Kalispell vagrants and crime Public Comment from Jackie JohnsonAimee Brunckhorst
From: Jacqueline Johnson <Johnsonfamily@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2023 9:32 PM
To: Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Subject: EXTERNAL Kalispell vagrants and crime
I have lived in Kalispell 11 years and became a homeowner downtown one year ago. I am eager to state my position on
the crime and problems with the vagrants in town .
I am unable to use the parks and trails due to the huge increase in the homeless and transient population .
My kids and I had to stop
Using the library long ago due to being harassed by the homeless people in there - and one homeless man took my
daughter's picture ( she's a young adult ) in the upstairs section .
Something must be done now to stop enabling and allowing this increase in transients . The way they lay under our town
Christmas tree all summer and lay in the gazebo all Winter til now was unfair and unsafe to all the rest of the people .
I heard everyone at the meeting last night as I watched it online .
I am grateful for the experienced law enforcement officers and retired officers that spoke - and the business owners -
well I am amazed they remain here after everything I heard .
It's wrong and so depressing .
More nice people - like the mother who can't walk with her kids - will leave. I feel the same way and can't remember
the last time I was able to enjoy Lawrence park / woodland park / the rails to trails - loose dogs are also a danger .
It has been sad to take my visiting grandkids to their old favorites spots only to see homeless folk sprawled all over -
And even at the lakes - homeless with loose dogs even at lakeside .
"No dogs allowed "beaches - people disregard our rules and laws and they just must think " no one cares " in MONTANA
Well I am glad some do -
I am writing this in haste and just am glad some vocal and knowledgeable members of the community spoke up and I
will be watching this unfold - no way should we make our town a haven or refuge for transients and addicts .
Well -they obviously don't care about the business owners at all.
I really fear for the town now - change must happen quickly .
By the way - I care about the people but the town isn't supposed to get ruined because folks want to beg and get
handouts while they do drugs out in the park. -!
Some community members may want to woek with homeless - aren't there enough towns and cities in the USA that are
letting that happen ?
Why?
Well we don't have to let it happen.
Jackie Johnson
Kalispell
Sent from my iPhone