Homeless issue Public Comment from Seth HinckleyAimee Brunckhorst
From: Seth Hinckley <tlockr@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, December 12, 2022 5:02 PM
To: Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Subject: EXTERNAL Homeless issue
I have lived nearly my whole life in Montana, born and raised in Havre. My wife, four kids and I moved to Kalispell about
3 years ago. I own/operate a local business with 14 employees.
It has come to my attention that Kalispell's generous gestures to the homeless community has recently come under
serious abuse. I see dangerous garbage left out at our parks (especially Depot park) and I do not feel safe using the rail
trail.
My friends in first responder positions have confirmed what I have been worried is occurring, that surrounding towns
are shipping most of their transient folk to our city simply because "they have a warming center over there."
Clearly this is a significant betrayal to the trust that should exist between neighboring towns and should end
immediately.
I am afraid that the accommodations we are making as a community to those without homes of their own is becoming a
comfortable barrier that is preventing people from seeking sustainable solutions to their problems.
It would be one thing if our transient population was respectful and safe to those wishing to use public areas but that
does not seem to be the case any longer.
My wife is nervous to take our kids to the Kalispell library because of the many homeless people gathering and loitering
around the entrance. She still does go, because she values our kids' education and she is quite brave, but I personally do
not feel it is safe.
Seeing as how this issue is so widely known by our local leaders and their lack of effort to resolve the risk of danger
apparent, if anything should happen to my family at a park or at our library by a transient person that should have been
locked away years ago, I promise that I will file personal lawsuits against every member of the city council, ranking
members of the mayors office and police chief that has demonstrated a public distain for our personal safety and well-
being.
- Seth