I, like many Missoulians would like to see the downtown area thrive and attract great businesses, hopefully with a local flavor. The lack of real action and leadership by the city council, in my mind will have the effect of driving business to either the mall or the 'box stores' out on reserve. Does anybody think that Mall management would allow people to sprawl out in the mall with their dogs and bagged liquor? Isn't 'camping' illegal within the city limits, anyhow? Is downtown the only place for ....transients, homeless, alcoholics or whatever label you prefer.... to 'camp' and sleep? Why does the city council feel that it's okay to support a tyranny of the small minority over the much greater number of people who would like to operate a business or support businesses in the downtown area? Lack of insight and leadership is what... [show more]

I, like many Missoulians would like to see the downtown area thrive and attract great businesses, hopefully with a local flavor. The lack of real action and leadership by the city council, in my mind will have the effect of driving business to either the mall or the 'box stores' out on reserve. Does anybody think that Mall management would allow people to sprawl out in the mall with their dogs and bagged liquor? Isn't 'camping' illegal within the city limits, anyhow? Is downtown the only place for ....transients, homeless, alcoholics or whatever label you prefer.... to 'camp' and sleep? Why does the city council feel that it's okay to support a tyranny of the small minority over the much greater number of people who would like to operate a business or support businesses in the downtown area? Lack of insight and leadership is what has cratered the downtown areas of many cities, essentially turning them into undesirable places for the vast majority of people who, by the way, pay taxes. A 'daycare' for street people opened this summer and the Poverello receives support from many in this town. Why not have the courage to insist on having these resources used by people who 'need to sleep' on the streets'? I'm tempted to print up and hand out 'free camping' cards to the homeless with the home addresses of these city council members. Let's see how long their political correctness lasts when their own front lawn becomes a public toilet. [show less]