Our editorial today talked about the controversy over the tent city for the homeless that has arisen on private land.

Realtor Robert Gilles owns the land where the tent city sits. In a press release he said that he hopes the "short time afforded by this location" will help the various groups reach a solution.

"I see a problem that needs to be addressed," he wrote. "Last summer friends of mine tried to help a downtown homeless man who was burned to death. There was a man who slept under the freeway where I parked my car, and he was beaten to death. In both cases, there were prosecutions, but isn't that a little late? Can all parties come together and arrive at a solution?"

In the meantime, Crabtree and a group of worried parents are hovering over the crosswalk at Sinto and Napa where 40 to 50 children must walk past the camp on their way home from school each weekday afternoon. Police are keeping a close eye on the camp. And neighbors nervously watch out their windows.

This little cluster of tents won't be a lasting solution to the problem of homelessness. Surely citizens and government can devise far better answers to this plight of the poor.

Tent cities: Help or hurt the homeless cause? Blog lines are open.

(Stevens Elementary principal Mike Crabtree watches activities near the homeless camp. Photo by Brian Plonka/The Spokesman-Review.)

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