October 24th, 2024 by WCBC Radio

Wednesday evening, WCBC News hosted a candidate forum for those running for Cumberland City Council.  Two seats are open on the council with four individuals vying for a position.  One of the questions asked of the candidates had to do with vagrancy and homelessness problems.  Candidate Brian Lepley gave his viewpoint…

“We got to work with our partners to get these people the help that they need. And a lot of these people do suffer from mental illness and addiction and we have to make sure that they get the resources they need to get the help if they want it.” 

Incumbent council member Lauri Marchini had this to say…

“The city does not have the expertise or the resources to  do that so that’s why we are partnering with the Union Rescue Mission, Family Crisis Center and the Y who do have the expertise.”

Dana Tinnen spoke on the subject…

“We have buildings here in Cumberland that we can build our own homeless shelter. We need a city or a county homeless shelter that does not have the obligations that the Union Rescue Mission has.”   

Simeon Younger presented his views…

“First and foremost, I know that I literally, could be homeless tomorrow. It’s real.  I sat in the council meeting with the homeless – a few of the people that came in there to represent the homeless when this ordinance came about. And I heard people scared. I heard people on both sides of the issue scared.”