After listening to public testimony on Oct. 14, the Palmer City Council voted to postpone taking action on an ordinance aimed at curtailing the growing problem of illegal camping in parks and other public properties within the city.
The hard-left ACLU of Alaska has been drumming up opposition to the ordinance, and celebrated the council members’ decision to put off a final vote until the Oct. 28 city council meeting.
In the days leading up to the Oct. 14 meeting, the ACLU sent out emails and social media alerts to foment resistance to the ordinance, claiming it is “inhumane” because it penalizes people for falling asleep on public property.
The ACLU has opposed similar efforts to address vagrancy and sprawling illegal encampments in Anchorage.
ALASKA WATCHMAN DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX
According to the ordinance, however, it aims to protect public safety and legal access to city facilities at a time when the city is experiencing a growing number of illegal homeless encampments and temporary shelters.
The proposed ordinance, which is scheduled as an action item at the Oct. 28 meeting, aims to preserve the intended uses of these community spaces. If approved, it would impose fines and remove personal property for unauthorized camping or sleeping with shelters, tarps or bedding on public property. This includes parks, streets, rights-of-way, public buildings, greenbelts and other municipal lands.
TAKING ACTION
— Click here for information on how to submit comments online via the Palmer City Clerk or testify in person on Oct. 28, 6 p.m. at Palmer City Hall.
— For more information about the upcoming meeting on Oct. 28, click here.
6 Comments
i appreciated your christian references that no one seems to want to publish.good thought provoking journalism
And Palmer is lost. Just like that. Good job, idiots. you’re not better than Anchorage and the rest of the craphole MOA.
There should be no camping by anyone in ‘ parks, streets, rights-of-way, public buildings, greenbelts and other municipal lands’. Vagrancy needs to be outlawed as well as panhandling. We do need more mental health and addiction treatment resources also. So much of the homeless problem is ultimately a mental health or addiction problem. Do not become Anchorage. They are a mess. Misplaced compassion. I live several miles out of Palmer but spend much time there and will send my sentiments to the city council for what it might be worth.
I have a mental health and addiction treatment facility…it’s called jail.
Jake your link above goes to an email for someone named Benji Johnson with no info on who that is. I would suggest sending comments to the city clerk to be forwarded to the council members. Here is a link that has the city clerk email.
https://www.palmerak.org/mayor-city-council
8% of Palmer showed up to vote in the recent election and they decided to elect a leftist mayor. Now this headline.
Why are you content to be ruled by those of such a rancid and hateful ideology that does not lead to human thriving? Do you lack courage and conviction?