FOLLOWUP: Sweep planned this week at Rotary Viewpoint Park (and vicinity) encampment

| Safety | Triangle | West Seattle news

(March 29, emergency response at 35th/Alaska after assaults)

12:16 PM: We’re at City Hall, where District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka and staff just confirmed that a sweep is planned at the Rotary Viewpoint Park (etc.) encampment off 35th SW and SW Alaska this week. We were here for a new periodic media Q&A opportunity with councilmembers (Saka was one of two participants) when we got first word from Keith Hughes of nearby Westside Neighbors Shelter, currently closed for the season to overnight stays and closed TFN for other services because of renovation/repair work, He CC’d us on communication to th city expressing concern that temperatures are forecast into the 30s Wednesday night. This all follows recent incidents including an overdose death a few days ago and the recent assaults on three people. We’ll be looking for posted notices once we get back to the peninsula, and we’re checking with the city reps who did not mention any sweep plans when we inquired last week. If this indeed happens Wednesday, it would be one day before a neighborhood group is scheduled to meet for an update on the situation.

5:58 PM: Finally got a chance to go look for the notice(s). We saw one, shown above, on the fencing near the top of the driveway into/out of the stadium/golf course lot. It indeed announces a sweep for Wednesday morning (April 15) and lists a posting time of 2 pm last Friday – the day after city reps told us only that they were “actively monitoring” the site. Here’s a closer look at the notice:

It lists the targeted area as Avalon to Brandon, 35th to 31st.

Alex April 13, 2026 (12:24 pm)

Good thing folks will get enough a heads up to throw their stuff over the Camp Long fence for the duration of the sweep, only to throw it back over and set up camp later that evening. We’ve seen this done over and over for the last year. A perfect example of the futility of a “sweeps” strategy. In this case, it’ll get swept just 25 feet across the chain link fence, in the blackberry thickets of Camp Long.

B April 13, 2026 (8:06 pm)

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I see no problem in repeatedly trying to offer people services, if not shelter, with these sweeps (regardless of the outcome you describe). It seems to be the only way to connect w them at all and at least try. If memory serves, we’re proposing a tent city on Myers/Olson so I would assume these sweeps are necessary to find tenants. If saying no to the offer is part of this cycle, at least they’re on record as saying no to anything offered. Being against sweeps is being against the only interaction we have that is legal and somewhat safe.
- WSB April 13, 2026 (9:20 pm)
  
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  No tent city. It’s a tiny house/RV lot at 2nd SW/West Marginal and it’s not open yet.
- Jort April 14, 2026 (9:31 am)
  
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  All I’m saying is that they’ll be back, likely mere hours after the “sweep.” They throw their stuff over the fence, they wait it out, and they return. Meanwhile we’ll spend a few tens of thousands of dollars to play this game. And we’ll do it over and over again.

Sara April 13, 2026 (12:45 pm)

It’s about time there was a sweep. Please clean up the neighborhood. So tired of all the open and allowed drug use, vandalism and violence all around this neighborhood.

Dad April 13, 2026 (1:21 pm)

Sweeps of public shared use areas should be daily, just like parking enforcement.

Dp April 13, 2026 (1:34 pm)

I’m glad something is going to happen. This is a nice park. I thought part of this cleaning up these camps was that they were to keep them out of parks. There is a hole in the fence where they go down and live. This is just disgusting. This picture was from this morning. Last week I saw about 40-50 people there and doing drugs

Carol April 14, 2026 (1:36 pm)

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How do you know they were doing drugs? Did you stop and ask? And I doubt you also stopped and counted 50 people. Stop spreading false information.
- cmon April 14, 2026 (2:40 pm)
  
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  Carol, be real. They were definitely doing drugs. They could probably tell because half of them were standing up folded in half.
- Dp April 14, 2026 (4:50 pm)
  
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  I didnt say there was 50’ I said between 40-50. I counted while stopped at the light. Also, I did see people doing drugs. You can tell when people are smoking drugs. They were all together in a circle. I’m not spreading lies. Good god!!!!
- Dp April 14, 2026 (10:41 pm)
  
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  I was at the light. I saw about 40-50’people. I was counting. I also saw some doing drugs. You can tell. I m not spreading false information
- PNDubDude April 15, 2026 (11:13 am)
  
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  Wake up Carol

Emily April 13, 2026 (1:50 pm)

The open-air drug use, public urination, loitering in entryways, and overall anti-social behavior has dramatically decreased in the Triangle with the shelter closed for overnights.

Mom98116 April 13, 2026 (5:44 pm)

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Idk what you’re smoking….the open air drug use continues at RotaryPark and extends into Camp Long as the occupants have cut a hole in the fencing! The loitering, public urination, and violence continues in the area, especially at the bus stops on 35th near the encampment. Reopening the shelter is a very bad idea as there are no safety protocols in place.
- Brian April 14, 2026 (7:10 am)
  
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  I’m with this local mom who clearly recognizes that having zero public bathrooms means people WILL just defecate and urinate on the sidewalk. Seriously, we need facilities for everyone.
- Jake April 14, 2026 (10:04 am)
  
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  Yet you all oppose public restrooms. There’s homeless people because it’s so expensive to live here and hypercapitalism breed hyperpoverty.
Erik April 13, 2026 (7:35 pm)

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Saw a homeless man smoking out of a crack pipe the other day in the parking lot of the shell station, facing the busy street. Not hiding it, not a care in the world. I know people dont want to use jail resources on these homeless drug users, but letting them do whatever, wherever without consequences is not the solution either.
natinstl April 14, 2026 (10:15 am)

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I have noticed the complete opposite, even mentioned to my husband that with the shelter closed noticed more people at the bus stops passed out and openly using drugs. I’m not sure if things have changed but the Delridge community center used to allow for showers and bathroom use.

WS resident April 13, 2026 (2:43 pm)

Hopefully they find an alternative place away from West Seattle. otherwise they will be dispersed throughout West Seattle. Its like playing whack-a-mole. They will pop up somewhere else.

Derp April 13, 2026 (6:03 pm)

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How neighborly of you.
- Derpus April 13, 2026 (6:25 pm)
  
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  How about the camp being neighborly too?Its clearly not directly on your front doorstep if you get to ignore the issue with a 1 sentence rebuttal.
Carol April 14, 2026 (1:38 pm)

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“They need go somewhere, but they can’t go here” your compassion and empathy are severely lacking as a human. I dont know how to explain to you that you should care for people.I’m sure your god is okay with your behavior. Love thy neighbor.
- PTK April 14, 2026 (7:04 pm)
  
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  These people aren’t my neighbors. My neighbors mostly keep to themselves or try to make the neighborhood better. These folks destroy our neighborhood and make it unsightly and unsafe. And no, they are not just down on their luck. Please be real.

Anne April 13, 2026 (3:11 pm)

Have seen open air drug use/deals-public urinating & defecating -not just at Viewpoint but in the south side bus shelters on Alaska from 35th to Fauntleroy. Hoping many of these folks will take advantage of services offered them.

snowskier April 13, 2026 (7:29 pm)

Great news. We have elementary school kids practicing at the track. It will be nice to be able to use the sidewalk from 35th to the stadium….you know, part of the public park that all of us should be able to use and enjoy.Next up city, get cranking on putting the dog park in the empty lot to the south of the driveway. Usage of that area will also increase safe usage of the park for all.

wsres April 13, 2026 (7:39 pm)

there is open drug use there daily. Every time I drive by there or drive into West Seattle track I see people using drugs.

Compass house fan April 13, 2026 (8:37 pm)

There’s a wonderful shelter downtown called compass house!!no drugs no drinking run extremely well. I wish our mayor would go visit it. It’s a great model for our unhoused neighbors.

Hit 'em while they're down April 13, 2026 (9:36 pm)

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I’m sure temperance will be a hit with people addicted to drugs and alcohol. Chatting with an acquaintance years ago I learned he worked at a residential harm reduction facility. Residents were allowed to drink in their rooms. The object being to keep them safe in a controlled environment. I was amazed such a humane program existed in Seattle. I don’t recall what the facility was called and I would be amazed if it still operates given the thirst for punishing people who have hit rock bottom. “The whipping will continue until you stop crying about pain.”
- Natinstl April 14, 2026 (10:18 am)
  
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  Enabling does not work. My dad is an alcoholic, he has a home. His drinking had only intensified because of having that safety net while he holds his family hostage to his problem.

snowskier April 13, 2026 (9:32 pm)

and next, lets get going on the dog park on the south entrance to WS Stadium. Activation of the lot in a positive manner would do wonders for the long term safety of the area.

Dj April 13, 2026 (10:04 pm)

I sure hope the folks find a more permanent home. I’d like to picnic there in thr next month or so . Hope the totem isn’t damagedI wish I could offer a solution.my patience is being tested

HappyCamper April 13, 2026 (10:33 pm)

It is possible to have empathy for these people who have trauma, addiction, etc and to also not tolerate vandalism, violence, open drug use, etc. Not saying I have the answer but these two principles can coexist. Too often the comments read as though we can only choose one or the other.

k April 14, 2026 (7:24 am)

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I don’t recall that I’ve ever seen ANY comment here saying we should tolerate violence, open drug consumption, or vandalism. EVER.

What I do see all the time is people calling for evidence-based solutions and a little empathy, who are then met with commenters saying they like violence/crime/whatever, even when nothing of the sort was in their comments.
- wscommuter April 14, 2026 (8:26 am)
  
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  I think the point is that too often the folks commenting here who want to shame other commenters for being “heartless”, etc. about homeless folks tend to gloss over the fact that many (perhaps most) of the homeless are addicted and/or mentally ill and as a consequence, engage in destructive behavior that sucks for people who live nearby. I think most people see both truths – that homeless folks need help (treatment, shelter, food, access to toilets, etc.) and that the behavior of too many homeless folks is unacceptable (crime, etc.). These aren’t mutually exclusive truths – they inextricably intertwined. It would be more useful if those “compassionate” commenters would acknowledge that criminal and anti-social behavior can’t be tolerated just as it would be more useful for “lock them up/chase them off” commenters to acknowledge that incarceration without services is as stupid as it is immoral.
  - HappyCamper April 14, 2026 (11:16 am)
    
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    Thank you for articulating my point much better than me!
  - K April 14, 2026 (12:01 pm)
    
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    If someone says something that is truly heartless (we know we’ve all seen it) or beyond the pale, without acknowledging the complexities of the situation, why is it up to the responder to acknowledge those complexities when they address that poster?
- Jake April 14, 2026 (9:57 am)
  
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  K, don’t you get it, we must keep generalizing the homeless and lumping all crime with them together. Never mind the clustering illusion or texas sharpshooter fallacy here, just keep doing the KOMO style fearmongering!
Derek April 14, 2026 (4:57 pm)

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Happy Camper, the problem is you’re generalizing. Many drug users and vandals have homes. Start with them over the people who are just less fortunate and demonizing as a whole. Now you’re sweeping just people down on their luck or at worst, an addict only.

Derrick April 13, 2026 (10:40 pm)

Has there ever been a study to see what the last address of these people is? I would be curious to see how many migrated here from other communities because of the culture related to unhoused living.

Carol April 14, 2026 (1:40 pm)

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It’s called systemic issues. Mostly Healthcare.Most Americans are one paycheck away from homelessness and in these economic conditions. There are very few jobs.
K April 14, 2026 (5:02 pm)

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Yes, that has been studied and the people who are homeless here are from here. People stay in places that are familiar to them.
natinstl April 15, 2026 (4:17 pm)

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I have seen a few interviews lately around these sweeps and some homeless have mentioned with some of the new laws enacted in Snohomish and Everett they had to come to Seattle since we have no laws against long term loitering.

Brian April 14, 2026 (7:17 am)

I don’t understand the constant use of the term “open drug use”. Like… yeah they’re doing it out in the open because they don’t have a house in which to do it. What’s your point?

NoMad Sci Guy April 14, 2026 (9:14 am)

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As a former teenager, one can try and be discreet with drug use (in my case simple weed). We would hide behind bushes and wait until no one is around. Open drug use should be used to describe individuals that aren’t remotely trying to hide their usage. Just smoking fentanyl on the bus or at bus stops while other individuals are present and the like.
No more shelter please April 14, 2026 (12:46 pm)

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Imagine trying to wait for the bus, but you can’t because the people in the shelter are whipping out foil and smoking drugs off it right in front of you and blowing clouds of drug smoke your way.

Or trying to walk your kid to the track meet or god forbid use a park as it was intended and there are homeless people in a large and threatening group not giving two “fs” about the family trying to navigate past them and again smoking drugs or shooting up right in front of you.

We all know they are homeless Brian, that’s not the point. They have zero shame, don’t care about anyone around them and are literally ruining a neighborhood that is full of all types of families.

There is no perfect solution, but the American Legion operating as a shelter is the root cause of this influx. People that live in the area, should be sending Keith from the legion and Rob Saka and the mayor the same emails at the same time, pointing out that there is no accountability and the code of conduct the shelter is supposed to enforce to use their facilities is being blatantly ignored.

Compassion only goes so far. As a person that had issues when younger and hit rock bottom, I still did not encroach upon those around me because I held onto my morals. Many of these people have forgotten theirs.
- Carol April 14, 2026 (3:55 pm)
  
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  Stop complaining on a blog post behind your keyboard and do something then. Assuming every person there doesn’t have morals and only complaining online tells us more about you as a human than it does them.
  - flimflam April 15, 2026 (8:28 am)
    
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    What do you expect them to do about it as a regular ol’ citizen – we all actually do quite a bit when you realize hundreds of millions of dollars of our tax money goes to this cause annually. It’s wrong to dismiss frustrations and concerns of people just wanting to enjoy a city park or maybe wait under a bus shelter without being accosted or exposed to fent/meth smoke.

natinstl April 15, 2026 (4:19 pm)

100%, the more tax dollars we pour into this, the more it goes towards organizations that ultimately want to keep getting those tax dollars and really minimizes their incentive to show results.