Stop Seattle From Turning Our Parks Into Homeless Encampments

Instead of bringing more people from abroad we should take care of our own first.

Don't do this and ruin our parks!!!!!

Are you crazy???????

I do not believe this is a well thought out idea.

Let's not allow members of the city council to turn Seattle into one big tent city.

Dear Seattle City Council Members, We have a massive homeless problem in the City, and therefor I feel compelled to reach out and let you know that destroying our parks and public space by opening them up to public camping is not the answer. A similar policy failed miserably in Portland, and yet you are trying to copy it. There has been evidence of incredible success in a program created and adopted by the state of Utah - ultimately reducing chronic homelessness by 91%. LA Times Article Story on NPR Washington Post The Daily Show - video story Business Insider Their solution seems relatively simple: provide housing first and support second. Driving home from school last night as my 8 year old son and I crept up the I-5 on ramp from Dearborn, I was able to point out the dozens(!!!) of drug needles on the side of the road. Informing him to never touch them, they are deadly from disease and drugs. They are currently all over our parks now! With this law, not only will you NOT end homelessness in Seattle - you will INCREASE it! The word is already out to come here if you're homeless- there are no consequences and lots of benefits. People will now come from across the country and state to camp anywhere they please. The piles and piles of trash I pass on a daily basis is foul and embarrassing. THIS IS MORE THAN A SEATTLE ISSUE - it's a state issue!! I've also forwarded this conversation to Governor Inslee and Mayor Murray. Use your common sense to realize green space and opting outside is a main attraction for our citizens and families- this is no solution and it compromises our safety!!!! You have had a dedicated task force for over ten years on this problem and it's only gotten so much worse and more dire. Look to what's working elsewhere- not what failed. Look for solutions that work; go attend the Stanford D-School and design-think a homeless-person-centric-solution, for example. Turning public green spaces, parks and parking strips into p

Please do not let homeless encampents overrun out beautiful parks and compromise the safety of our cities children.

ALL humans should sleep indoors, 4 walls and plumbing....period. Seattle is a wealthy city with unused property....be creative....stop talking and provide housing/services.

I live in seattle to frequent the parks - I run along the Burke weekly and already feel unsafe. The other day when running with my daughter homeless men were drinking and fighting. The language was unfit for the ears of any citizen, much less children. I fear for our city if this is enacted. Please come up with a better solution!

This is not a safe alternative. My child will now be at risk. This is not the answer to homelessness.

The Portland experience speaks volumes to this issue!

Not Acceptable considering how much we pay in property taxes.

Please vote them out!!!

No to camping in public parks!

Here's to hoping for common sense all around.

Please keep in mind that some of these homeless people also have mental illnesses that make it extremely dangerous to simply walk around this beautiful city.

Portland already tried this. It failed miserably and they rescinded it. Also, what about the city's duty to protect the several hundred thousand residents who are not camped in a pocket park or play field?

Unimproved areas of parks are just as vital to the community at large as the improved areas. Everyone should feel safe in all parts of our parks. Additionally, this measure ignores the fact that one camper without sanitation facilities can generate a lot of human waste and garbage. At the very least our city should provide enough authorized tent encampments with sanitation and security--not this free for all that isolates the homeless even further from services and a chance for a progression into housing.

Please proteCT our families in the Parks.

There are many time when there have been homeless encampments with drug needles, trash and feces surrounding the area in parks. This is not a safe environment for kids, nor adults. Please find another solution. A similar ordinance was tested in Portland with disastrous results