Homelessness Issue, Specifically in Public Parks Public Comment from Alex MussoAimee Brunckhorst
From: Alex Musso <alex.l.musso@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, January 23, 2023 5:04 PM
To: Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Subject: EXTERNAL Homelessness Issue, Specifically in Public Parks...
Hello, this is Alex Musso. I am a resident of the city of Kalispell. I am writing to add my opinion to the discussion on
homelessness, particularly homelessness in our parks. I have had the unfortunate displeasure of encountering many of
these homeless individuals in many of our public spaces, and the first thing I can attest, at least in my personal
experience, is that these individuals are decidedly not simply down -on -their -luck locals with nowhere to go. I wish it
were that simple, as I doubt very many people would object to helping our neighbors in a time of need. But these are
not our neighbors. They are transients who exploit services in one area after another, moving on when they have worn
out their welcome.
As a resident and as a parent, I have witnessed first-hand the rise in this transient population. The Rails to Trails bike
path, which five years ago was a pleasant ride to Kila and back, is now littered with tents, abandoned campsites littered
with both trash and drug paraphernalia, and groups of these individuals increasingly gather and camp alongside the
trail. I no longer feel it is safe to take my family for a bike ride on these once -nice trails. Several city parks have
increasingly seen illegal, drug and paraphernalia -riddled campsites within walking distance of playgrounds. I have a
concealed carry permit and no longer go on bike rides (by myself) or take my family to the park without being armed. I
should not have to do this. Our street corners, right on Main Street sometimes, are increasingly where these
professional panhandlers ply their trade. These individuals vandalize public and private property, conduct drug deals in
public in broad daylight, and are in general both a blight and a danger to public safety. Quite frankly, I am sick of this.
I believe we as a city should take strong and immediate action on this issue. To start with, we should ban, completely
and entirely, panhandling. And enforce the ban. No more of this "20 feet from the corner" nonsense. Ban it
completely. We need not arrest anyone for panhandling, KPD should simply confiscate all their money and
property. Money funds the efforts to remove these individuals from our city, and the property, if possible, can be
donated to thrift stores or some other organization. Any animal they have with them should be confiscated and taken
to a local shelter. Leave these individuals with nothing but the clothes on their back. Second, we need to pass strong
anti -loitering laws. Individuals who are obviously transients and taking up residence in public parks or camping illegally
should be removed promptly and, again, have all their property and money confiscated. Third, I believe, if possible, that
all effort should be made to pass laws requiring organizations that serve homeless or underprivileged individuals and
families to verify local residency. Food banks should be asking for ID with a Kalispell/Flathead County address, for
example. A power bill, a Costco card, anything that shows a current local address. I believe we should be helping our
neighbors, but I also believe people should not be coming here from elsewhere to take advantage of services meant for
our struggling neighbors.
I understand that there will be a contingent in this community who will try to use religious language to guilt us into
doing nothing. They will call people like me all sorts of things, saying I don't care or I am hateful, or whatever. They will
demand that we simply do nothing, or that we should add even more services to help the homeless. While, again, I
agree we should help our neighbors, these people would have us simply stand by and watch as the problem worsens. I
believe that we can seriously deter transient homeless from coming to and remaining in this area simply by denying
them access to any public services, banning and enforcing bans on things like loitering, panhandling, and illegal camping,
and by actively confiscating their money and property. We don't need cops with billy clubs or vigilantes roaming the
parks, just make them miserable. If we don't take a hard line now, the issue will only worsen, and as it worsens, more
radical action will be required. So let's get a handle on it before we push the local population to the brink. Let's make
sure that there are no safe spaces for transients. Let's work to find ways to help our neighbors without enabling the
drug addicted criminals that drift from place to place, exploiting the good nature of the population. For may sake, the
sake of my family, and the sake of our city and community, please take a hard line against this issue. Better to do so
now than wait.
Thank You,
Alex Musso