HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-07-24 Public Comment - B. King - For Tonight (Urban Camping)From:Chuck Winn
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Cc:Bozeman City Commission
Subject:FW: [EXTERNAL]For Tonight
Date:Tuesday, August 6, 2024 3:11:07 PM
From: Benjamin King <bking@bestpracticemedicine.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 6, 2024 2:25 PM
To: Chuck Winn <CWinn@BOZEMAN.NET>
Subject: [EXTERNAL]For Tonight
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Hi Chuck,
I was hoping to attend tonight's meeting regarding the street camping issue, but I may have a
childcare conflict. I left you a message just a moment ago, but I want to also have this written and
raised if there is an opportunity tonight.
August 6, 2024, this morning, we found a long, handwritten, threatening document on our business
door at 601 Haggerty Lane. Bozeman PD identified the author as the occupant of a camper parked
on Haggerty Lane in front of our business for quite some time. The message indicated that the
author thought we had complained about the camper and forced the city to take some action. To
the best of my knowledge, we did not file a complaint about this specific camper. This individual
then broke into our business. Chuck, while I cannot share the details of this, I can share that this
individual is required to alert people he lives near that he is living near them. I bring my kids to my
business with some regularly after school or during the summer; I have employees who are
frequently here very early or very late. Best Practice Medicine has a large number of vehicles and
pieces of equipment in our parking lot.
As a local Paramedic who started a business to solve real problems that affect our community, we
are not an "out of state" corporation or a faceless entity. We are a locally owned organization that
pays our employees well, contributes to causes that matter to us in the community, and pays
enough state taxes to fund several weeks of city payroll. We have a choice where we operate. I am
doing EVERYTHING I can to keep good-paying, local jobs in Bozeman, to wrestle with the cost of
living, housing, and a dozen other challenges facing job creators and the engines of Bozeman's
economy, locally owned businesses.
The housing issue has no clear answer, except it will get worse if locals like me move the limited
number of non-service related jobs from our community to towns and states that make decisions
connected to the reality that a healthy tax revenue stream to state and local governments gives
communities substantially more tools to assist all affected.
I am hopeful a solution is within reach to support everyone involved.
Sincerely,
Ben
--
Ben King, Founder / CEO
406-602-4202 Office
www.bestpracticemedicine.com
Let's meet!
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