2021/03/03 Council Agenda Packet

Deb Williams From: Mary Helen Dean <maryburkedean@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2021 5:52 PM To: DL-Council Subject: CB-2102-06 Each of the 13 Major religions of the world, have as their major tenant: Love your neighbor as yourself. See poster. Ecclesiasticus says: Endear yourself to the assembly; 1 before the city's ruler, bow your head. Give a hearing to the poor, and return their greeting with deference; Deliver the oppressed from their oppressors; right judgment should not be repugnant to you. / Be like a father to orphans, / and take the place of a husband to widows. / Then God will call you his child, / and God will be merciful to you and deliver you from the pit. Today I am speaking to you, our City's rulers. I am speaking for those like the afore mentioned Poor, orphans, widow, for those in the margins, as we address what this city will be in the future and what we will stand for. With one hand you give ...pallet shelters and the other you taketh away...This is a familiar response- "not in my neighborhood." I am here to beg you and implore you to be the person who does for others what you would like to have done for you. So many of us are all for the Pallet Shelters described in this proposed ordinance. However, the no sit or lie ordinance is truly a punishment for being homeless. This city and this county have shelter for less than 50% of the people who are experiencing homelessness. The 30 or so people who might be helped with this new shelter option is only going to make a small dent in the over 500 people found without shelter in the county's most recent point in time count. What about the rest? The no sit, no lie ordinance is clearly cruel and unusual punishment. The Ninth District Court of appeals, in the City of Boise versus Martin case ruled: The agreement ensures people experiencing homelessness will not be cited or arrested for sleepingoutdoorswhen no shelter is available, and the