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HomeMy WebLinkAbout062121_corr (0002) The original social media post below and the 335 comments responsive to the original post are included here as a formal part of the comments and suggestions incorporated in the above letter. The addressed recipients of the letter are presumed to have read both the letter and the below social media comments. T Tiffany DrewrySouthwest Port Townsend • 5 days ago Proposed homeless encampment at 1172 Cape George Rd/former county horse park property. Dear Cape George neighbors and surrounding property owners. I am writing to inform you of a proposal commisioner Greg Brotherton (currently on the homelessness task force ) has brought forth to relocate the current homeless encampment at the County Fairgrounds to a county property just past mile marker 1 at 1172 Cape George Rd which was formerly the county horsepark property. This property is adjacent to Loftus and Crutcher Rd. As of June 30th the moratorium for eviction expires in Washington state and the Jefferson County Fairground Association will be evicting the current homeless camp from that space. It has been proposed by Brotherton for the county to transport and pay to put in permanent infrastructure to support an encampment of 50 or more people. You can listen and watch the current proposal from yesterday's commisioners meeting ( June 7 2021 ) through Jefferson Counties website. The 1 30 pm briefing discussion " update " regarding Jeffco fairgrounds. If you have opinions on how this will impact your property and our rural peaceful community I urge you to reach out to all 3 commisioners and express your opinions. The county commisioner office phone number is 360 385 9100. Our county commisioners are : Kate Dean - District 1 (the property is located her jurisdiction) KDean@co.jefferson.wa.us Heidi Eisenhower- District heisenhour@co.jefferson.wa.us Greg Brotherton- District 3 GBrotherton@co.jefferson.wa.us Or send an email to all 3 at - JefferBoCC@co.jefferson.wa.us Posted in General to Anyone 3;5 ttom rents M morningstar Garden • Uptown South 6 What are your concerns? Is there any public transportation for folks out that way? 5 days ago 2 L Lisa Stoutmoose Port Townsend Zero.(edited) 5d fit 4 N Norman MacLeod • Larry Scott Trl There is no public transportation along Cape George Road. There is no water, sewer, or electrical infrastructure at the site. Placing the homeless there would be placing them out of reasonable reach of food, healthcare, and other necessary safety-of-life resources. Ideal location for drug transactions, though, since law enforcement is normally only an ephemeral transient presence on the rare occasions when a sheriffs patrol vehicle zips by on the only 50 mph stretch of Cape George Road. The site is basically a gravel pit surrounded by scotch broom. Access to town to get food would be only by shanks mare or bicycle for those homeless who have such. Law enforcement patrol would only be available by an already severely short-handed sheriffs department. There is no water source for fire protection. Cell service in that location is abysmal, so attempts to call 911 on the part of people set down in that location would result in a response only by chance. If the county commission decides they really want to settle the homeless out of sight and out of mind of the urban area, they would be placing the homeless more directly in harm's way than they are already in.(edited) 5d +1 9 K Kate Anstine • San Juan - Discovery Norman MacLeod thank you for your concise rundown on what a terrible choice this property is for these purposes. Has Brotherton lost his mind?And what is up with the waffling by the county and this piece of forestland?After reverting back from being the horse park, it first was going to be multi-use public trails, then they were talking about putting a back entrance to the dump through there. Now a camp to hide the homeless in the woods without running water?What the hell County Commissioners? Does this mean that we aren't buying the 14 acre parcel by the mill? 5 days ago 5 L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend Norman MacLeod Thank you, Norm. 5 days ago L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend Kate Anstine What you said. 8 5 days ago 4110 rt gina mcmather • Southwest Port Townsend Kate Anstine It is now in fact multi-use trails. People with dogs, kids, horses, bicycles, runners, etc. use the trails, especially since the pandemic began. I walk through there daily. See my post farther down. 4da sa•o Cherish Cronmiller • Southwest Port Townsend morningstar Garden Jefferson transit is being coordinated 4 days ago • s 1 M morningstar Garden Uptown South Cherish Cronmiller Not good enough. People need water, showers and toilets. We are still dealing with a serious virus. Why not place 10 or so campers at each of our camp grounds and pay for it with the housing grants? 4 days ago 9 Cherish Cronmiller • Southwest Port Townsend morningstar Garden campgrounds are booked, no one will rent to us. I started looking at campgrounds a year ago, tried to book Pt Hudson, Fort Townsend, Fort Worden, private campgrounds (like Elks)-all to no avail. I have offered $. I have offered a multitude of options. Thus far, this is what the county/city have come up with. I am well aware of what the people need, we all are, but there are literally no choices. We will be keeping shelter open, hopefully with help of volunteers, so people will have a place to shower, do laundry, eat. 4 days ago es • • 5 M morningstar Garden Uptown South Cherish Cronmiller Why would these folks be denied a campsite? If they break the rules fine- kick them out. This is terrible. Can't anyone stake out a space and pay for it? 4 days ago tat Cherish Cronmiller • Southwest Port Townsend morningstar Garden I am telling you, I offered a lot of money. The information that has circulated about fairgrounds residents has been absolutely toxic, and no matter how I have data to disrupt that narrative, agencies do not want the risk. 4 days ago • e as 4 io Tom Christopher Uptown South morningstar Garden With the nearing end of the virus and lessening of(especially outdoors) mask restrictions, there is great interest in getting out and traveling. I'm sure all the nearby sites are booked way way out now. 4 days ago 2 K Kate Anstine San Juan - Discovery Cherish Cronmiller Thanks for your hard work for our community. I hate to think this is the only/ best option the community and local government could come up with.As a person working this problem from the inside, could you share other sites that were rejected? 4 days ago IP 1 D Don Oliveira • Ocean Grove Cherish Cronmiller I think it is homeric that people are volunteering to help, but the city should not be reliant on volunteers to make sure people get basic needs... for better or worse they have entertained these issues with little to no long term solutions. I do not have the answers to this, but relying on the kindness of people's hearts to help is not good governance and they need to find a budgeted solution that provides long term infrastructure to provide support to help transition families into a better quality of life. 4 days ago 3 '0" Christine Rogers • Cape George Colony Cherish Cronmiller Thank you for your work and advocacy. 4 days ago 2 7 Cherish Cronmiller • Southwest Port Townsend Don Oliveira we can't afford to pay monitors, when you use certain money, then you have to "document"-so that means people being entered into HMIS, having ID, being tracked for those that"exit to permanent housing" (that is how you get awarded state$for certain programs. Local money is being split SO many directions- Bayside feeding people, they are also doing transitional housing, and monitoring Peters Village, Dove house, habitat, OlyCAP-dollars are stretched, and the task force likes to see $go to direct support(not operating costs, like staffing, offices, my hours, lol.) 4 days ago qp, M morningstar Garden Uptown South 12 Cherish Cronmiller Thank you for all you do and all the disappointment you endure.Glad you have a dog at the end of the day! 4 days ago 4110 ' 2 L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend Cherish Cronmiller Thank you for your efforts. 4 days ago 111. Add a reply... Jill Allison Uptown South most people will 'NIMBY'-but remember, there but for fortune....We have to find compassion and hope for the best. Public transportation is very important-not many services out that way. Does anyone know if infrastructure will include laundry/shower facilities and food sources? Hard times require open hearts 5 days ago • 40110 13 N Norman MacLeod • Larry Scott Trl Listening to Commissioner Brotherton's proposal on the county website, I learned that there are no portable shower facilities to be had anywhere that the county could lease or buy. He said they would put in Sani cans and hand-washing stations. There's no real access to the possibility of suitable fire flow should there ever be a fire in there. No potable water source or infrastructure, either. Putting homeless people at even greater risk than they already are is the antithesis of compassion.(edited) 5d 400, i s 11 Christine Rogers • Cape George Colony I'm ok with this. I lived near a tiny home village in Seattle with no issues. I found that by treating them with compassion, things remained peaceful. 5 days ago 9 K Kate Anstine San Juan - Discovery This isn't a compassion issue. Or a crime issue. Or a not in my back yard issue. The problem with this suggestion is that it is completely unsuited to this parcel of publicly owned land. 5 days ago 14 13 10 Christine Rogers Cape George Colony Kate Anstine That's what I thought when Seattle was using an old substation, but an infrastructure was put in place. Obviously, services are different here but the reality is the homeless are here. so helping is better than ignoring the situation. But, I also have worked in housing and homeless advocacy for years so I am not afraid of folks in need. My personal experience is all positive and uplifting. 4 days ago s • 1 K Kate Anstine • San Juan - Discovery Christine Rogers I don't appreciate the inference that I (or others who are concerned that putting a temporary camp in a gravel pit without running water) an both ignoring and afraid the homeless population. Big slow clap for you not being "afraid of folks in need"and also big thanks for being condescending. I currently live across the street from a tiny house emergency housing development and have for many years and we get along fine. That is not the issue. In fact I would rather the county build a camp across the street from me than on the proposed site.(edited) 4d 44'' `. s i 5 4 ,,y,„. „..„ ,, A ,1 ,' ,,, Christine Rogers Cape George Colony 15 Wow, you must be quite sensitive! I was speaking of my experience and not yours. I am not sure what caused you to have such a reaction but perhaps I touched a nerve. I am certainly learning that nextdoor is a place for folks to complain rather than grow, so I am also learning from you. 4 days ago 2 K Kate Anstine • San Juan - Discovery Christine Rogers Thanks for the suble dig at the end, quite nice turn of the screw. Its frustrating that you keep turning your posts to emotional responses. You are talking about holding compassion and kindness and stepping forward to help others and being unafraid of those less fortunate. And I agree and feel the same as you. Thus, I don't appreciate your inference that if we disagree with this Brotherton plan we somehow lack the basic human value of"treat thy neighbor as thyself'We all feel the same here for the most part. We want the people at the fairgrounds to be safe. But this isn't about emotion. It's about a politician with his back to the wall choosing what may be the WORST possible site to set up this temporary site. You live in Cape George. I used to, many years ago. Have you ever been to the Horse park, the proposed location for this camp?(edited) 4d • • 5 Shawn Swartwood Four Corners Kate A. If you 2 don't like each others post,just STOP responding to each other! 4 days ago 141. 16 1 Add a reply... Richard Boyd Port Townsend South Sather park would be a better choice, it's 4.86 acres that is used for nothing and there is plenty of public transportation nearby. 5 days ago • M morningstar Garden • Uptown South No thanks on destroying Sather Park-Why not the empty park and ride we already destroyed that green space years ago? 5 days ago 1111, R Rob Bob • West PT-Hastings Richard Boyd It will Never happen, people up there have$$$and will never let it happen.(edited) 5d 17 2 R Rob Bob • West PT-Hastings morningstar Garden I like your suggestion, services are there, it's paved so it would not be a muddy mess in winter.(edited) 5d 2 K Kate Anstine San Juan - Discovery morningstar Garden i was also thinking this week that the park and ride space was the best served and most inexpensive option for homeless semi-communal housing. It makes the best sense. A neighborhood of very tiny homes like the ones being build on San Juan? 5 days ago 410) M morningstar Garden • Uptown South Kate Anstine It is also out in the open so it would discourage some poor behavior-cops and services are close and there are sani cans and a restroom at the park. 5 days ago 18 5 Cherish Cronmiller • Southwest Port Townsend morningstar Garden nope, was suggested and shot down, there are also some zoning and hazard issues 4 days ago 2 M morningstar Garden • Uptown South Cherish Cronmiller It does not seem right that these public entities-city,county and transit authority should be allowed to deny sharing space. I don't understand any of it. Some of our zoning regulations are ridiculous. These unused commercial spaces could be rented to regular families but there they sit. 10 hr ago 2 Add a reply... k4 Linda Burdick • West PT-Hastings 19 Besides food, showers and laundry, social services need to be accessible.And what is the response time for police in that area? Unfortunately homeless and people in transition are targets for predators who prey on their temporary misfortune. They need support, not"out of sight, out of mind." 5 days ago 9 max:, Lauren Wiley Greenland Uptown I think it should be in an area where the walkability is high enough to get to public transportation. Why not procure the buildings on the fairgrounds and create actual boarding houses?They sit empty nearly all year, seems so wasteful 5 days ago 410) '1 2 G Gabriella Ashford • Port Townsend South The fairgrounds are a common resource steeped in traditions, not private housing. We go to fairgrounds all over the country for events. It's a cherished resource in every community in America. 4da sa o morningstar Garden • Uptown South 20 Gabriella Ashford There is no reason we can't tuck a few folks in here and there-except for all the reasons Cherish stated and a lack of care.5 wooden tents that generate revenue would not harm anyone and would be of great service to neighbors in need. 4 days ago 111. Lauren Wiley Greenland • Uptown Gabriella Ashford There is a housing crises, the buildings sit there empty while people live in tents. I think we could house people and have new traditions. 3 days ago • • 2 Add a reply... 1 16 Candace Drollinger • Uptown South The buildings at the fairgrounds is an excellent idea! There is bus service right there. The homeless need public transportation in order to get to the food bank, doctor, and other services located downtown/uptown. Isolating them out in the boonies does them no service whatsoever. 5 days ago 7 21 Jill Allison • Uptown South The buildings at the fairgrounds seem like a good idea. Is there someone who would be willing to suggest this to the county commission? 5 days ago 1 M morningstar Garden • Uptown South I have heard there are to many liability and insurance issues with that. 5 days ago f!" Lauren Wiley Greenland • Uptown morningstar Garden No more than any other housing area. The liability would be to the homeless, as the County can't be liable to themselves. 4 da s a•o Julia Cochrane • Port Townsend South The Fairgrounds Board -the 4HClub Peopleand Little League all say no. There is a contract and the Fair Board has control. They have said no consistently for years. 22 2 da s a•o Julia Cochrane Port Townsend South The Fairgrounds Board-the 4HCIub Peopleand Little League all say no. There is a contract and the Fair Board has control. They have said no consistently for years. 2 days ago Add a reply... D Don Oliveira • Ocean Grove It seems that neither the fairgrounds nor Cape George fills the bill. The Facility needs to be well regulated and those who are living in whatever facility need to have some type of accountability and buy in. Also although the fair grounds is within walking distance the quickest way to up or down down is right through Blue Heron's property/parking lot. What about finally renovating the bathrooms at Kia Ti (sp?) Lagoon, also turning that area into a regulated campground with permanent employee to maintain and manage the facilities. This could also provide a campground within walking distance of the bus transit area...just thoughts. 5 days ago qp • s 9 D Dan Meyerson • 23 Fort Worden Kai Tai is what I've been thinking as well. Easy access to public transportation, walking distance to the hospital, Safeway right there and closer to fire and police. It's not directly adjacent to residential areas. I live within a two minute walk of the fairgrounds camping area. Witness to frequent police, fire and ambulance calls and several distressing direct encounters with some of the people from there. NIMBY aside, the encampment's proximity to Blue Heron School is reason enough for it to be relocated. Well documented mental health issues and drug use (including one overdose fatality). It's in the wrong place and needs to be moved. 4 days ago 4 1 L Laura Reutter • Port Townsend South I believe the lagoon is a protected parkland and cannot be made into a campground. We went through a similar debate when Make Waves wanted to build a huge swimming pool there. It would be a great location for many things due to shopping and bus lines close by. 5 days ago liP M morningstar Garden Uptown South My suggestion was for the empty parking lot that used to be green space not the park itself,or what is left of it rather. 5 days ago Like Reply Share 3 24 K Kate Anstine San Juan - Discovery morningstar Garden i wonder if the parking lot is city, county or jefferson transit owned? Haines street hockey played that parking lot for a season but relocated to the recylcery after the transit officer asked them to leave because of supposed liability issues 5 days ago 2 D Don Oliveira • Ocean Grove Hi Laura, I did not know that it couldn't be made into a campground... good point. Unfortunately there are many people already camping in that area, or using it for what would be considered nefarious purposes... last time I walked through between the homeless tents, bottles and drug paraphernalia it was depressing. Rather see the city take charge of the area and make it a safe place for everyone. 4 days ago 4 L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend morningstar Garden That parking lot would be perfect. Convenient to services unlike the county location off Cape George near the landfill and the gun range where there are no opportunities whatsoever. 25 ._ cZ — i.__7 1 1 i 1 t.:::�F�a:•..r.s-a+r 5�r.- li rt 1 1 C._ap� oo!-g Rci • • 4 days ago 1 1 M morningstar Garden • Uptown South Lisa Stoutmoose We have to put the tourists and realtors first in PT. Been the same story for the last 20 years. TLM 4 days ago 26 01110 L Lisa Stoutmoose Port Townsend morningstar Garden For real. 4 days ago G Gabriella Ashford Port Townsend South It's a tsunami zone 4da sa o Gabriella Ashford Port Townsend South Much like Texans thought it's ok to build on marshlands in hurricane zones, building near Kai Tai Lagoon is not a good idea. 4 days ago 1 M morningstar Garden 27 • Uptown South Gabriella Ashford I wish we had been able to protect that space from that ridiculous over sized parking lot- reserved for guess who?tourists. 4 days ago L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend Gabriella Ashford f 3 + 3 days ago • • 111111 2 M morningstar Garden • Uptown South Lisa Stoutmoose Thanks for sharing these- beautiful 3 days ago 28 1 Add a reply... K Kate Anstine • San Juan - Discovery Besides the lack of services, transportation, accessibility and infrastructure, I must also draw attention to the fact that this forested area is prime bird nesting grounds and a wildlife corridor. It should not be developed. 5 days ago 41, D Doug Lind • Cape George Colony We also already have people coming into our private community and using beaches and wandering about etc although it is posted and private. Just what we need is 50 homeless people with no where to go and no way to get there walking distance from us. As we found out several years ago when there was a small crime wave of break-ins, there is almost no police protection in this area even when the sheriff lived here. 5 days ago 3 M morningstar Garden 29 • Uptown South I wonder who can really get organizing on this? It is so frustrating. Finding out about the park and ride is a good idea. I will reach out to some people I know who are seeking viable solutions. I am actually surprised that council has come up with such a terrible idea. Wooden tents at the park and ride would be good and cops could check in frequently. I wonder if the HSN could be of help here? 5 days ago 41110 ;+ 1 K Kate Anstine • San Juan - Discovery I checked, Jefferson Transit does own the Haines park and ride lot. Leasing the land to the city for housing may not be compatible with their mission statement. I'm curious what other locations were considered by the Housing committee, it's a shame this process hasn't been more publicity reported. Really can only blame ourselves tho, I definitely should have been watching more city and country zoom meetings 4 days ago 41110 M morningstar Garden Uptown South Kate Anstine It is a full time job to monitor these people and all the meetings just to be ignored. Tourism and realestate profits have been the priority for the last 20 years here. If you have another priority you are ignored and dismissed. 4 days ago 1 30 L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend Kate Anstine What is their mission statement? 3 days ago M morningstar Garden • Uptown South Lisa Stoutmoose Check out their website it is interesting. Park and ride in PT and 4 corners could offer support for wooden tents. This seems reasonable to me. I can't imagine anyone who isn't up to no good "agreeing"to go out to the gravel pit. Both of these parking lots are being used anywhere near capacity and this is a county resource.(edited) 3d 111.1 K Kate Anstine San Juan - Discovery Lisa Stoutmoose you can read the details at the jeffco transit website. I can't remember if the city or county or a private party made the park and ride property available to the jeffco transit. If anyone does know, chime in. Also, to my understanding of Cherish's post, the city has offered none of their property to use. What's the deal with that?! Kick the can down the road indeed! 3 days ago 2 31 M morningstar Garden • Uptown South Kate Anstine I believe the Transit property was purchased through federal funding. Emailing HSN now to ask if they have approached transit RE leasing small bits of those parking lots. Waiting to hear back from Transit Authority. 3da sa o Kate Anstine • San Juan - Discovery morningstar Garden but purchased from whom?city?county? port of pt? 3 days ago lie Add a reply... t ,i 7 Basha Berl Ocean Grove I'm in if and when people get together to oppose this foolishness. I've reached out to Bear and Nancy at Alpinefire as well. EVERYONE in this area should be contacting the commissioner's! This is not the solution,,, pushing them out of town to rural neighborhoods where there are rookeries, nesting area's, hiking trails and bird watching. This is not a solution but a" pass the buck"type stupid move!ADDRESS THE PROBLEM,,, Don't just kick the can down the street Mr. Brotherton! 5 days ago 32 • • 9 M morningstar Garden • Uptown South Shockingly bad idea. As everyone pointed out above it is thoughtless and inhumane. 5 days ago 11, T Tiffany Drewry • Southwest Port Townsend Please email commisioners at Please use the email at : housingtaskforce@co.jefferson.wa.us to send letter. Jefferson County—City of Port Townsend Affordable Housing & Homeless Housing Task Force Regular Meeting Agenda Wednesday, June 9, 2021 @ 2:00 P.M I was instructed that to guarantee public comment especially to the committee at large this needs to be done before tomorrow's meeting. 5 days ago yw+' 4 M morningstar Garden • Uptown South I imagine they will turn up their noses at the park and ride suggestion because this is not the image they want to create for our tourists thanks for posting the link again. 5 days ago 33 „,,,,, „... ,... K Kate Anstine • San Juan - Discovery Email sent. What a breathtakingly desperate and stupid proposal, the county commissioners must really be struggling if this is what they consider thinking outside the box(edited) 5d 2 M morningstar Garden • Uptown South Kate Anstine Also Done. So angry with this stupid idea 5 days ago 1 it) it - f.' ' Basha Berl • Ocean Grove Geez,,, very little time to rally the troops„ rather sneaky if you ask me! 5 days ago 11. 34 M morningstar Garden Uptown South Basha Berl typical PT BS 5 days ago 1 0 Doug Lind Cape George Colony Email sent. Shockingly poor proposal from commissioners. I for one will fight this tooth and nail. 5 days ago 4110° fA 4 L Lisa Stoutmoose Port Townsend Did it. Got an automated reply that did not answer my questions so I wrote back. 4 days ago Add a reply... "1" 35 Basha Berl • Ocean Grove Like I said,,, kick the can down the road! 5 days ago M morningstar Garden • Uptown South We can buy people tickets home to their families and make them sign a contract to stay away. If we are going to kick the can-we can still help these people and accomplish our own motives. 5 days ago Jill Allison • Uptown South morningstar Garden lots of people(homeless and otherwise) have no families to go to-the homeless folks are a result of many complex societal paradigms. 'An injury to one is an injury to all' is a saying that one of my coworkers used to use(and wear on her shirt) -and it applies here. As the numbers of homeless folks rise, and they will as the moratorium is lifted on eviction of people who cannot pay (and have not paid) rent-we are going to see a shocking rise in homeless. No one will be able to ignore this and it will affect all of us. I think Kai Tai is a good solution because of it's proximity to facilities and food. There were some folks that looked like they were living there some time ago but I have not seen them in a while-I live very close to Kai Tai. It is far better to provide a place where people without homes can live with some dignity, than have them living in any way they can in the bushes. Has anyone seen the man who lives in triangle park across the street from the co-op?This is the tip of the iceberg. 4 days ago gpo # -. 4 M 36 morningstar Garden Uptown South Jill Allison I absolutely agree with you although making an effort to connect folks with their families is worthwhile also (for those who have them) I don't agree that tourists visuals should be our priority. I don't think seeing homeless people would stop any tourists from coming here. I have heard this the last 20 years"is this the image we want for our tourists?" It is gross. What about our residents and what we want. Maybe we want compassion and humanity for our neighbors.(edited) 4d • 2 L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend morningstar Garden I don't agree. My family wasn't kind. I got away ASAP, at 17yo. They're all dead now. 3 days ago • e ..r 1 L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend Jill Allison Exactly. I've seen this person. It's what I'd do if I were homeless. 3 days ago M morningstar Garden • 37 Uptown South Lisa Stoutmoose I agree this would help very few.A few are likely loved and missed and I would like to see this offered as an opportunity-not a way to dismiss folks. 3 days ago 4111, Jill Allison • Uptown South Lisa Stoutmoose I left home at 13 years old-my family was bat sh*t crazy. Many therapists have told me that my leaving home was what saved my life. 2 days ago lip • e 3 Add a reply... 1 Jennifer Matheson • Cape George Colony I e-mailed and heard back from Greg Brotherton-Jefferson County Commissioner, District 3 regarding this matter and here is what he said: "It is the gravel pit across from Loftus that has the trails established by the Equestrian Society. Since September, I have been hosting weekly meetings with stakeholders from the fairgrounds campground including city and county legal representatives and law enforcement, city planning, service providers including OlyCAP, Dove House, Bayside, Discovery Behavioral Health, and recently the campers themselves and advocates for the homeless. There is a consensus that this is the best path forward.""This idea was not considered lightly, or without consultation with the stakeholders. We surveyed the 38 campers themselves last week, and that was the final confirmation that this location is the best we have for a temporary homeless camp.""I do want to stress"temporary." One reason for my commitment to moving it is the commitment I made to the fair board, and the neighborhood, is that the encampment would be temporary at the fairgrounds. That I would help facilitate the shortest stay possible. I say that for this project, too, as we are working toward a permanent location. We are under contract and doing our due diligence currently with a property near the first roundabout, next to the DSHS building and services. But there or elsewhere, I am committed to creating a Housing Hub in Jefferson County that will be the next step for this ad hoc community. The Equestrian Park property will not work for the permanent Housing Hub for many of the reasons that you cite."Our survey of the campers showed that self-governance is a very high value. This temporary facility,which will be enclosed by a fence, gives the campers a chance to demonstrate that they can co-exist with the recreational trails and not create undue impacts to the other legitimate use of the property. The campers at the meeting today committed to that, but the population is a plurality. The goal is that the trails remain in use with dedicated parking. "Moving the population to a new location also enables us to classify it as an emergency shelter, create a base set of rules, and get names to makes sure there are no open warrants— hallmarks of our emergency shelter at the American Legion. I should note that the American Legion also has more capacity, that we are encouraging campers to move into. As you point out, transit is an issue, though more than half who filled out the survey have a working vehicle. We will work with Jefferson Transit to establish a daily shuttle into town." 5 days ago as . • 11 / F / ! r. ;a, Basha Berl • Ocean Grove Thank you Jennifer for sharing 5 days ago 6 p Pamela Kozora • 39 Larry Scott Trl I find it interesting that out of all of the"stakeholders" Mr. Brotherton mentioned the Cape George Rd area residents were not included. This plan has been bandied about since Sept, was allowed to grow legs and be carried forth without any involvement from those of us who reside here and know the area best. I believe Mr. Brotherton overlooked an important group of"stakeholders". I find this very frustrating. This isn't a NIMBY issue. It's a common sense issue for the safety of those who will be residing there. If I currently resided at the Campgrounds and was told I would no longer be able to reside there as of July 1 I too would find the area proposed by Mr. Brotherton a valid prospect and whole heartedly agree versus having no place to go. Mr. Brotherton's reasoning is flawed. The selection and criteria used to designate this area as a possibility is flawed. I've emailed all Commissioner's and will continue to fight this decision. A gravel pit is not the answer for our homeless, temporary or otherwise. 5 days ago 400 9 T Tiffany Drewry • Southwest Port Townsend Please email the committee as well for tomorrow's meeting. housingtaskforce@co.jefferson.wa.us Thank you. 5 days ago 41. T Tiffany Drewry • Southwest Port Townsend Please email the committee as well for tomorrow's meeting. housingtaskforce@co.jefferson.wa.us Thank you. 5 days ago 40 Tom Christopher • Uptown South Pamela Kozora What is the distance from the main area of Cape George? 4 days ago p Pamela Kozora • Larry Scott Trl Tom Christopher i don't understand what youre asking. Apologies- maybe not enough coffee this a.m. Please message me if you'd like to provide me with more details to your question. Thanks! 4 days ago Mike Barrs • Uptown Two questions: If this is a temporary measure,will there be a deadline for finding an alternative like there was for the fairgrounds?Without that, this could end up as a permanent camping area by default. The other question is about proximity to the gun range. Will the sound of gunfire be heard there, like it is when driving to the landfill? I assume physical safety isn't an issue, I'm thinking more about the mental health impact on the homeless population, who have enough to deal with, without hearing gunfire at times. 4 days ago +11 K 41 Kate Anstine • San Juan - Discovery Tom Christopher It's miles away 4 days ago 11. L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend Tom Christo•her -- o 11?:c Cap 1.2d 4 days ago L Lisa Stoutmoose Port Townsend I emailed them all. This was what they sent me... Thanks for reaching out. Sorry you are disappointed by our recent news and process in getting here. The past year and a half have been challenging for almost everyone in some way or another but especially so for folks who are homeless. The number of people without homes locally, regionally and especially on the west 42 coast was on the rise even before the pandemic hit—and climbed more in 2020. Community leaders including your commissioners have been working on short, medium and long term solutions all along with a very dynamic set of circumstances. To level set where we are at-a few key things to know: 1.A couple of weeks ago your commissioners decided to pursue the creation of a homeless campus including a shelter and full wrap-around services using some of the Recovery funding that is coming our way. We realize this solution will take some time to even develop even basic temporary services. 2. We've known the June 30th eviction moratorium is looming. 3. We are now working double time to find a temporary solution while we secure the land for a homeless campus. We can then set up temporary services while we develop plans for a permanent shelter and services with our local partners. The timing is far from perfect. We are working on a solution. Many of you have reached out with a wide set of concerns and potential solutions. I hear you. I share MANY of your concerns. Yes, we are exploring the County property off Cape George Road as a temporary site and are looking at other solutions too. I, like you,just learned about this proposed solution on Monday. We are open to your ideas and assistance in dealing with this crisis. Please don't hesitate to continue to reach out, - Heidi Heidi Eisenhour Jefferson County Commissioner, District 2 PO Box 1220, Port Townsend, WA 98369 0: 360- 385-9103 I m: 360-301-0061 I f: 360-385-9382 We have come dangerously close to accepting the homeless situation as a problem we just can't solve. —Linda Lingle A few local housing resources: 1. Jefferson County Affordable Housing and Homeless Task Force 2. Housing Solutions Network 3. OlyCap Housing Services 4. Bayside Housing 5. Habitat for Humanity East Jefferson County***Email may be considered a public record subject to public disclosure under RCW 42.56*** 4 days ago at p Pamela Kozora • Larry Scott Trl Mike Barrs i live on Loftus Rd. I hear the gun range frequently. Additionally-the area "gravel pits" and other property owners practice shooting all around us. Hearing gun fire in this location is an absolute guarantee. 4 days ago 414, +1 2 43 Mike Barrs • Uptown Pamela Kozora That's what I thought, thanks. I'm a gun owner myself, never joined that group at the range, but I can imagine how that sound might affect the homeless with PTSD or other issues. Maybe if this just temporary for a few months it won't matter, but I hope that's part of the consideration for this site. 4 days ago • 1 M morningstar Garden Uptown South Mike Barrs Yeah all this while Brotherton suggested the county buy the castle for professional housing- brilliant.(edited) 4d • Tom Christopher • Uptown South Lisa Stoutmoose thanks.. Heidi is top notch 4 days ago L 2 44 Tom Christopher Uptown South morningstar Garden come on morningstar.. I know that you are better than this Oda sa o morningstar Garden • Uptown South Tom Christopher Ok just professional staff-The last semblance of our quality of life is being destroyed. After this pandemic is over it will be like leaving your basement after a tornado. Just checking to see who and what are left. Honestly I would vote for disney land or a tech company to run the sh show. I have been watching for a long time-this is a rerun. So frustrating paying folks to make poor choices. Many of us who love this place are experiencing grief. 4 days ago 1 Tom Christopher • Uptown South morningstar Garden Thanks for editing. I thought you were all for housing?We need housing at all income levels. Incomes pay taxes, which mean money for the city and county, e.g., homeless services. People taking jobs at the hospital and other places have no place to live. We are not growing medical professionals in gardens here...they come from other places. 4 days ago 1110 45 Patt Roche Port Townsend South Tom Christopher It is a couple miles from the main entrance. Most of the homes are quite a ways from that entrance gate, so about 2.5 miles. 4 days ago 1 M morningstar Garden • Uptown South Tom Christopher Yes and the hospital has land to build for"professionals". It is not good for my health to be competing with them for housing. We all know what the term "professional" means anyway. I am for good ideas that make sense. Not putting dirty bandages on infected wounds or people using public offices for their entertainment. For goodness sake!where will all the tourists go if people live in the castle?Oh maybe they can glamp at that mess at Ft worden. Really?! 4 days ago e, gina mcmather • Southwest Port Townsend Mike Barrs They will hear it. 4 days ago p Pamela Kozora • 46 Larry Scott Trl Patt Roche while the number of homes in the area shouldn't be one of the criteria for this encampment: i did want to point out the number of homes within a .5 mile radius is quite a bit more than "just a few". I don't believe population density should be a consideration for the encampment-access to basic"quality of life" services for the homeless should. This is not a NIMBY issue. It is a quality of life issue for those being forced to relocate to a"gravel pit" at the end of a trail head. 3 days ago 1 1 Pall Roche Port Townsend South Pamela Kozora I was just answering the question Tom asked, about the distance from the homes in Cape George community, not debating where it should be located. 3 days ago 41. D Doug Lind Cape George Colony Patt Roche It is 2.1 miles from our house and a 45 minute walk. Close enough that we should have been considered as stake holders. I listened to the meeting yesterday and Brotherton admitted it may not be under a year temporary but perhaps longer. It looks like they are just scrambling as the fairgrounds gives them the boot. The fire danger alone is a huge threat to this whole area. Look what happened near Portland last year. 3 days ago 11. 47 D Doug Lind Cape George Colony My family in 2 different areas had to evacuate for days and then looters came in while they were gone. It could happen here. 3 days ago M morningstar Garden • Uptown South Doug Lind It is a terrible idea to have folks with out electricity to cook on and no cell service and no water to put out a fire. So many concerns that will be ignored to make things pretty for our guests. 3 da s ago 4�. ar=a gina mcmather • Southwest Port Townsend Patt Roche That is to Cape George. There are plenty of homes near the site, either by roads or by the trails. 3 days ago I L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend What is a "stakeholder?" 48 3 da s ago Patt Roche Port Townsend South gina mcmather and Doug Lind - Like I said before, I just answered a question Tom asked about the distance, with a simple answer of the distance between the points he inquired about. He didn't ask about the other homes or my thoughts on the location. I'm not debating where it should or should not be and I have no influence on where it will be located so sounding off at me is futile. 3 days ago 2 Yet 4,t Sonny Flores • Port Townsend Lisa Stoutmoose a person with an interest or concern in something, especially a business. 2 days ago 11. T Tiffany Drewry • Southwest Port Townsend Mike Barrs The county's gun range in less than a mile from the proposed site. There are multiple private ranges on several of the properties in the area- including the property directly bordering this proposed site. Hunting on private lands, the DNR parcels and target shooting is a regular occurrence on Cape George Rd. 2 days ago 49 r "�A „., Sonny Flores Port Townsend Lisa Stoutmoose yes every resident nearby the site are"stakeholders" 2 days ago L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend Sonny Flores I think someone removed my reply? I believe everyone on our small Quimper Peninsula is a stakeholder, not just the homes bordering the quarry. 2 days ago Like Reply Share 1 T Tiffany Drewry Southwest Port Townsend Especially for fire danger and suppression. 2 days ago INP 50 Add a reply...] Mark Blatter • West PT-Hastings Did you all read the original post before your knees jerked? In July 1 the campers at the Fairgrounds will likely be evicted. The Commissioners are looking for a temporary location until something better can be developed. Certainly they're aware of the limitations of this site. 5 days ago • K Kate Anstine • San Juan - Discovery If this is a temporary solution is there a timeline with benchmarks for when it will end?And have you been to the quarry proposed as the location for this temporary housing? I have, many times and it is not a viable solution. 4 days ago Like Reply Share '+ 1 • 411, • • 4 51 N Norman MacLeod • Larry Scott Trl Mark—Yes, I read the original post . . . and no, my knee did not jerk. I do not believe that all three commissioners and the county administrator are fully aware of the limitations of the proposed site, or of the public health and safety risks they will be exposing the intended residents to if they actually follow through and place a government-approved homeless encampment at that Cape George Road location. They may be aware that there is a severe lack of infrastructure on the site, but not that the lack is so severe that it will compound to place the intended residents at significantly greater health and safety risk than they are now exposed to at the fairgrounds: There are no city or PUD water or sewer infrastructure pieces in place anywhere near the proposed site. This means that there is no reasonable access to potable water suitable for drinking, for washing, for cooking, or for cleaning cookware and dishes for the intended residents. That's a recipe for a public health catastrophe when multiplied by fifty or so camp residents. The lack of waterline access also means that there is no access adequate fire flow if there is a significant fire in the campground or on the land surrounding it. If some of the residents have to cook over open fires because they lack safer means to cook their food, there will be an increased risk of a fire getting away, particularly when we are likely going into an abnormally dry summer. During the commissioners' meeting, Commissioner Brotherton told his seatmates that there has never been a worse time to try to find any portable shower facilities that could be purchased or leased. That level of difficulty that far from personal care options available in town further compromises the public health challenges the intended residents will already be facing. Cell service at the proposed site is spotty to sometimes non-existent. This means the intended residents will not have reliable access to the 911 system so they can obtain help for medical or other emergencies requiring immediate emergency medical, fire or law enforcement response. I would suggest that there have to be numerous locations within city limits that are well-served by water and sewer infrastructure, and that have good cell service and would be far safer locations from the public health and safety standpoint. I would further expect that at least some of those locations would already have normal transit service that the residents could use to access grocery, healthcare, and other services in Port Townsend. I would further expect that the city and the county could work together to come up with the funding necessary to pay for a temporarily leased location and then to perform any remediation necessary once a more permanent option could be put in place. ...And yes, I would expect that would come out of the two governments' budgets at taxpayer expense. I would much rather have my tax dollars go toward helping the local homeless population than I am when I find out that my taxes are going to art installations and other means of attracting tourism when we have human beings who have no place to safely live.(edited) 4d 52 • s qp 12 L Lisa Stoutmoose Port Townsend Norman MacLeod If you write a letter, can you please add my name?TY 4 days ago Add a reply... M morningstar Garden Uptown South Yes he clearly has committed.As usual"we do what we want" 4 days ago 111. gina mcmather Southwest Port Townsend I am one of the nearest neighbors to this site and I just learned about it through the grapevine today. This is a terrible idea. I wrote to the commissioners today and got the same email back from Greg Brotherton as cited above. My personal safety admittedly is one factor, living a mere 5-minute walk through the woods from an encampment that would be unsupervisable. (The 53 fairground site has had mental health and substance abuse issues. )The network of trails through the woods connect to four different residential roads and the waste transfer site, The fire danger in the summer would be horrendous. I think it was two summers ago it was so terribly dry. I was walking on a side trail when I smelled cigarette smoke. I discovered a hidden tent and bags of garbage back in the bushes. There is no water there. The whole center of the Quimper Peninsula could have been ablaze in minutes. 4 days ago 41 `+ 9 0 Doug Lind Cape George Colony I agree, this could be the worst summer yet for fire danger. I remember the fire from a few fireworks at Beckett point years back and how quickly it took off and started burning down the forest.At least there was water available and the whole bay in front of them. I find it hard to believe that the council has been talking about this move for 9 months with out talking to any of the residents out here. Obviously they wanted it to be a done deal before we even heard about it. Terrible way to govern. 4 days ago 6 T Tiffany Drewry Southwest Port Townsend Please email the committee for the public record for the homelessness task force meeting today at 2pm. Please use the email at : housingtaskforce@co.jefferson.wa.us to send letter. Jefferson County—City of Port Townsend Affordable Housing & Homeless Housing Task Force Regular Meeting Agenda Wednesday, June 9, 2021 @ 2:00 P.M 4 days ago 54 Add a reply... Jill Allison • Uptown South A few years ago I did volunteer acupuncture at tent cities in Seattle. I can tell you that there was a definite structure and commitment to policing the area by the people who lived there. There was a tent at the entrance that was'manned' by people who lived there and they screened people before letting them in. There was a policy about not letting in visibly intoxicated people. The encampments were often in the parking lots of churches. Then the Seattle government outlawed tent cities. I thought this was a terrible idea. Has anyone been to Seattle and seen the results of people without homes having no where (safe)to go? I think Kai Tai is the best solution. It has water, bus access and grassy areas that would be suitable for tents, etc. Now is the time for our towns'government to move past litigation concerns and try to help fill this need in the most sensible way. The Cape George area location seems like a bad choice for many reasons already stated in this thread. To be clear, I am not a resident of Cape George and I can see the Kai Tai from my windows. I often walk there-this is not a nimby issue. 4 days ago 4 L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend Where did they send the visibly intoxicated? 4da sa•o . Jill Allison 55 • Uptown South Lisa Stoutmoose I do not know-I do not think the residents who did not allow them entrance knew either-it was the intoxicated folks own problem. Maybe they slept it off under the freeway underpass, a lot of folks were staying there in the 90's-maybe still are 4 days ago 1 Add a reply... Jill Allison • Uptown South My concern for my own safety is also real. I will be carrying my pepper spray more often when I walk. It is a shame that this town is losing it's feeling of being a safe place to live-but it is also true that we are in unsafe times. We must help each other AND be ready to protect ourselves. Intoxicated folks, homeless or otherwise can be a threat. People with nothing left to lose can be a threat. If we try to provide some place with dignity and hope, there will be less of a threat to us- not more. 4 days ago ' 1, 8 T Tiffany Drewry Southwest Port Townsend 56 If you have opinions please email your commisioners and please email the task force which we were clearly left out of as"stake holders " . I also recommend to cc Liz Coker who was hired to help facilitate this process at Shelter4jc@outlook.com The county fairgrounds are currently not being run properly. I know safety is a huge concern as well as who is allowed and not allowed. It would be prudent for the county to look at how they could fix the current situation at the fair grounds- instate an emergency moratorium there- using monies set aside for this move to improve the fair ground situation without moving this group of people"temporarily" until they aquire the property Brotherton has referred to. Long term planning is obviously a goal but this is not a viable option. It goes from bad to worse for those homeless people and our community.(edited) 4d Jill Allison • Uptown South I just emailed them. I am hoping for the best possible outcome. 4 days ago 4 2 Mark Blatter • West PT-Hastings The service providers, public officials, and the campers themselves agree this is the best available temporary location. What if the community looked at how to make this work rather than make it go away? I can: Stop by on my trips to offer rides to folks who need to get to town. Deliver water from my home source. Donate a sun-powered camp shower. Imagine if we all contributed what we can. 4 days ago 6 57 MEW K Kate Anstine • San Juan - Discovery Mark Blatter I absolutely agree that we as a community need to step up and help solve this problem. I love your spirit of giving and thank you for pointing out that individual acts of kindness will help with some logistical issues with the proposed camp. Do want to say that I worked relief efforts in Mississippi after Katrina and it takes a lot of gallons of water to make a site livable for 50+ people. 4 days ago " '14 • • ail 3 Jill Allison Uptown South Mark Blatter I appreciate your ideas and willingness to help. I think more people would help if there were organization around this issue. By this I mean, if someone were to identify needs(i.e. water, transit, food-the sun-powered camp shower is a great idea) and then designate a place where the donations of goods and time could be dropped off/directed towards the need, the help would pour in. I am currently engaged in another project(and my health is fragile so I cannot stretch myself too thin), but would donate some goods or? if asked. There are organizations like "Food not Bombs" in Seattle that feed people regularly-maybe someone could contact them and get an idea of how to organize feeding folks, so many possibilities. If you cannot do this-is there anyone out there with the time and energy to do something like this?Maybe somebody lives close enough that a hose line could be stretched from their house for the sun powered camp shower(and the city could pay for the extra usage)-there are lots of possibilities.... 3 days ago L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend 58 Mark Blatter The homeless arent campers. They are homeless. They need dignity. Stuffing them miles away from services isn't humane. 3 days ago s • 1 Add a reply... K Kathryn Waters • Port Townsend South Placing the homeless there is like sweeping them under the rug. Out of sight out of mind. Brotherton should be required to live there himself for a month with nothing but a portapotty and a hand washing station and low cell service. I think he'd get the picture pretty quickly. 4 days ago 12 -. Id=% gina mcmather • Southwest Port Townsend Kathryn Email the commissioners and come to the Affordable Housing etc. Task Force meeting zoom today (wed at 2 pm). The info is on the county's website though it is confusing to find the right page. I think the link will be on Quick links streaming. 4 days ago 2 59 M morningstar Garden • Uptown South I am really confused as to why Olycap and other community organizations won't use the rental assistance funds to pay for a months worth of camp fees? Divide and shelter. We have multiple camp grounds available. Why not integrate 10"campers"at each sight? 4 days ago 411, tof Cherish Cronmiller Southwest Port Townsend We have tried that.I have offered to rent out multiple places. Most places are state or privately run, so we can not force them- county/city can not commandeer them. 4 days ago gip • s 3 M morningstar Garden • Uptown South Cherish Cronmiller How can they deny access one campsite at a time? 4 days ago D David Given 60 • Port Townsend South The campsites at the Fort Worden and Fort Flagler are reservable and are generally reserved almost immediately when the reservation period opens- I don't recall without research what the period is-could be something like reservations for the year are opened on January 1, or it could be a rolling reservation like you can only reserve sites for the time period from today to 6 months from today. In any case, reservations are hard to come by! 4 days ago • • 1 Eric Nagle Port Townsend South Cherish Cronmiller Has anyone considered restoring the closed campground next to the Tri- Area Community Center, across from the Chimacum Grange? It'd be close to transit and services. 3 days ago 11. 4 Cherish Cronmiller • Southwest Port Townsend Eric Nagle yes, people felt it was too close to school and daycare. 3 days ago • • 2 L 61 Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend Tourists 3 days ago Add a reply... 1 rty gina mcmather Southwest Port Townsend Everybody, Write your concerns to the commissioners and the Affordable Housing task force immediately. Just venting on Nextdoor is not enough. 4 days ago • s 5 M morningstar Garden Uptown South I did - but it is like voting does it ever really matter-they just do what ever they want to. This idea is clearly to benefit the tourists and realtors and no one else. Disappointing. 4 days ago Like Reply Share 4100 +1 4 62 gins mcmather Southwest Port Townsend Thank you. I saw your letter in the public comments file. 4 days ago i i 1 L Lana Mulder • West PT-Hastings How many homeless people do you seeing living in the country? I would say it very rare. Why? Because there are no resources and they are not familiar with living in the country, separated from all sources of help. Why are church properties not being looked at and dividing them up until a final resolution. Churches pay no taxes and why not allow them to help the community rather than a few that go to worship once or twice a week. I love that they are being subjected to the Gun Range so close, that will really help with any that might have PTSD. The lack of openness for community input is so wrong but just like the State of WA and insisting that Round Abouts are the answer to traffic issues I am sure the Jefferson County Commissioners will do what they feel is the only option and not listen to an open input from the people in the area. What a waste of resources and time when the final resolutions should be implemented instead of just temporary. 4 days ago 8 N Norton and Sharon Couron • Southwest Port Townsend 63 We only heard of the Brotherton plan yesterday by a phone call from Rich Hild and from our neighbor, Gina McMather. We walk the gravel pit area every day with our dog. It is also used by people hiking, bike riders, horse people and others. Our home is an easy walk and readily accessible to the connecting trails. Just read the email from Brotherton -what really bothered me about Brotherton's email was that he uses the label "stakeholders" numerous times with a list of the people he considers"stakeholders". It was only after he received an email from Gina McMather yesterday that Brotherton decided someone in this neighborhood should be added to "his" list of stakeholders. We know the homeless issue is a difficult one for commissioners but ignoring the property owners in this area is not the way to solve it. 4 days ago ° ' 6 H Hannah Jochems • Uptown As a recovering addict myself, I have seen what goes on at the Fairgrounds from an insiders perspective. I would just suggest to you all, that you should go walk through there and take a good look before you suggest any locations in port Townsend to the commissioners. It's not pretty,and I feel bad for the neighbors at the fairgrounds because there comes a LOT of traffic from all the users around town because the fairgrounds is usually a one stop shop. Lock your stuff up at night becausemany of them get bored land have a lot of free time on there hands and there is always a few that like to go exploring through other people's belongings! 4 days ago • • 6 P Phil H. • Egg and I I've driven right through that fairgrounds camp, looked it all over on three different days. Seemed like a distinct lack of management. Nobody checked on what I was doing or why I was there. I saw no sign of any property management. I think it's always been a 'out of sight, out of mind' issue. Re-locating will not change that Go to a homeless shelter and it's a very different 64 experience. Youget monitors, case workers and all sorts of people'holdingthestreet' I don't p p st eet don t care what the location is, all I want to know is if the on-site management will be effective. If it is, then they can stay right next door to my place. If it isn't, then I don't want them anywhere within walking distance! 2 days ago • 2 Cherish Cronmiller • Southwest Port Townsend I don't have the time to read all of these and respond, but let me offer a piece of information. Please read up on the Martin v. Boise decision. The city/county MUST offer a space for people to go, or those folks can take space on public property (so long as it is not health/safety hazard- i.e., blocking sidewalk, human waste, rodents, etc.) SO, it is in the best interest of the city/county to find a space where people can go, or these folks will take up residence in downtown parks. So, offering a place away from other residences is wise. (As we see those that were bothered by noise and visual around fairgrounds.) Really, calls to fairgrounds were just 5 known difficult people. The fairgrounds is leased by a private nonprofit, separate from the county. If the county wanted to take it over, they would have to sever the lease agreement(and you might lose the fair forever?) The fairgrounds has rentals already booked for this summer. The campgrounds will be closed for the time being. (A wise legal move.) Now, the equestrian park is missing water, sewer. So, though bathrooms and handwashing can be brought there, shower of food trailers are not likely an option. So, thought is to have volunteers help us staff the American Legion basement shelter, where people can go to get food, shower, and do laundry. (We have about 16 people living there now, so we have about 10 open beds, bed we don't let couples stay together, and no pets(law=WA does not recognize emotional support animals as a"service"animal.) So, when we surveyed campers last week, many are couples, a couple have pets, some have RVs and cars that run, and others want to stay with their"belongings." I can not speak to decisions by the county/city. However, I can assure you that OlyCAP and other housing partners have worked tirelessly to try to find solutions. I have offered $to lots of entities. I have looked at trying to buy hotels. I have looked at trying to convince churches to do parking lot programs. Trust me, there are weekly meetings, and I see nothing here that hasn't already been brought up. I can not tell you the hours I have spent trying to chase down options, only to have them fail. I would highly recommend people listen to the podcast: https://www.knkx.org/programs/outsiders to really understand some of the population here. There is NO space in Jefferson County that is close to necessary supports and resources that isn't going to upset someone, but what is the option of lowest harm and impact that also considers the legalities at play here? 65 4 days ago 29 Tom Christopher Uptown South Thank you so much for your informative and thoughtful reply. It really helps. And thanks to all the other people and organizations who are trying to help make the lives of these peoples better. Hopefully, the temporary Cape George Rd proposal works out(or somewhere similar) and is a holding place until (hopefully) until/if the county purchase of the land east of Sims and Mill road intersection comes to fruition, with permanent facilities. That is a perfect location, right on the bus line, and not in a residential area. Discussed at length here: https://nextdoor.com/p/QX7_hZ9gYCF D?view=detail 4 days ago 10 L Lana Mulder West PT-Hastings But-you are giving the Churches and other places time to say no but the people that live around this proposed temporary location were given no ability to participate in the discussion. I know this is a hard choice but putting out in the country more with no resources isn't helping. The homeless don't go to the country you are just taking them away from the town or cities because people don't want to see them there. How long before they are back on the streets rather than living in the gravel pit and creating new problems. 4 days ago +1 3 66 Cherish Cronmiller • Southwest Port Townsend Lana Mulder the city has not offered any of their land, or buildings. 4 days ago Tom Christopher • Uptown South The county website...with meeting schedules, agendas, archives of same. https://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/492/Board-of-County-Commissioners 4 days ago K Kate Anstine • San Juan - Discovery Cherish Cronmiller wow, that's really disappointing. Yours should be top comment. 4 days ago 1 1 Cherish Cronmiller • Southwest Port Townsend Lana Mulder again, not"me" but the county- it is county land, profit nonprofits are just trying to support whatever is being provided. For emergency situations, certain zoning is allowed. Zoning can't be altered without public input/comment. 67 4da sa•o p Pamela Bouchard Cape George Colony I understand how hard you have been working to find a solution. Thank you. You say in your message that offering a place away from residences is wise, but at the same time you are moving the camp closer to other people's residences. Brotherton says this is temporary, but if you have looked so diligently for another option, then once you have moved the people out of town, what is the likelihood of finding anything else?Won't it end up becoming permanent? Brotherton says all groups think this is the best option to move forward, but what other options have been offered? If churches and the town say no, is this quarry a best choice because people can't say no? It is a site without water, sewer, grocery stores, health care acces supportive services or job opportunities. 4 days ago 11, 4M 3 Cherish Cronmiller • Southwest Port Townsend Pamela Bouchard commercial space is limited, though I did explore such options. Where is a place away from residences, yet still close enough to services, not where it impacts tourism and business profits, has utilities, and current campers would want to go there (otherwise they will re- scatter in vacant lots amongst trees and brush-or so they have reported.) Other places looked at, considered, rejected, asked about(and yes, some are ridiculous, but I have been grasping for anything!)- mostly this was my/Olycap inquiries (not government inquiries): land owned by PT paper, former Oddfellows hall, Chimacum park, Fort Worden, Marrowstone, Fort Townsend, PDA/Pt Hudson, lots on Rainer, chopping up fairgrounds property, Mountain view, MT Rec center, cemetery land, parks, golf courses, buying hotels, old community school, end of streets where county or cities have easements (near mill) ; old RV lot in Clallam, land across from Uhaul; two large properties in Port Hadlock; oak bay, beausite, land on rainer owned by safe harbor, boarded up gas station at roundabout, ... now, I can tell you what I HOPE would happen- 68 I HOPE they would be there less than 9 months. The property the county is looking at(hidden and buffered by city property and other commercial lots-so NOT first thing you would see coming into PT)would get cleared, and we would get gravel, RV utility hookups, and some tent platforms, a shower building and kitchen trailer in that space by next summer. Then start working on a congregate shelter space for singles, couples, families. Start working on an incremental plan for workforce housing, congregate, and permanent supportive housing. But that's just the Cherish dream, lol. It will take government coordination, and the buy-in of all the partners and advocates to make any plan work. And sadly, with ANY plan, there is always upset somewhere. Again, always seeking least harm, least impact. 4 days ago • a 6 p Pamela Bouchard • Cape George Colony Thank you Cherish, I see that you have been trying very hard. Your own commissioner, Kate Dean, has said that she is concerned that once this camp is set up in the cape george location, and once money has been spend to set it up and make it safe, it is likely to be long term. So my point is that in making this decision, we need to realize that it is not temporary. 4 days ago ryy 5 C Cathy Langley Larry Scott Trl East Jefferson Fire and Rescue has room at the miller road station and or land they own adjacent to the Air port at Prospect. Ether would provide a level of safety and less impact on very active neighborhoods. This problem has not just came up over night and the county has know about the end of eviction moratorium. Also I had asked early on with the ICG groups to support funding for the fairgrounds to deal with this problem, that requests was ignored and I was told it 69 would have to go through Arts and Entertainment committee.... they bought tents and portable bathroom for events. choosing not to help. The EJFR are public owned properties and they have a responsibility for public health and safety. Pete Langley 4 days ago 3 T Tiffany Drewry • Southwest Port Townsend "Where is a place away from residences, yet still close enough to services, not where it impacts tourism and business profits, has utilities, and current campers would want to go there (otherwise they will re-scatter in vacant lots amongst trees and brush-or so they have reported.) "-Cherish Cronmiller You say the above yet...How did a gravel pit with NO power NO water NO sanitation NO transportation NO cell service NO access to social or safety services become the chosen spot? In the woods were your population has said they will spread ... I respect that Olycap stepped in and was working with the emergent homeless during the crisis by subsidizing and hand holding people through the process out at the fair grounds initially. I deeply understand that covid impacted the ability to monitor and work with that current population. But I can not understand how this infrastructure will be"temporarily brought" in without draining a huge financial resource. I also understand that the city is obligated to provide space so the homeless will not disperse to other city parks. I know you have a long term plan with this new potential property which is nothing like what is currently at the fair grounds and yet you feel comfortable replicating the fair ground situation temporarily out here. Which we know will not be temporary. I do not understand how a new emergency moratorium can not be placed in the current situation. Fence that space. I have deep empathy for the fair ground neighborhood because that space has not been managed property with no end game. Evict those who are not wanting services to deal with mental health and dependency issues manage those who are willing to participate in the system.And get this new property going. I'm tired of band aids. Especially when the city has known this has been an issue for over a decade.(edited) 4d 41 SO 3 .fir .. 70 Cherish Cronmiller Southwest Port Townsend Tiffany Drewry the county is making the decision, they have the funds. 3da sa o Norman MacLeod • Larry Scott Trl Cherish Cronmiller The site across from U-Haul is for sale, but it would be wise for the county to contact the owner to determine the viability of leasing it. It's on a bus route(stops on WA 20 on the corner), it has basic infrastructure in place(electricity,water, etc.). The closest fire station is a mile down the road at the airport. Not sure about cell service at that location . . . Commissioner Brotherton should go over there and try making some calls while he walks the property . . . The available area is much larger than what's available at the Cape George Road site. If the option hasn't been seriously considered it should be. This time the area residents should be contacted as a "first stakeholder"class instead of the debacle we're going through now. 2 days ago Tom Christopher • Uptown South Norman MacLeod Well, such a selection process as this can't really practically work that way. It seems like dozens and dozens of site have been considered. If you visited every site, before investigating the other required availability to use it (buy the site, lease, etc), and provide services, you'd have to ask all the residents within 3 miles of each site, and of course they would all say NO, they don't want a homeless encampment there. That would take forever with the same result(dissatisfied nearby residents). I'm sure minimizing the amount of residences near any site is a primary consideration already. Once the required checkboxes are fulfilled, you get down to starting fleshing out the details. 2 days ago 411. 71 1 Add a reply... Molly Torres • Cape George Colony Yes, thank you Cherish! It sounds like you have all been working really hard on finding a good solution. Of course nobody wants an encampment close to where they live but it is far better than having people camped all over the place in various spots. The problem is only going to get worse when the eviction moratorium ends so we need to be proactive and do something immediately, at least for the short term. We don't want to end up like Seattle. Currently, my former home there which is a rental, has an encampment right in front. They are scattered everywhere in Seattle. An organized tent city or tiny home village with bathroom facilities is so much better. Having people live randomly on the streets and in the bushes is a health, safety and environmental disaster. 4 days ago 7 Cherish Cronmiller • Southwest Port Townsend Molly Torres yeah, I don't think an encampment at Pope Marine, or county courthouse lawn would look good. And apparently land at Kai Tai is a problem?And transit said no to their park/ride. 4 days ago 40, 72 Molly Torres • Cape George Colony Cherish Cronmiller Right, could you imagine if the courthouse grounds or the park across the street became a homeless encampment like the park next to the King County Courthouse where I used to work? Several of my former co-workers have been assaulted just trying to get into the courthouse to do their jobs. I sure hope Port Townsend can do a better job. 4 days ago 2 M morningstar Garden Uptown South Molly Torres They have security in place. It should be out in the open. Our elected officials are or seem to work for the realtors not the people who live here and that is the problem. 4 days ago 11.1 L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend morningstar Garden I'm thinking about finding my sleeping bag and camping out at various places just cuz.(edited) 2d 41110 73 1 Add a reply... 1 morningstar Garden • Uptown South Maybe they should all go sleep on Greg's lawn for now. At least they would have running water. I can donate some shovels.(edited) 4d r. .. 6 L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend I thought the very same 4 days ago 2 Anna Haas • Cape George Rd Hi, . It is just proposed now but there is going to be a lot of pushback. No bus, no plumbing. No running water. We have a couple of mountain lions running around here. We found a half-eaten deer on that property about a month ago. There have been a couple of them running around 74 here for the past year. Lots of coyotes that like to do barking and howling all night long frequently. 4 days ago 1. R Rick Riddle • S Discovery Mountain lions need to eat also. 2 days ago Marc Riolo • Chimacum / Irondale Supposedly there is a piece of property, —12 acres, that's perfect for this, but the owner has so many demands and restrictions that they're all but impossible to meet. Does anybody know where this is? 4 days ago M morningstar Garden • Uptown South When will Greg be moving on?The county idea to buy the Castle. Sorry Brotherton's idea that the county buy the castle?What ever happened to folks destroying a beautiful community with their own capitol? 4 days ago Like Reply Share 75 1 G Gabriella Ashford • Port Townsend South The County, Mill and City can do a land swap. It has been done before. But proper infrastructure needs to be put in within the city. We all have rules to follow and they are really clear zoning rules. It's doable, and if anyone can pull this off, our county can. 4 days ago L Lisa Stoutmoose Port Townsend The politicians don't live in reality. I emailed them and asked each one of them to camp there with a tarp, sleeping bag and duffle of personal items and no technology for a week. Have I been ghosted?They haven't replied. I want these commissioners to consider what it would be like to be a young single homeless woman out on her luck in a quarry off Cape George Road in the middle of her menstruation with one tampon left and no warm water to manage her sanitation. And the danger she's in sleeping alone at night. That's the reality they refuse to face. It's not a pretty image and I imagine most of you are grossed out by my example, but it's life and these politicians want to hide real life. Why? It's coming on tourist season? It's infuriating. We are not good people if this transpires. In my opinion, these politicians absolutely suck. They do not at all represent me. Not at all.(edited) 2d 8 Mark Blatter • 76 West PT-Hastings What's your solution that can be in place in three weeks? 3 days ago 1 M morningstar Garden • Uptown South Mark Blatter There are no places to hide them from the tourists. I would rather they just sat downtown and waved. 3 days ago L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend Mark Blatter Our politicians dilly dallied and now they're using a time crunch as an excuse to excommunicate the most vulnerable of our residents. We're about to experience the homeless moving and living in and around town Cuz they aren't going to accept that location with zero services. The politicians best bet is to come to an agreement at the fairgrounds until a real solution is found. They say it can't be done?That's probably not true. There's always a way. But someone has to be compassionate and generous. Apparently our politicians are neither. Homeless can legally live in town. There's already one person under a tarp across from the penny saver in the little park. There will be more of that. If I were homeless, that's what I'd do. Live under a tarp in town. 3 days ago +1 r, 3 77 M morningstar Garden Uptown South Lisa Stoutmoose I am glad that guy is out in the open so he doesn't get messed with by crazed addicts. This is just really heartbreaking-for those with beating hearts. I wish there was a hotel available to purchase. 3 days ago 3 Mark Blatter • West PT-Hastings Greg Brotherton and County Commissioners have been working with service providers for months. And they are working on the permanent housing hub solution. This is the plan developed with involvement of the current Fairgrounds residents, many of whom are on board because of the possiblity of self-management. The Fairgrounds are leased to a private entity- your solution is for the County to cancel the lease and take the grounds back? 3 days ago 2 M morningstar Garden • Uptown South I would suggest revoking the lease at the fort worden. How far off are the emergency shelter apartments from being move in ready?(edited) 3d 78 L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend Mark Blatter in this thread, we've learned that residents in the area just learned of this. Through the rumor mill. If politicians have been planning for months, why did they hide their intentions from the neighbors?They kept it under wraps till it was too late?Yes. I think so. 3 days ago 1 Mark Blatter West PT-Hastings I believe it was fairly recently that this site was determined to be the best available option. I can't speak to the process and neighbor involvement. Wherever the camp goes there will be support and opposition. No site will be perfect and some services will have to be brought in. Do you think dispersed camping and new camps located by the homeless residents is better solution? 3 days ago K Kate Anstine • San Juan - Discovery Mark Blatter I would really like to see the county paperwork and plan for this site. There has to be a ton of documents generated (I hope?!) regarding the logistics of the Cape George site. Couldn't find a plan on the jeffco gov website. Brotherton said during the wed meeting that he was meeting with the fire marshal this week and that water trucks would be brought in as potable water and for firefighting. Information like this, if properly disclosed to increase transparency may 79 sway public opinion. From the meeting, it seemed like this isn't the best site, but rather the quick and dirty solution. I would really like to see the city work a little better with the county on this(edited) 3d fir ,.; 4 S Sue Bradley • Uptown Lisa Stoutmoose Thank you - I agree with everything you point out. My hope is that those involved in making the final decision take into consideration health, safety, and access to services. In my mind the quarry is not the appropriate solution. 3 days ago • • L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend Mark Blatter A better solution for whom?You?Or the homeless? 3 days ago 1 L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend Sue Bradley Thank you. 80 3 dayss ago Christine Rogers • Cape George Colony Lisa Stoutmoose you should consider what Mark does before you make cracks like that. He's out there doing advocacy work and trying to find solutions. 3 days ago fie L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend Christine Rogers Mark whom?What cracks? 3 days ago 4 x. Christine Rogers Cape George Colony Lisa Stoutmoose-This one. • Port Townsend Mark Blatter A better solution for whom?You?Or the homeless? 3 days ago L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend Christine Rogers That's an honest and serious question. Sorry you don't read it the way it was intended, christine. 81 3 days ago 0 Christine Rogers • Cape George Colony Lisa Stoutmoose fair enough, sorry for my reaction then. This entire string has me greatly disheartened as I thought we were a different community and I am also reacting as such. 3 days ago •S . go 2 L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend Christine Rogers Thank you, Christine. I really appreciate that. I am also enormously disheartened. We are headed into even more difficult times, I'm afraid. 3 days ago 1 Lisa Stoutmoose Port Townsend Kate Anstine Me too 3 days ago Add a reply... 82 K Kathryn Waters Port Townsend South Response from Kate Dean to my email regarding this matter: Hi Kathryn, Sorry for the generic email. As I don't have time to reply to you all individually, I am sending this to everyone who has reached out with concerns about the idea of the homeless encampment from the Fairgrounds being temporarily moved to the County's property on Cape George Road. I only learned about this idea on Monday afternoon, and while we gave Commissioner Brotherton the go-ahead to continue looking at the feasibility of the site, it is by NO MEANS a done deal. I share your concerns, particularly about safety in terms of lack of water and electricity, distance from law enforcement/first responders and lack of cell service and fire hazard. I also believe that once we have campers there we are likely to have them there long-term, either because they will choose to stay without our permission or we will have invested a lot of funds to address the safety concerns and won't want to start over. I don't want to end up with another unintended encampment that is a reaction to a crisis instead of a well thought-out strategy and plan. I am unlikely to support this proposal unless these concerns can be addressed. A little bit of background: during Covid, a number of unhoused campers at the Fairgrounds decided not to leave there when asked to by the Fair Board.As owners of the property, the County sought the opinion of the Attorney General who confirmed that the state's eviction moratorium applied to the Fairgrounds campground and so they could not be forced to leave. In response to safety concerns, the County has been paying to provide supervision, meals and other supports for the population there, and the Fair Board has had to absorb other costs. Neighbors have understandably been frustrated by the impacts of the encampment. While it has been a challenging situation, the homeless folks there have said they are feeling more stable and have built a community, which reinforces our need for an appropriate and safe place for folks to go. When the eviction moratorium expires on June 30th, the campers are likely to be asked or forced to leave the campground. Due to a federal court ruling, since there is not adequate shelter for the homeless here, they will be allowed to camp in any public space- roads, parks, etc. without risk of a trespass violation. Similarly, there is no law enforcement for possession of controlled substances right now due to a WA Supreme Court ruling, so there is a good chance of dispersing camping and drug use throughout the community, where it is much harder to monitor or respond to. We very much want to have somewhere for these folks to go where they can get stable enough to seek treatment, therapy and eventually housing. We are pursuing the feasibility of purchasinga 14-acreparcel between ee DSHS and Mill Road to build a "housing hub" campus- somewhere we could have campers, tiny homes and supportive services. We are awaiting an appraisal this week and will then be in a position to decide if this is the right parcel and the right investment. It is attractive in that it can access city water, power and sewer and has very few neighbors to impact. Proximity to services and a bus line are a big plus, too. We will know more next week on this project. My hope is that is comes back as affordable and that we could supply 83 some very rudimentary services and get folks from the Fairgrounds moved there, but the certainty and timing of that are unknown at this time. In other words, our hope is to have somewhere to send the campers from the Fairgrounds so that they don't end up in places that are more dangerous for them, more impactful to the community and more difficult for us to serve. We have to weigh our options and assess the risks associated with each. Right now there is clearly no good solution, and with the expiration of the moratorium we may see a whole lot more folks moving outdoors to live. Every city in the country is dealing with this same problem and there appears to be no easy solution. I know that this response may be unsatisfactory to you as there are still a lot of unknowns. But this also means that there is an opportunity for you to share your opinions and thoughts. You already have, of course, but I would also encourage you to provide public comment about your specific concerns at 9 am during our Monday morning BOCC meetings: Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/93777841705 This option will allow you to join the meeting live. You will need to enter an email address. If you wish to provide public comment, click on the hand icon at the bottom of the screen to"raise your hand."We will continue to work on finding the best solution for both near-term and long-term. Please stay tuned to our meetings and feel free to ask for updates.All three Commissioners represent you and are involved in this decision. Thanks for your active engagement. Kate Dean PS-Just to clarify a common misconception since many of you have brought this up: the County's parcel on Cape George is zoned for Essential Public Facilities, not as a park or forestry. While there was hope that the Equestrian Association would be able to raise funds to turn it into a horse park, that was not the original intended use or zoning. Just want to use this opportunity to remind folks that land use and zoning can be looked up on the County website. Property often has rights or uses associated with it that can come as a surprise to neighbors. https://gisweb.jeffcowa.us/TaxParcelViewer/Kate Dean Jefferson County Commissioner, District 1 1820 Jefferson Street Port Townsend, WA 98368 (360)385-9100 kdean@co.jefferson.wa.us-- ---Original Message From: Kathryn Waters<kcwatersdc@gmail.com>Sent: Thursday, June 10, 2021 12:16 PM To: Kate Dean <KDean@co.jefferson.wa.us> Subject: Brotherton's Cape George road homeless camp CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. Greetings-This is a very poorly conceived project which the people of Port Townsend cannot possibly be proud of or support. As many have pointed out There is absolutely no infrastructure. No potable water. No water for keeping clean. No sanitation. No bus line. No proximity to food or health care. Porta potties and hand washing stations are for temporary gatherings. The homeless camp at the fairgrounds has been fraught with drug abuse and mental illness requiring innumerable police interventions. There are an insufficient number of sheriffs as is. This location has many nearby woodland trails which is perfect for drug and other lawless activities such as burglary of nearby residences. If Port Townsend is going to respond in any meaningful way we need to take all of the above into consideration and treat the homeless respectfully, not just forcing them to be dumped in the middle of a clearcut. Kathryn Waters Port Townsend, WA ***Email may be considered a public record subject to public disclosure under RCW 42.56*** 3 days ago 84 • • 7 Molly Torres • Cape George Colony Excellent response from Kate Dean. These people are up against a wall and trying their best to find a solution that works for everyone. It's a thankless job. The problem is, no matter where you put it people will be beyond angry. Nobody wants a homeless encampment next to them. The problem is, they aren't going away and they have to be put somewhere or they're going to be camping all over the place. 3 days ago 11111 D Doug Lind • Cape George Colony Molly Torres Yes like in Ballard. We were there last week and it is sad. I just really want our politicians to do a good job, find a good place for the homeless with services available and make a long term solution. They have our money to do it with, but few answers. 3 days ago • • ..r 2 Tom Christopher • 85 Uptown South THANK you for posting Kate Dean's response Kathryn!Very helpful. Hopefully the solution at the Mill Rd/20 intersection area works out. 2 days ago Add a reply...! T Tiffany Drewry • Southwest Port Townsend https://www.ptleader.com/stories/neighbors-angry-over-homeless-shelter-at-fairgrounds,71315? 3 days ago • • 2 L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend From the Sep21,2020 Leader article: "Commissioners stressed no plans for a homeless shelter have been approved by the county, and officials have repeatedly noted that the Jefferson County Fair Association has control of the property through a contract that runs through December 2022."(edited) 3d C Carolyn Woods • Uptown 86 Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but as far as I can tell the city is not contributing at all right now to figuring out where these people can go for shelter in town if they are evicted from the fairgrounds at the end of the month as anticipated?Whether the city wants to"approve"the use of their property or not, if people living at the fairgrounds get evicted at the end of the month as seem to be anticipated at this point, legally they cannot be removed from public land (including city property) if there is no designated shelter that is actually accessible to use, short of an actual safety issue. I kind of wonder if a'shelter'with no transit access or facilities would actually even meet the new standard that the 2018 court case set.... So it would behoove the city to collaborate and contribute otherwise yes, people probably will start camping downtown, and I wouldn't blame them. 3 days ago 3 J Jim Scarantino • S Discovery Cherish Cronmiller is correct in the legal requirement for local government to provide an alternative to camping on downtown streets or at the Fairgrounds. The 9th Circuit has forced this. Some activists are mistating what the Boise ruling requires, but generally speaking what Ms. Cronmiller states is correct. The upside(neighbors of the new camp aside) is that police and sheriffs can stop sleeping in doorways on Water Street and elsewhere. Transients and the homeless must relocate to the public camp. Further, rules can be imposed. Nothing in the 9th Circuit's decision prevents local government imposing a code of behavior and responsibility on those in its camps. Refusal to follow rules does not give someone license to continue squatting at the Fairgrounds or claim one of the covered piers (as happened a couple years ago when a couple moved bedroom furniture to the pier behind Elevated Ice Cream.) Drug and alcohol use can be prohibited, or subjected to the same constraints as at the shelter. The camp can have the same rules as the shelter. The key will be to keeping the drug dealers out, who have grown arrogant and brazen at the Fairgrounds. The activists that kept Ms. Cronmiller and OlyCap from regulating the Fairgrounds as an emergency shelter, with enforced rules, share responsibility for Ms. Brown's death and the other overdoses and assaults. Women have been sexually assaulted at the Fairgrounds, or forced to trade sex for drugs and safety.A group of them moved to Cappy's Trails to get away, but the perpetrators are still ruling the roost. The question is why, since the homeless/transient population is mostly inside city limits, the city of PT is escaping responsibility. Last, this camp may be the first step to"community first" instead of the failed and harmful "housing first" philosophy that made the problem much worse. Much more to say, but that's enough for now. The nearby neighbors must be heard and their concerns alleviated, not 87 just"addressed" by allowing them to vent to unresponsive politicians and bureaucrats. They must be able to feel safe in their homes and the area around them.(edited) 3d ! i 9 Mark Blatter • West PT-Hastings What's the source for your claim that the housing first model is failed, harmful and makes the problem worse?That model, which involves permanent housing with support services and harm reduction as a direct outcome, is now considered best practice in reducing homelessness among individuals. It could help solve the community homelessness problem if more such housing was built. BTW, a temporary camp with entry and residency requirements is not "housing first." 2 days ago 3 M morningstar Garden • Uptown South Mark Blatter True housing first is not in competition with community first. Safety first- people need to be met where they are at with basics if we can ever hope for folks to reach their full potential and to just keep some from stealing our TV's and tools. Basic housing for our most vulnerable benefits everyone. 2 days ago I' 2 88 Tom Christopher • Uptown South Jim, as I'm sure you know, as a Christian, the question to always ask with tricky issues is"what would Jesus do when confronted with the issue and situation of the homeless at the Fairgrounds"?Answering that question differentiates real Christians from the fake Christians that we so see in the public eye these days. 2 days ago 2 J Jim Scarantino • S Discovery Mark Blatter I thought I had posted a reply yesterday but I'm not seeing it. The proof that "housing first" is a failed model is Seattle.At$1 billion annually, the problem is only getting worse. Government programs have created a housing industrial complex that gets paid no matter what happens. The Loaves and Fishes Ministry outside Austin, with its Community First approach, is producing results. "Housing First" is a bumper sticker from years ago. 23 hr ago J Jim Scarantino S Discovery Tom Christopher Drive out the drug dealers first, identify individual needs and not treat everyone like a caricature. Some are there because of mental illness, some are criminals preying on others and the neighborhood, quite a few are addicts getting their junk from the dealers living at the encampment. Some are there because they refuse to follow rules. Some are "travelers"who have chosen this lifestyle, believe it or not, but it is true and a growing phenomenon. Actually quite a few of the young people fit into this category. Quite a few people out there have incomes. I was there when one of the"leaders"was cooking steaks for the camp. 89 Helping first requires getting facts straight and not lumping everyone into handy but inaccurate categories. 23 hr ago 3 M morningstar Garden • Uptown South Wow do you think poor people should just go to McDonalds?Steak isn't that expensive and for all you know they could have gotten it from the food bank. What is the point of mentioning this? 12 hr ago Add a reply... D Doug Lind Cape George Colony Well said 3 days ago liz Faconer Port Townsend South Thank you Tiffany 90 2 days ago T Tiffany Drewry Southwest Port Townsend ATTEND. Comment or send letters. Next meeting is this upcoming Monday June 14th 9 AM. JeffBoCC@co.jefferson.wa.us To email all 3 Commisioners The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners meet the first 4 Mondays of each month. Meetings begin @ 9:00 AM in the Commissioners' Chambers, in the basement of the County Courthouse. If a Monday meetings falls on a holiday when the Courthouse will be closed, the meeting is held on Tuesday @ 9:00AM instead. If you would like to make a comment you may do so up to 9:00 AM on date of hearing at: COVID-19 NOTICE: NO IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE ALLOWED (Per the May 29, 2020 Jefferson County Public Health Officer Order) You can join this meeting by using the following methods: Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/93777841705 This option will allow you to join the meeting live. You will need to enter an email address. If you wish to provide public comment, click on the hand icon at the bottom of the screen to"raise your hand." Participation will be up to the Chair and/or Clerk of the meeting.Audio-only: Dial: 1-253-215-8782 and use Webinar ID: 937-7784-1705#This option will allow you to listen to the meeting live. If you wish to provide public comment, press*9 to"raise your hand." Participation will be up to the Chair and/or Clerk of the meeting. Access for the hearing impaired and others can be accommodated using Washington Relay Service at 1-800-833-6384. 2 days ago • • lip v 2 i tx .416 Sonny Flores Port Townsend Thinking about it all, at least the County/City powers to be are trying to do something about a horrible situation with an almost impossible solution, maybe its best that the fairgrounds remains, this is not a win win for anyone, imho.(edited) 3 91 S Sarah Dimon • Cape George Rd In my opinion, the county commissioners should have first talked to every neighbor in the 1/2mile neighborhood (my family being one of them) as we are a caring community and elicit support from the folks on Cape George. But this didn't happen instead we found out from Next Door.My husband and I drove past the site recently when a group of public servants were there checking it out and our first thought was that they probably found a body there killed by the mountain lion or some other criminal activity but we didn't see anything in the news about it. Now I suppose they were sent there to check out the site. I have written my letter and plan to listen to the meeting via Zoom. We have at least 8 children living across the street from this proposed site and they will need to have serious conversations about mental health,drug use,needle and bio danger, and stranger danger.No judgement towards these unfortunate individuals just wishing these children could have a childhood free of these kinds of conversations as that is one of the primary reasons several young families have moved to this outskirt of the town. 2 days ago -,•+1 3 T Tiffany Drewry • Southwest Port Townsend ://www.kin s.com/article/news/local/wildfire/washin ton-dnr-challen in -wildfire- htt s 9 9 p 9 9 season/281-a0008e04-7a55-4086-868c-d74cb85a9a0c The fire danger is real this year. We are having the driest spring in 100 years. 2 days ago 41, • Tom Christopher 92 • Uptown South Just my opinion but I think that it would be very helpful for this ongoing conversation if commenters read the previous comments, especially from the BOCC member response letters, and attend the Monday meetings via Zoom. The Cape George is just a PROPOSED site, one of many that have been considered over the last several months. Not a done deal. Hopefully the sale/deal on the 14 acres near the Mill Rd/highway 20 intersection works out. A much better side, in so many ways. 2 days ago 4011 K Kate Anstine • San Juan - Discovery Yes, it's not a done deal.A lot of pushback eh? Brotherton seemed abashed that the public had become aware of the proposed Cape George site. Perhaps he and the other commissioners will act with more transparency in the future. They are still moving forward on the mill area acreage, but it's going to take a lot of time and effort to make that site usable. During the Wednesday meeting there was disagreement between Sandoval and Brotherton regarding whether the time frame for the mill site was going to be slightly more or slightly less than a year considering tree clearing, planning, permitting and construction. Both agreed that the"temporary"camp, wherever it may be located, was going to exist for a good length of time. I hope all who are concerned attend the Monday 9am meeting and keep to the issues of suitability (there are many!) rather than stereotyping the homeless population. 2 days ago 4 TAK Marc Riolo • Chimacum / Irondale Tom -That's my my pet peeve about NextDoor.All too often, the same reply gets repeated because people don't read previous replies. Many times I see something similar to"Here's an 93 idea . . ."And if that person had read previous replies, they'd figure out that it's already been posted, maybe two or three times.(edited) 2d ........... 2 Add a reply...I L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend I'm not a religious woman. But aren't Christians supposed to care for the most vulnerable?Why aren't the church elders providing everything the homeless need?Why aren't the parishioners not opening their homes to the less fortunate? Perhaps they need to pay taxes instead.(edited) 2d 111 1 Tom Christopher Uptown South The churches do tons of what they call outreach.A group of them (including one for which I cooked many a breakfast), e.g., has provided years of meals for the homeless at the American Legion shelter...others provide lunch time free meals at various churches..outreach is part of all their budgets...others can comment more specifically, but you are picking the wrong target. How many homeless have you taken in? 2 days ago • • 94 2 L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend Tom Christopher None, but I send money to the food bank regularly. I'm not targeting anyone. As I said, I'm not religious, so how would I know the answer to my question if I don't extend myself and reach out???You were offended when there was nothing to be offended over. Im very sorry you took it that way. I was looking for an answer. Thanks for giving me an answer.(edited) 2d 1 Tom Christopher Uptown South Lisa Stoutmoose It was because of the way that you asked. You didn't ask"what are the churches and leaders doing"to get answers, you asked 'why aren't they", implying that they are not doing what they should, and that thus they shouldn't get tax breaks (a different issue for sure). Words matter. I'm not offended, I'm just not a fan of misinformation or criticizing people or organizations without knowledge. 2 days ago L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend Tom Christopher Well we have a homeless situation. Im not religious. I have zero knowledge what churches do. I'm allowed to ask"why aren't they"questions. I ask because whatever they are doing is not solving the homeless situation. Sorry you don't understand that mine was a heartfelt honest sincere question looking for answers. Words do matter. You just disrespected my method of communicating. I'll try harder. Will you, too, please. TY Your heart is in the right 95 place but you might consider that you're dictating how I should phrase questions. I won't be insulted, but you should know it stings.(edited) 2d 1 Tom Christopher Uptown South Lisa Stoutmoose I always try to improve. Phrasing a question properly will get both of us the answers we seek, rather than invoke a defensive action :). 2 days ago gpo +1 5 L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend Tom Christopher TY. Raised bilingual, I tend to phrase things a different way. I appreciate your patience.(edited) 2d 111011 M morningstar Garden • Uptown South Tom Christopher We would not be allowed to shame the few churches who are"do nothings" or self serving anyway. They are still our neighbors and it would be impolite. This is such a sad 96 'hot topic'(the homeless crisis and the"do nothings"). Thankful we are all talking about important issues. It is a place to start. Love you Neighbors so so much! Proper phrasing can be a challenge when there are so many cultures in a small space. If we care we just have to keep trying. 2 days ago 1 J Jim Scarantino • S Discovery Lisa Stoutmoose I'm not religious either,just a follower of Jesus Christ. Our church, New Life Church out on Hastings,just spent the morning distributing and delivering free food, including two huge loads for the Fairgrounds and the shelter. We have an unhoused couple living on our property and are working on a program to expand that ministry. We have a fund that pays utilities, food, transportation and rental fees on a case-by-case basis. We have provided vehicles to those who needed them badly We have people in our worship on Sunday who might well be on the streets but for finding a place to encounter Jesus and experience Him defeating their addictions and demons. We always need to do more. We try our best, but know it is never enough considering all that has been done for us. Peace.(edited) 2d 1100 • • 4 L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend Jim Scarantino Humbled. You are a fabulous person. Much appreciated. Thank you for sharing. (As a side note: Religious, for me and others like me, is defined as relating to a church or believing, w like followers, in a god of historic leadership like Christ, Mohammad, L Ron Hubbard, etc. In other words: any entity w tax free status.) TY again.(edited) 2d 41100 97 1 J Jim Scarantino • S Discovery Lisa Stoutmoose I am not a fabulous person, not close. Just a follower of Jesus Christ stumbling forward over my own two feet, but still moving forward. 2 days ago Like Reply Share 41110 L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend Jim Scarantino Q 2 days ago Add a reply...] L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend 98 Got an email from Greg. Much appreciated. Why does Brotherton keep calling our homeless population "campers." They aren't campers. They are homeless. Also, he won't respond to my suggestion to go camping for a week at the quarry. Somewhat expected. Oh well.(edited) 2d 411. 41 2 L liz Faconer • Port Townsend South Talked to him this afternoon. What I heard loud and clear is that there is"tons of grant money" for this stuff right now and they think it is a good thing to get it I asked the question many many times what are you gonna do when your 10 beds are full and 1000 people are being shipped here from Seattle-Cities are buying beds in other cities to ship their homeless there-so they get grant money and they get money from other cities to take their homeless drug addicts and then they leave and go work somewhere else People are silly-they are greedy and I think this is what they see. 2 days ago io L Lisa Stoutmoose Port Townsend I had no idea 1 day ago 2 Carolyn Costain Port Townsend South 99 I recently ran into my nephew's ex-wife who is homeless (has lived in the mill trails and fairgrounds) and deals with substance addiction at the sea breeze gas station . She proudly told me that she had moved to Seattle. For a minute I thought wonderful, she's found sobriety. Well, she went on to tell me how great the services for the home less are in Seattle and how moving to the city streets was an upgrade. My son has volunteered and worked with a young woman who relocated from the Tr-Cities with her children by government services there because services are better here. They kinda shuffle from one place to another never improving their circumstance. This is a part of the problem. 4 hr ago s • 1 Add a reply... 1 morningstar Garden • Uptown South Yep-Why isn't the area near the DSHS building that they just cleared and gave away acres of lumber considered as a campsite? Personally I don't think we should accept any new folks homeless or otherwise. 2 days ago Cherish Cronmiller • Southwest Port Townsend morningstar Garden the actual land being considered is further back, not cleared enough right now. 1 day ago ioo • • 1 M morningstar Garden • Uptown South Cherish Cronmiller Lets put them in the DSHS parking lot and they can clear their own space , Thanks Cherish in addition to the dog that you have I suggest a good moisturizer. All this incompetence and opposition can really give folks wrinkles. I can not imagine your level of frustration and exhaustion. 1 day ago gir M A 1 Add a reply... Patrisha Voelker Four Corners I just want to weight in here. The homeless situation has been the subject of endless conversations, conducted by government officials, charities and the concerned. This has be a matter of concern for over twenty years with no solution in sight. It involves the mentally unstable, people with substance abuse and individuals down on their luck. That's really three separate issues with one common denominator, homelessness. Everyone wants to help but then again, no one wants it in their back yard so that eliminates a good portion of Port Townsend, Hadlock, Port Ludlow and all the places in between. Perhaps the solution would be to concentrate on one issue and not the homeless as a whole. What would be the easiest? Maybe finding a safe place for the homeless that do not have substance abuse and mental issues. Next secure help for the people with mental issues and then addressing the biggest 101 issue would be substance abuse. All I know is that for 20+years, the homeless is still the topic of conversations because it has not been resolved. I don't have a solution and I'm not pointing fingers nor passing blame. It's just puzzlingly that it's still a problem that's not getting any better.(edited) 1d e e Or 4 L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend Thank you for saying it so well. 1 day ago 1. 1 Jill Allison • Uptown South The issue of homelessness is about to be something that people will not be able to ignore. The moratorium regarding not paying rent during the pandemic lockdown is about to expire. Folks are going to be expected to pay back rent-there will be many people without homes. During the 1930's depression, my mother told me that lots of folks who could afford to, had a pot of soup on the stove for homeless folks that came to their houses and knocked on their doors asking for help. We live in a very different world now, but hopefully those of us who can will donate more to food banks and other charity organizations that help homeless people. 1 day ago 2 102 J Jim Scarantino • S Discovery Jill Allison The situation today is far better economically than during the Great Depression, yet we have a homeless population far greater, more destitute and more ill than anything seen during the 1930s. Families were much stronger then, for one thing. Where are the families of the homeless today?That is but one indicia of the cultural decline driving homelessness and transiency. There is also an attitude now that homelessness should not be stigmatized, whereas during the Great Depression being a hobo was not a marker of respect. Drug addiction, fueled by Mexican cartels, is destroying entire communities. It will take rebuilding communities, curing the disaffiliation and disengagement, before we make any headway. Giving socks and cans of soup to the food bank won't do it. A much more foundational approach is required to rebuild lives and the networks that kept much more destitute Americans in the past from living in cardboard boxes and tents.(edited) 1d 1 Jill Allison • Uptown South Jim Scarantino I do not think the issue of homelessness will ever be cured. There are so many issues that are in need of attention-and probably most of them are not going to be'cured'. After a lifetime volunteering for and working at low income medical clinics, I came to the conclusion that the best we can do is offer individual support where we can-not just do nothing because the big picture is bleak. I did volunteer acupuncture for homeless people at tent cities and some indoor shelters at churches in Seattle for a number of years. When one homeless person got up off of my table and felt better for a few hours, I felt I had done something worthwhile. So, while socks and cans of soup are not going to solve the larger problem, they will help individuals who are homeless feel better, and also let them know someone out there cares. It is worth a lot. I also volunteered for a group called 'Food not Bombs' in Seattle. These people got left over restaurant food (that included vegetables, etc.) , cooked some of it and served at homeless encampments. This would be a great thing to have in Port Townsend. I am much older now and do not have the 103 energy to start anything like this, but I would definitely donate what I could to something like this. Jim Scarantino, are you up for doing something like this?Step up where you can. 1 day ago 2 Y Y Jill Allison • Uptown South Jim Scarantino, I do not know who you talk to, but I hear a lot of stigmatization of homeless people. I am not so sure the economic situation is much better than during the depression years. We are at the tip of a melting iceberg and a big chunk is about to break loose when the moratorium is lifted. Our government is giving out stimulus checks that will not help a family on the verge of homelessness do more than buy some expensive groceries (and the price of everything, rent and food included) keeps rising. The money the government is giving out does not have anything 'real' backing it. Some day, probably in the not too distant future, the cost of printing money with no assets behind it is going to come home to roost in this country. The extremely rich people have international assets and will weather the break down of our economy. The rest of us will be'eating cake'-sound familiar? 1 day ago Add a reply... M morningstar Garden • Uptown South 104 When we look at some of the delightful choices made by elected officials and neighbors over the last 20+years it gets a bit easier to point the finger and place blame- mainstreet, realtors, elected officials over looking illegal vacation rentals and leash laws have caused a lot of problems over that period of time. It also seems that most funding for housing is from grants for substance abusers. I want them in every neighborhood in groups of 5 or so. 1 day ago 41. N Norton and Sharon Couron • Southwest Port Townsend There are a number of trails that take off from this property. We, along with many other people, horse riders, bike riders, people walking their dogs, hikers and young children use this property and the trails every day. Just yesterday, while out for my daily hike with our dog, I ran into about 15 bike riders on these trails. The proposed camp will allow the people they plan to put there easy access to every property adjacent and nearby. The proposed camp will also block transition from one trail to others. This is not a knee jerk reaction -this is matter of safety for our families at home and on the trails as well as our property. 1 day ago 41100 x+1 2 J Jim Scarantino • S Discovery Why not a property inside the city, say Sather or Chetzemoka Park or Kah Tai, or the courthouse park?This is primarily a Port Townsend issue. People in the county should not be forced to solve the city's problem. The city has done very little even with the Fairgrounds camp, except by way of police responses. They blocked OlyCaps'effort to manage the Fairgrounds as an emergency shelter, with enforced rules that would have prevented the rampant drug use and drug dealing out there.(edited) id 105 4100 M morningstar Garden • Uptown South There are heaps of open space that would work better that no one is using. 1 day ago 1 S Sue Bradley • Uptown Thank you everyone who has made suggestions, expressed concern and shown interest in a real life situation. Does anyone know how many homeless people there are in the Port Townsend area?Or where I can find out? 1 day ago 1 Jill Allison • Uptown South https://static1.squarespace.cam/static/566631 e8c21 b864679fff4de/t/5d434f685800cf0001847e2 0/1564692373569/2019+PIT+Report_FI NAL.pdf this URL is a bit dense, but it will give you the 'real' meaning of counting the amount of homeless in an area 1 day ago 106 Cherish Cronmiller • Southwest Port Townsend Sue Bradley anyone who claims to give you a number is pulling from their tuches. Each "count" uses a varying definition of"homeless." Point in time counts are notoriously inaccurate. After a year here, not counting people in shelters, and not counting people couch surfing, or living illegally on land with permission-just counting those relying on tents, cars, RVs who have ties to this county = 80? But again, that leaves out other demographics that do need served. Also, come June 30th, we could see an onslaught of"soft"evictions. Hence my desire to try and find safe locations for families and workers. 1 day ago 4 Jill Allison • Uptown South Sue Bradley-excuse me for the URL I sent, old age, I guess. I thought you asked about Portland Oregon-oops! 1 day ago Add a reply... Cherish Cronmiller • Southwest Port Townsend 107 I have to write grants, and get through emails today. I promised Penny some beach time and then bath at self wash. So, I can't spend too much time on social media today. If you tag me, I'll try to get to your question. Meanwhile, before you decide to speak against this location, where do you suggest the Fairgrounds population goes? Right now, if the county follows their ordinance, that means only 38 people could use this parking lot area as emergency overflow shelter(b/c Peter's Village of 12 units would count against the 50 permissible units by ordinance.) So, that would be 38 people/households, who would have to be in fenced in area. They could "self govern"but if they failed to follow certain things, they would be subject to removal. We only have about 10 open slots at emergency shelter in PT at basement of the legion. These folks don't like the space b/c they are partnered, or have a pet, or are storing stuff in RV or car, and don't want to be removed, etc. I would commend the county for at least trying? I am not aware of any city plans at this time. They may have something? But they have not worked with OlyCAP on the matter. 1 day ago s • 2 Laurie Riley • Port Townsend South It seems to me that it makes more sense to"ride the horse in the direction it's going". Very few folks will move out there where there is no transportation, no water, nowhere to obtain food, no quick access to law enforcement, etc. There's a REASON homeless folks use KahTai - it's near Safeway, the Co-op, and the bus line. This town has a huge unused lot, with restrooms, across the street from Safeway, that would be plenty large enough for 50 or more people to set up camp. And close enough to town to police properly. Why no one with authority seems to care enough to consider it is beyond me. 1 day ago 41. + . 6 Tom Christopher • Uptown South 108 Laurie Riley please read the prior comments from board member email responses. That will all be provided. 1 day ago Laurie Riley • Port Townsend South Tom Christopher A shuttle is not a bus line(and will cost the city), I understand there is no hot water, and it certainly is not near a market. I suppose"provision of food" means they'll rely on Bayside Housing which delivers one meal a day MOn-Fri at the fairgrounds. 1 day ago 41111, Laurie Riley Port Townsend South Tom Christopher The responses you are referring to were not yet posted when I wrote my comment. Keep in mind that responses to specific previously-made comments can be made after a comment on an original post is made. The timeline does not follow what appears first in the thread. 1 day ago 2 Tom Christopher • Uptown South Laurie Riley Yes, the timeline can be weird on Nextdoor. My suggestion to people is start at the original posts, and make sure to click on compressed "more comments"links, so they expand 109 and you can see everything. Very informative posts (email content sent to people here who contacted them)from the commissioners. As well, be sure to attend tomorrow(Monday, 6/14) board meeting via Zoom. https://co.jefferson.wa.us/492/Board-of-County-Commissioners when I get these valid issues being raised will be discussed (hoping). 12 hr a+o Tom Christopher • Uptown South Laurie Riley This would be, as far as I know, a county expense, not city. 12 hr ago M morningstar Garden • Uptown South Tom Christopher With county accessing federal grants for providing the"service"of sheltering these folks from our tourists and wealthiest residents. 9 hr ago L Lisa Stoutmoose Port Townsend morningstar Garden How about the golf course? 8 hr ago 1 M morningstar Garden no • Uptown South Lisa Stoutmoose Absolutely not- it would also be in violation of the agreement we made with the families who donated the property. I would love to see a few habitat houses along the edge . No one is interested in that. We have lots of better spaces I am just not sure what that commisioner is thinking. 8 hr ago 1 Laurie Riley • Port Townsend South Tom Christopher Whichever-doesn't matter-still an expense. 5 hr ago k Tom Christopher • Uptown South Laurie Riley Well, yes, any solution is going to be an expense. 5 hr ago Laurie Riley • Port Townsend South Tom Christopher So... use the money realistically. Why spend it to shuttle people around from an impractical location when it could be used to provide a better one? 5 hr ago 111 M morningstar Garden • Uptown South Laurie Riley the priority is very clear and we are not allowed to discuss it here. 5 hr ago q 1 Tom Christopher Uptown South Laurie Riley That is the quest of the site search, which per prior comments, has been pretty exhaustive. This is a temporary solution (of course, that may be months or years) until a permanent solution). I'm very hopeful about the much better, "in town"site near the Mill Rd and highway 20 intersection. It will be an interesting BOCC 9am tomorrow. https://cojefferson.wa.us/492/Board-of-County-Commissioners 5 hr ago L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend Tom Christopher People are brainstorming. Let them. 5 hr ago Add a reply... 112 J Jim Scarantino • S Discovery If the Fairgrounds encampment were relocated to somewhere prominent in Port Townsend, either among the homes of the wealthy (Sather or Chetzemoka Park or the community center grounds) or in view of tourists, it would prompt PT leadership to actually do something impactful quickly and get their priorities in order(instead of worrying about straws and light pollution). The affordability crisis in PT is a direct result of policies intended to make PT more exclusive. Higher real estate prices are a feature, not a bug, of PT's codes and regulations, and reflect the dominance of the real estate industry in political circles. Strong promotion of more blue collar jobs, such as the mill and small manufacturers and fabricators provide, would create good jobs that would enable people to afford housing. But I heard Mayor Michelle Sandoval at an affordable housing summit in 2017, following defeat of Prop 1, musing aloud whether closing the mill, the city's largest private employer, "might be a good thing."And no one called her out. There are few housing crises where there are plenty of good jobs in a balanced economy and where people have incomes to obtain their own housing. Yes, there is rising demand for housing, but the artificial, legislated restrictions on supply are what stand in the way of meeting that demand. 1 day ago '4111 ' 4 M morningstar Garden • Uptown South Jim-with you on most of that-just don't believe that straws or lighting (or parks)are consuming too much time or any local funds. Would love to see mainstreet de funded or funded by real estate agencies who profit by the advertising. It is definitely getting worse not better with these people who want local families and elders out. Thanks for voicing some of these concerns. Even a public protest in view of court house and downtown would be a good idea for those who can afford it. Or for folks to see what it feels like to be without a home for one day. 1 day ago 1011 113 Tom Christopher • Uptown South Link to source please Jim "But I heard Mayor Michelle Sandoval at an affordable housing summit in 2017,following defeat of Prop 1, musing aloud whether closing the mill, the city's largest private employer, "might be a good thing.""Thanks 12 hr ago • s 2 T Tiffany Drewry • Southwest Port Townsend The Martin vs Boise case is about enforcement. In a nutshell law enforcement is not allowed to prosecute"camping "ordinances or sleeping in public spaces if there is not enough bed/shelter space for evening lodging. I do not think it is interpreted as requiring cities and counties to allow tent encampments. Although some cities and counties do. With very strict guidelines. There are also strict guidelines for emergency housing and I can not imagine that the current proposed site would for within those perimeters.(edited) 8h 1 M morningstar Garden • Uptown South Tiffany Drewry This site only benefits realtors and dealer/users.This is the perfect spot for good folks to be taken advantage of by bad . Super-women and elderly people with no access to 911 and cops not being able to check in regularly. If the fairgrounds was such a problem putting these folks out of site of tourism will make dailyliving worse for many homeless folks.The worst 114 part of this is that anyone who attempts to find a safe place in the trees alone can be forced to leave that spot and go to this dangerous location.(edited) 11h 2 J Jim Scarantino • S Discovery Tom Christopher I was there. As I said, I heard it. It was the OlyCap housing summit held at 7 Cedars following the defeat of the Prop 1 property tax. She was one of several on a panel of local leaders. 11 hr ago 2 Tom Christopher • Uptown South Jim S.What were her reasons for saying that? 11 hr ago T Tiffany Drewry Southwest Port Townsend I agree. It is not safe. 11 hr ago 41, 115 J Jim Scarantino • S Discovery Tom Christopher It was said in a discussion on affordable housing, against the backdrop of defeat of Prop 1. That's all I can offer by way of explanation. The mill employs close to 300 people, who likely have families. That translates into 300 salaries that support housing, childcare, education, healthcare, clothing and food for working families. That does not include the multiplier effect, of truckers, contractors, suppliers, barge crews, etc. who serve the mill. So I cannot fathom why an elected official would even entertain the thought of closing down the mill. That is why I have never forgotten it. 10 hr ago 411, M morningstar Garden • Uptown South Jim S. Poor people and working families are gross and we don't line realtors pockets the way Professional families do. Speculation of course. 10 hr ago 1 J Jennifer Hefty Larry Scott Trl Jim Scarantino Perhaps the thinking was if there are no jobs for those 300 families they would have to move--housing shortage problem solved. Very sad. 10 hr ago 116 " , 2 Tom Christopher • Uptown South Jennifer Hefty Oh please. 10 hr ago M morningstar Garden Uptown South Jennifer Hefty And more revenue for realtors as they sell these 300 homes again. 10 hr ago 1 J Jennifer Hefty • Larry Scott Trl Tom Christopher Just a thought, I wasn't there and neither were you. 10 hr ago Like Reply Share glIP 117 1 Tom Christopher • Uptown South Jim S. I'll ask her about it. 10 hr ago • • gip 2 L Lisa Stoutmoose Port Townsend Tom Christopher I had a long conversation w Sandoval awhile back about our homeless, or I should say she talked to me. She was extremely defensive and kept talking about fights. That everything was a big fight. When all was said, I got the clear impression she's not the right person for the job.As well, isn't it a huge conflict of interest being the biggest realtor and being mayor? Kinda like nepotism. 8 hr ago A Andre Wilson • Port Townsend Tom Christopher Seems like the writer said they heard Sandoval say this. So the writer is the reporting source. Not everything that is said at meetings is faithfully captured by recording mechanisms and, even when it is captured it can be difficult to track down the recordings or notes. I too prefer to see sources. However, it seems to me that the supposedly neighborly nature of ND allows for people to share honest recollections of what has been said or what transpired without a constant call for backing it up e.g., with an online link. 118 8 hr ago 1 Tom Christopher Uptown South Andre Wilson because ND does not allowing shaming public officials.. Anyway, if she did say it or not, I would like the context.. I've asked her and will report back. E. G. if I overheard someone say so and so is a child molestor.. should feel free to post that person's name?There are gray areas of course but I question nonsensical ones like she would wish the mill and good paying jobs to be lost. 7 hr ago • s v 1 L Lisa Stoutmoose Port Townsend Tom Christopher Reporting what a politician says is not shaming that political figure. 7 hr ago 1 L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend Jim Scarantino I think she's frustrated.(edited) 6h 119 J Jim Scarantino • S Discovery Lisa Stoutmoose In this same thread others have posted what they heard other elected officials say. It is done regularly on this site, as in discussions of conflicts with one particular individual living in the Fairgrounds, the man with a black dog, initials PR. 6 hr ago 1 Tom Christopher Uptown South Michelle(Mayor of PT) got back to me. She categorically denied ever making such a statement, and certainly does not want the Mill to close. It would be a, duh, huge impact on the community. The jobs, the tax revenue lost(which funds city projects), etc.. So there, you have two sources. Perhaps you just misheard her Jim. Closing the Mill would benefit no one (except for people suffering from the smell). 5 hr ago ♦ Carolyn Costain • Port Townsend South Tom Christopher the mayor who's a realtor?That one?The one that has benefited from property deals here in the city?That one? Hmm. Here buddy who also was in public service called me off the record of course about how to manipulate the situation when there was an 120 property line dispute on property my family owned. There are underhanded dealings in this community all the time. Fact. 4 hr ago 1 Tom Christopher • Uptown South Carolyn Costain Not sure of your point?You actually think she would want the Mill closed and the devastating effect on the community??????That is the discussion. 4 hr ago Carolyn Costain • Port Townsend South Tom Christopher just pointing out that all kinds of things are spoken off the cuff and the intent can be misconstrued. You discount what the author believes he heard and that is disrespectful. 4 hr ago L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend Tom Christopher Being mayor and one of the top realtors is a conflict of interest. You've lived here how long? 4 hr ago 121 • Carolyn Costain • Port Townsend South Tom Christopher I've watched the mayor in action for decades Tom, both in her capacity as a public servant and her involvement in real estate development/sales as a private citizen. 4 hr ago Tom Christopher • Uptown South Lisa Stoutmoose I agree with you. A certain level of public officials (perhaps the PT mayor, city council, city manager, others in top decision asset/spending positions, should divest or put their businesses into a blind trust, or otherwise have nothing to do with the business while they hold that position. 4 hr ago 411. Tom Christopher • Uptown South Carolyn Costain Yep. I do discount it, and that is my opinion, which I have the right to hold (in this case, influenced by other knowledge that I will not discuss here). I just suggested that he might not have heard accurately, especially since he said no one else spoke up at the time. That is not disrespectful. 4 hr ago 1 122 Carolyn Costain Port Townsend South Tom Christopher I've lived through mill closures and restructuring when families have had to move from town to survive. My family was impacted when the state closed fort Worden as a juvenile detention institution . Multiple families lost their jobs and housing. They moved on. It is not something anyone wants to see happen. Sadly, it has and could again and people would adapt and find solutions. 4 hr ago X ilk } Carolyn Costain • Port Townsend South Tom Christopher yes. It's disrespectful just as if he discounted something you experienced. Your reply sounds condescending and declares his experience as untrue. 4 hr ago 4 L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend Carolyn Costain truth 4 hr ago L Lisa Stoutmoose • 123 Port Townsend Tom Christopher Can a lead police his own posts? 4 hr ago Carolyn Costain • Port Townsend South Tom Christopher you went a step beyond suggesting Tom when you declared you'd ask our mayor and then posted that she'd replied saying she'd never said that. You could have just respected his experience and moved on. 4 hr ago 111.1 D David Given Port Townsend South Tom Christopher Really?With what we pay them?There don't seem to be people lining up to compete for these jobs now. One city council seat will be filled unopposed in the next election and one current council member retired because she couldn't do both her day job and fulfill her council obligations at what she deemed to be an acceptable manner. Divestion makes sense for the President of the US, but for the mayor of a town of less than 20,000 people? I don't think so . 4 hr ago D David Given Port Townsend South Lisa Stoutmoose I don't know, but he sure managed to question the credibility of the source, as many in town would, in a polite way! 124 4 hr ago Tom Christopher • Uptown South Carolyn Costain Sorry about that, but in these days of mis and disinformation, I have a lower level of tolerance, and with better sourcing. Whether Jim just heard wrong or not is not the issue. It is unfair to publicaly shame or misstate people's positions. She is Mayor, so I thought getting her response was appropriate, rather than people believing that she actually would want the Mill closed. 3 hr ago s a 1 M morningstar Garden • Uptown South Tom Christopher this is really silly-with that logic we should not believe your quote of Sandoval either 3 hr ago M morningstar Garden • Uptown South David Given Now we have someone from Fort worden hospitality running to protect the interests of that-PDA structure. It is a mess 3 hr ago Like 125 Carolyn Costain Port Townsend South Tom Christopher she's a public official and as such as opened herself up to public comment and criticism whether the view fact or fiction. Leave wading through the BS to the individual. 3 hr ago Add a reply...I )1. 3 Sonny Flores • Port Townsend Besides Commisioneer's, The city manager brought up the fact of families with kids and displacement as in dispersing the fairgrounds population would affect families with kids. He is also a person who you can email, he seems to be open to dialogue. Email:jmauro@cityofpt.us 1 day ago s S . 1 L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend Hi Sonny. Did you removed your post on brotherton's remarks from KPTZ? Or did someone else post that? 5 hr ago 126 rif,„ Sonny Flores • Port Townsend Lisa Stoutmoose I did remove the initial email, it was a response to my mail to me, felt that thats where it should stay. Since many other commissioners have chimed in (matter of public record) I will repost his response. 1: Currently, our emergency Homeless ordiancne would only allow 38 residents at the camp, but yes that is a real possibility-especially with the eviction moratorium coming to an end. 2. the fairgrounds has supplied basic services, water, power, etc. Who will monitor the proposed camp?Who will pay for the service that will be needed, water, power setup, and as winter comes will the county&city provide winter shelters on site?Answers : The County will hopefully pay for services and minor infrastructure, including fencing, sanicans and handwashing and potable water and emergency fire water on site-and electricity. It will have more monitoring from Olycap Bayside and Dove house than we currently have, and as an "Emergency Shelter"we will have more control about behavior and residency. Transportation services. I'm working with Jefferson Transit on getting a daily shuttle to town (where we will also open showers). Have you spoke to the residents who live near the proposed camp?Answer: I did not speak to them before. No one want a tent encampment near them, but there is a lot of elbow room here. As you are aware, this is not just a Port Townsend issue, it is a nation wide issue hitting cities across America. I'm committed to doing what I can. It is much better to have the group together and accessing services than having them disappear into the woods, I believe. 4 hr ago L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend Sonny Flores Thanks very much. 4 hr ago Add a reply...' 127 T Tiffany Drewry Southwest Port Townsend https://library.municode.com/wa/thurston_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeld=TIT23OLU RGRARZO_CH23.45HOEN_23.45.080REAP This is a municipal code for approved homeless encampment procedures from Thurston County. It is extremely detailed. Includes a very transparent process for all stake holders and very explicit cite and safety rules. Does jefferson county have a similar code?And what legal document is the city and county using for the" emergency shelter" .(edited) 1d 2 j,;,t gina mcmather • Southwest Port Townsend Hey everybody, There was a meeting of concerned citizens on Loftus Road tonight and the opposition to the horrible proposed location of the homeless shelter is under way. 1st order of business is to attend the county commissioners zoom meeting Monday morning at 9 a.m. More community opposition meetings next week. Please go and join the new Facebook group Loftus Rd encampment for more information and join the effort. Time is short!(edited) 1d 4111. L Lisa Stoutmoose • Port Townsend Some of us boycott Facebook. Please ask them to create a nextdoor group. TY(edited) 128 8h 41. A Andre Wilson • Port Townsend Lisa Stoutmoose Trouble is, there are also many people who boycott ND. My spouse for example. And so some people use FB but not ND and for some it is the other way around/(PM me if you want to know why some folks boycott ND. The last time I discussed this openly on ND my posts were deleted.)(edited) 8h 2 gina mcmather • Southwest Port Townsend Lisa Stoutmoose A neighbor had the same complaint but as I pointed out to him, this is the kind of situation social media is good for. So why not join temporarily to stay current with group? 7 hr ago 1 L Lisa Stoutmoose Port Townsend 129 gina mcmather thanks but no thanks. I spend too much time on my devices as it is. I'll rely on folks here keeping us updated. Thanks. 7 hr ago Add a reply... 1 Tom Christopher • Uptown South The ZOOM meeting link for the Monday, June 13 9am BOCC meeting. https://co.jefferson.wa.us/492/Board-of-County-Commissioners 11 hr ago • 1 M morningstar Garden Uptown South in fact we should make a new rule that all of our elected officials need to have private interests or just don't bother running. 5 hr ago 4. Carolyn Costain Port Townsend South 130 You mean there isn't such a rule in place already? 4 hr ago 1 Tom Christopher Uptown South You want our elected officials to have"private interests"? I'm not getting it. 4 hr ago Carolyn Costain • Port Townsend South Tom Christopher sarcasm Tom. Sarcasm. 4 hr ago Tom Christopher • Uptown South Carolyn Costain Oh :)duh 3 hr ago 4 Carolyn Costain • Port Townsend South 131 Tom Christopher you said you weren't getting it. There's the condescending attitude... Duh... that's special from a lead. 3 hr ago Tom Christopher • Uptown South Carolyn Costain Condescending because I was too dense to get the sarcasm?OK, I give up. 3 hr ago 2 Carolyn Costain • Port Townsend South Tom Christopher don't be coy. It's not uncommon for your comments to be called out as condescending. You know exactly what I'm referring to. 132