Yakima, WA, recently passed moratorium on opening new homeless shelters; nonprofit that was poised to open health clinic questions the timing.
"One day after Yakima passed a lengthy moratorium on any new homeless shelters, representatives of a local health clinic hoping to open one questioned the timing and method of the decision. The Yakima City Council voted 5-2 Tuesday night for a moratorium not listed on the council’s agenda. It was presented as an emergency moratorium by City Manager Tony O’Rourke and city legal staff in reaction to interest expressed by Yakima Neighborhood Health Services to install a shelter near downtown, which O’Rourke opposes, saying updates to zoning codes are needed first to prevent a proliferation of shelters at 'small convenience centers.'" -- Mike Faulk, the Yakima Herald-Republic
