2021/03/03 Council Agenda Packet

Deb Williams From: Sent: To: Subject: Robert O'Neal <roneal@snocopda.org> Wednesday, March 03, 2021 11:53 AM DL-Council Do Not Approve CB 2102-06 (criminalizing and persecuting homelessness in Everett) As a citizen, homeowner, and taxpayer in Everett for more than 17 years, I stand opposed (and appalled) at this bill. The council cannot legislate away poverty, mental illness, and substance abuse, the primary drivers of homelessness. This bill will do nothing to remove unhoused people from the streets of Everett; it will merely displace them to other parts of the city and likely contribute to unnecessary jailing and congestion of the court system. It will improve life for exactly nobody in Everett, and in fact will make life considerably worse for the victims of this law (i.e. anyone subject to its penalties). Every dollar the council anticipates paying police and other city employees to actually enforce this law should instead be redirected to social services that actually address poverty, mental illness, and substance abuse. That money will no doubt be inadequate, but it will still be better spent than it would be on this law to persecute the poor in our community. Robert O'Neal Snohomish County Public Defender Association 425-339-6300 x 268 (I prefer email for most business: ronealOsnocopda.org) CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in this communication, including attachments is privileged and confidential and is intended for the exclusive use of the addressee. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please destroy any record of this e-mail and notify us by telephone at 425-339-6300 immediately. 1