In a move that has both advocates for the homeless and some community members at an impasse, Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier declared his intention to veto an ordinance that would allow large tent encampments throughout the region. According to a notice on the Pierce County website, Dammeier communicated this decision to the Council yesterday.
Ordinance 2024-540s, designed to mitigate the housing crisis by legalizing the establishment of temporary tent cities, has run into opposition from Dammeier who, in his letter, asserted, “This ordinance would permit large tent encampments to be legally established throughout Pierce County with little to no public notice. I cannot support this.” The veto reflects a clash of perspectives on the best course of action to address the rampant issue of homelessness. Dammeier is pushing the council to consider what he views as more sustainable, long-term housing solutions.
Instead of moving forward with the ordinance, Dammeier is advocating for a redirection of resources. He proposes investing in projects such as the Tacoma Housing Authority’s Aviva Crossing project. His stance favors longer-term and reported cost-effective strategies over the creation of tent encampments, as indicated in the cited public statement.
With the impending veto, Pierce County is at a crossroads, needing to reconcile differing visions for alleviating homelessness. The council must now decide whether to override the veto or to go back to the drawing board on the issue. Meanwhile, community and advocacy groups are closely monitoring the situation, awaiting a resolution that directly impacts, the lives of the county's homeless population.
