Something must be done about the roaming vagrants in this area who hang out in the Coeur d’Alene library, Fresh Start and up and down Sherman Avenue from The Coeur d’Alene Resort down to the Conoco gas station. They are mentally unstable, dirty and drunk and are scaring our guests. The Coeur d’Alene police say the influx is from Spokane as the police over there are cracking down on the panhandlers. It’s worse than they have ever seen it. The Coeur d’Alene police say it is because the city of Coeur d’Alene has opened up the city to all the vagrants with all our charitable, free services such as the halfway house rentals owned and operated by the owners of the Garden Hotel and the St. Vincent’s operation who just recently took over Fresh Start.

The only way we can take back our area is by pushing these welfare agencies out of downtown. Mark my words, Coeur d’Alene is going to be overrun if something isn’t done soon. The chamber will be fighting a losing battle as the word is passed on about our crazies from tourist to tourist.

SHELLEY WILLIAMS

Coeur d’Alene