|
LETTER: Temp housing for illegal campers, not 'stay-warm fires' Dec. 9, 2017I do not want to sound heartless, but I do believe that there are more humane and also cost-efficient ways to manage the problem of homelessness and fires for warmth. First, did we miss something here? As a police sergeant said in a recent Westside Pioneer article on "stay-warm fires," many of the illegal camps include people who are drinking or doing drugs. Has anyone put a pencil to the cost of A) fighting the fires, B) law enforcement and C) businesses being closed? My guess is that these costs would greatly exceed that of temporary housing, even if it was a specifically designed holding cell overnight to meet the needs for safety and well-being of those involved. Let's think “out of the box” and come up with a win-win solution. Pat Foltz (Opinion: Letters) Would you like to respond? The Westside Pioneer welcomes letters at editor@westsidepioneer.com. (Click here for letter-writing criteria.) |