FOLLOWUP: What Councilmember Saka says about Sunday’s encampment violence

| Crime | West Seattle news

(Sunday traffic-camera image of response at 35th/Alaska)

The three men attacked in what police describe as a “violent robbery” at an encampment near the east side of 35th/Alaska remain hospitalized today. We covered the incident for hours on Sunday, and, noting that it happened on city-owned parkland, sought comment today from District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka. Here’s the statement we received, which also touches on the other city-land-encampment incident we covered a short time earlier:

I was horrified to hear about the robbery and assault in an encampment at Rotary Viewpoint Park yesterday, and I want to thank the Seattle Police Department for their quick response. Violence is never acceptable, especially in public spaces like our city parks where people should feel safe. Unfortunately, that has not been the reality at this park for some time.

Over the last two years, my office has consistently escalated community concerns in the Triangle neighborhood to the Unified Care Team, the agency responsible for remediating unsanctioned encampments, while also pushing for stronger responses when services are repeatedly declined by these individuals.

Recent incidents, including the fire near The Home Depot along Sylvan Way, show that our city clearly needs to do more, and I look forward to working with the Mayor, my Council colleagues, the Unified Care Team, and regional partners to expand shelter options and address these issues.

We have also inquired with Mayor Katie Wilson‘s office regarding when we’ll get an announcement regarding the hundreds of new shelter spaces expected to open around Seattle within the next two months or so.

Seaview Jack March 30, 2026 (2:28 pm)

Saka’s response is further proof we’re in an infinite loop of inaction. Literally two paragraphs apart (in the same statement) he identifies a problem with individuals refusing services and then says the solution is to work with the Mayor, et al, to expand shelter options. If people are refusing services how does adding more services fix the issue?

PSPS March 30, 2026 (3:17 pm)

Some people refuse services because they come with strings attached that they either won’t or can’t accept (i.e., give up pets, partner, drinking, drug abuse all in advance.)

If you look at how other countries around the world deal with this, the only one I’ve seen that has a consistently positive outcome is called “housing first.”

Jimmy K March 30, 2026 (5:49 pm)

Reply

Once more, for the chronically and deliberately obtuse: please explain how exactly does “housing first” prevent these types of crimes committed against and by the homeless population. Short of giving every homeless person that shows up in Seattle a house, followed by all of their housing expenses paid in perpetuity, as well as a monthly allowance, how does gifting them a house fix anything?

J March 30, 2026 (3:20 pm)

In other words “nothing will be done”! I’ll go back to hiding in my office and only attend ribbon cuttings and supporting personal programs that make me seem like I actually do something!