2021/03/03 Council Agenda Packet

Deb Williams From: Brenda Bolanos-Ivory <bolanosivory@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2021 5:32 PM To: DL-Council Subject: Where will the people go? Please read at tonight's city council meeting. Brenda Bolanoslvory 5501 S. 2nd Avenue Everett 98203 Hi Everyone! Mayor and City Council Members, I'm urging you vote no on the "no sit, no stand" ordinance for Smith Avenue for many reasons that come from my four years working with adult men and women experiencing homelessness and addiction. There are many reasons against this ordinance. Here are three. 1. Where will they go? When the people are at the Smith Avenue bridge and are cleared by police, we see them in downtown Everett. Please check with police, but I bet there are more complaints by businesses and residents on cleanup days when they leave the Smith Avenue area. 2. People need to eat. People need to sleep. They line up on Smith Avenue daily at everett gospel mission's mealtimes and then to get a shelter bed for the night. This ordinance states they could be arrested for that. 3. Finally, Robert Smiley and the Hand Up Project and the Everett COET Team interact with these at -risk vulnerable equal residents of Everett. We get them to rehab and many services leading to health and housing. One our biggest problems is finding them again after they ask for help. Its easier when we know where they are. This law makes it harder and often impossible to find them.