Are Burien Progressives Waiting for Olympia to Do Their Dirty Work?

Burien’s controversial camping ordinance 832 remains in effect, even though several progressive City Councilmembers campaigned on repealing it upon taking office. Now, a bill advancing in Olympia could effectively override the ordinance without the City Council ever having to take a public vote — or face pushback from residents and business owners who say the policy has helped keep streets cleaner and crime lower.

House Bill 2489, also known as the “Shelter, Not Penalties” Act, would bar cities from enforcing camping bans unless adequate shelter space is available at the time of enforcement. The shelter must meet “low-barrier” standards, meaning cities cannot require sobriety or participation in drug or mental health treatment as a condition of entry.

The bill is sponsored by 33rd District Reps. Mia Gregerson and Edwin Obras, whose district includes Burien.

Mayor Sarah Moore testified on HB 2489 here (starting at 1:44:05) in favor of the measure, noting she was not speaking on behalf of the full council.

House Housing - TVW

Public Hearing:

TVW

Supporters say the bill sets consistent statewide standards. “Being homeless is not a crime,” Gregerson said during committee hearings, according to the Washington State Standard.

Critics say it strips local authority. In a January 14 article for the Washington Policy Center, Mark Harmsworth wrote, “HB 2489 effectively handcuffs mayors and councils, eroding the local control essential for tailored solutions to urban challenges.”

On February 11, The Burien Voice published an opinion piece titled “The Big Cop-Out: Why Burien's leftist city council hasn't moved to repeal the camping ordinance.” The article argues the council may prefer a state mandate over taking a politically difficult local vote.

“Why would Burien's leftist council repeal the city's popular camping ordinance and take the inevitable lumps for doing that when they can sit back, watch 2489 pass, and have the leftist state legislature take the rap instead?” the post asks.

If HB 2489 passes, it would affect not only Burien but also SeaTac and Normandy Park, cities that currently report public camping largely under control through local enforcement. Larger Washington cities with their own camping ordinances would also fall under the same statewide restrictions.

Meanwhile, downtown Burien conditions appear to be shifting. Residents and workers told The Highline Journal they are seeing more people on sidewalks and occasional tents in Town Square Plaza. Safeway has increased security, and shoppers say more expensive items are now locked up.

Whether HB 2489 is seen as humanitarian reform or a loss of local authority, its impact would be immediate and visible in places like downtown Burien. The question for residents is not abstract. It is whether decisions about their parks, sidewalks and public spaces should be made locally or set by statewide mandate.

Below are the questions posed by The Burien Voice to Mayor Moore, published verbatim in its February 11 post. At the time of posting, The Burien Voice says the mayor has not responded.

Questions to Mayor Moore (from The Burien Voice)

1. [HB 2489] says it intends to do the following:

"Provide clear and consistent statewide guidance to local governments to ensure that responses to homelessness are aligned with evidence-based, low-barrier, and housing-first principles, and prevent the enforcement of policies that displace individuals when adequate alternative shelter space is not available."

What is your understanding of the term "low-barrier" as used in this bill? Would that include active drug users who refused treatment?

2. As far as you know, does the bill have any provision for determining how many shelter beds a city such as Burien must provide?
3. Do you feel that Burien's camping ordinance is not working or is unfair to homeless people in some way? Have you proposed removing or changing it?
4. How will HB2489 affect Burien's ordinance?
5. Should the bill pass, do you anticipate Burien entering into interlocal agreements with shelter providers around Burien to have shelter beds available?
6. Are you concerned about people from other states coming to Washington once it is known that Washington has mandated that cities provide shelter for every unsheltered person before they can remove such persons from public property?
7. How would you feel if a problematic tent camp popped up at a park near your home and police told you they couldn't do anything about it because Burien didn't have enough shelter space available?