OUR VIEW: City respects homeless

Nobody could argue that Colorado Springs isn’t a city of compassion. It even ranks highly on Charity Navigator’s list of most charitable cities, coming in fourth in 2007.

So it’s no surprise the City Council quickly deprioritized a proposal to outlaw camping, seeing it as a maneuver to whisk the homeless from sight. Vice Mayor Larry Small explained the callousness in trying to outlaw the homeless. He also explained the problem with homeless assistance that’s attached to strings: “I don’t think we should say ‘I’ll help you if you’ll become what I want you to become.’”

Few cities have leaders who care deeply about the homeless, while respecting their dignity and freedom. Our leaders are an exception. For this, Colorado Spring should be proud. — Wayne Laugesen, for the editorial board