The budget passed and the harmful proviso was defeated. I am incredibly relieved that our city chose a path that prioritizes both safety and real support for our most vulnerable neighbors. We must remain watchful to ensure this funding leads to the permanent changes we need.
December 18, 2017
Final supporters
We, the undersigned who live and/or work in the City of Seattle, petition the Seattle City Council to pass the portions of the budget proposed by Mayor Burgess, as follows:
1. Include Mayor Burgess' proposed funding to enable the City to continue to clean-up dangerous and illegal encampments - encampments are an illegal and unauthorized land use that pose a public health hazard, degrade the environment, and most importantly, are exceptionally unsafe, unhealthy places for vulnerable populations to live;
2. Pass the budget as proposed by Mayor Burgess that will allow the City to continue to provide services to people experiencing homelessness;
3. Pass a budget that includes funding to build more permanent housing and improve our shelter system as recommended by the Pathways Home plan; and
4. Strike down the “proviso” as proposed by Council Member Kshama Sawant that would prevent the City of Seattle from spending money, staff time or other resources to remove unauthorized encampments in most public spaces.
Protect people.
Protect the environment.
Restore public safety and health.
Below is the full body of the current draft proviso from Council Member Sawant, provided by CM Mike O'Brien's office, which will prevent unauthorized encampments from being removed from "inactive" parts of parks where plants, trees and shrubs grow or an activity is not currently taking place as well as parking strips, trailside greenspaces, hillsides, ravines, bridge underpasses to name a few. This proviso, if passed will legalize and normalize tent camping throughout every neighborhood in Seattle with only a few exceptions, such as schools. The City will be left with no funding or authority to remove them, and in fact, will be banned from doing so. Don't we all deserve better?
From: "Rawlins, Jesse" <[email protected]>
Date: Thursday, October 19, 2017 at 1:51 PM
To: "
Subject: RE: budget language re: "sweeps" funding
Hello – please find the current drafted language for the proviso that you have requested:
This budget proposal would place a proviso on inhabited unsanctioned homeless encampment removals while located on public property except when the inhabited unsanctioned homeless encampment is located inside school property, active right of ways including sidewalks, and activated spaces of parks. Nothing in this proviso would prevent spending towards inhabited unsanctioned homeless encampment removals while physically located on school property, active right of ways including sidewalks, activated spaces of parks, and private property.
For the purposes of this proviso, “removal of inhabited unsanctioned homeless encampments” means removing inhabitants and/or personal belongings, or providing administrative, security, or contracting support to those removals. Nothing in this proviso prevents funding from being spent on sanitation, law enforcement unrelated to residence in an unauthorized encampment, trash removal, counseling, outreach to mitigate any unsafe or hazardous locations, and other homeless services at those unauthorized encampments.
Thank you,
Jesse Rawlins, MSW
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Legislative Aide to Councilmember Mike O’Brien
Updates
Reached 2,500 supporters
October 24, 2017
Reached 1,000 supporters
October 22, 2017
October 22, 2017
Seeing one hundred people sign this in such a short time truly validates my fears about the danger these encampments pose to all of us. I started this because I am tired of seeing our public spaces destroyed and our neighbors living in such desperate conditions. Thank you for helping me bring this urgent issue into the light.
October 21, 2017
I have been hearing from so many of you who are tired of seeing our public spaces become sites of such extreme neglect and danger. These stories from around our parks keep me focused on why we must push the Council to fund real solutions instead of stalling progress. People deserve better than the current status quo that leaves everyone less safe.
Reached 100 supporters
October 20, 2017
1,116 Comments
Camping in green spaces takes the parks from the citizens for the short term space needs of the few. The unsafe environment is extended to all. This is not a solution. The homeless and the residents deserve better than this from our council.
Please don't let this happen. I don't believe our parks were designed and planned for this type of use. This will cause unnecessary strain on our parks system and it's employees as well, not to mention the increased cost of upkeep that will result.
City Council PLEASE consider the known child trafficking that takes place in some of these encampments. Do NOT remove funding to help move the residents towards services. Protect the MOST vulnerable who are victimized through these encampments.
Green belt camping is not the solution to help homeless, it will only isolate the people that need services the most. It would be the nail in the coffin for green belts and parks that are designed for recreational enjoyment NOT for housing.
I am signing this petition provisionally. I oppose illegal and unsafe encampments, AND I oppose strong-armed police tactics. We MUST quickly go to a "housing first" model while providing compassionate social services for our vulnerable homeless citizens.
Big shaq hold tight assnee my brother he's got a pumpy big ting
Maybe free euthanasia would help
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
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The budget passed and the harmful proviso was defeated. I am incredibly relieved that our city chose a path that prioritizes both safety and real support for our most vulnerable neighbors. We must remain watchful to ensure this funding leads to the permanent changes we need.
December 18, 2017
Final supporters
We, the undersigned who live and/or work in the City of Seattle, petition the Seattle City Council to pass the portions of the budget proposed by Mayor Burgess, as follows:
1. Include Mayor Burgess' proposed funding to enable the City to continue to clean-up dangerous and illegal encampments - encampments are an illegal and unauthorized land use that pose a public health hazard, degrade the environment, and most importantly, are exceptionally unsafe, unhealthy places for vulnerable populations to live;
2. Pass the budget as proposed by Mayor Burgess that will allow the City to continue to provide services to people experiencing homelessness;
3. Pass a budget that includes funding to build more permanent housing and improve our shelter system as recommended by the Pathways Home plan; and
4. Strike down the “proviso” as proposed by Council Member Kshama Sawant that would prevent the City of Seattle from spending money, staff time or other resources to remove unauthorized encampments in most public spaces.
Protect people.
Protect the environment.
Restore public safety and health.
Below is the full body of the current draft proviso from Council Member Sawant, provided by CM Mike O'Brien's office, which will prevent unauthorized encampments from being removed from "inactive" parts of parks where plants, trees and shrubs grow or an activity is not currently taking place as well as parking strips, trailside greenspaces, hillsides, ravines, bridge underpasses to name a few. This proviso, if passed will legalize and normalize tent camping throughout every neighborhood in Seattle with only a few exceptions, such as schools. The City will be left with no funding or authority to remove them, and in fact, will be banned from doing so. Don't we all deserve better?
From: "Rawlins, Jesse" <[email protected]>
Date: Thursday, October 19, 2017 at 1:51 PM
To: "
Subject: RE: budget language re: "sweeps" funding
Hello – please find the current drafted language for the proviso that you have requested:
This budget proposal would place a proviso on inhabited unsanctioned homeless encampment removals while located on public property except when the inhabited unsanctioned homeless encampment is located inside school property, active right of ways including sidewalks, and activated spaces of parks. Nothing in this proviso would prevent spending towards inhabited unsanctioned homeless encampment removals while physically located on school property, active right of ways including sidewalks, activated spaces of parks, and private property.
For the purposes of this proviso, “removal of inhabited unsanctioned homeless encampments” means removing inhabitants and/or personal belongings, or providing administrative, security, or contracting support to those removals. Nothing in this proviso prevents funding from being spent on sanitation, law enforcement unrelated to residence in an unauthorized encampment, trash removal, counseling, outreach to mitigate any unsafe or hazardous locations, and other homeless services at those unauthorized encampments.
Thank you,
Jesse Rawlins, MSW
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Legislative Aide to Councilmember Mike O’Brien
Updates
Reached 2,500 supporters
October 24, 2017
Reached 1,000 supporters
October 22, 2017
October 22, 2017
Seeing one hundred people sign this in such a short time truly validates my fears about the danger these encampments pose to all of us. I started this because I am tired of seeing our public spaces destroyed and our neighbors living in such desperate conditions. Thank you for helping me bring this urgent issue into the light.
October 21, 2017
I have been hearing from so many of you who are tired of seeing our public spaces become sites of such extreme neglect and danger. These stories from around our parks keep me focused on why we must push the Council to fund real solutions instead of stalling progress. People deserve better than the current status quo that leaves everyone less safe.
Reached 100 supporters
October 20, 2017
1,116 Comments
Seattle needs to continue to effectively deal with its homeless population. Living in tents under bridges/in public parks is an approach we should be ashamed of . Let's take pride in our city and it's services. Band-aid solutions are just that.
Camping in green spaces takes the parks from the citizens for the short term space needs of the few. The unsafe environment is extended to all. This is not a solution. The homeless and the residents deserve better than this from our council.
Please don't let this happen. I don't believe our parks were designed and planned for this type of use. This will cause unnecessary strain on our parks system and it's employees as well, not to mention the increased cost of upkeep that will result.
City Council PLEASE consider the known child trafficking that takes place in some of these encampments. Do NOT remove funding to help move the residents towards services. Protect the MOST vulnerable who are victimized through these encampments.
Green belt camping is not the solution to help homeless, it will only isolate the people that need services the most. It would be the nail in the coffin for green belts and parks that are designed for recreational enjoyment NOT for housing.
I am signing this petition provisionally. I oppose illegal and unsafe encampments, AND I oppose strong-armed police tactics. We MUST quickly go to a "housing first" model while providing compassionate social services for our vulnerable homeless citizens.
Big shaq hold tight assnee my brother he's got a pumpy big ting
Maybe free euthanasia would help
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Seattle needs to continue to effectively deal with its homeless population. Living in tents under bridges/in public parks is an approach we should be ashamed of . Let's take pride in our city and it's services. Band-aid solutions are just that.