Stop Seattle From Turning Our Parks Into Homeless Encampments

Empathy for the homeless and protecting our parks, sidewalks, and greenbelts do not need to be mutually exclusive. This proposal does nothing to find permanent solutions for the homeless and only puts our public - our children - at risk. We already have issues with needles on playgrounds and this ordinance will only serve to make that problem and other issues with human waste, etc. worse. We must find better, more constructive, long-term solutions to help bring people out of poverty and into permanent housing. This ordinance is not the solution. PLEASE REJECT IT!

The Seattle paper did an effective job of questioning why we are going down this path that Portland has admittedly mistaken. The vote appears to be railroaded for the sake of an agenda and needs to be halted for the sake of our children and budget. By every measure, being too accommodative will draw in people outside of the area. Any immediate success will be overwhelmed by a tidal wave of fresh demand.

Our public parks are meant for people to enjoy the outdoors, not to shelter the homeless.

I live in Highland Park near a wonderful park and dont want the park trashed. It's unsafe to have the homeless living in the parks this will not solve any problems only cause more.

It is not at all obvious that this will increase the quality of life for the homeless. It will decrease the quality of life for the rest of us.

Homelessness needs to be addressed, but this bill is not the best solution. Let's focus on providing services to help those dealing with it. Allowing camping doesn't address the problem.

I have read the text of this bill. I think the bill makes it too easy for homeless people (or others) to camp on public land, and too hard for the city or other authorities to move them to good housing or treatment.

House people. Parks are for children. Or eliminate parks to build housing.

People come to Seattle to be homeless due to our generous and tolerant attitude. Info not feel this is right. It takes from our local population in need and has created an unsafe environment for the rest of us. I work in medicine and have taken care of assault victims from this homeless population. I also feel the legalization of marijuana has also attracted many homeless looking for drugs to populate our once Beautiful city. My children have seen needles, homeless blatantly undressing and relieving themselves on sidewalks in Queen Anne. This is only going to be worse if our public parks, where children go to play.

There are so many things wrong with this proposed ordinance, just a few are public safety; public health; unusable parks; delays and moves for the homeless; homeless being farther away from resources; property damage; decline in property value

I do not support this potential legislation.

NO on Council Bill 118794!!! See D. Westneat's column in yesterday's paper re Portland's experience.

do Not let this pass

I will never vote for a current counsel member or a city parks levy if this is passed.

We must do better for the homeless and our city. NO CAMPING!!

Horrible idea.

Acknowledging a problem with a horrible solution is not a good answer.

This will ruin our city and our neighborhoods!

Enough is enough ...

I am wondering what happened to the vagrancy laws. The city is not upholding its laws.