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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNagel 11.30.201 Jason Seth From:Nagel, Lindsey <lindsey.nagel@sap.com> Sent:Monday, November 30, 2020 4:54 PM To:Council Subject:Emergency Interim Zoning Control Ordinance: Red Lion Inn COVID-19 shelter Follow Up Flag:Follow up Flag Status:Completed To Department of Community and Economic Development, I am a resident of downtown Renton, living less than one mile from the Red Lion Hotel. I am greatly concerned by this major change to the zoning rules. I understand that the want to close the hotel but a change in the zoning rules does not address the actual issue of lack of spaces available space that complies with COVID-19 requirements. I would much rather the city work with homeless advocates, such as DESC, to come up with a plan to ensure that we alternatives for the homeless to go before we actually making hasty zoning changes. Personally, when I moved here over 4 years ago, I was unimpressed with how this city treated the homeless. It was a shock to see families stuck sleeping on a mat on a church floor a night. Many of who were there for months or even years before they were able to find housing. My neighbor and I even started organizing a collection to provide the children Christmas gifts. The fact that this ordinance would make it even harder for shelters to operate in Renton reflects a lack of compassion our city has to our most vulnerable residents. I understand that the hotel does cause some temporary pain to the local community and resources. However, the housing crisis is only going to get worse as COVID-19 continues. Eviction moratoriums are set to end and unemployment is increasing. This is going to exacerbate the homeless crisis and have larger impacts on communities with Renton’s demographic. In 2019, 9% of families and 12% of individuals were below the federal poverty line, while 15% of those under 18 and 9% of those 65 years or older are below.1 As of Nov 7, 2020, over 9,554 unemployment claims have been filed in 98056 alone.2 Zoning changes are not the solution to help the community. I greatly appreciate your time and urge you to stop this zone change. The zoning changes are not an emergency. Creating an actual plan to house the current homeless population and working to ensure we can handle the onslaught of homeless people who will come when the eviction moratoriums ends. Thank you. 1 https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/renton-wa-population 2 https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/data/impacts/unemployment.aspx Sincerely, Lindsey Nagel CAUTION: This email originated from outside the City of Renton. Do not click links, reply or open attachments unless you know the content is safe. LR - 000266