HomeMy WebLinkAbout4/13/2021 Item 2, Smith
Wilbanks, Megan
From:carolyn smith <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:April 13 Council Meeting - Agenda Item #2
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Mayor Harmon and Council Members,
I support Staff's recommendation for the two ordinances regarding shopping carts and tents. Any
ordinance that is passed, however, needs to be adequately enforced, otherwise it's useless.
Homelessness is a complicated, emotional issue that has no easy solution, that is certain. There are
many facets to this issue, however, public health and safety for all should be a major
concern. Allowing some to set up a tent and camp anywhere they want creates health and safety
issues to not only those camping but to others who utilize the area in which they are camped. Mental
health and drug/alcohol addiction exacerbates the safety issues and everyone's safety should be
considered when creating ordinances toward that effort.
The Parks & Recreation describe parks as follows: "Parks provide excellent locations for recreation
and community enjoyment." There is nothing in this purpose or the P & R Element that allows or
encourages people to live in tents in the park. It seems to me that when those who are supposed
to be served by a park are afraid to utilize the facility because of the tents and the inherent
accompanying health and safety problems, then the current purpose of our parks is moot and needs
to be changed.
I've noted over the years that whenever a new housing project is proposed, one of the requirements
is for project residents to be able to safely access and utilize parks and recreational facilities nearby
(ie., San Luis Ranch). If our parks become tent cities for the homeless, then that will change the
priority the city has made to assure recreational facilities for residents in new residential projects and
will discourage them from using the parks as planned.
I peruse the police log online everyday and have noted many incidents of homeless individuals
brandishing knives and other weapons during a state of mental instability. I used to frequently walk
the trails at Laguna Lake Park, but no longer do so. I've come across homeless individuals with
obvious mental health problems yelling and screaming at me which is very unnerving, not knowing
what the obvious mentally unstable individual might do. I've also smelled the obvious odor of human
feces while passing by an encampment at the park. While a vast majority of the homeless population
are peaceful and not a danger to anyone, there are those who are, and unfortunately, if they are in a
park utilized by others, it becomes a frightening situation, particularly for families with children.
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While there needs to be a balance of protecting the general public without stomping on the rights of
the homeless population, it's a difficult balance when there are mental health and drug addiction
issues involved. However, excluding the general population from utilizing the parks as intended due
to fear for their and their children's safety from those living in tents should not be the priority. There
needs to be creative and long-term solutions to the homeless problems and making public areas
unsafe for the general population should not be one of the solutions.
Thanks for your attention to this public safety issue.
Carolyn Smith
SLO City Resident
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