Camping ordinance changes discussed in Morgantown – WAJR

(Written by Joe Nelson)

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Members of the Morgantown community have expressed their opinion on a possible camping ban in the city center.

Representatives from Main Street Morgantown, West Virginia University, Morgantown-area homeless organizations and many others each expressed a mix of support and opposition to the proposal, which Councilwoman Louise “Weezie” Michael first brought up in early July during Tuesday’s regular council meeting. Nearly three dozen residents or representatives of organizations were in attendance, some with varying waves of support for the proposal and opposition, and over a dozen were willing to speak to the council on a proposal that has not even received a formal ordinance yet.

“On behalf of our board, we ask the city manager, Mayor (Jenny Selin) and City Council to take immediate action to make our city safer and curb the promotion of addiction and criminal activity,” said Main Street Morgantown President Mark Downs, who read a letter signed by more than 50 people in support of the camping ban proposal. “We urge that clear boundaries be sought,” he said.

The proposal to implement a camping ban in downtown Morgantown stems from an expansion of Section 941.05(c) of the Morgantown City Code, which prohibits camping on residential properties, city streets, alleys and sidewalks. Michael introduced this as part of an effort to address concerns raised by residents and small business owners based on numerous reports of open drug use, vandalism and theft that have occurred downtown over the course of more than a year. As part of the effort to emphasize safety, a similar message from Main Street Morgantown officials was also conveyed by WVU in a letter to council signed by President Gordon Gee.

“The university strongly supports a serious and thorough discussion of the proposal at the full committee meeting, as suggested by Council Member Michael,” WVU officials said in a written statement.

“Our focus is on student safety as we begin a new semester. We stand ready to support the city in any way we can,” WVU Police Chief Sherry St. Clair said in a speech to the council. “We promise to continue to be your partner in making Morgantown and Mon County a safe place to live,” she said.

Representatives of social service agencies such as Project Rainbow, as well as residents of the greater Morgantown area who work with homeless people, expressed opposition to the proposal for several reasons.

This came less than a day after Mountain State Justice officially expressed its disapproval of the potential expansion of the camping ban aspects of the Morgantown City Code on moral and situational grounds. Those opposing the ordinance described a situation in which over 100 homeless individuals (based on the 2023 count) were homeless in the area, which had just experienced financial difficulties related to the social service provider Bartlett Housing Solutions. A situation that some residents say needs to be addressed before considering an expansion of the city ordinance.

“I am appalled and disappointed by this council’s proposal to ban camping,” said Erin Shelton, chair of the Rainbow House Board. “Camping bans are cruel, ineffective and inhumane, and I ask you again to consider the more productive approaches that we and others have called for at these meetings,” she said.

More services need to be provided to the roughly two dozen Morgantown residents, volunteers and social workers who all expressed similar sentiments to those expressed in recent months regarding social services and the homeless. Since then, calls have been made for the city to fund initiatives such as locker installations, a 24/7 emergency shelter and efforts to create affordable housing options. Funding for an emergency shelter and progress toward funding a free Mountain Line bus route are the only efforts making progress.

Due to a lack of effort on the part of the city administration, the call for solutions to hygiene and other needs only grew louder.

“I know someone made the argument (tonight) at the last meeting that crime is being committed. The Morgantown police chief said the crime rate is stable,” Morgantown resident and Mon Health Right volunteer Savannah Lusk said of other residents’ concerns. “We can come together and find a solution, but a camping ban is not an option,” she said.

Morgantown City Council members who attended the meeting (Councilmember Brian Butcher was absent and Councilmember Danielle Trumble participated remotely) each expressed varying levels of frustration and concern about the lack of rapid progress in addressing the issues facing homeless residents.

Not only because of the intense efforts of the city, Monongalia County authorities and social services in the context of Hazel’s House of Hope, but also because of the numerous crimes that have expanded beyond downtown Morgantown. These have included reports from WVU of hazing of students across campus and break-ins into homes in the Sunnyside neighborhood, some of which were committed by individuals who do not reside in Morgantown, as well as several arrest warrants. Since other communities in West Virginia have similar views, Michael, who voiced his concerns differently than the other councilors in attendance, expressed the need to at least consider expanding the camping ban in the city while also considering the needs of social services.

“I realize this is a complex issue, but since I’ve been on the City Council, my primary focus has been the safety and well-being of the city,” Michael said. “The things I’ve seen over the last year concern me. I just want to stay focused and make people feel like they can come downtown,” she said.

The Council did not adopt any formal measure to put a possible camping ban regulation on the agenda.