FOLLOWUP: Myers Way east-side cleanup has wrapped up

| Myers Way | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(WSB photo from late this afternoon)

As reported in our coverage of Mayor Jenny Durkan‘s Highland Park Action Committee appearance last night, the city says its cleanup of the east side of Myers Way – which, as noted here Tuesday night, involved dozens of city crews – only took three days. This formal notification is from the Southwest Precinct:

The SW Precinct would like to inform our community that the Myers Way encampment has officially been dismantled. Hundreds of pounds of trash and debris was removed and the encampment was entirely cleared out.

Although the individuals living there were offered many services that the City of Seattle has to offer, a majority of the encampment’s residents declined these offers.

The SW Precinct is working diligently to track the displacement of these individuals, and we encourage our community to stay vigilant and aware. Remember to report crime and suspicious behavior by calling 911, secure your homes and outbuildings by locking doors and windows, and get involved with your community via Block Watch and other community organizations.

Southwest Precinct crime-prevention coordinator Jennifer Danner, who sent the announcement, also reminds you that she and the precinct offer “free safety/security assessments” – e-mail her at jennifer.danner@seattle.gov to find out more.

G-Man September 27, 2018 (9:33 pm)

Hooray to the city for cleaning this up! Too bad a majority of the “individuals living there” declined offers from the city for services that could help them. Unfortunately, they will move to other areas, and the city will eventually have to clean up those messes as well. Sorry, empathy running thin when those who are refusing substantive help, choose to continue living in a way that is hazardous to themselves, to others and to the environment. Yes, I can hear those of you who say mental illness plays a role in their ongoing plight. But then maybe services should not be offered to those mentally ill individuals who cannot make a good choices, and they should be given help weather they want it or not.

Real Istick September 28, 2018 (9:54 am)

“Unfortunately, they will move to other areas…”? Oh no, they’ll be back. Lots of great advice on what we should do but what’s the city doing to keep them from trickling back in just a few weeks. They’ll be back. It’s called whack a mole.

HBB September 28, 2018 (1:48 pm)

I’m not sure what the city’s expectation is, but I assume the majority of the people living in the encampment will return (it looked like some already had when I went by this morning).

Fred September 28, 2018 (2:44 pm)

It’s nice and clean for the next wave. Didn’t remove enough underbrush. Need low ground cover that does not provide concealment. Need to zone for no overnight parking and strictly enforce it. Need patrols. Cameras cost a lot less than cleanup. Prevention is imperative or the same thing will happen again.

Jim P. September 29, 2018 (7:37 pm)

“Although the individuals living there were offered many services that the City of Seattle has to offer, a majority of the encampment’s residents declined these offers.”
And there you have it: Hundreds of millions of dollars spent on people who mostly do not want help it seems.
I remain convinced that one offer of help and shelter is plenty and after that, you’re just a vagrant trespassing on public land and illegally converting it for your own use with no intention of being responsible or even keeping your campsite clean.
Cities used to deal with such by strongly suggesting they keep on moving and not return when they make a mess and cause crime and disturbance and detail a deputy or two to make sure they clear the city limits. Now we start entire agencies to inquire if pretty please there isn’t some way we can sweeten our offer to make them stay and use our free resources as much as they like?
Makes it all the harder to get help to the people who really need and can use it when we fuss over folks who do not want be helped and who simply and clearly prefer to wallow in their own mess and are no more likely to become an asset to society than I am to grow wings and fly.
We must not be asking them nicely enough.

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