FIRST REPORT AT 9:31 AM: From photojournalist Matt Durham, who is staking out the “Nickelsville” site at Terminal 107 Park this morning for WSB: Nothing’s happened yet; encampment residents are gathering at any moment for a meeting. Matt says they’re still expecting that police won’t show up before noon. Some appear to be packing. (We’ll add updates to this item until and unless the encampment starts to clear out – whether that’s voluntarily or unvoluntarily – at which time we’ll start a new report.) Side note: Fellow independent neighborhood-news site Queen Anne View covered the SHARE/WHEEL sleepout at Councilmember Tim Burgess‘s house last night, followup to the Monday night protest in Mayor Nickels‘ North Admiral neighborhood – see the QAV report here.
10:13 AM UPDATE: From Matt – Encampment residents have concluded their meeting and reported that they have four people who are willing to get arrested (that compares to 25 in the sweep at a different site a year ago). They now also believe police are likely to arrive closer to 1 pm.
12:05 PM UPDATE: Some residents have departed. No major police activity yet. (Meantime, re: the SHARE/WHEEL sleepout protest, they say they’ll be back at Burgess’s house tonight.) We’ll be starting an afternoon report shortly.
12:19 PM UPDATE: But first – a statement just in from the Port of Seattle:
Port of Seattle officials expressed regret that some members of the homeless encampment known as ‘Nickelsville’ have thus far refused to leave port property voluntarily. The group set up the encampment on port property without permission and has been at the public park illegally for 69 days. The group’s presence violates city land use and shoreline codes as well as prohibitions against camping and lighting fires within the City of Seattle. In addition, the Port of Seattle does not have the authority to provide land for housing or housing purposes.
Nickelsville organizers and residents have been given multiple warnings that if they did not leave by September 30th, they would be subject to arrest for trespassing. Many residents are choosing to leave, seeking help from resources offered throughout the county. Encampment organizers issued invitations Tuesday to other tent cities across the region to join with them in choosing to be arrested to send a political message about the larger issue of homelessness in our community. While the port respects the right to civil disobedience, encampment members have been asked repeatedly to leave voluntarily.
“The port has worked diligently with Nickelsville and community leaders to find safe and legal options for the residents,” said CEO Tay Yoshitani. “Our first concern remains the health and safety of the men and women of the camp, and I’m relieved tohear that many of the original residents are now using our community’s network of shelters and support services.”
Port commissioners and staff members have worked for more than two months with members of the Nickelsville leadership, its supporters, and members of the faith community to facilitate efforts to find safe and legal shelter for those individuals who want it. Instead, Nickelsville organizers have pursued a permanent site with plans for hundreds of people. Over the past year, both the state and the city have rejected their request for permanent sites, and the City of Seattle has communicated repeatedly that a permanent Nickelsville encampment will not be allowed.
Despite consistent communication from the port that their presence was illegal and would not be tolerated, as recently as Monday organizers reiterated their request to stay an additional 90 days and their desire to extend that agreement on an ongoing basis.
The port has repeatedly stated that the Terminal 107 public park is not an appropriate location for housing or an encampment. Independent of the numerous code violations, there are not acceptable human services and hygiene facilities and lacks access to public transportation.
1 PM UPDATE: Matt Durham reports more Port police arriving at Nickelsville. Further updates will be in a new story.
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