I am writing to voice my opposition to the “Camping Ban” that is slated to be voted on at the February 11th Fremont city council meeting.
I am a resident of Fremont, and I am proud of our historically progressive response to our unhoused citizens. It is one of the reasons that I have chosen to live in and invest in this community. I deeply appreciate that Fremont has allowed encampments and has provided services including bathrooms, hand washing stations and refuse collection to people living outdoors.
I am proud that we have not criminalized people that are unhoused and have adopted the thoughtful and innovative Fremont Homelessness Response Plan. This is not the time to change our course. We must continue to focus on serving and supporting these most vulnerable members of our community.
I believe that there is a way to respond to the concerns that people might have about encampments AND continue to be compassionate and humane towards the people who are living outdoors because they have no other options. Fremont has an abundance of space – we have sprawling parks, religious institutions on large, underutilized parcels and many empty parking lots. We have the luxury and capacity to find appropriate locations for our unhoused citizens to reside.
Fremont is consistently identified by Forbes as the happiest place to live. As a result, we are in the public eye. Other communities look to us as an exemplary city. Let us, therefore, lead by example. Let us show the world that there is opportunity for happiness, safety, and quality of life for ALL of our citizens regardless of their economic status; in Fremont, we do not criminalize poverty.
I strongly oppose the “Camping Ban” and I hope that our City Council Members and Mayor will join me.
Sincerely,
Jean Milam
Fremont
