r/Bremerton • u/Ripley4717 • 1d ago
Bremerton Speak Up & Unite at City Council Meetings!
Join us at the next Bremerton City Council meeting on Wednesday, October 21, at 5:30 PM at the Norm Dicks Government Center! Let's bring signs, fill the center, blast this on media, and make our voices heard on all the issues that the city doesn't seem to have interest in resolving. All these issues relate with each other and the well being of the future of Bremerton!
Our community deserves to be heard about the issues affecting the future of Bremerton and we will not stop showing up to meetings with public comments until our voices feel genuinely heard and considered. The council doesn't want us to come together but the more we do the more they seem to sweat. It will continue to require work but we can and will fight this!
Not only are these concerns important to the future, the main concern and push that relates to everything right now is that our Mayor, Greg Wheeler needs to be more involved with the community input and our concerns! We need to continue to spam email and push him so we can hear more from him as well as push for need to have monthly town hall meetings.
~Public Comment Disclaimer~
Speaking up is hard for many of us, but it's proving the more people speaking up the more impactful it is! Please encourage everyone you know to comment at future city council meetings.
The council recently reduced public comments from 3 minutes to 90 seconds, primarily to limit input around shelter-related issues. They may think this will stop us from speaking, but we can prepare our main points to fit within 90 seconds. Please spread the word that speakers now have only 90 seconds!
In person seems to be more impactive but if you can't, you can sign up for a public comment via Zoom:
https://www.bremertonwa.gov/FormCenter/City-Council-17/City-Council-Virtual-Limited-Public-or-C-142
-URGENT CONCERN: BHA SHELTER FUNDING IS EXPIRING-
The most urgent concern is the council's refusal to move forward with the shelter approved in 2024. If the funding isn't used by the end of the year, BHA will lose over $1.3 million! THATS ONLY 79 DAYS. We are running out of time to save this funding and get the shelter built before winter.
The council blames “zoning and excessive permits,” but they have the power to change this. They appear willing to lose the funding because the shelter conflicts with their “Harrison Heights” plans, which include an Opportunity Zone 2.0 supporting their vision of turning Bremerton into a place for investment and profit.
Winter is coming, and people in our community will die without shelter. The council has repeatedly been told this but seems to refuse to comment or take action. News coverage and transparency have been limited, and we are running out of time!
The more people who speak up, the better. Please push the council and mayor to act and contact local and state news reporters to demand transparent coverage ASAP.
Other concerns include the city enforcing anti-camping rules and removing people from public spaces while shelter and housing options remain limited, as well as council members and local public figures using slurs and degrading language about unhoused people at public meetings.
~ CONCERNS ABOUT LOCAL BUSINESSES, STREATERIES, AND BREMERTON'S FUTURE ~
Remedy Speakeasy and Local Boys Taproom have been ordered to remove their outdoor dining spaces by October 15. The city has discussed a permanent streatery program since 2022, but one has not yet been adopted. They have not been given a reason for this but it seems likely due to wanting more profit from parking tickets which Remedy and Local Boys have offered to pay them for what they would get from parking ticket fines.
During the 10/7 council meeting, the council pretended to have concerns around this but according to Article III Legislation in Section 15 Subsection 5 around Vetos, the City Council has the power to override the mayors veto with a 5:2 vote! Almost all 7 council members said they wanted to do what they can for streateries but they can fix this! If this is your main concern please call this out!
https://ecode360.com/47223311#47223323
~ WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE? ~
-Attend city council meetings! Make public comments and bring signs visible to in-person and Zoom audiences. Numbers matter!
-Organize and speak up! Connect with others, organize events, and keep showing up until our voices are heard.
-Push for news coverage! Contact local and state reporters to raise awareness about the shelter and its -$1.3 million in funding at risk in just 79 days! We need more transparency and public attention ASAP.
-Help organize in-person petitions to support these issues. Any help is appreciated!
-Encourage others to run for city council and mayor! Help bring more community voices and perspectives into local leadership.
Keep emailing the mayor and city council!
Mayor: Greg.Wheeler@ci.bremerton.wa.us
Council: City.Council@bremertonwa.gov
City Council Meetings every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month at 5:30 PM
Meetings for the remaining of the year:
10/21, 11/4, 11/18, 12/2, 12/23.
Norm Dicks Government Center
345 6th St.
No matter what your concern is, these issues all play a part together! Let's keep showing up, speaking out, and fighting for Bremerton's future until our voices are heard!