Since I first heard of a homeless shelter (Ray of Hope) being placed next to the Cascade Middle School playground, I have been concerned.

I have seen for myself the drug activity that takes place near the Green River, where only yards away children play at Brannan Park. I asked a couple of council members why they had approved of the shelter in this environment. I was told the City Council had not been consulted on the matter.

The shelter has already had to paint over graffiti on its building. Nearby homeless sleep in an alley near their stacked belongings. A vehicle with cardboard taped in its windows and debris and belongings strewn outside with another sleeping individual are parked alongside an assisted living facility – on the intersecting street a trailer blocks the sidewalk.

As I observed this, one police car drove right past the parked vehicle and another police vehicle drove up the intersecting street. Is this what Auburn home owners are expected to accept as normal in their neighborhoods? It is spreading to all areas of our city.

Isn’t mayoral candidate, Deputy Mayor Largo Wales, “one-stop shop” vision where multiple services for the homeless are provided and located away from parks and neighborhoods a much better approach to our homeless problem? Where a “hand up” provides problem solving, better than a “hand out” that only meets a current need?

Auburn desperately needs to address this growing problem. I am voting for Largo Wales for mayor. She has the problem solving ability and will move Auburn forward – a direction we need to begin.

– Karen Newton