HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-24-25 Public Comment - K. Urner - 06_24_2025 Written Public CommentFrom:Katherine Urner
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]06/24/2025 Written Public Comment
Date:Tuesday, June 24, 2025 9:13:03 AM
Attachments:06_24_2025 URNER PC.pdf
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Katherine Urner, Resident of Bozeman Public Comment
Good evening Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Commissioners, and City Staff,
My name is Katherine Urner U-R-N-E-R and I am a Bozeman resident. I currently am working
three jobs and still more than half of my income goes towards rent which does not consider the
other bills I have as well. I hope with this UDC rewrite, there will be less people put into this
situation that creates a cycle of tradeoffs.
Considering my own lived experiences, I strongly support pro-housing principles and believe
that it would be a disservice to current and future residents of Bozeman not to incorporate more
purposeful variety and density into the UDC rewrite. I believe these reforms will not only create a
more affordable and livable future for myself and others but also a more inclusive, diverse
community. Everyone is looking to find their place, and the current housing policies only allow
for residents earning well above the mean income to do so easily and meaningfully.
In addition, I also urge you to consider the voices of people who aren’t able to be here tonight,
but are still affected by this rewrite. As a part of Forward Montana, we put on an art show to
cultivate a creative space to talk about what Bozeman housing could look like reimagined,
inviting in people who would not usually engage with this type of work. Now, why did we want
people to turn to more creative outlets to tell these stories instead of writing a report or public
comment? The answer is rooted in how we communicate, who gets heard, and whose ways of
knowing get valued.
There’s a term for something many of us have experienced but may not have named: “worship
of the written word.” It’s the idea that if something isn’t written down properly, formally, and in
academic language that it isn’t valid. That if it’s not cited just right or grammatically polished, it
can’t be legitimate. It shows up when communities are blamed for not responding to memos or
flyers, when people who connect deeply with others aren’t seen as “professional,” and when
storytelling, art, and lived experience are seen as “less than” data or policy briefs. We know
better and are trying to do better. We know that housing injustice isn’t just a policy failure but a
human story. It’s the weight in someone’s chest as they calculate rent each month, the grief of
losing a future they envisioned, the fight to stay rooted in a community. And sometimes the most
honest way to share those truths isn’t with words at all. Art makes space for the knowledge that
lives in our bodies. It honors memory, the wisdom in our hands and hearts. It invites people into
the conversation with color, emotion, and movement. It says: this is real, and you’re part of it.
I submitted a written comment with attached photos of some of the submissions. Artists shared
their stories through their art and put a lot of time and effort into creating their pieces. The main
ideas that were uplifted included housing solutions that foster community, promote sustainable
living, reduce car use, and address affordability.
The submissions uplifted the pro-housing principles in a refreshing way that I thought might be
meaningful for you all to see. With this, I hope you can hear the voices that aren’t present and
spark your imagination of what Bozeman could look like with more affordable housing policies.
Thank you for the opportunity to engage and give public comment. I recognize and truly
appreciate all the effort put into working with the public.