Depot Park & Homeless Population Public Comment from Brandon RicheyAimee Brunckhorst
From: BRANDON RICHEY <brandonjrichey@comcast.net>
Sent: Saturday, January 21, 2023 5:02 PM
To: Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Cc: Randy.BrodehI@flathead.mt.gov; Pam.Holmquist@flathead.mt.gov;
Brad.Abell@flathead.mt.gov; edit@dailyinterlake.com; editor@flatheadbeacon.com
Subject: EXTERNAL Kalispell City Council Meeting, Public Comment on Depot Park &
Homeless Population
Honorable City Councilmembers:
I wanted to speak at the January 23, 2023 meeting however I will be out of town on business travel,
so please accept this note as my contribution to the public comment period.
I am one of the local citizens who have noticed the influx of bums roaming Kalispell's city streets and
camping in its parks, specifically at Depot Park's gazebo. I have contacted the Chief of Police about
the violations of the law I have seen the homeless population committing but have been rebuffed. My
request for enforcement of current laws on the Depot Park "homesteaders" was weakly dismissed
amongst an incorrect and misguided argument supporting the bums' Constitutional rights.
It is my understanding that The Council is now considering legislation that will require a special permit
to use the gazebo. Unfortunately, this idea is misguided and not a real solution. Moreover, laws that
attempt to "creatively" solve a tangential problem usually fail and create the need for more (likely
ineffective) laws.
More legislation puts an unfair burden on local residents wanting to use the park's amenities legally.
Moreover, the homeless industrial complex will simply manipulate this type of legislation, ultimately
monopolizing the park. The cancer will only grow and spread from there.
The only solution to the law violations in the park, irrespective of who is committing them, is
enforcement. Basic law enforcement, in coordination with the City and County District attorney, is the
key component of resolving a takeover by the drug -addicted, mentally ill and voluntary wanderers. I
understand we cannot "arrest our way" out of this problem, however, enforcement is the key, first
step.
I encourage the City Council to act courageously, putting the best interest of its citizens first, and
bypass the temptation of passing more and more meaningless, ineffective, deleterious and
burdensome legislation. Additionally, please do not surrender Kalispell to the woke arguments of
purportedly empathetic civic leaders. Instead, be true civic leaders and establish a multi -layered,
coordinated enforcement strategy to truly correct the blight, brought on by what is a pack of people
who lack the desire to obey the law. Find your inner -sheepdog and don't let the wolves into the flock.
Lastly, I ask The Council to recognize and act upon the call of Flathead County's Board of
Commissioners for regional cooperation, removal of infrastructure targeting homeless enablement
and their desire for "hard conversations" regarding this issue. If Kalispell and The County present a
united front against lawlessness, the homeless population will go back to being a problem of leftist -
lead cities.
Sincerely,
Brandon J. Richey
Marion, MT