protect people experiencing homelessness

Two members of the public addressed council during the public comment period, urging action on separate but civic issues.

Sam Davis (400 East Washington Street) praised city project lists but warned that language in Greenville County’s ordinance governing a county penny could deny municipalities a prorated share of taxable sales if both city and county pennies pass. "It could effectively become a tax on city residents that subsidizes all the unincorporated areas," Davis said, and he asked council to contact county council to seek removal of that language at third reading.

Bruce Wilson (14 Freestone Street) urged council to consider collateral effects when ordinances criminalize homelessness. He said some local public defender intake practices require people who are homeless to prove their status before assigning counsel, which he described as creating barriers to constitutionally guaranteed representation. Wilson said he plans to raise these concerns with the legislative delegation and the county.

Councilors asked clarifying questions about county council rules and whether changes could be made at later readings; no definitive legal determination was provided at the meeting. Council did not take formal action on either public comment during the session.