FOLLOWUP: 'Last to go' RV gone from westbound side of Harbor Avenue

Pdiddy August 18, 2022 (12:34 pm)

Need to clear the out of 16th ave sw by the college where a bunch moved in a month ago.

Joe August 18, 2022 (5:02 pm)

100% I’m glad I’m not the only person who things this. Also by the abandoned houses on 8th by the church

Paul August 18, 2022 (12:38 pm)

Does anyone know what the city is doing to prevent these encampments from popping back up in other spots? With each new west seattle sweep, the encampment in front of south seattle community college grows. I’ve reported this to the city countless times with no action. It seems the city is fine pushing the problem around the city, waiting until it gets filthy and unsafe, and then pushing it elsewhere only to repeat the cycle again.

Jay August 18, 2022 (1:11 pm)

It’s getting a little scary. Tuesday night someone mag dumped a handgun near this camp, reloaded, and shot some more. About 15 shots. I was sitting on my deck when it happened.
skeeter August 18, 2022 (1:33 pm)

I agree with you Paul. It’s a broken cycle. The RV encampment in High Point (27th/Brandon) has more than doubled in size in the past few weeks. Does anyone know why Bellevue and Redmond don’t have any RV encampments on city streets? Do those cities just tow the RVs to an impound lot within a couple hours?
Kyle August 18, 2022 (2:10 pm)

Pushing it around is their only plan. You should call in the encampment by the college.

Joan LaBriola August 18, 2022 (12:58 pm)

Does the city have some sort of unused property that RVs could park so they are not an eyesore on our streets and public parks? There used to be a Nicklesville on west Marginal, why can’t someplace like that be put to use? It would also be able to monitor residents and crime if there were designated areas.

WSB August 18, 2022 (1:59 pm)

The plan for an RV “safe lot” adjacent to the old Nickelsville site fell apart before it was ever launched (we covered it extensively). At the same committee meeting from which we reported the park info late last night, the King County Regional Homelessness Authority’s CEO gave a brief update on plans for a new one, as funded by the City Council. Short summary: They’re still trying to settle on a site and hope to have something by year’s end that would hold 35 RVs (of the estimated hundreds around the city).
- 935 August 19, 2022 (7:46 am)
  
  And here is the grift ladies and gentlemen….
  
  How any more outfits are there like the “King County Regional Homelessness Authority”
  
  How many more salaries (Executive or otherwise) can city, county and state pay with YOUR hard earned tax dollars – while solving little to NO problems?
  
  Bougie city folk….”We pay our taxes so we can turn a blind eye to human travesty”
  
  “Accountability? What’s THAT??”
  - WSB August 19, 2022 (1:25 pm)
    
    Here’s what the KCRHA is supposed to be, if you’re interested
    https://kcrha.org/regional-homelessness-authority/
    The city of Seattle is its major funder and has offloaded a lot of management to the KCRHA – for example, it now manages the contracts for tiny-house villages (used to be the city).
JulNJer August 18, 2022 (9:52 pm)

I work in the CID and we were just told Seattle and King County leased approx 5 city blocks to KCHRA near Charles and 4th for a 450-500 person no-barrier enhanced shelter along the SODO/CID border. The plan includes an rv parking lot and likely another tiny house village. Not clear how they bypassed SODO’s industrial commercial zoning to add residential without the required public notification for proposed variances or even an emergency council decision but here we are. More project info here: https://kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/constantine/news/release/2022/March/23-SoDo-Enhanced-Shelter-Transmittal.aspx

Don August 18, 2022 (1:00 pm)

Great to have the R/V’s gone. For us bike riders who would rather ride in the street to avoid dogs, rental scooters and baby carriages, the R/V’s were a safety nightmare. (sorry but the camera car is going way over the 25mph speed limit ……like everyone else. )

WSB August 18, 2022 (1:56 pm)

My co-publisher was at the wheel. I was looking at the phone and not the speedometer, so can’t say, but we’re usually the people you get stuck behind and want to honk at because we’re sticking to the limit. – TR
Truthsayer August 18, 2022 (2:29 pm)

That stretch of roadway used to have a 35 mph speed limit, as it should still have. Driving 25 mph through there is asinine. People that do it are doing it for passive-aggressive attention – “look at me following the law to the letter, why, you should too, you terrible horrible driver.” Driving 25 mph through there is akin to pretending you’re a police officer charged with enforcement of the law, without regard for any circumstances. It’s simply unacceptable behavior, and the speed limit is ridiculous and unacceptable too.
- skeeter August 18, 2022 (3:52 pm)
  
  Truthsayer – I hope you never have a friend or loved one struck and killed by a car driver. A 35 mph impact is often deadly to a pedestrian or cyclist.
- Auntie August 18, 2022 (3:56 pm)
  
  I will be sure to stick to the posted speed limit and hope that you are the impatient knucklehead behind me. Where are you going in such a hurry, anyway?
- JawDropper August 18, 2022 (5:06 pm)
  
  My jaw dropped reading Truthsayers comment. Speeds are dropped to 25 mph for the safety of all. Sorry it inconveniences you.
- my two cents August 19, 2022 (4:11 am)
  
  You are so RIGHT on the 35 mph speed limit! I used to be able to get Alki an entire 7 seconds sooner. SMH
- Emma-Lou August 19, 2022 (8:13 am)
  
  Pretty sure “truthsayer” (thats not a thing unless you’re big into LARPING) is just looking for attention with this beyond stupid comment. Bragging about being irresponsible and dangerous and then acting like everyone feels the same as you do to feed your ego is kindof hilariously unbelievable. I too am going to make sure and drive 25 and hope you’re behind me on that stretch of road from now on also. If you just took the time to do a simple Google search, and read a couple traffic report stats on deadly accidents instead of posting this garbage, you’d know that ten miles an hour speed limit absolutely makes a difference. That’s the truth.
miws August 18, 2022 (3:55 pm)

FWIW… https://www.quora.com/Why-does-the-vehicles-dashcam-camera-video-look-like-its-faster-than-the-real-thing

momosmom August 18, 2022 (1:15 pm)

Geez say this 5 times real fast! ( pot-plant patch) LOL!!!! Happy to see street clear and clean.

Lucy August 18, 2022 (2:29 pm)

I drove by today on a trip to Costco. I was flabbergasted. Wow. It’s about time!!!

Ryan August 18, 2022 (3:02 pm)

We’ve had RVs for over two years on Brandon Street between 26th Ave. and 29th Ave., Southwest. We’ve also got an encampment at 26th in Juneau.Myself and many neighbors have communicated with city leadership that have done nothing to help us enforce laws that are supposed to govern all citizens inside the city limits of Seattle.I’m glad to see the last RV removed from Harbor Avenue. Hopefully the city will focus attention on our area… Which could help combat the rapist that was in this area or the murder that happened at an Encampment, or the hit-and-run that occurred to a child to which the witness said it was potentially associated to the RV encampments encroachment to Brandon Street. There’s theft, garbage pile ups, shootings, and moreWhen is it our turn…

WSEARES August 18, 2022 (3:17 pm)

Glad to see the RV’s gone/moved along on my commute home today down Harbor Ave SW. But also on my commute home I noticed many of the RV’s/vehicles that were on 2nd ave SW between W Marginal Way SW and Highland Park Way SW are gone as well. Also all vehicles near Sheree’s truck stop are gone with cement eco blocks there to prevent the return of them. But one area slowly growing with vehicles and junk is under the 509/99 overpass right at the curve where 99 turns into Highland Park Way SW… The problem although seems to be gone but many times is just shuffled to a new location and seems the mayor needs to get ahead of this once and for all. Sweeps and moving/towing of vehicles including RV’s are great but his administration needs to be proactive to prevent them from shuffling to a new location/ new neighborhood like Whack A Mole as it just becomes the next neighborhoods problem and it’s never truly 100% solved. One tent or one RV needs to be addressed before it becomes a multiple tent/RV encampment surrounded by trash, rat infested that many times brings criminal behavior to the area as well. Help these individuals and that may mean tough love approach, where they get the help they need and the neighbors also don’t have to deal with the negative impacts these camps often bring to the area.

mem August 18, 2022 (3:26 pm)

Time for South Delridge sweep!!! Yes, it’s been bad and we need help as much as the other neighborhoods. Besides “moving them along”, let’s get either a more permanent solution for these folks; or at the very least, something that gives ALL the neighborhoods an equitable temporary solution.

Lauren August 18, 2022 (4:24 pm)

As a reminder, there are people living in these RVs. Sweeps do not address the root cause of this issue.

snowskier August 18, 2022 (5:39 pm)

The root cause of the guy who parks his RV for a month and starts growing a weed farm in a park is that he doesn’t give a damn what anyone else thinks and believes he should be free from the rules of society. This and many other guys like him need the tough love to either change their mindset or move somewhere where you can set up your home grow operation. The rest of us shouldn’t have to deal with his toddler like insolence.
Ryan August 18, 2022 (8:06 pm)

Lauren, if you want to take the time to make that your life‘s mission great.at the end of the day we do not live in a socialist environment where all people are created equal and we all have the exact same thing. I wish I had the same opportunities as people above me! I’m thankful that I don’t share the same issues as the people who have less than me deal with. However this is our world, it is not perfect! And it never will be! I’m worried about my family, their safety, my property and it being stolen or vandalized.I personally have been threatened by people in the encampments around my house. For simply driving up the street I live on!I’ve been assaulted by addicts that were damaging my property and interrupting my workday for simply asking them to stop.I believe in taking ownership, ownership in your actions, ownership in your responsibilities as a human being. These people need to take ownership… And there are plenty of opportunities out there for them to take advantage of if they would simply put in a little effort.
- Lauren August 18, 2022 (9:50 pm)
  
  ….all people are created equal is literally in our country’s foundation. I realize we haven’t always behaved that way as a society, but I’d like to hope that’s still the standard we hold ourselves to.
  - Emma-Lou August 19, 2022 (8:34 am)
    
    Actually the Constitution, that was written by slave owners states that all MEN were created equal. -just saying.
- equity August 18, 2022 (10:32 pm)
  
  ‘I believe in taking ownership, ownership in your actions, ownership in your responsibilities as a human being. These people need to take ownership… And there are plenty of opportunities out there for them to take advantage of if they would simply put in a little effort.’
  
  This is lacking awareness and understanding for the depth of what people can experience, the awful and truly challenging things that can happen to people and how it impacts them and their ability to succeed, how even people who try and work very hard can end up in a sinking hole and homeless.
  
  Do you not understand that people can be victims of both their circumstamces in life and at the hands of other people?
  
  Trauma. Please read about trauma and what it does to people.
  
  Racism. Please read about racism and how it impacts and limits people.
  
  Just because some maybe haven’t had it so hard that you’ve struggled to the degree others might, doesn’t mean these other people haven’t tried, or are deserving of their circumstances, or undeserving of community support.
  
  Sometimes people experience abuses and crimes that completely interferes with their efforts to recover from their hardships. Life can be way more complicated than some know.
  
  And maybe we will have to disagree on this, but some of us believe that one of our responsibilities as human beingd is to help one another, and choose to take ownership of that, and help when and in ways that we can.
  - Resident August 19, 2022 (12:20 am)
    
    The issues you mention above are noble and true. It doesn’t give those that suffer from them more rights or freedoms that he rest of us.Address the mental health crisis with putting people in involuntary care. Don’t want to participate in society, fine. You may not encroach on the rights of others though.You are not proposing a solution, you are proposing empathy. Empathy is great but it doesn’t solve the problem. You need to pair action with empathy.
    - equity August 20, 2022 (7:00 pm)
      
      Empathy and increased understanding is the first step towards better solutions, so it is indeed solution focused.
      
      How is helping others in nearly impossible situations giving them more rights than those who are in a fine or much better position?
      
      Also, how would you like to fall on some hard times, lose your housing, as a result become an easy target for predators, be victimized in your circumstances, and then be labeled as mentally ill by others and involuntarily committed?
      
      Oh right, you might be someone with enough insulation (ie. money, support, job stability, etc) in your life you don’t even have to worry about this happening to you. Many others in the community are not as lucky, many are struggling, maybe even for years, trying to avoid this fall happening to them.
      
      Please go find your compassion, you seem to have left it at the door.
  - B August 19, 2022 (1:35 am)
    
    Equity – If you’re naive about it. Your ‘help’ might just (will) perpetuate the problem (state sponsored drug addiction). Why do people post so hard like this about trying to teach a deeper empathy? Telling people to read on Trauma and Rascism. Are you kidding me…this genius thinks they’re dealing with uneducated hate mongers? Yeah, let’s just have a sense of deeeep empathy (mmmm, feels so good), and then freeze, and not try to proactively move the conversation forward. Thats your platform? Your perspective is fair for wanting to take pause and consider the variables. But then what? What’s your next move? Others are discussing action. You’re defending the status quo
    - equity August 20, 2022 (7:38 pm)
      
      Why? Because empathy can be an action (not just a feeling), and an important part of the solution, and we’re not going to solve the issues well with narrow perspectives, unfair assumptions and judgements, and without better understanding.
      
      Also because, the majority of people in poverty and homeless are not actually drug addicts, even though yes, they can and do overlap and contribute to the other. But even people with drug addictions are deserving of help too, if they want it, and it can actually be provided… this is a current barrier for some folks.
      
      There are systemic gaps currently in providing the help people actually need.
      
      Something else to consider, is that quite a few homeless don’t become drug addicts until they are homeless and feeling so hopeless, that this becomes their only way to cope, and it’s around them and easy to sucumb to this. Imagine not being able to meet any of your basic needs, but an escape opportunity is handed out to you (ie. drug that will make you feel better), next thing you know you’re physically addicted and feel like you can’t stop.
      
      Also, mental illness worsens, when you are in these circumstances, and being looked at as garbage by the larger community also contributes to this. It’s a very painful life.
      
      So again, empathy is part of the solution. These folks are needing empathy, and when we have empathy and a better understanding, we can better identify solutions, both preventative and responses to help people better their circumstances.
      
      Thanks to those of you trying to have a conversation with respect and tolerance for another perspective. Really appreciate it. And I’m sorry for moments when my frustration gets the better of me and comes through in my communication. These are not easy conversations, for any of us.
    - equity August 20, 2022 (7:51 pm)
      
      https://www.uwkc.org/news/are-all-homeless-people-drug-addicts/
  - 935 August 19, 2022 (8:03 am)
    
    This right here is the definition of an “enabler”.
    
    It is not “anyone’s fault for anything”.
    
    Any slight: perceived or not, is the excuse for EVERYTHING.
    
    Life is hard people. You can deal with the punches and kicks – or you can grab some foil and a staw and smoke fentanyl.
    
    Choose the former? you can feel good about yourself and be a productive member of society. OR, You can choose the latter and let the former (productive members) care for you – while tut-tutting their want to live in a clean, safe environment- where their kids can be….well….kids.
    - equity August 19, 2022 (3:34 pm)
      
      Some people seem to have a really narrow view of poverty and the homeless. There are many different reasons for why people may have struggles, and it is not accurate to label all these these folks as lazy, mentally ill, criminal, drug addicts. If thats how you see it, that’s how you’re choosing to see it, and you’re missing out on having a better understanding.

Hank ONeill August 18, 2022 (8:10 pm)

“as it should be” I hope one day something happens to you that makes you need to live in an RV on somebody’s Street and if there’s somebody like you it says about you when you’re gone finally it’s back like it’s supposed to be that poor person wasn’t there and I no longer have to look at them

Frustrated August 19, 2022 (5:43 am)

If they were GOOD NEIGHBORS it would be different.. but between dodging the needles and trash on the sidewalk, avoiding the needles and trash in the road, and being yelled at randomly by them as they are on whatever was in those needles, I can see that they are NOT good neighbors. Did I mention the needles and trash? Oh yeah, and the stealing/chopping of bikes to pay for those needles.
Pants August 19, 2022 (4:43 pm)

Hank, is it about looking at it or that it’s not humane for people to be ignored and live in filthy conditions. And before you say “it’s very privileged to say they live in filth” they don’t have proper toilet, clean water and garage utilities. So when we turn a blind eye, we all live in the filthy conditions with them. Not to mention, why is it that these folks don’t have to follow the rules? Are they above the law, just because they are poor? True empathy is finding them better living conditions.

Mj August 18, 2022 (10:12 pm)

Ryan – I agree there are plenty of opportunities available for anyone willing to apply themselves.

Kayo August 19, 2022 (7:14 am)

If you want to see where they have moved come visit 26th and Brandon. Also, 26th and Juneau. And Brandon just below snake hill across from Camp Long. This sweep has just swept them over to other areas. It has done nothing but make this leas visible to people except in these hyperlocal areas who then congratulate themselves for this poverty being more hidden from view. Just like the cop I saw downtown rousting a drug addict sleeping on a sidewalk on 2nd the other morning early. Better make them less visible. Go find an alley somewhere. Guess what? They are still here and our neighborhood is still very much dealing with this with related crime and destruction of our greenspaces. It is very frustrating. I am taking a self defense class with my teen after the sexual assault this week in our neighborhood in broad daylight. I have no idea if this was someone who was affiliated with the encampments but i have lived here for over 20 years and never felt as unsafe just walking through my neighborhood as I do right now. I get it. The rv dwellers are humans and these are their homes but dammit, we live here, too, and this situation is out of hand. Go drive along Brandon and take a look. Same for Juneau and 26th. This has been going on for years at this point. It is a mess and we need better solutions than just move somewhere else.

GoochieMane August 19, 2022 (10:52 am)

Glad the black RV that was disintegrating is finally gone after many, many months! Also love how the owner would have all their weed plants in the open to get some sun without any concern. Seattle really seems to care!

16thAveEncampment August 19, 2022 (11:51 pm)

My young daughter and son used to ride their bikes up 16th and spend an afternoon exploring the arboretum and Chinese garden. They are reluctant to go there now as the sidewalk smells like a giant urinal, trash everywhere and loose dogs on alert. They say hi to the kids at least. They are nice albeit a bit strung out.

BP August 20, 2022 (7:43 am)

We have been given a brief glimpse of what Harbor Ave was prior to the drug dealers migration. The residents of Harbor Ave once again feel safe and proud of our neighborhood. It’s only a small slice of WS but should provide a little optimism that it can be replicated in other neighborhoods. Thank you SDOT!

equity August 20, 2022 (7:59 pm)

When you’re out and about driving, keep an eye out for all the new building developments around town, and ask yourself this, how many of these buildings are intended to help address the homelessness crisis?

Yet all many of us do, over and over again, is complain about the people out there who have no where to go, and inadequate help to get out of their circumstances.

It’s easier for us to look at these folks and say they are mentally ill, drug addicted, criminals.

It’s harder for us to relate, to see they are humans who are suffering, who many would say what they really need is some kindness and love, and safe housing where they can begin to work through their issues.