The Seattle City Council is refusing to consider citizen, neighbor and small-business owners concerns about the locations of new, city-sponsored homeless encampments in Ballard and other neighborhoods.

This follows a cloaked site selection process that excluded public comment and provided no neighborhood notification.

In a letter to Mayor Ed Murray, Councilmember Mike O'Brien and seven other Councilmembers essentially said they don't care whether you or any other citizen have concerns about the selected locations.

The citizens of Seattle deserve better. As voters, taxpayers and residents, we deserve an opportunity to be heard on any subject critical to the future of our communities. We deserve representatives with the courage to listen to the people they were elected to represent. 

Don't let the City Council tell Ballard to shut up. 

We, the undersigned, call on the Seattle City Council to:

• Schedule at least two public hearings on weekday evenings to allow for public comment on the proposed homeless encampment sites.
• Carefully consider whether the proposed sites are actually appropriate places for homeless tent encampments.
• Take a public vote on whether the City Council supports the proposed locations.

Whether you support or oppose homeless encampments -- or even if you don't live in an affected neighborhood -- we should all be concerned with the lack of opportunity for public input on the site selection process.

This time it is Ballard and Interbay. Next time it could be your neighborhood.

Stand up for being heard -- sign this petition and pass it along to your friends and neighbors who care about responsive government and the future of our city.