Letter: Tri-Cities needs to deal with homeless in the right way
Has anyone noticed we are having a homeless migration into our area?
We need to have an ordinance against panhandling in our community. Our good weather and lax regulation is bringing an influx of homeless into the Tri-Cities. We have no less than six food banks in our community, and as the directors assistant at one of them, I do not see them come through our lines. Are we giving money for food that can be gotten for free at any Tri-City Food Bank, or are we supporting bad habits like tobacco, alcohol or drugs?
They reside in our recreation areas like The Canyon and off Columbia Park Trail, making recreation a must-carry activity. At least an ordinance would allow us to screen violators with a background check. The impact to local law enforcement dealing with this issue has to be recognized. It seems like there is someone on every exit.
It will take a greater budget to deal with this problem. Make a list to hand our new arrivals. Make it safe to drive in and out of our parking lots, show them where to get free food and services, and reclaim our corners.
Matthew Taylor, Richland
This story was originally published December 8, 2017 at 5:01 PM with the headline "Letter: Tri-Cities needs to deal with homeless in the right way."