This week, Seattle City Councilmember Tim Burgess (elected at-large) sent out a follow-up e-mail and blog post on an ordinance introduced to the Council (by Councilmember Mike O’Brien, of District #6) that would create a right to camp on public property for indefinite periods of time. Councilmember Burgess opposed the introduction of the legislation, and has asked citizens to engage in discussion about this issue and the proposed new law.
According to Councilmember Burgess, the proposed legislation “will do absolutely nothing to move people from homelessness to safe and appropriate housing. Nothing.” In his blog post (click here to read the full text,) Councilmember Burgess further states, “If this legislation is adopted by the City Council it won’t move one person to housing. It won’t address drug addiction or mental illness for anyone. And it certainly won’t clean up the piles of garbage we see around Seattle left by urban campers. (These piles of garbage are so contaminated and hazardous that we have trouble finding contractors to do the necessary cleanups.)”
Councilmember Burgess encourages citizens to read the proposed new camping legislation carefully (click here to visit the official ordinance website.) It will allow camping on all public property for at least 30-days per location, and restricts removal without 48-hour notice and an alternate camping location. What the Councilmember calls ‘the elephant in the room that’s not being discussed’ is the belief that people should be allowed to camp in tents and vehicles, even when persons have declined services and housing – and are camped in areas unsafe or unsuitable.
“This new legal right to camp in the city cuts across decades of land use policy and zoning requirements designed to minimize use impacts. This new law sweeps those protections away and creates a high impact use…”, the Councilmember wrote.
He does suggest better solutions in his blog, particularly permanent homes for those living unsheltered lives. “This is the complex work we should be focused on, not on a new law that perpetuates homelessness and makes our neighborhoods less safe,” Councilmember Burgess further wrote.
Finally, he urges all citizens to stay engaged and make sure our opinions and needs are heard in regards to this legislation and the whole issue. Councilmember Burgess wrote, “…regardless of your position on this legislation. Your opinion matters.”
Read the Councilman’s blog on his website for more on this topic. For the contact information for all the Seattle City Councilmembers and the Mayor, read the original statement by Councilmember Burgess on Fremocentrist.com news for September 2016.