HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-01-25 Public Comment - S. Beer - Support Right to CounselFrom:Eva Killenberg
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Support Right to Counsel
Date:Wednesday, March 26, 2025 11:18:16 AM
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Dear Bozeman City Commission,
My name is Shianne Beer and I moved to Bozeman a couple years ago. I live at
Saddleview Apartments at 700 Haggerty Lane.
I believe right to counsel is a basic civil right. I was very surprised when I learned this does
not already exist. I am a law abiding citizen and I do not have experience with the law. I
didn’t imagine that the legal services provided to criminals in civil court do not also apply to
tenants. If tenants who are not doing anything wrong are still falling victim to unfair
evictions, then the mechanisms and systems we have in place are not strong enough. Both
landlords and tenants alike should be accountable to hold up their end of the bargain.
The homeless population in Bozeman is increasingly unpopular and unwelcome. Ensuring
people are not evicted into homelessness is a critical piece in how to address and prevent
homelessness in Bozeman.
I have not experienced eviction, but to experience one here would be difficult. Since I
moved to Bozeman, I have been working at a job that takes up most of time, and do not
have a strong social network here. If I also don’t have a system to fall back on to protect my
rights, I would need to leave Bozeman.
For me, access to secure housing gives me energy to not just focus on living day to day. It
allows me to do things like read a book, read the news, spend time with friends, take dance
classes. I want to be able to take my mind off of the daily necessities of life and be able to
enjoy the things that make life worth living.
This is a simple step to ensure everyone in the community is treated fairly. Fairness and
equal representation should be valued in Bozeman and everywhere.
Shianne Beer
700 Haggarty Lane Unit 201