Stop Seattle From Turning Our Parks Into Homeless Encampments

Don't pass this law!!!

camping in the city on public property should be banned and stopped immediately.

This is a terrible idea - parks need to be for families and the people - not to be used for crime infested alternatives

This is a safety issue, a health issue, and does NOT solve the problem!

As a longtime Seattle resident and frequent user of our parks and outdoor spaces, I'm very dismayed by the City Council's proposal to allow camping in city parks and public spaces. We all have a right to safe, clean spaces to recreate and gather. City-sanctioned homeless encampments will threaten the environment and the safety and health of those who come to enjoy the beauty of the parks. By sanctioning homeless encampments, you are undermining the primary purpose of parks: beautiful outdoor spaces for all to enjoy. Allowing camping by homeless people--some of whom suffer from severe drug addiction and/or mental health issues--to occupy the parks and create the inevitable litter, used hypodermic needles, and human waste would be an extreme disservice to the community. The conditions of living in such encampments was detailed by the Seattle Times series on the "Jungle" homeless encampment (entitled "Inside the Grim World of the Jungle: The Caves, sleeping in shifts and eyeball-eating rats," June 17, 2016). Such encampments are neither safe for the campers nor the people who frequent parks. Moreover, city parks are closed at night, which helps to reduce crime and safety problems in these public spaces. Opening them up at night to campers will make them less safe and put an undue burden on the already overburdened police department. By sanctioning these encampments on public property, the city is also opening itself up to liability for any crime committed by a camper against another camper or member of the public, as well as to health hazards created by the encampments (e.g., a child being pricked by a discarded needle). This wrongheaded approach has been tried --and failed-- in Portland. (http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/now-seattle-wants-to-copy-portlands-disastrous-camping-plan/). Let's not repeat their mistake. Sadly, this proposal will make Seattle's parks less safe and family friendly, and do a disservice to those homeless people who

no way should our parks for family use be exposed to our children with the homeless. it isn't wise nor safe.

This is not any kind of solution.

The homeless have a special place in my heart and I would love for them to get the help they need. However, encouraging them to camp in our parks is not the solution! There are already needles and trash in parks and sidewalks...there will be more fecal and hazardous materials in our parks, where our children play. Our beautiful city will look like an encampment! Please take the time to research and plan more carefully. Please provide the help these homeless need such as by connecting them to transitional housing, funding more shelters, providing job training, access to mental health, etc. But please do not try tp help by taking away the safety and cleanliness of our parks at the expense of the rest of us, taxpayers. Thank you

I do not support this initiative. Council member who vote for this, be warned, tax payers will not be voting for you again.

Parks are for adults and kids to play at, not live in.

The proposed legislation is irresponsible, will result in trashed parks that we all have a right to use and use safely. It will not connect homeless individuals with the services they need.

Our parks need to be safe for our children and animals. I find it truly disappointing that the City Council is supporting this.

As a Seattle resident and taxpayer for 40 years I am so dismayed with our mayor and city council. They are letting the "homeless" take over this city and draining law abiding citizens of hard earned money to support these individuals. I have been accosted on the street, in two stores and had my car broken into- all in the last 6 months! Enough is enough. Our parks we pay taxes for were never intended for the purpose of homeless camping. The city fines a pet owner for feces but these people can do it with no ramifications. Learn from Portland before it is too late.

This is not the answer! Portland tried this already and it was a disaster! Please stop this- the homeless need services and homes- not a place to camp!

Try this try that...no thought what so ever on how things will or can turn out. Get rid of the Mayor's Council and the Mayor as soon as possible. Vote these spending other people's money clowns out of office!

Please do the right thing and protect our parks and children. Don't take away the peace of mind we have now and our safety. All it takes is one needle stick to infect a child with HIV, hepatitis B or C. This is not the solution and potentially spiral out of control. Enough is enough!

City Council and Mayor, NO homeless encampments in our parks, sidewalks and greenbelts.

The plan is NOT a solution for the homeless, and make our city less safe for all residence. I will also work to defeat anyone who supports it

Listen to council man Burgess! He is the responsible, reasonable person in this city council!

Heard it on Kiro Radio, we have to take our CITY back