ENCAMPMENTS: City’s plans for Harbor Avenue; aftermath of West Marginal Place and 26th/Juneau sweeps

We’ve continued to ask the city about West Seattle encampment sites, and have new replies from the mayor’s office regarding three:

HARBOR AVENUE SW: As of late this afternoon, only three RVs were on Harbor, spread over several blocks east of Fairmount. That’s down from as many as 11 a few weeks ago. The mayor’s office tells WSB that the area “is scheduled for remediation later this month,” though they won’t give an exact date, saying the “calendar changes frequently.” The response continues:

Last week the city began working with partners at REACH and Union Gospel Mission with the goal of helping as many people as possible connect to shelter and resources. For example, outreach teams can help people in inoperable vehicles by purchasing batteries, gas and other resources. The HOPE team and other city workers are also advising owners to regularly move vehicles to avoid warnings and citations.

We also asked about the results of two recent sweeps reported here:

WEST MARGINAL PLACE: This cul-de-sac abutting the bicycle/foot path west of the low bridge was swept this past Tuesday. The mayor’s office says, “Parking enforcement officers observed 17 vehicles before the cleanup occurred (three RVs, one motorcycle, and 13 other vehicles). Many of the vehicles were moved voluntarily prior to the cleanup event and three vehicles were impounded (the motorcycle and two other vehicles; no RVs were impounded from this site). About 7,000 pounds of debris was removed during the cleanup event.”

26TH/JUNEAU: The only aftermath response on this cleanup last Monday was, “Our records show there were two people living at that site, and that two people received referrals for shelter.”

21 Replies to "ENCAMPMENTS: City's plans for Harbor Avenue; aftermath of West Marginal Place and 26th/Juneau sweeps"

  • Jim P. August 5, 2022 (10:18 pm)

    ” About 7,000 pounds of debris was removed during the cleanup event.””And there you have the short, factual, unbiased version of why most people don’t want these “encampments” around.

    • Derek August 6, 2022 (7:46 am)

      I care more about humans than debris. We could give these encampments trash services very easily. 

      • flimflam August 6, 2022 (10:22 am)

        Derek, first of all what’s easy is spending other peoples (tax) money. Second, this isn’t simple garbage – it’s weird hoarding of junk, pallets, piles of bike parts. Third, if they’d accept services there would be no need to even discuss their absurd amounts of trash.

      • Pants August 6, 2022 (11:19 am)

        Even if you had garage service, doesn’t mean these folks would use it, and what about human waste? That’s not what the garbage workers sign up for. This is not humane for the campers, the homeowners/local residents, animals and the earth. 

      • StuckInWestSeattle August 6, 2022 (7:26 pm)

        Do you care about all the victims of these people? All the crying kids with no bikes? The houses that are robbed. The businesses that suffer. The people afraid to walk in their neighborhoods? I sure do.

      • Clark August 7, 2022 (4:27 pm)

        Derek,Why don’t you provide funds or buy a lot YOU maintain and clean?  Easy comment to make when you’re not affected. Convenient compassion.

    • Concerned neighbor August 6, 2022 (8:46 am)

      This for the win. Garbage and unsanitary and unsafe conditions.

  • MG August 5, 2022 (11:00 pm)

    It was so wonderful to see harbor ave mostly clean again.  We went for a nice walk along harbor and felt safe and happy to see the trail so open and welcoming. 

    • Derek August 6, 2022 (7:47 am)

      Ironic you call it welcoming as you kick poor people out of The neighborhood and move people around.

      • Frustrated August 6, 2022 (10:49 am)

        Why does being poor give people a license to throw trash every where, scream at random people walking/biking by (me or someone I was near on a few occasions) light fires on the sidewalk, and leave needles where people and animals can step on them? Why is this behavior acceptable because you classify these people as poor?

      • Pants August 6, 2022 (6:40 pm)

        @derek why should we make exceptions to the laws and rules for “poor people?” You cannot camp long term on city streets. It’s not humane to anyone INCLUDING “poor people.” It’s time to clean it up for everyone and Mother Earth. 

  • Louise August 6, 2022 (9:44 am)

    The motor homes do NOT belong on Harbor Ave which is a major recreation area of the city. There is simply too much debris where numerous folks are biking and walking. I’m not against the homeless, I do what I am able to support them. Harbor Ave is simply an inappropriate place for a motor home and tent encampment. 

  • KH August 6, 2022 (1:49 pm)

    Noticed the black RV that looks about to crumble with the blue tarp on Harbor Ave is growing pot in the back. Several large plants. I’m sure they have a license as upstanding citizens would. 

  • Mj August 6, 2022 (3:10 pm)

    Derek – enough already, there are plenty of jobs available.  In fact Met Market is advertising starting wages at $18 an hour with benefits.  What is wrong with expecting adults to work to pay rent and other living expenses AND not live on the street leaving a mess for taxpayers to clean up?  

    • Derek August 6, 2022 (8:05 pm)

      Who said they didn’t have jobs? And
      those who are mentally sick cannot work a job like that. People should have the freedom to live on this land without having to pay for it. It’s stupid that you can’t just exist.

      • Socialcontract August 7, 2022 (7:20 am)

        That’s not how cities work, though. If people want to live somewhere and not pay for it, and not get hassled, they have to go somewhere that’s not managed. Or at least somewhere less expensive. Before we talk about a right to live anywhere for free let’s get better at practicing “leave no trace” principles.

    • not so easy August 7, 2022 (8:17 am)

      There are a lot of qualified, housed, people not getting jobs they apply for in today’s market, even if it appears jobs are readily available. It’s really not so simple to get hired these days as some seem to think. Do you think think folks who are living in these conditions are in a competitive position to get hired compared to the rest of us in better circumstances? Some people can’t even tolerate seeing these folks outside, in parks and on sidewalks, how do you think they will be judged when they walk into Met Market looking for work? How are they supposed to hold down work without housing and all the things that come along with that?

  • Ryan August 6, 2022 (3:46 pm)

    Derek perhaps you could shoulder that burden. I’d like to see my public officials focus on services my family and i should be afforded for paying taxes and actually purchasing land to live on and not simply squatting illegally.  enforce the laws that were set up to help govern our society, if you want to change those laws… Go through the process. Perhaps you will find support or perhaps you won’t.

  • CheeseWS777 August 6, 2022 (6:24 pm)

    It is very inhumane to let these people live in these RVs. So, let’s impound those RVs and then they can live on the sidewalk. That’s the best solution it seems. Nobody cares about these peoples living conditions until it was happening in their neighborhood so I’m kinda tired of hearing that cried out

    • Derek August 6, 2022 (8:10 pm)

      Grew up in a trailer park. Have lived in tiny house villages. It is not inhumane and it is very livable.

  • WSDUDEMAN August 6, 2022 (10:13 pm)

    I always see the same assumptions on here that the homeless are simply innocent victims. Yes, some are victims of circumstances beyond their control and they don’t want to be living on the street. Some are mentally ill, but a sizable portion are predatory drug addicts doing what they can for the next fix. They don’t want help. If you feel differently, go talk to them. I have plenty of times outside of my work in SoDo and elsewhere. You’ll quickly see what you are dealing with. It’s terrible witnessing this general apathetic attitude condoning people slowly killing themselves all in the name of ‘compassion’.

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