HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-01-24 Public Comment - M. Routhier - Comments on urban camping for Oct 2 2024 meetingFrom:Mary Routhier
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Comments on urban camping for Oct 2 2024 meeting
Date:Tuesday, October 1, 2024 8:11:35 AM
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We ask that the city commission rescind the ordinance that allows the camping on public right of ways and return to
the enforcement of city ordinances that prohibit public camping.
We live in Baxters Meadows and are quite familiar with the many issues surrounding the homeless encampments on
Equestrian Veronica Way, Blondie, Kimberwicke and the negative impacts that these encampments have made on
the surrounding neighborhoods. Issues such as sanitation, cleanliness, safety, lawlessness, security and the overall
lack of public order continue to permeate the entire area to the extent that the areas in question have now become a
“no go zone” to many who live and pay taxes in the Baxter Meadows community. The city had previously indicated
that it could not act against these homeless encampments given the ninth Circuit Court ruling that now has been
overturned and rendered moot. The city’s continued lack of action regarding this situation is completely
unacceptable and inappropriate given this recent Supreme Court ruling and any further unwillingness to take action
regarding homeless encampments flys in the face of the Grants Pass case and your oath to enforce public safety.
The tax paying community is entitled to safety and public order, neither of which is safeguarded by the city’s
ordinance that allows (and actually incentivizes) open homeless camping on public right of ways. According to
many public surveys, a significant majority of Bozeman residents do not support the city’s ordinance allowing
camping in public right of ways. As in many cities dealing with the homelessness issue, allowing people to camp on
public right of ways does not solve or address the overarching root cause issues of profound mental health and
substance abuse challenges. Per the survey conducted by the city, over @85% of respondents do not want the urban
camping ordinance to stay.
Given this, we ask the commission to please overturn the present city ordinance and re establish public order in the
City of Bozeman. Public order, safety and sanitation demands that the commission members act in a responsible
manner.
Respectfully,
Paul & Mary Routhier
2486 Arabian Ave.
Bozeman, MT 59718