Vancouver attorney Angus Lee believes the future of our community hinges on active civic participation
D. Angus Lee
For Clark County Today
Visualize, for a moment, the picturesque landscapes that once defined Clark County. From vibrant parks buzzing with mothers and children to pristine streets, this was a place that epitomized community spirit. But in recent years, there’s an undeniable shadow that has been cast on this vision – the proliferation of “day camping.”
For those of us with deep roots in Clark County, the changes have been startling. The bustling streets of yore now echo with caution. The iconic park near the Marshall Center, which once resonated with the laughter of children, has become a no-go zone for many mothers. The very essence of community safety and cleanliness seems to have been eroded.
Central to this decline are the “day camps,” which have swiftly become synonymous with crime, squalor, and disorder. Far from being innocuous shelters, these tents have been linked to drug distribution, criminal activity, and even death. Speak to any seasoned patrol officer or detective, and the narrative is consistent: these street tents are perilous to public safety.
Now, here’s where the urgent need for action crystallizes: The Clark County Council is actively deliberating the adoption of a local county code to ban day camping. This is a pivotal moment, and your voice, my dear friend, could make all the difference.
However, it’s crucial to debunk a persistent myth that these encampments have legal protection. Critics often cite the 2019 U.S. Court of Appeals ruling in Martin v. City of Boise to assert that the local government lacks the authority to restrict day camping. This is a gross misrepresentation. The court in Martin only asserted that individuals cannot be criminally prosecuted for sleeping outside on public property when they lack alternative shelter options. It made no mention of allowing permanent street tents. In fact, the Court clearly stated that the ruling does not prevent cities from regulating placement of tents.
What’s at stake isn’t just the aesthetic beauty of Clark County or its majestic Pacific Northwest landscapes. It’s about rectifying a blight that has gripped our community. With the potential for legislation to criminalize the unattended placement of tents on public property during the day, we have a tangible solution at hand.
The time to act is now my friend. Contact the County Council. Tell them we want clean and vibrant streets, not day camps. Make your voice heard and lend your steadfast support to the proposed ban on day camping. The future of our community hinges on active civic participation. Together, we can ensure the magnificent dawn of a renewed Clark County.
County Council Email:
- karen.bowerman@clark.wa.gov
- glen.yung@clark.wa.gov
- michelle.belkot@clark.wa.gov
- gary.medvigy@clark.wa.gov
- sue.marshall@clark.wa.gov
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Environmental Terrorism is Not a Solution to the Unhoused
Environmental terrorism consists of one or more unlawful or even hostile actions that harm or destroy environmental resources or deprive others of their use.
The city of Vancouver has housed the homeless alongBurnt Bridge Creek on land designated as non-buildable for years. The result is been devastating.
Please see the following link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ePAAV0Zqp9WVztO0Qmz7eWMtx4PetdGb/view?usp=drivesdk
Vancouver Sharehouse – no barrier Housing opportunity to live on the street and Sidewalks
Why has the city of Vancouver punished this neighborhood for years?
This is not only been a problem for the homeowners, but also for the residence of the sharehouse residents seeking sobriety and work.
It has been a constant pull up problem of crime and pollution.
Why does the city only selectively enforce the laws regarding the homeless?
This problem has gone on for years, but not in the mayors backyard. Why this neighborhood?
Link to Photographs
https://photos.app.goo.gl/mTaZHtwTCbzkrm8q7
Clark county has 4.7 million to remodel a floor for the incompetent election auditor who needs more room. Melneck asked for money to study racism in health care. The council gave large raises to staff and county workers during covid lock downs while most of the public wasn’t allowed to work! Cities and counties got money for enforcing lock downs, which didn’t apply to government or construction workers. They do have more money to build homeless encampments, tiny houses, or a kibbutz. The public should make demands.
It sounds nice to get rid of day camping but, where are the homeless to go? City parks, libraries, recreation departments?
People have the right to shelter themselves from the elements. Will they be banning umbrellas, tarps and canopies next, to block the sun or shade from rain?
I have been to some parks in Battleground, where the toilets were locked. No toilets or outhouses cause the fecal matter problem out there.
Do you want to give up our libraries to dirty, lice ridden, smelly homeless? Where do you think they will go? They should sit in the lobby of city hall if they can’t put up a tent or have a place designated to do so.
Homeless would be occupying all the outside benches!
Banning day camping doesn’t fix the problems of the homeless. When the weather changes, they need shelter from heat, cold, rain, and snow.
We have government wasteful spending and ridiculous needle handouts.
These lock downs, rising rents, government overspending, hyperinflation is only making matters worse.
Blame the greedy politicians. Pass a law to make them fix the homeless problems.
More senior citizens can’t afford rent, medicine, or food. We need to take care of our elderly homeless.
Speak up at the local level government to fix this. If they don’t fix it RECALL them.
Wasn’t $14 million spent to not elect Joe Kent? We need Joe Kent to get out of the UN.
Think what $14 million could have done for a rehab house or senior living for homeless.
People don’t disappear because they can’t put a tent up during the day! Volunteer for habitat for humanity.
Many are losing their housing due to rising costs. People moving here pay over the asking price for homes, Lndlords see this and decide tl sell rather than continue renting. People rent out rooms for air bnb which also takes rental options out of the market. Too many are losing housing due to no fault of their own. Politicians have failed miserablhy at addressing the issue.
Real Estate is an Investment vehicle for folks not willing to play the Stock Market. The homeless problem isn’t because of high Rents.During Covid Tennants were told you don’t have to pay rent and the Landlord can’t evict. Property taxes still went up and Landlords were given zero leniency in paying it. My Dad worked with the Homeless in Portland for seven years, and 90% or more were addicted to drugs/alcohol making them unemployable. There is big money in homeless industry-Seattle spends over 1 Billion
a year on it, follow the money.