by Erica C. Barnett
(This article previously appeared on PubliCola and has been reprinted under an agreement.)
As summer approaches, the City has accelerated the pace of homeless encampment removals, which declined dramatically during the pandemic thanks in part to public health guidelines that cautioned against moving people from place to place.
But now that many people are vaccinated and students are returning to school, notices of impending encampment removals are starting to show up again in parks and other public spaces around the city. The Parks Department, which is in charge of removing most homeless encampments, will post notices like the one below at seven “high-priority” encampments this week. If people are still on site on the day of a posted removal, the department can remove their property, including tents and survival gear. The encampments are:
- Madrona Park (Madrona)
- Albert Davis Park (Lake City)
- Second Avenue Extension (Pioneer Square)
- Hubble Place/Convention Center (Downtown)
- Amy Yee Tennis Center (Mt. Baker)
- Broadway Hill Park (North Capitol Hill)
- 8th Avenue and King Street (Pioneer Square)