Tent cities: Spend money on other problems

Re: “Tent cities for Tacoma’s homeless are coming soon,” (TNT, 5/14).

What? Wait a minute! After reading several articles on homeless camp cleanups, and the fact that very few of those displaced were interested in any social services, I now read that Mayor Marilyn Strickland is advocating the creation of homeless camps in Tacoma.

To the estimated tune of $750,000 to a million dollars each a year to run? That’s a lot of moolah for people who don’t want it.

What about us taxpaying citizens who suffer from a shortage of law enforcement personnel, which we’re reminded of when cars pass us at 60 miles an hour and not a blue light in sight?

What about parking enforcement? Only two officers to patrol the city, as you see cars parked every which way in our neighborhoods.

Property crime enforcement? Or the crosswalk at a deadly intersection that my neighbors and I have been begging to be installed for years? Too expensive, says the city.

What about us? A property tax reduction? Perhaps free showers and garbage collection?

At least we should be able to choose between the free tent or shed that our homeless brethren will receive.

This story was originally published May 29, 2017 at 5:50 PM with the headline "Tent cities: Spend money on other problems."