HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-04-24 Public Comment - L. Ripley - Camping in the Right of WayFrom:Leigh RipleyTo:Bozeman Public CommentSubject:[EXTERNAL]Camping in the Right of Way
Date:Wednesday, October 2, 2024 10:09:36 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear Mayor Cunningham,
I have lived in Bozeman since 1994. I gave birth to and raised three wonderful daughters here. I am not opposed to growth, but I am opposed to the trajectory we seem to be on.
Allowing vehicles and campers to park and live in the right of way on our streets is compromising our neighborhoods and our wonderful city of Bozeman.
The Next Door app post I have included below is a perfect example. I live in Baxter Meadows and I have many neighbors with small children and we are all concerned about thehomeless encampments surrounding our neighborhood.
Once upon a time I would let my kids walk home from CJ, not anymore. I have seen some rather feral behavior on Equestrian and the parallel two streets and it has made me considerpurchasing a weapon, reinforce my windows with bars…I now have an alarm system and outdoor cameras. This is not what Bozeman is.
Furthermore, we are a tourism community and I can’t imagine what people who visit Bozeman think of this new “development.”
Not only are these allowable living accommodations unsightly, they bring a dangerous element into the communities where rightful tax payers hope to live safely. We hope to be able todrive down a two-way road and have it be two lanes. My taxes are paying for their port-a-potties and needle receptacles (saw that on Max Ave.), and the poor people who own theseundeveloped properties cannot sell them due to the new inhabitants.
This has affected homeowners, businesses, land developers and so much more.
I humbly encourage you to enforce laws keeping campers and cars from living overnight and long term on our right of way roads. I understand they need somewhere to go. And manypeople are not the problem I speak of, but what is happening right now is not a viable solution. It is dangerous.
Unless we want to become the next Seattle or Portland, I urge your to make a change for the betterment or our community.
With gratitude and respect, Leigh Ripley
Montana ParentLeigh Ripley ~ Co-owner/Editorleigh@mtparent.com ~ www.mtparent.com