HOMELESSNESS: Day 2 of Myers Way cleanup; another community forum announced

(WSB photos from Thursday morning)

City and state crews worked again this morning on clearing trash and debris from the greenbelt on the east side of Myers Way; our photos are from midmorning, and the crews were gone by the time we went through again at mid-afternoon. They had told us on Wednesday that they were only booked for two days of work. Since the city’s homelessness-response spokesperson, Will Lemke, had told us this was a cleanup, not a sweep of camps/campers, we asked him today how the work crews were making the distinction between what to pick up and what to leave behind. His reply:

During an encampment removal, the Navigation Team’s Field Coordinators are present on site. They are specially trained to make the distinction between valuables and abandoned items that could be considered trash or debris. Field Coordinators photograph, catalog, store, and provide delivery of items back to owners. For the Myers Way cleanup today, Field Coordinators and outreach workers were working directly with residents to remove items that were considered garbage.

Meantime, if you’re interested in discussing the big picture of the homelessness crisis, not just a specific encampment or area, two local public forums are now scheduled in the next few weeks. Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW) has just announced this:

Drilling Down on Homelessness Forum @ Fauntleroy Church
May 3 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

This public forum will dive below surface responses to give homelessness a human face and explore specific decisions ahead if Seattle and its neighborhoods are to turn the corner on this tenacious problem. Speakers from the Transit Riders Union and Facing Homelessness will detail current proposals to gain more low-income housing and lead a discussion about practical and effective community and individual action. This free event is a community service of the church’s homelessness task force.

And we’ve already reported on the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s April 21st forum, 1-3 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW) – this is also public, no admission charge, but the Chamber is requiring RSVP’s; look for the “register” button here.

monroe1200 April 13, 2018 (7:09 am)

Seriously, how is this even legal??

How can one group of people have completely different rights than another group of people in this country, isn’t that what we are always fighting for…equality! We are nothing but enablers, this type of response from our elected officials discriminates one class over another. Horrible.

flimflam April 13, 2018 (9:17 am)

i ask that very question all the time…how can we have two set of laws for our citizens? these folks need to accept services – just camping and trashing greenbelts, parks, whatever should not be one of the options.

story about the “homeless mansion” near the seattle center was build by some people just here from west virginia who came because of seattles hands off approach to the homeless “crisis” among other reasons.

its shameful to allow the city to be trashed, aand especially galling since our local politicians like to sound so concerned about the environment.
- Sna April 13, 2018 (9:49 am)
  
  If you look at page 8 on this proposed set of actions from One Table, the goal would be to never book anyone for anything is a “direct result from homelessness.” It’s unclear what crimes that includes.
  
  https://www.kingcounty.gov/~/media/depts/community-human-services/housing/documents/one-table/Recommended-Actions-for-Public-Meeting_Discussion.ashx?la=en
Wseattleite April 13, 2018 (10:10 am)

As trigger happy as the City is to pass all kinds of laws and as much as the City Residents like to toute the Law loudly when they see something they don’t like (dog leashes), the City has also established that laws are optional, to be followed if you feel like it. Our children are learning this. (Oh, leash your dogs)

best policy April 13, 2018 (7:44 am)

I hope that everyone in the other comments (CM, Amanda, CMT) expressing how very much they want to know where the money we spend on homelessness goes will be there asking questions. This seems like a great place to get your questions answered–or at least start getting the answers you want.

CMT April 13, 2018 (4:54 pm)

Gosh thanks Best Policy! As an initial matter, my point on the prior thread was that people most likely want an answer to the basic question of how and why $195,000,000 was spent with little to no apparent progress in resolving the homelessness crisis and that a pie chart graphic with general descriptions is not particularly enlightening. I don’t see anything in the description of the upcoming presentation that would address that, interesting though the actual topic may actually be.
- best policy April 13, 2018 (7:46 pm)
  
  You’re welcome.
  
  I know exactly what your point was, and that’s why I though these meetings would be so helpful to you!
  
  You wanted to know how and why (really, you need to know why money is being spent on homelessness? Huh, ok) we’re spending money to deal with homelessness.
  
  And if you want answers about why and how money is spent… These are precisely the people you should be talking to!
  
  In the words of the West Seattle Blog “if you’re interested in discussing the big picture of the homelessness crisis” these meetings are for you. Please attend.
  - CMT April 13, 2018 (10:38 pm)
    
    While I am sure the Transit Riders Union and the Facing Homelessness nonprofit organization are knowledgeable and have valuable ideas to discuss, I would not expect them to address the City’s overall strategy and policies, failed or otherwise, as part of their presentation, nor does that – or the City’s expenditure of funds to date – appear to be the thrust of this presentation.

Question Authority April 13, 2018 (7:56 am)

These newly plowed access roads into what was a healthy hillside forest will certainly make it far easier to bring in more (so called collectibles) Thanks WSDOT!

waikikigirl April 13, 2018 (8:07 am)

Been looking at this junk/garbage for a very, very long time, happy to see some of it being cleaned up and as for where some of our tax dollars are going,…well these workers don’t do this clean-up for free and a big THANK YOU for getting in there and doing it, it’s a scary job if I say so myself.

momosmom April 13, 2018 (8:15 am)

To all the oldies who can remember this song do you think it’s still true?

Seattle

The bluest skies you’ve ever seen in Seattle
And the hills the greenest green in Seattle
Like a beautiful child growing up free and wild
Full of hopes and full of fears
Full of laughter full of tears
Full of dreams to last the years in Seattle
In Seattle

When it’s time to leave your home and your loved ones
It’s the hardest thing a boy can ever do
And you pray that you will find
Someone warm and sweet and kind
But you’re not sure what’s waiting there for you

When you find your own true love
You will know it
By…

When you find your own true love
You will know it
By her smile, by the look in her eye
Scent of pine trees in the air
Never knew a day so fair
It makes you feel so good
That you could cry

CE April 13, 2018 (5:15 pm)

Yeah, not with all the geo-engineering and chemtrails we get around here. Super sad.

MJ April 13, 2018 (9:06 am)

monroe1200

Welcome to the Seattle double standard. If you or I littered we would be fined and expected to pay.

This double standard is asinine, the City goal is to treat everyone equally with no discrimination.

I wish the City would enforce the law equally rich, poor or in between.

Disgusted in Seattle April 13, 2018 (9:37 am)

Unfortunately this is happening all over the city. Where’s the mayor and city council they should be present and helping to clean the mess they’ve created.

Is the plan to return the valuable property to the illegal campers or to the people who they steal it from?

Uh April 13, 2018 (1:38 pm)

@disgusted-

anything of $ value has already been fenced. Leftovers (including family heirlooms priceless to theft victims), are photographed, registered to current possessor, and stored by the city- or deemed “worthle$$” and put in the big dumpster.

This ridiculous process might help you to understand how $200M is squandered, without any discernable benefit to homelessness, taxpayers, or civilization. For additional info- please refer to best policy.

Maryv April 13, 2018 (10:35 am)

Yes they could fine these people for littering but they’re homeless, homeless means no money, drugs are more important so what money they do have it goes for drugs, no job… so how would they pay the fine if fined?

They could also say this is not my mess I just got here today??? It’s a no win situation on the garbage. :>(

Helpful April 13, 2018 (12:05 pm)

MaryV, if that was true, why aren’t there giant garbage encampments in Bellevue? It is because camping is not tolerated, and people who won’t accept help, or help themselves- must move on. Seattle and Bellevue are the same area, they just have different rules, and I don’t think homeless in Bellevue are paying fines.

JanS April 13, 2018 (10:58 am)

I am so glad none of you will ever face the prospect of being homeless.

Helpful April 13, 2018 (11:51 am)

Thank you. There’s no reason for anyone to be chronically homeless- but if it does happen, don’t leave me to wallow in filth and despair. Please help me to get the services I need..
brian April 13, 2018 (2:31 pm)

Seriously depressing lack of empathy going on here. What is wrong with people that they can’t see a human being in this situation?
- Alki resident April 13, 2018 (3:21 pm)
  
  You may have missed the news story where a couple moved out here from Virginia to live in our streets downtown. They liked our lax liberal vibe. They don’t want to follow our rules here. Guess what? There are tons more like them moving here to do the same thing or are here now. I’ve met two guys so far who refuse to work and can easily obtain food stamps and live on the streets here because they prefer it. They ” don’t do rules”. How bout that?
  - Mike April 14, 2018 (9:37 am)
    
    Alki Resident, they didn’t miss the story. They don’t care. Just like they don’t really care that enabling people to live in filth is worse than forcing them to live in crappy shelter with rules, toilets, garbage cans and food prepared for them. Allowing people to live in these encampments is not only inhumane, it’s incredibly hazardous to the health and well being of everyone, even those not in the encampments. Hepatitis is on the rise in King County, mostly in these encampments. http://www.who.int/features/qa/76/en/  It’s lovely that people want to feel ‘compassion’ and let people live in filth, however, it’s deadly and inhumane to allow it to continue. It’s time to put a stop to this. If you enable it, you’re part of the problem and killing people by allowing it to continue. Make the politicians take action. Vote for politicians that will take action. Vote out politicians than enable people to live in filth. Make our $1.5 Billion / year in money for homeless (actual amount in Puget Sound dedicated each year) be used to help people and get them the care they really need. Those that are abusing the system can either go to jail or move away.
  - AMD April 14, 2018 (5:35 pm)
    
    You’re wrong. Flat out.
    
    New York considers shelter a right and pays hundreds of thousands of dollars putting homeless people up in hotels when they run out of shelter beds. No one moved across the country to sleep under an overpass in the cold and rain, especially when a city that would pay to put them up in a hotel is five hours away.
    
    Stop perpetuating the myth that people move here to be homeless. There is ZERO data supporting it, and actual data refuting it. You’re just making yourself sound uninformed and bigoted, and distracting from a real conversation about real issues in the process.
    
    Just stops.
    - Mike April 15, 2018 (12:16 am)
      
      “Stop perpetuating the myth that people move here to be homeless” I don’t know if you’ve talked to homeless in Seattle, I have. The couple from Alabama that I talked to about 6 years ago liked the fact we don’t go after users of weed (which is now legal, not then). They lived near the West Seattle bridge in a tent. I was changing a flat tire on my bicycle when they approached me. Numerous homeless in Seattle have moved here from far far away. Here’s one from West Virginia https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/homeless-sidewalk-campers-we-appreciate-seattles-liberal-vibe/729916774
      
      Many people are truly in need, a large group are here because they want to be here.
Sna April 13, 2018 (3:02 pm)

This is really any issue with about 10-20% of the homeless population. I think even the most hardened here supports helping those in need who are making some effort to better their situation.

But there is extreme frustration with the city’s policies towards those that seem fine living in deplorable situations. Read the defintion of co-dependent and it perfectly describes the relationship between the city and unsheltered homeless:

https://americanaddictioncenters.org/alcoholism-treatment/loving-an-addict/

dcn April 13, 2018 (11:45 am)

While the homeless have few options, camping illegally and trashing a greenspace should not be one of them. I’m sorry to those who say that we should tolerate this because we need to have more empathy for the homeless, but our green spaces and the habitat they provide for wildlife are precious commodities in our rapidly growing city. There is no reason why we should allow homeless people to ruin them because they reject other sanctioned locations.

And I think it’s more empathetic to require that homeless people live in locations that have sanitation services and some protection from violent crime. This is not an us vs. them mentality. It’s a plea for establishing some lines for what we will accept as a society, and what we deem unacceptable. This horrendous encampment shouldn’t be acceptable to anyone, including our city leaders.

Our green spaces should not be a free-for-all.

brian April 13, 2018 (2:32 pm)

so it sounds like you’re advocating for a full city budget to house the homeless? I am super on board with this. It’s an awesome idea!

Rick April 13, 2018 (11:53 am)

I’ve been homeless and in no way did I ever take that to mean I could break laws with no consequences. I guess I was just raised a differently.

Cynical girl April 13, 2018 (11:54 am)

JanS- I will be homeless by this time next year if I don’t find work soon. I was working for UW doing cancer studies while trying to deal with severe depression. I had a hard time but never took a day off. My doctor offered to write a note to UW human resources letting them know I was getting treatment. Not good enough, I was still fired in 2013. After applying for jobs in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, I find out that the UW has been giving me a bad recommendation to prospective employers. Thanks UW and those passionate, caring cancer doctors for being non-judgmental and inclusive and blah blah blah. Btw- I’m a cancer survivor and they knew that. So I see exactly what goes on with these services such as worksource and fairwork center. Social justice my left butt cheek.

Mike April 14, 2018 (9:46 am)

You should take UW to court. That sounds like a nice multi million dollar payout from the state. No joke. It’ll prevent you from being homeless. I’d assume they’d also be forced to pay for medical care and treatment for you too.

mumstheword April 13, 2018 (12:29 pm)

@Cynical girl,(and anyone who needs a job) I will not give the company name but there is a very large produce company in the SODO Area that is always hiring for all types of jobs. They have a Husky dog logo on some of their older trucks…if that rings a bell.

Good luck

mumstheword April 13, 2018 (12:46 pm)

Current Jobs in SODO location

Job Listings
Sort By Job ID	Sort By Job Title	Job Locations	Sort By Posted Date
2018-1232	Warehouse Janitor	US-WA-Seattle	4/9/2018
2018-1221	Van Driver	US-WA-Seattle	3/20/2018
2018-1204	NON CDL Driver	US-WA-Seattle	3/1/2018
2018-1203	– Warehouse / Nights	US-WA-Seattle	3/1/2018
2018-1202	Driver –	US-WA-Seattle	3/1/2018
2018-1201	Class B Hostler/Driver	US-WA-Seattle	3/1/2018
2018-1200	Class A Hostler/Driver	US-WA-Seattle	3/1/2018
2018-1199	Class B Driver	US-WA-Seattle	3/1/2018
2018-1198	Warehouse Order Selector – 4pm Shift	US-WA-Seattle	3/1/2018
2018-1197	Class A Driver	US-WA-Seattle	3/1/2018
2018-1188	Farm Operations Assistant	US-WA-Seattle	1/29/2018
2018-1172	Customer Service Rep- Swing Shift	US-WA-Seattle	1/3/2018
2017-1162	Maintenance Technician	US-WA-Seattle	12/7/2017

cheeseWS777 April 14, 2018 (1:07 am)

You know, just to prove a point, i think il try to get every single job posted here. Im willing to bet i wont b hired due to the fact i am a homeless drug addict or due to my apearance. Ill let you know
- Mike April 14, 2018 (9:48 am)
  
  I’ve worked in jobs like this, you can be hired being an active addict. I was in college, there for a two week temp position and offered a role in management if I ‘quit college’. It’s not uncommon for people to get these jobs even with track marks and sores on their skin. Pretty sure one of them will pan out.

EK April 13, 2018 (12:52 pm)

Happy Earth Day!…………………………….

PW April 13, 2018 (1:01 pm)

I am sorry I have no sympathy for the homeless encampment filth legal or not. The increase is due to drugs and those arriving here from outside the area because of the free service.

The City of Seattle has become a mess. Those that abide by the law like we do would never get away with this.

My final rant the City wants the homeless now to be another full department “Homeless Department” run forever, free funded by us with unlimited taxes. And take a close look it is already in place, they have no motivation to look to a solution…

brian April 13, 2018 (2:35 pm)

You don’t sound sorry at all, if I’m being completely honest here.

NW April 13, 2018 (1:49 pm)

I was walking around the junction residental neighborhood yesterday evening the amount of trash along the gutter and parking strip really disturbed me it’s directly related to garbage services that pickup and transport it but the amount just scattered in a quarter mike area was ALOT. I managed to pickup some but a lot was of course left behind in front of houses town houses and apartments.

momosmom April 13, 2018 (2:56 pm)

@NW… O K??? and your point is?

NW April 13, 2018 (6:11 pm)

How much are we in our own neighborhoods picking up trash that’s right along side our own homes? We all have places to dispose of it in our own apartment complexes and houses. I say we need to step up and direct some of that judgment we put on others who don’t have a trash service or free time to pickup storm water pollution like plastic wrappers and cigarette butts do some around here it’s been a problem here along time I witness it while walking or on my bicycle. All debris along our streets and sidewalks eventually get broken down and end up in puget sound. I ask you reading this do you pickup trash in our community while out in it?
- Mike April 15, 2018 (12:25 am)
  
  I do, I pick up trash around the city all the time. I typically leave the condoms and needles alone though, I don’t like diseases. I’ve also had talks with my kids to not touch trash and if they see a condom or needle to tell an adult/teacher/police/fire person. It’s pretty pathetic when my kids where 1 and 4 at a daycare the teachers had to stop taking kids to the park because of used condoms, needles and people in the public restrooms having sex.

KBear April 13, 2018 (3:10 pm)

At least the trash generated by the homeless can be cleaned up. The souls of some of these commenters may be irredeemable.

Helpful April 13, 2018 (6:52 pm)

I don’t understand your rationale that it’s “kind” to let (the portion of homeless who are) mentally ill people and addicts, destroy themselves and their Seattle surroundings- and those who oppose this approach are “unkind”.

if I treated my kids the way Seattle treats unsheltered people, I’d be arrested for neglect! Hell, if I treated my dog in this “empathetic” manner, I’d be cited for animal cruelty!
- Mike April 15, 2018 (12:30 am)
  
  Helpful, you’re being rational. There are many posting on here that feel they’re being empathetic by allowing people to destroy themselves. Any enforcement of laws is evil in their eyes. Any real attempt to get people off the streets, into addiction care and out of living in filth is seen as cruel in their eyes. They’d rather people continue to die of overdoses and diseases in tents and RV’s, just as long as you say a prayer and say you’re being empathetic…all is well.

Skylear April 13, 2018 (8:59 pm)

Agree very much with Helpful. I work downtown near 3rd and James, and what I see down there on a daily basis troubles me greatly. I pray every night that no one I know end up there. I wish I had a solution, I don’t. I know something needs to start getting done, and soon. The city has no more time to waste on this. I have been watching it grow considerably over the last 4 years. The police now refuse or have been ordered not to deal with much of it. I have seen a flash of a spotlight from a police cruiser used to break up a kitchen knife parking lot fight, without the officer even getting out of the vehicle. Every day during the daytime I see cars with smashed windows. Every morning there are broken storefront windows along 3rd Ave. The North Face store stopped replacing the window glass last summer because it had been broken into so many times. These are bold brazen crimes committed by individuals that know they can get away with it. Over and over.

Jethro Marx April 13, 2018 (9:04 pm)

Helpful, I have a lot of opinions, but I like to be helpful, too. When we use quotation marks, they need to refer to something someone actually said or wrote.

Your use of quotes is unhelpful and unkind; that’s before we even get into your shoddy logic and false implications. Let’s all get a little higher standard going here.

To that end, from further up, PW, when you use the word is, you better be damn sure what’s on the left side of is may be evaluated as equivalent to what’s on the right side of is. Ax = b, eh?

“The increase (in homelessness) is…” sets up a big expectation for what’s coming next, but it turns out to be poorly thought out piffle. If you have not looked into the causes of the issue, and you are not willing to find data from someone who has, maybe just stick to opinions rather than trying to make true statements.

Did somebody complain about WSDOT cleaning up the garbage because it would make it easier to bring garbage into the area? Now we have complained about almost every possible thing we can find in these woods!

Helpful April 13, 2018 (9:50 pm)

Though nothing bores me like a self-righteous grammer nazi post, I am happy to finally read an opinion from JM that someone might consider “helpful”.

Jethro Marx April 13, 2018 (11:09 pm)

I’m always glad to bring joy and happiness! Perhaps it will bring even more felicity when I tell you that, in a cornerstone of irony, you spelled ‘grammar’ wrong.

As Maui said, “You’re welcome! -And thank you!”
- Helpful April 14, 2018 (1:47 am)
  
  My poor spelling is certainly not ironic, as given my use of quotation marks, there is no expectation that I would spell grammer, or any word, correctly. Therefore, blah blah, yawn.. Zzzzz
  
  Huh? Oh. Me more happy in a cornerstone of happiness that you gots smug spelling nag hobby, cuz it’s still more better than the bloated condescending opinion.
  
  Good day to you, Sir! No thanks, I’m welcome.
- Helpful April 14, 2018 (1:17 pm)
  
  Thank you for this valuable lesson on the futility of public discourse.

casey April 14, 2018 (4:29 am)

@cheesews777…and I bet you won’t get one of those jobs because of your negative attitude and you say your a drug addict so I’m guessing more than likely this company does pre-employment drug testing…but good luck.

mumstheword April 14, 2018 (7:49 am)

I was pointing these jobs out to Cynical girl…she says this time next year she’d be homeless and was hoping that any job may help her and any others who may be in her “shoes”.

Apologies if it offended you Cheesews777

JoB April 14, 2018 (7:49 am)

Casey..
what you said to Cheesews777 was unkind.
They are facing the very real discrimination when it comes to jobs and housing that anyone who as a history of any kind of major breakdown in their employment history faces….
believe me. they wish your denial changed their reality… but it doesn’t.

The current situation in our woods is a direct consequence of “cleaning up” the jungle… we got their problem.. and bellevue’s problem.. for that matter.

if we don’t want to be continually cleaning up the garbage we need to find viable solutions for people who currently can’t find housing or employment… a solution which includes housing that supports employment.. not just a bed

Anthony April 14, 2018 (7:52 am)

Is that Bobcat picking up a washer and dryer? They must both be propane operated to be working in the woods. But to all who besmirch them as filthy homeless, I say “touché”. When’s the last time you did your laundry while camping in the Cascade’s? And for those that call them lazy and unmotivated, I moved a washer and dryer once and it was hard, I could only imagine how difficult it was getting them down those narrow, dark and unpaved paths.