Stop Seattle From Turning Our Parks Into Homeless Encampments

My neighborhood is routinely affected by trespass, theft, intimidation, drug abuse, assaults, threats and shoplifting stemming from residents of an illicit, self-renewing greenbelt camp nearby. City council's proposed public camping ordinance will enshrine their presence by law and degrade neighborhood life further. There is no adequate law enforcement available for the current situation- and the proposal guarantees problems arising from liberalized camping laws will be difficult or impossible to address. -City Council: You have a duty to help improve life for all- including neighborhood residents. This proposal is a failure.

Disastrous bill, disastrous thinking, disastrous politicking

I work in one of the parks in the city and this ordinance would be devastating to the park.

Permitting homeless to park a car, or pitch a tent does not alter the fact that they remain homeless. SOLVE the homeless - don't just move the problem from one location to another. Patricia

I do not think that a tiny minority of individuals should be permitted to sully our precious parks - at the expense of the vast majority. There must be a better solution to the legitimate problem of homelessness.

This is a ridiculous bill! How could the city council even think about this after all the work to get the homeless into homes? Then think about the city parks measure that we voted on a couple of years ago to keep our parks looking good. Vote this down!

Allowing camping in city parks will destroy the precious and limited access residents of Seattle now have to undisturbed natural areas. Also besides disrupting solitude it will despoil the fragile ecosystems of our parks.

I back on Carkeek Park. I also volunteer at the arboretum every week, and I frequently enjoy walking in many of Seattle's beautiful parks. If homeless camps are allowed in these parks it will increase security risks to everyone in the neighborhoods and also become a sanitation and unsightly trash issue. You cannot allow this to happen! This is not a solution, it is only the beginning of huge new problems. If camping is allowed in our parks, you can be sure that large numbers of people will come here from all over, not just Seattle.

Please don't allow this!!! It is a very stupid plan...shame on the city council...except for Tim Burgess!

no one is "entitled" to live in the most expensive places in the country. Move somewhere more affordable. I'm not allowed go build a house at one of our parks (that I actually help pay for), and neither should drifters, drug addicts, and felons be allowed. Provide services for the people who are motivated, provide mental health services for the mentally ill-the rest can move to a more affordable state. You wonder why there are so many homeless here? It's too easy to be homeless here. You risk burning up the good will of functional, employed people who ordinarily do want to help with proposals like this…and certainly risk your spot at the Council table come next election. I will definitely vote for Mr. Burgess, the only one who seems to have any sense.

I support Seattle Businesses through my patronage, parking, rent etc. and Seattle Government with local taxes. At some point it just won't be worth it anymore... I will support a City that is improving..

I'm concerned about the safety for my family of allowing homeless encampments in our parks.

We can do better for both those experiencing homelessness and for our public spaces.

Teach trade jobs, build homes, provide mental health counseling/medications, or any other productive life skills/needs

I am a parent and teacher this is not a solution to chronic homelessness and is a violation of our parks!

Not only is bill 118794 financially untenable for the city and its tax payers, it exacerbates the human rights violations the city of Seattle abuses on the homeless today in the form of perpetuating their situation by studiously avoiding solutions through gifts and handouts instead of rehabilitation and permanent employment leading to self-reliance and sustainability.

Slowing homeless to camp in city parks and right of ways should not be allowed

There is a solution and there should be effort put into finding it, but this is definitely not it!

Ridiculous to let the homeless destroy the parks at the expense of all other citizens.

seems like providing specific areas with services would be more constructive. rather than a free for all aproach.