You (and more than 1,200 of your neighbors) are invited to attend a special community meeting on Monday, Aug. 3, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Ballard VFW Post 3063, 2812 NW Market Street. We have asked Mayor Ed Murray, City Councilmember Mike O’Brien and Diane Sugimura, director of the city’s Department of Planning and Development, to clear their schedules and meet with Ballard residents to discuss the city’s process for selecting the encampment sites. This will be your opportunity to ask questions such as: • How were the sites selected, especially the Market Street site? • What other local sites were considered? • What steps were taken to inform neighbors and gather community input before the Market Street site selection decision was made? • Will you agree to work with Ballard to find a location that will work better for Ballard and the homeless residents? • And how will the city address the potential impacts to local residents and businesses? We will hold the meeting in the parking lot of the VFW hall next door to the proposed encampment on Market Street. Everyone is welcome to attend. We plan to have a moderator to help keep this important discussion on track and to allow as many residents as possible to ask questions and get answers directly from city leaders. Ballard cares about those struggling to make ends meet. We will have donation barrels for the Ballard Food Bank available at the site, so make sure to bring something to contribute. We believe strongly that local government works better when it works with (and listens to) residents and small business owners. It is important that as many people as possible attend this meeting, so mark your calendar and spread the word to your friends and neighbors. The more people who show up, the bigger impact we will have. Want to do more? We have just created a Speak Up Ballard Facebook page. Like us and share it with others at www.facebook.com/speakupballard. We could use some volunteers to help with a couple of small tasks, including set-up and take-down for the meeting. If you are willing to help, shoot us an email at speakupballard@gmail.com See you Monday!