Stop Seattle From Turning Our Parks Into Homeless Encampments

Laws governing recall in Washington https://ballotpedia.org/Laws_governing_recall_in_Washington

This is unsafe and unsavory situation for the public, especially kids playing in areas that could have human waste and used needles. For the love of God, most of these parks don't allow dogs even!

Don't we teach our children that after burning a finger on a hot stove never to touch it again? Aren't the members of the City Council adult enough to have leaned the lesson from Portland that open camping for homeless people is a hot stove never to be touched again? Portland's plan was a disaster, according to the mayor, and the Seattle Council should see it as a lesson of what NOT to do and search for another alternative. A certain amount of homelessness will always be a part of our community. To think otherwise is to be naive. And yet to turn the city parks over to the homeless and to think that the camping will contain itself to the designated area is equally naive. Surely, the homeless need some help (those who want and will accept that help) but this city wide camping idea is not the way to provide that help.

This does nothing for the homeless. They should have a roof and services like in Solid Ground housing at Magnuson. It shows lack of respect for our urban habitat. How much will it cost?

This is a bad idea for so many reasons. In a city as rich as Seattle no one should be sleeping outside in a park in dangerous, unsanitary, conditions. The City Council should be finding money to support mental health services, addiction treatment, and low-income housing. Not making it "acceptable" for folks to camp on public land that everyone has a right to enjoy safely.

We don't pay taxes for the parks to home mentally ill, homeless, the addicted, or those living out willingly.

Seattle Resident and Voter

I am a Ballard resident and business owner.

My young children enjoy our neighborhood park (woodland park) every single day. My husband and I value the ability to have our girls outdoors and playing freely in an urban area. This year our four year old found three needles in one day, unfortunately. It saddens us that we have to teach them not to touch anything foreign that they find rather than freely play and explore. I am against this proposal because it would significantly hangs our ability to bring our daughters to play in these parks. I know this will affect many young families living in urban areas and using our vibrant park system. I have compassion for this issue and the people who need a place to camp but our public park system, under these proposed rules is not the right way to solve this issue.

Bad idea. Recall Mike O'brien. He sent me an email earlier this year, Feb 12, 2016, to refute my concerns about issues of the lack of policing when it comes to tweakers committing property crimes and drug crimes, saying " Today, the Human Services and Public Health Committee met to discuss the spending and implementation plan for $2.3 million in funds, allocated by Council in November, to address the state of emergency on homelessness." So this is what they came up with using our tax dollars?

no thank you.

It is important that we as a society strive to address the issues that we and our members face, including homelessness, drug addiction and mental illness. This is not a solution to address causes of issues. By approving the use of these areas as homeless encampments, the majority of citizens will no long use these areas as originally envisioned due to safety, health and environmental issues that will be created. We need to fully understand the advantages and disadvantages that will be created for all members of our society and make a reasonable decision accounting for costs and rewards.

The taxpayers have paid for care for the homeless. They have also paid to care for the parks. This would miserably neglect both the homeless and the parks!

It's NOT SAFE for families to visit when homeless reside in the parks and other public spaces!

This is insanity. Take a look at Portland and see how well that worked. This is not an answer and is dangerous. Protect our parks and frankly our sidewalks

Bill 118794 is a plan that was tried and failed in Portland earlier this year. It would do nothing to help homelessness in Seattle and create more barriers to helping the homeless.

Please do what's right and keep/make our parks safe for our children. My two year old puts everything in his mouth - and that could include needles or garbage left from homeless camps. Let's help the homeless with solutions that will work.

I am opposed to the Council Bill 118794 as it does not address the underlying issues of homelessness, is contrary to the Mission of Seattle Parks and Recreation, and has a high likelihood of displacing both wildlife and humans from public parks. This proposal is short-sighted and I believe public parks are inappropriate locations for homeless encampments.

This is faulty legislation with enormous unintended consequences.

It is not safe for our families to use parks where homeless people reside!