Bozeman implemented a citywide ban on urban camping effective October 1, 2025, following years of escalating issues with homeless encampments on public streets and rights-of-way.
The ordinance prohibits sleeping, camping, or storing personal belongings in public spaces, with penalties including daily fines up to $500 and potential jail time of up to 10 days for repeat violations. This builds on a 2024 permit system that already restricted such activities, but the full ban marks the end of any temporary allowances.
Background and Lead-Up
The problem intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, with urban camping peaking at around 244 people in July 2023, often in makeshift camps or vehicles due to a severe affordable housing shortage — where securing an apartment might require $3,500 to $5,000 upfront for first and last month’s rent.
This led to community complaints about safety, sanitation (including human waste removal and over 110 tons of trash hauled away), and criminal activities like drug use and disturbances. In October 2023, local business owners sued the city, claiming it failed to enforce existing laws, which pressured officials to act. The city spent over $220,000 on responses since 2022, excluding staff costs.
To prepare, Bozeman hired a dedicated manager in late 2023 who issued hundreds of warnings and citations, reducing the camper count by 90% to just 16 people in one remaining site by late September 2025.
Many relocated to private property, family homes, or public land outside city limits. A key support was the opening of the $16 million Homeward Point shelter about two weeks before the ban, providing 130 beds, meals, laundry, and day services—already housing over 100 people nightly, including more than 30 former urban campers.
Nearby Gallatin County also passed its own ban on public camping in July 2025, aligning with Bozeman’s efforts.
Impacts and Reactions
City officials express optimism that the ban will restore public spaces without solving broader homelessness, which continues to worsen in the region. Mayor Terry Cunningham noted in July that addressing camping is distinct from ending homelessness: “Anyone who thinks we are solving the homeless problem by addressing the urban camping problem is missing the reality.” The manager emphasized compassionate enforcement, focusing on connecting people to services like HRDC (a local nonprofit) rather than immediate arrests, but acknowledged some individuals resist help.
Among those affected, there’s significant concern. One long-time camper, John Wallace, who survived a violent attack in camp and works at a gas station, worries about fines derailing his housing search: “Honestly, I just want to get a place. That’s all I want to do … It’s getting bad.” Advocates highlight the shelter’s role but stress the ban doesn’t address root causes like housing costs.
Business leaders and some residents welcome the change, citing reduced nuisances since enforcement ramped up — from 300 campers down to 22 permitted ones earlier in 2025. Online discussions reflect broader anti-encampment sentiments, with one user praising community efforts to clear parks by confronting campers directly and involving law enforcement. However, critics argue such bans are “misguided” and lack support from police in some contexts, potentially just displacing people without solutions.
Overall, while the ban has cleared streets and directed some to shelters, it underscores ongoing debates: proponents see it as reclaiming public order, while opponents view it as punitive amid insufficient affordable housing.
Montana PBS plans a special on Bozeman’s homelessness efforts airing October 16, 2025.
sourced – Montana Free Press — Daily Montanan
Starbucks to close over 400 shops
Starbucks is in the process of closing over 400 stores across North America as part of a major restructuring effort led by CEO Brian Niccol.
Reports indicate that more than 450 locations in the U.S. alone shuttered in late September, with total closures potentially reaching up to 568 company-operated stores when including Canada. This represents about 1% of the company’s North American footprint, which stood at nearly 18,300 locations (company-operated and licensed) in the U.S. and Canada as of late September 2025.
Globally, Starbucks operates over 32,000 stores, so these closures are a relatively small adjustment but part of a broader $1 billion plan to revitalize the brand.
Reasons for the Closures
The decision stems from several challenges:
Underperformance and Shifting Consumer Habits:
Many stores were not meeting customer expectations or generating sufficient profits, exacerbated by post-Covid changes like reduced urban foot traffic and a preference for drive-thru or mobile orders. CEO Niccol noted that mobile ordering had “taken a lot of the soul out of the brand.”
Economic Pressures:
Inflation and higher menu prices have deterred customers, especially those earning under $100,000, with over 70% in surveys planning fewer visits.
Increased Competition:
Rivals like independent artisanal shops (e.g., Blue Bottle, Blank Street Coffee) and drive-thru chains (e.g., Dutch Bros) are gaining ground.
Financial Struggles:
Starbucks has seen declining same-store sales for six straight quarters and a 9% stock drop in 2025.
As part of the restructuring, Starbucks is also laying off about 900 non-retail (corporate) employees, cutting 30% of its menu, ending open-bathroom policies for non-customers, and renovating 1,000 U.S. stores with more seating and power outlets to restore the “third place” vibe.
The company does however, plan to open new stores in fiscal 2026, aiming for growth despite the cuts.
Affected Locations
Starbucks hasn’t released an official full list, but crowdsourced trackers and media reports have compiled details on hundreds of closures, mostly company-operated stores closing on or around late September, early October.
The bulk of these shops are in the U.S., with some in Canada.
To check if a specific store is affected, use the Starbucks app or website, or refer to your local news. Closures have been described as abrupt in some areas, like NYC, leading to employee and customer disruptions.
Even in spite of market saturation, Starbucks expects to maintain it’s growth, with analysts optimistic about the long-term turnaround.