To the editor:

I fully support the lawsuit against the city that demands changes in allowing the homeless to camp on public property. The current policies are simply not working, and it’s not just the campsites close to Johnny’s Tavern and the Amtrak station. A good portion of Centennial Park, Burcham Park and the area north of the hospital have been transformed (or better, trashed) into illegal campsites. I’m certain there are other locations within the city where illegal camping has become a problem.

I hope the new mayor (working with law enforcement) modifies the policy regarding camping on public property within the city limits. As I’ve advocated repeatedly, city and county officials need to come up with and enforce a firm set of guidelines (i.e., trash, sanitation, alcohol/drug use) for the unhoused who camp on public property. For those who regard such a demand as too Scrooge-ish, I would encourage them to invite the homeless to camp in their backyards.

Ray Finch,

Lawrence