<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Segoe UI";
panose-1:2 11 5 2 4 2 4 2 2 3;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNoSpacing, li.MsoNoSpacing, div.MsoNoSpacing
{mso-style-priority:1;
margin:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
p.paragraph, li.paragraph, div.paragraph
{mso-style-name:paragraph;
margin:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
span.normaltextrun
{mso-style-name:normaltextrun;}
span.eop
{mso-style-name:eop;}
span.spelle
{mso-style-name:spelle;}
span.EmailStyle25
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style="word-wrap:break-word">
<div class="WordSection1">
<div>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><img width="624" height="147" style="width:6.5in;height:1.5312in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D837BA.96180170" alt="Graphical user interface, text
Description automatically generated"></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">March 15, 2022</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><u><span style="font-size:26.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Idaho sues to stop encampment on Capitol Annex</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Boise, Idaho – Governor Brad Little announced today his administration and Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden filed a lawsuit Monday to stop illegal public camping and the associated
health and safety violations taking place on the Capitol Annex in downtown Boise.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Governor Little directed the Idaho Department of Administration to seek an injunction today on behalf of the State of Idaho. The filing seeks to have the court enter an order enjoining
individuals from camping on state property near the Capitol.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">“Idaho will not tolerate public encampments and destruction of public property. Idaho is not San Francisco, Portland, or Seattle, where public officials have
engaged in failed experiments to permit and encourage public camping disguised as protests.
</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"> </span></i></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">“What started here as a gathering of loosely affiliated individuals has escalated into dangerous health and safety violations. This lawsuit is the next step
in our deliberate, careful strategy to address a highly complex situation involving state statutes, case law, and the First Amendment while ensuring the state meets its obligation to protect public health and safety.</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"> </span></i></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">“I am grateful to our law enforcement officers who have conducted welfare checks and enforcement actions with integrity by treating these very vulnerable
members of our community with respect and connecting them with valuable resources to help address mental health and substance use disorders in many instances,”</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">
</span></i><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Governor Little said.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Individuals started gathering on the state property located at Jefferson and 6<sup>th</sup> streets in Boise in mid-January. Since then, there have been a growing number of violations and
dangerous conduct requiring increased calls for police service and enforcement action, including multiple instances of violence; drug abuse and distribution; the presence of hypodermic needles and bags containing human feces and urine; soiled clothing; vomit
covered tents; rotting food; abandoned property; garbage; and fire hazards.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Central District Health inspected the area and determined it to be a public health and safety hazard.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Since mid-January, the Governor’s Office, Attorney General’s Office, Idaho Department of Administration, and Idaho State Police have been working together closely to address multifaceted
legal implications and ensure proper enforcement actions while educating individuals at the site about resources available in the community.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Governor Little said public camping on the Capitol Mall is inexcusable and unnecessary because there are free resources for the homeless immediately available in the community, including
shelters that provide safe, secure overnight shelter where individuals suffering from mental health or substance use disorders can access valuable resources.
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">One of those shelter resources is the Boise Rescue Mission where according to Rev. Bill Roscoe, CEO, there are plenty of open beds.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">“We have open beds at both the River of Life Men’s Mission and the City Light Home for Women and Children in Boise. Contrary to rumors, we are not a ‘high barrier’ shelter and we offer
safe, clean shelter, three meals daily and many programs and services all designed to help people recover from homelessness. We will welcome anyone who comes to our door needing assistance,” Roscoe said.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="paragraph" align="center" style="text-align:center;background:white"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black"># # #</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="background:white"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="background:white"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black">NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison
</span></span><span class="spelle"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black">Hyer</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black">, Press Secretary</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="background:white"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black">208-943-1686 or </span></span><span style="color:black"><a href="mailto:marissa.morrison@gov.idaho.gov"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;text-decoration:none">marissa.morrison@gov.idaho.gov</span></span></a></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="background:white"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black">--</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="background:white"><span style="color:black"><a href="https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001jPcDrZTUF2iffZAaFR5CaCO9D9OTNmcIrS9m2JnRBQLxSmCCDvAfzkhQC6WRNcW4O6931CUyPvAzTSP21AiJ4rioUvabaHbWJxzuwF2hEYM%3D#_blank" target="_BLANK"><span class="normaltextrun"><i><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;text-decoration:none">Sign
up to receive news from Governor Little</span></i></span></a></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="background:white"><span class="normaltextrun"><i><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black">Reply to this e-mail to unsubscribe</span></i></span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>