[MissoulaGov] Committee Update 9-30-09

[Jon Wilkins]

Bob  you don't listen well I did not hear any one say they did not care about the homeless. My comments is that missoula does care we do have many programs for our homeless. I have ben involed many times. Threw scout where we served dinner at the pov. collected socks gloves and gave them out downtown. the ywca works with Homeless word Housing Authority. Churches. Just to name a few. there are many more including downtown Business. Can we do more yes What do you do to help? No sleeping on sidewalk is important for the well being of downtown not only for the businesses also for the people that live there. 12 ft is not going to help if any thing it will make it worse. lets think about Missoula. Iam not a good writer or speller  if you want to know more on this or what ever please feel free to call me Jon Wilkins360-7997
 


From: BJaffe at ci.missoula.mt.us
To: missoulagov at cmslists.com
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:54:11 -0600
Subject: [MissoulaGov] Committee Update 9-30-09





Greetings,
 
In Public Safety this morning we took up the Pedestrian Interference Ordinance.  
http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=2185
The existing ordinance restricts people from blocking the sidewalk.  The amended language we were considering would also make it illegal to sleep or lie down on the sidewalk even if you are not interfering with pedestrians.  I moved to amend the language to say that people could not lie or sleep on the sidewalk within 12 feet of the entrance to a business.  I thought this was a good compromise that addresses the issue of people feeling impeded from entering a business but does not make it illegal for homeless people to exist in public. The room was full of downtown business owners who really want us to pass an ordinance that will make the homeless people disappear. I sympathize with them. Retail is really challenging. There is a lot of competition and little things can win or lose customers. I do my best to support our downtown businesses, both on council and with my wallet. But I’m not going to vote to criminalize homelessness.