Latest news with #LongviewCityCouncil
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
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‘Immediate threat to public safety': Longview cracks down on unsanctioned camping
PORTLAND, Ore. () — Longview is cracking down on the growing 'misuse' of public property. At Longview City Council's on Thursday, officials approved a 'zero-tolerance policy' for unsanctioned camping, littering and drug and alcohol consumption on public spaces like parks, nearby rights-of-way and city-owned parking structures. FBI: Teen's plan for mass shooting at Washington state mall leads to arrest 'These spaces are for the lawful use and enjoyment of the public — not for encampments, criminal activity, or unsafe habitation,' Resolution No. 2561 reads. 'The ongoing misuse of these areas poses an immediate threat to public safety, health, and quality of life, and the city will no longer tolerate any violations of the law in these locations.' The resolution also directs the city manager to utilize 'all necessary resources' to enforce the new policy. This includes approving any overtime hours and jail-related expenses prompted by compliance efforts. According to Councilor MaryAlice Wallis, local law enforcement officers responded to 1,534 incidents related to homelessness between January 2024 and May 2025 — nearly three calls a day. Councilor Angie Wean expressed concerns that the new resolution's emphasis on law enforcement could wrongfully 'dictate' how officers do their jobs. Mayor Pro-tem Kalei LaFave noted the measure was a 'true collaborative effort' that included the police chief, along with other city staff. But although the resolution states Longview residents are 'justifiably outraged' by unsanctioned behavior on public property, officials heard testimony from some people who are against the ramped-up enforcement. 'Public safety is important, but so is public dignity,' Pam McCutcheon said. 'We have to be able to hold both. Passing a resolution that treats homelessness as a nuisance does not just impact those living without shelter — it impacts who we are as a community.' Oregon lawmakers hold hearing on Medicaid cuts under Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' Proponents of the new policy argued it could deter some people from defecating and leaving trash in public spaces, therefore encouraging others to utilize city parks. The council is now forming a task force focused on addressing the resolution's top priorities. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘WE SAVED OUR LAKES!': North Texas Water District Board drops plan to buy water from Lake O' the Pines, Rep. Dean says
TYLER, Texas (KETK) – The North Texas Water District Board has negotiated a deal to get water from sources other than the Lake O' the Pines, East Texas State Rep. Jay Dean of Longview announced on Friday. State Rep. Jay Dean hosts 'Let's Save Our Lakes' town hall 'The North Texas Water District Board has negotiated a deal to get water from resources closer to them and they have abandoned their proposal to buy the water rights to Lake O' the Pines! This was a huge group effort by the most amazing folks in Texas,' Dean said. Dean's announcement comes after several local cities and counties passed resolutions opposing the sale of their rights to water from Lake O' the Pines. According to Dean, Jefferson, Daingerfield, Uncertain, Longview, Lone Star, Marion County, Morris County, Upshur County, Gregg County, Harrison County and Cass County have all now passed measures protecting their water rights. 'Thank you to these local leaders and thank you to all the community members who showed up repeatedly to speak at commissioners court and city council meetings,' Dean said. On Friday, the Longview City Council passed a resolution that affirms 'the City's interest in the reliable and equitable supply of raw water from Lake O' the Pines' and 'opposes any actions that would compromise water availability, sell water rights or lease large quantities of water, or increase costs to Longview ratepayers.' The Caddo Lake Institute and other community members spoke about the impact that a water sale from Lake O' the Pines would have at the Longview City Council meeting on Friday. The full discussion of the Lake O' the Pines resolution can be watched in the video above. Dean thanked the Caddo Lake Institute and the Lake O' the Pines Chamber of Commerce for their efforts and support in protecting the lake's water. 'The work by these individuals, organizations and entities will serve as a warning flag for any future attempts to take our water. We have put the entire state on notice that we are not for sale,' Dean said. Dean added that he successfully added an amendment during a budget hearing on Friday morning that would prohibit the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality from spending money on or approving any inter-basin water transfers from the East Texas Cypress Basin to the metroplex's Region C for two years. Water district tries to ease concerns about Dallas buying Lake O' the Pines water The proposed sale of Lake O' the Pines water was a controversial idea to many outspoken East Texans. Dean hosted a 'Let's Save Our Lakes' town hall on Feb. 8 where many concerned members of the public talked about the Lake O' the Pines and other water issues. This backlash against the proposed sale prompted the Northeast Texas Municipal Water District to go public defending the deal. The North Texas Municipal Water District was publicly recommending using Lake O' the Pines water as recently as late February. In their Feb. 27 board of directors meeting, North Texas Municipal Water District general manager and executive director Jenna Covington said the following: 'No single water source will meet all the needs for North Texas. To meet those needs, we're focused on increasing water conservation and reuse, using innovative technology to better leverage existing water supplies, and building new connections to existing reservoirs with excess supplies, like Lake O' the Pines,' Covington said on Feb. 27. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
