This week, a tragedy in Atlanta reminds us of the urgent need for compassion and justice for our unhoused neighbors. Cornelius Taylor, a man experiencing homelessness, was tragically killed when his tent was bulldozed during a city sweep. This horrific incident is a devastating reminder of the dehumanizing impact of public encampment sweeps. As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy this coming week, let us reflect on his vision of a Beloved Community—one rooted in equity, justice, and compassion. Sweeping people away without alternatives is not justice; it is a systemic failure that perpetuates trauma, destroys lives, and prioritizes aesthetics over humanity. The Injustice of Sweeps Public sweeps are more than disruptive; they are dangerous and dehumanizing: • Lives are destroyed when people’s belongings, including vital documents, are confiscated or destroyed. • Communities are displaced with no real alternatives, forcing people to start over with nothing. • Trauma […]
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Petition Update: Immediate Action Needed as Bakerview Encampment Faces Clearing
Thank you to everyone who continues to support this petition and stand up for our unhoused neighbors. In a recent packed meeting room filled with outreach organizations, media, neighbors, government officials, and businesses affected by the Bakerview Rd “Jack in the Box” encampment, a critical suggestion emerged: The county has stated the Severe Weather Shelter can operate for up to 55 days with the current budget. With the encampment clearing and cleaning planned for the week of January 20, 2025, we are urging the county to open the shelter for two full weeks starting January 15, 2025. Why This Makes Sense 1. Avoid Permitting Delays: Operating the shelter for two weeks surrounding the encampment clearing eliminates the need for additional permitting processes, which the county has noted are required for continuous operations beyond 14 days. 2. Provide Immediate Shelter: For those displaced by the encampment clearing, opening the shelter during […]
Read MoreFollow Up: The Inhumanity of Encampment Sweeps and 32F Shelter Thresholds
Dear Whatcom County and Bellingham City Leaders, This email serves as a follow-up to my November 21 letter (included below), which has yet to receive any response. The deafening silence on these critical issues is deeply troubling, especially as winter deepens and the urgency to protect our community’s most vulnerable residents grows. My earlier letter highlighted the need to raise the winter weather shelter operating threshold to 40°F and to end the harmful practice of encampment sweeps during cold weather. These are not abstract concerns—they are matters of life and death for hundreds of individuals in our community. The lack of engagement from city and county leadership on these issues is both disheartening and unacceptable. Critical Concerns 1. The Human Cost: The planned removal of 75–100 individuals from the Bakerview encampment in January, without adequate shelter alternatives or long-term housing solutions, is cruel and counterproductive. Displacing individuals during the […]
Read MoreBellingham and Whatcom Leaders – Raise Shelter Threshold & End Harmful Sweeps
To: mayorsoffice@cob.org <mayorsoffice@cob.org>, ccmail@cob.org <ccmail@cob.org>, hestone@cob.org <hestone@cob.org>, hahuthman@cob.org <hahuthman@cob.org>, dchammill@cob.org <dchammill@cob.org>, ehwilliams@cob.org <ehwilliams@cob.org>, laanderson@cob.org <laanderson@cob.org>, mlilliquist@cob.org <mlilliquist@cob.org>, Council <council@co.whatcom.wa.us>, CFrazey@co.whatcom.wa.us <CFrazey@co.whatcom.wa.us>, kgallowa@co.whatcom.wa.us <kgallowa@co.whatcom.wa.us>, bbuchana@co.whatcom.wa.us <bbuchana@co.whatcom.wa.us>, tdonovan@co.whatcom.wa.us <tdonovan@co.whatcom.wa.us>, tbyrd@co.whatcom.wa.us <tbyrd@co.whatcom.wa.us>, kkershne@co.whatcom.wa.us <kkershne@co.whatcom.wa.us>, belenbaa@co.whatcom.wa.us <belenbaa@co.whatcom.wa.us>, DTanksle@co.whatcom.wa.us <DTanksle@co.whatcom.wa.us>, ssidhu@co.whatcom.wa.us <ssidhu@co.whatcom.wa.us>, jcotton@cob.org <jcotton@cob.org>Subject: Raise Shelter Threshold & End Harmful Sweeps Dear Whatcom County and Bellingham City Leaders, I am writing to implore Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham governments to work together to raise the winter weather shelter operating threshold to 40°F, including wind chill, whichever is lower. I also urge you to end the counterproductive practice of sweeping homeless encampments during cold weather and to prioritize evidence-based solutions to address the fentanyl crisis. These interconnected issues require compassion, collaboration, and long-term planning—not punitive measures that worsen the challenges faced by our community. The Risks of the Current Shelter Threshold The current shelter threshold of 32°F does not account for the compounded dangers […]
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