This Letter to the Editor was submitted by Burien Councilmember Linda Akey as her public comment on January 20, 2026, Opposition to HB 2489: Homeless Response to allow camping in all public spaces, sent to the bill’s sponsors, Rep. Mia Gregerson and Rep. Edwin Obras (both Legislative District 33).
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Dear Editor (and State Reps. Gregerson and Obras):
This bill threatens cities' ability to create safe and livable communities for all and endangers the very people the bill wishes to help.
1. Vulnerable populations, particularly people with substance use disorder (SUD) and mental illness, should not be living in tents in public spaces. This is cruel and inhumane and does not provide the type of resources and assistance they need to help them live in safe spaces.
2. In Burien, we learned that if one tent is allowed, dozens, even hundreds, will come. These tent encampments are very dangerous places. Drug dealers infiltrate the camps and take advantage of those suffering with SUD and mental illness. There are physical and sexual assaults, sex trafficking, animal abuse and neglect, thefts, fires, including people getting seriously burned, daily overdoses and overdose deaths and even murders. No human should live under such dangerous conditions.
3. Tent encampments are unsanitary and unhealthy. There is no sewer system or other services that create a safe and healthy environment.
4. There is increased community crime, including shoplifting at local businesses, vehicle and home break-ins.
5. There is an increase in police and fire response to calls. In Burien, this was a significant increase in the tent encampments (actual data from police and fire calls), even when the encampment was located on county property across from the police station and courthouse.
6. The general public loses access to public spaces, including parks, sidewalks, playgrounds, and ADA accessibility, due to dangerous, unsafe, and unhealthy conditions. The public is concerned for their safety in these areas.
7. This process does not work to encourage and incentivize people to access housing. Instead, it gives them permission to use a tent as a housing option. Tents in public spaces are not a housing solution, and allowing this to happen in those spaces removes one more tool to get people off the streets and into services and housing.
8. The results of Burien’s camping ordinance were over 400 people receiving services and housing. This resulted in a reduction in crimes, overdoses, and overdose deaths. This happened because people accepted services when they could no longer stay in tents. This is more humane than enabling them to remain in unsafe and unhealthy tent encampments.
9. Burien is facing a $2 million deficit. Burien does not have the land or the funds to stand up a shelter. Putting a requirement to have shelter space when no shelter can be created, and no money provided by the state to create shelters, is too much of a burden on Burien and cities like Burien.
10. No church, nonprofit, or other agencies have offered a full-time shelter in Burien. There is a severe weather shelter, but there has never been an organization prepared to run a shelter in Burien.
This legislation places too high a burden on many cities’ infrastructure, police, and fire districts and finances. Instead, the state should continue its work to provide meaningful SUD and mental health services, money for shelters and housing, and co-responder programs to assist first responders (fire and police) to get people to the right, best service. Rejecting this legislation will save people’s lives and provide a safe and livable community for all.
-Burien Councilmember Linda Akey
[NOTE FROM EDITOR: If you wish to submit a story, photo, article or letter, please email us at info@thehighlinejournal.com Even if you wish to remain anonymous, please include your name and phone number so we may contact you privately. We look forward to hearing from you.]
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