COMMENTARY: Enact Ordinance 1653

Posted by Publisher on
Fairhope, Alabama

Update: The city council did override the veto.

OPINION PAGE


COUNCIL SHOULD ENACT ORDINANCE 1653

It's been said "the perfect is the enemy of the good."

The city council should override the mayor’s veto and enact Ordinance 1653 regulating overnight (10 PM - 6 AM) camping/sleeping in the city; in fact is there is already a similar one covering beaches (General Code: Chapter 6 -11).

Based on tried and true ones used by other cities, it has been fully tested and will serve as another tool to help police protect the heath, safety, and welfare of all citizens; tinkering with it now could raise legal validity issues down the road.

We are confident that  Police Chief Hollinghead, the mayor, and council will enforce it in a  compassionate and appropriate fashion, commensurate with traditional Fairhope community values (answerable to voters at election time).

Changes may be addressed by amendment later, if they should become necessary.


EDITOR


Comments

Unknown said…
Please enact this ordinance (on restricting over night sleeping) and give the FAIRHOPE Police the options to protect our citizens. GW
Sunday, August 25, 2019
Anonymous said…
I totally agree. Seattle and Portland and pretty much all of California 'de-criminalized' outdoor living, drug use, and outdoor 'bathroom use' several years ago. Since that time, their homeless populations have sky-rocketed and the big cities have spent hundreds of millions to no avail. Their homeless populations rose by double digits because they are now perceived as enforcement-free living. The police in those cities/states have nothing in their toolboxes to protect tax paying citizens/property owners. We need to give our police department whatever they need to do their jobs. As to 'Missy', she is as mean as a snake and is quite territorial (not to mention litigious). I was proud of the CC passing this legislation and hope that they veto Mayor Wilson (normally I am on her side, but this appears very arbitrary and I hope that she is not suggesting that Missy be allowed to remain on the loose here). She clearly has mental problems; I thought that she was perhaps old and senile but she is only in her forties. She needs to be with her family, who I understand are in Mobile and have welcomed her before. Only a matter of time before she harms someone here and the City is sued for mega millions because we allowed it. Again, the Mayor and Council need to indemnify the City if they are too blind to understand the potential for disaster here. The police department here has been terrific with the new Chief; give them what they need to assess and protect the City. Word of warning.......if Missy can live at the Library, Welcome Center and the Children's Park, so can everyone who chooses to.
Sunday, August 25, 2019
Textide said…
Is Wilson trying to turn Fairhope into Los Angeles east? I have no idea what our 'progressive' mayor has up her sleeve unless she planning to rent out her apartment balcony to the homeless...should hold twenty or so?
Monday, August 26, 2019
Anonymous said…
We need to get the homeless problem under control before it gets out of hand.
Monday, August 26, 2019
Anonymous said…
Wonder why the mayor seems to always be at odds with the council? The arguments that often take place at the council meetings are embarrassing. When is the mayoral election?
Monday, August 26, 2019
Anonymous said…
support our police and give them the tools thy want to do the job.
Monday, August 26, 2019
KD said…
Our quality of life, safety, and property values depend upon the veto override.

City Council, please finish what you judiciously started.

Monday, August 26, 2019
Anonymous said…
Regardless of her OPINION or possession,she needs to remove the tables and chairs blocking the side walks in front of her book store along with all of the other obstructions of side walks and passage ways in violation of the city code of ADA compliance.This is quite a problem for those who do not have REASONABLE ACCESS of basic REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS.They weren't there before she became mayor.It is becoming clear that code enforcement is selective,as is law enforcement.Traffic is still a race way,but whats even more frustrating is watching patrol cars sitting for hours on end under the water tower next to Walmart and in church parking lots far away from streets.So it can't be they are rendering traffic radar.
Monday, August 26, 2019
Publisher said…
The tables on the sidewalk there were approved by the city council about 7 years ago.
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
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