Thanks for the tips. We went over to the 16th/Graham RV-encampment area a short time ago after reports of a large police response. There, the officers described it as a “person in crisis” situation. It was originally dispatched as a report of “threats.” No other details so far.
P.S. A neighbor with whom we spoke sent us this photo of signage indicating the “remediation” this week will be followed by a sweep on Thursday:
Glad that mess is getting dealt with and cleared out. Absolutely disgusted when it first appeared.
RVs starting to build up again on Harbor Ave. I reported via Fix It app for 72 hour enforcement.
All the RVs north of the college on 16th left a couple days ago so I guess that’s where they went.
Strict enforcement of the 72 hour parking rule and the SMC regarding trash, encroachment on pedestrian sidewalks and trails is needed.
They should also enforce that the vehicles are licensed, well maintained and safe to be on the street and impound the ones that are not and refuse assistance or are doing criminal activity. If they are honest and ask for assistance then I would be more lenient. I have noticed one or two were keeping the grounds clean and were far away from the bulk of the problem ones.
This morning on we had music blasting at 6am and welding in the street parking area by WEST BAY Coffee. Welding metal with sparks next to a propane tank and generator… Also found our stolen compost bin there and a good samaritan saw it and brought it back!
They’re only asking them to stop parking to Morgan on the South side of campus. Several have already just moved lightly further south of that.
Bout time the city stepped up. Without criminalizing the squatters it still has had a terrible effect on all the community’s facing this situation. Hard cheap drugs and thieves stealing everyone’s bicycles. Bottom line everyone is fed up with all the junkie’s and thievery .. The RV encampments are a hub for all sorts of crime that’s going on. Proper housing,jobs,treatment, and sanitary conditions are the key it all this.. People need showers and clean clothes and medical attention
as others have said, enforcment of the 72 hour parking rule is important – not just because its the law, but because it doesn’t allow spots to grow into larger encampments that will cost even more tax dollars to “remediate”.
Growing RV presence on Trenton, and also on the street directly behind Target. Time to start impounding all illegally parked vehicles and holding owners accountable.
We just checked. One RV on Trenton right now. Perhaps the ones you saw have moved,
RE: Trenton area – it’s not an RV, but that forest green Jeep that people have been living in has been there for quite some time. Was driving past it towards 35th a couple of weeks ago, only to see the male occupant of the vehicle exit said vehicle – nearly crawling and falling over repeatedly – and proceed to drop trou, bend over and show the world his nether regions. This was after a previous incident where the female occupant of said vehicle decided one day to walk up to the closest intersection during rush hour traffic, drop her trou and pull out an adult diaper (filled, mind you) and swing it around over her head and into the street and on to nearby vehicles. Stay classy, Seattle!
The person in that RV stole my son’s bike last week while he was at Westwood. I found it later that day on the bike rack on the front of the RV and “stole” it back.
Disgusted by my neighbors who think it’s a crime to be poor. These sweeps are inhumane. Period.
Nothing inhumane about expecting people to follow the law. Register the RV (all vehicles really). Move the RV every 72hrs and keep belongings inside of it. Nothing unreasonable about expecting the city to enforce this either.
It’s not about their status as homeless or even sleeping on the streets nearby. If they weren’t engaged in disruptive activities and minded their own business, didn’t steal bikes, etc. then people wouldn’t be asking them to leave. If Bill Gates moved next door and stole my bike I’d be pretty upset with him as well.
It is sad you think poor people are criminals. That perception is harmful to us all. No economic situation justifies the status quo in Seattle.
Neighbor. AGREE! Poor people are NOT criminals-unless they CHOOSE to break the law. And then YES they ARE criminals. Being poor is NOT an excuse to break the law.
“The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread.”
I used to be very poor and I was never a criminal. Neither are countless millions of poor people. Many crime-RV inhabitants have nicer cars and SUVs and more disposable income than hard-working West Seattle residents. There are LOTS of uber-rich criminals, too. Generalizing is always a bad idea.
It’s not that they’re poor or anything like that. Some people are just plain out of control with the garbage they have. Some feel it’s ok to go thru my carport and help themselves to what ever they feel like that I’ve worked hard and paid for. Some feel it’s ok to completely block a sidewalk with trash and their “collections” which forces children to walk in the street or wheelchair bound individuals to have to go in the street just to get past them. That’s the problem. It’s not a crime to be poor. It’s a crime to steal and break the laws.
I havent seen any progress on sweeping the woods on the East side of Myers Way south of the Olson Way intersection. This week multiple RV’s have moved INTO the woods
That was discussed to some degree at last night’s Camp Second Chance Community Advisory Council meeting, about which I’ll be writing later today.
Jeff – no one to my knowledge has said it’s a crime to be poor. All people are requesting is that the SMC be applied equally to everyone.
And why is it that the vast majority of people working minimum wage jobs are able to manage to pay rent et al without resorting to living on the street?
My brother is sick with disability. Has a job where he can work, thankfully, but cannot afford rent due to high medical bills. He lives in an RV. He is a vet too. Maybe research this unfounded “vast majority” claim. Most have to rent rooms in a house or apartment and those are few and far between in Seattle at the moment. Affordable from minimum wage at least. I see rooms go for $1100 a month. RV sounds like a nicer way to stretch your dollar, depending.
I have seen an RV park near West Seattle, I drive by it regularly. It has a sign out saying there are openings. There is no trash piled around. It looks like a fine part of the neighborhood. I’m sure it has a fee of some sort but I imagine it’s small. So that’s an option.
Thank god this has gone on long enough! Zero tolerance to the RVs is what Seattle needs.
If you closely observe what is happening at these encampments you will notice the same vehicles repeatedly visiting the RVs to conduct drug deals, along with drug use and criminal activity. I have been chased, my vehicle was stolen, my neighbor’s homes and cars have been broken into with their goods seen at the RVs. When trying to reclaim their possessions they have been threatened with guns and pepper spray. People involved with these encampments are not friendly people — they repeatedly refuse offers of assistance and choose to live their lives without following the laws of our city. These are not innocent people who lost their homes through no fault of their own. This is organized crime.
Annnnnnd here it is. The generalization that all RV dwellers are drug dealers. Neat. My brother is literally one of the homeless people. A vet with disability and a job even! Still can’t afford a home in Seattle. And yes he has updated tags and moves his vehicle. But y’all keep reporting him before it’s even been 72 hours. Because it’s not about the law, it’s about YIMBYism.
She says yes, first and second shots can be administered. Will add that additional detail above.
Thank you to your brother for his service but nobody is entitled to a house in Seattle. He should go somewhere he can afford. Living on the street isn’t an acceptable lifestyle choice.
Jeff, you are doing the exact same thing that you are accusing others of doing. Making generalizations. I did not read those comments as they were calling ALL RV dwellers as bad people/criminals/etc. Unfortunately the bad ones ruin it for those that are just trying to quietly live their lives. And if your brother is disabled and a vet, there are a lot of resources out there that can help him find a place to live and assist him with other needs if need be.
The confidence that something, somewhere, is definitely available to solve these folks’ housing problem and the failure to be housed is their personal fault is the part that always amazes me about these comments.
He has exhausted almost all resources. He could even afford a room I’m sure, but barely. He wants to actually enjoy life and not live on ramen in a closet. He prefers the van life and that is his freedom. He moves his RV before 72 hours and keeps getting reported before being there three days.
The 72 hour period begins when the vehicle is parked. Reporting it as inhabited creates a record of when the clock starts. Someone could just as easily do this by reporting a suspicious vehicle, which it would be on my street, with someone in it in front of their home. This is just a part of the 72-hour lifestyle. Oh well.
Hey “Jeff” – why don’t YOU support your brother by giving him a place in YOUR yard to park his RV. That way, he would not have to keep moving every 72 hours.I live near SSC. There has been a very small percentage of RVs that have kept it neat/tidy around their rigs. I have been taking pictures for the last 3 years (starting before the pandemic) of all of our so-called “unhoused neighbors” and their living conditions. In 2019, we had one or two RVs that would hang out on 16th near the Arboretum- they kept their area tidy.Since then, when our city stopped enforcing all the rules of society, a LARGE percentage of the type of “unhoused” in our area have been basically vagrants/criminals – our community Facebook and community email groups started having DAILY postings of thefts, trespassing, trash dumps, mailbox break-ins, stolen cars, stolen trailers, stolen bikes, stolen garden equipment, etc.MANY of the RVs that have spent time off and on along 16th DO NOT have current tabs on them. Some of them did not even have license plates. We witnessed a few of them get towed/dropped off there when the city did the Andover/steel mill sweep. One of the tow trucks even covered up their sign on their doors so it hid their business name. There have been numerous utility trailers parked near the RVs off and on (no tow vehicles in sight), that are filled with many duplicate items – bikes, BBQs, MANY gas cans and propane tanks, kids strollers, wheelchairs, MANY ladders, etc. At one time, there were 3 different boats on trailers just parked along that area – no tow vehicles ever in sight. I have stopped taking my daily walks along that area because of the smell of human waste, the litter/trash that is along the sidewalks/street/vegetation, as well as the sidewalk not even passable at times. I have witnessed 2 different times as I drove by, people dumping buckets of waste in the storm drains – if I wasn’t alone, I would have pulled over and took pictures. As I was approaching from a block away, I saw a guy pull the bucket from under the back/driver’s side of the dilapidated motor home and passed him as he approached the drain – I watched him empty it while looking in my rear view mirror.I am thankful that I do not see any of the night time activities that my neighbors keep reporting – I am a tad further away, so I miss all of that. I feel for ALL of the communities (Juneau/26th, Andover/steel mill, Cambridge/15th, etc.) that have had to deal with these issues (and even more intensive!) for so long.Please start enforcing the 72 hour parking rule, all vehicles on the street MUST be operable/have current tabs, all vehicles must have a license plate, no trash or anything permitted to be stored on road/sidewalk.
I will never cease to be amazed at how rich property owners in Seattle (which means some of the richest property owners on the planet) will accept without a single doubt the exponential explosion in property and home values they’ve been delighted to receive for 30+ years, and without even thinking one single solitary itty-bitty moment about how that might have something to do with the oh-so-ugly RVs parked on the street and the rapid increase in homeless populations. This is a generation of property owners who got more than they could have ever dreamed for and never once thought that there could be a negative consequence from it. And, of course to them, the problem is almost always rooted in personal, moral failings on the part of the RV dwellers. I know this is not a particularly religious city but “Love thy neighbor” is not a uniquely dogmatic notion. “I got everything I ever wanted but I just hate looking at those ugly, UGLY RVs! UGH!”
It’s harder to have sympathy for them when you can watch them buy and sell hundreds of dollars worth of drugs at a time out in the open like they do. Lots of money (and stolen stuff) changing hands on a daily basis.
I’m lower middle class and can’t really afford to have my stuff stolen. You make it out like the guys in this RV camp are just down on their luck, but that’s not the real story. These dudes are sketchy as hell. That box truck was seen full of stolen bikes. They were breaking into houses and tapping people’s gas tanks. They’re trashing everywhere they go. By saying that these guys are represent the unhoused population, you’re doing people who are just down on their luck a huge disservice. Parts of this group are engaged in organized crime. It’s not about the RVs being ugly or having to look at poor people, it’s a very small subset of the unhoused population raising hell that needs to be dealt with. This issue doesn’t need the hyperbole it’s being given.
Jort – it is peak hypocrisy to spend years flooding comment sections on this blog about the perils of cars, then defend the use of vehicles only for those living in them, instead of using them to get from point A to B. Consider that your hyperbolic and ideologically inconsistent comments may detract from civil discourse.
HT. Agree with your comment to Jort. Have yet to figure out what message-if any-he’s really trying to drive home.
I can see that my observation, which in no way “defends” or “excuses” the moral and civic failure playing out across the city, is somehow perceived as a direct, personal attack on homeowners and is somehow a full and complete exoneration of crime and homelessness. I’m familiar with this reaction. I hear it frequently when I criticize transportation planning choices that overwhelmingly benefit cars at the expense of sustainable growth and public health and safety. This always somehow is perceived as a direct, personal attack on every individual car driver. If you read people’s responses to my comments closely, as I know many of you have for many years, you will note that the overwhelming majority of them do not argue the point I’m making, but instead become comments about me, personally. If you would like to see this theory proven in real time I encourage you to read the responses to this very comment thread, right here. Somehow, when I make an assertion, it always turns into an argument about me, which is not only boring but also unproductive.
If you want to take a moment and show me where I “defend the use of vehicles only for those living in them,” I’ll listen. I didn’t do that, and would prefer glib accusations of “ideological inconsistency” to be grounded in fact. I don’t think shanty-towns are acceptable, nor did I or will I “defend” this scenario playing out across the city, but I’m not selfish and self-centered enough to ignore that there is a serious divergence between the most successful real estate markets in America and an the ability for people to afford housing. West Virginia has some of the highest rates of drug abuse and mental health issues in the country, but the among lowest rates of homelessness. Why? Because housing is cheap there. Because people can afford housing. If you want to get rid of seeing RVs and seeing the homeless, you can’t preach and preen your way to a solution, because this is not a moral failing of character. This is as much of an issue of housing affordability as it is “crime” and we should recognize and confront our collective culpability in reaping the financial benefits of housing scarcity while at the same time pushing people into a financial underclass that results in visible homelessness. Seattle’s property class has benefited beyond their wildest dreams. RV encampments have their roots directly in this concentration of exponential wealth growth.
Jort,You speak of property values exploding and yes, they have.You think I like my house being assessed yearly for several times more than I paid for it? I get TAXED!!! on that perceived value but I get nothing for it unless I want to sell. I’m not trying to take a second mortgage out on the supposed monopoly money equity that Zillow or king County Assessors thinks my place is worth today. I thought hard about selling as I’ve watched the slow circling of the drain that seattle is doing. I can’t get an equal place anywhere better than what I have now for the proposed selling price so I am stuck here. With you. With the RV people. Inconspicuous good ones and the oh-so-visible BAD ones.It’s not nearly so much about seeing people less well-off and much more about enduring the crime and insecurity that bad actors attract when they fester too long in one location. As you’re so happy to point out, no city has solved cars / traffic nor will they ever. I suggest that no city has also ever solved homelessness and the worse parts of human nature. There will always be BAD people who just don’t want to be part of civil society no matter how many carrots are offered. Eventually that society is right to bring on the stick once in a while.
You are articulating a perspective that assumes there is no other country in the world but America, which is admittedly very common for people from America. When you say that “society is right to bring on the stick once in a while,” you may not be aware that America “brings on the stick” more than most countries already. We spend enormously on our police forces, compared to other countries. We also punish people. We jail more people by any measure — per capita and in total — than any other country on the planet. We already “use the stick!” A lot! More than any other country! Yet other countries have lower crime rates and lower homelessness. If you think that “no city has also ever solved homelessness,” then I encourage you to go online, book a ticket to just about any other country in the world, and maybe talk to some different people and start working to open your mind to the fact that we in America have uniquely got ourselves into this problem, and we are going to have to start getting a lot more humble and a lot more creative if we want to get out of it. Here’s a big hint to start your learning journey: no country has ever jailed their way out of homelessness problems. If any country has tried, it’s us, and obviously it’s not working.
So, Jort….our working-class neighbors trying to raise their kids while struggling to pay their mortgages are now “rich property owners”? Many can’t even afford to get their cars fixed, their teeth fixed, or their roofs fixed after paying their monthly mortgage/property taxes.
So, all the RVs, box trucks, and other dilapidated vehicles have green parking enforcement stickers on the windscreens today. This is in addition to the more familiar orange stickers. Some of them have scraped the orange stickers off and have just a green one now.What does the green sticker mean? Ok to impound? Owner in process of moving and being compliant? Free drugs?I’m not about to walk up there and inspect one.
Just to be clear…the person in crisis was not a vehicle resident in that area. I saw the lights and stopped to check in with some folks living there and they said he had been yelling but that they did not know him…he got into some sort of altercation with a housed neighbor, who felt threatened and called 911.
HUD gave the local housing authorities additional emergency housing vouchers. Homeless veterans and individuals who want assistance can be connected to these vouchers through referring agencies. Veterans are also eligible for VASH vouchers. I have compassion for those struggling who want to contribute to our community. I have no compassion for the drug dealers, addicts and criminals who do exist in some of the encampments.
An RV being towed by an SUV just parked outside Westcrest off 8th
They’re definitely on scene today on 16th, though the city person who’s supervising said that most of these RVs – unlike Andover – seem able to move, so they’re expecting more self-moving (some of which has occurred to a stretch a few blocks north, as commenters have noted) than towing. We’ll be checking back this afternoon – TR
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