I’m writing to say hello to Port Townsend. I lived here two years ago, advocated for the homeless, got my heart broken, left, and just flew in from Bali after circumnavigating the globe. Here is a eureka solution for Port Townsend to boost tourism, create worker housing, and to get the working homeless back on their feet.

In one month the city can define new experimental zoning for a Land Boat district. It replaces the homeless park we don’t need between Safeway and The Co-Op. With a non profit, we can receive fuel inefficient or last use boats in exchange for a tax write off. This assembles 100 boats with fully equipped living cabins at no cost. We take these boats across the street and put them in the Land Boat district, creating a one of a kind location reserved for workers with a priority for working homeless. We allow small shops to be run off of the boats, and hang energy efficient lights everywhere. This creates a tourist destination that fits in perfectly with the heritage and culture of Port Townsend. The boats are suspended or go in the ground with a method to prevent rot. We jerry rig electric like our pioneer ancestors, use a pump truck for sewage, and rely on jugs of water. We argue that due to the humanitarian and economic crisis, we have the right put our citizens before State and Federal regulation. We can demonstrate the concept and take the right for a grace period to bring any sub standard situations up to code equivalent. Eventually proper infrastructure is installed.

Port Townsend is on its knees from a lack of workers. The timeline and lack of progress for legal approvals is unacceptable. We can’t be stuck in the past. 100 land boats in 100 days.

Galen Goodwick

Port Townsend