10 Dec 29th, 2022–Jan 4th, 2023 phoenixnewtimes.com phoenix new Times | music | cafe | film | culTuRe | NighT+Day | feaTuRe | NeWs | OPiNiON | feeDBacK | cONTeNTs | FULL BAR! 2003 Bills of $35 or more Dine-In or Take Out Not Including Combinations Dinner Only Expires 12/31/22 Closed On Tuesdays $5 OFF 2050 N. Alma School Rd., #36 • 480.857.4188 after allegations that it destroyed the prop- erty of unsheltered people, charges that the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating. In November, the Arizona branch of the American Civil Liberties Union sued over the plans for restarting the sweeps. The plaintiffs in the ongoing case secured an initial victory — a preliminary injunction by a federal judge that blocks the city from seizing property without notification — but did not stop the city from moving forward with its first sweep in the Zone in months on December 16. The dinosaurs frustrated local advo- cates, who saw them as another attempt by property owners to keep unsheltered people away from their property at any cost. The sculptures also blindsided city offi- cials, who said they were aware only of utility construction in the area. The city had cleared the area in early November for the installation of a gas line. But within days, metal sculptures covered the city right of way all along the west side of Ninth Avenue between Jackson and Madison streets. Gregg Bach, a spokesperson for the city’s Street Transportation Department, said that the city’s letter “is the most current information” on the situation. Local Business Owner Paid for a Dino It was not only Maker Kitchens that was responsible for the dinos, New Times has learned. The kitchen company owns property on the southern side of the block where the dinosaurs are located. The northern side is owned by Electric Supply. The latter company’s president, Bill Morlan, had previously told New Times that, “I was not the one who put them up.” But Morlan admitted in a text message to New Times on December 20 that he was, in fact, involved. “I did fund one dinosaur, and it has since been removed,” he wrote. He said he decided to clarify the record to ensure that New Times “was not reporting information that was misleading or incomplete.” Morlan’s dinosaur appears to be the towering brontosaurus, which disappeared in the days after New Times first reported on the dinosaurs. When a reporter visited the area on December 20, Morlan’s bronto- saurus and other metal sculptures that had extended down the northern half of the block had vanished. Morlan said he chose to get involved in the dinosaur plan after the city cleared the block for gas line work. “I felt I could help keep the area safe and clean,” he said. “When I saw on social media that the city felt the statues were not a good idea, I had them taken down.” But Morlan is still opposed to the condi- tions that people face in the area. “I do not believe that having people sleep on a patch of dirt next to a road is compassionate or safe,” he said. “The recent tent fires, over- dose deaths, and car crash in this area make it clear this situation is not good for people living in the streets or the neighborhood.” The metal sculptures adjacent to Maker Kitchens remain in place, including the large triceratops and some non-dinosaur creations, such a series of prickly pear cacti sculptures. For now, at least. | NEWS | Bill Morlan, president of Electric Supply, said he funded this brontosaurus. It’s now been taken down. Katya Schwenk Dino from p 8
