I know the issue of homelessness is fraught with emotion, but I think it is time that we as community acknowledge that we have a crisis unfolding.
Recently, I was threatened by a homeless man with a club while walking my dog yards from my front door. I came home the other night to my significant other who was accosted by drunken, homeless men making sexual comments toward her. She no longer feels safe to walk the river trail alone or run in Overend Park because these types of situations have happened to her repeatedly.
While I have nothing but empathy for those with mental illness or priced out of housing in our expensive town, I feel only anger that our streets, trails and public lands are being abused by the homeless. Just look at all the trash near the 9th street bridge. They are camping illegally behind the Tech Center and are often drunk and obnoxious in our various city parks. We live in Durango for the quality of life it affords, and no one should be frightened to walk anywhere in Durango and be worried about being assaulted or verbally harassed.
It is time as a community and for city council to start enforcing the laws, removing people from illegal public lands squatting and stop encouraging the homeless population to grow.
While they may have the right to panhandle, they do not have the right to camp on public land, frighten our community members, be drunk and belligerent or threaten anyone.
Ryan P. Montgomery
Durango
