UPDATE: West Seattle RV encampment cleared. One big item left behind.

3:01 PM: We happened onto that scene this morning while headed just east of the West Marginal Way/Highland Park Way intersection, where a double-digit lineup of RVs has been parked for some time. Before we could start making inquiries about the operation, breaking news interrupted. We have an inquiry out to the city now – but we’ve also heard from someone about one item left behind, and the hope that its owner can be found. Sent by Matthew:

Seattle police recovered a brand new Miller 260 arc welder/generator today 11/2/23 as they were removing the RVs and trailers in the 7400 block of W. Marginal Way SW. If anyone knows who the owner of this stolen generator is, please contact SPD officer G. Barreto at SPD7590@seattle.gov

5:17 PM: As for the city operation today, spokesperson Lori Baxter tells us:

As part of our commitment to make public streets, sidewalks, and spaces clean, open, and accessible to all, the City’s Unified Care Team (UCT) conducted an RV remediation this morning in the W Marginal Way SW and 2nd Ave SW vicinity.

Six of the eight RVs onsite early this morning voluntarily moved from the area. Two RVs and three vehicles, including one vehicle confirmed as stolen, were towed from the site by Seattle Police Department’s Parking Enforcement division. As part of UCT’s cleaning efforts, crews then removed 7,100 pounds of debris from the site.

Outreach providers have been engaging onsite for a number of weeks leading up to the remediation to offer those living onsite a shelter placement. A total of 15 offers of shelter were made, with three individuals accepting referrals.

UCT will be closely monitoring this area in an effort to prevent repopulation of the site.

Jim P. November 2, 2023 (3:14 pm)

Those sell for as much as $8,000. I’d suggest checking burglary reports and commercial theft reports.”Unsheltered” people don’t buy eight thousand dollar tools and then just leave them.

Chuck Jacobs November 3, 2023 (7:03 am)

Those machines have serial numbers. The manufacturer knows who they were shipped to. The retailer knows who they sold it to. Service/repair shops have lists of equipment reported stolen. They may not catch the thief, but it should be easy to return it to it’s rightful owner.
Sue H. November 3, 2023 (10:06 am)

Why is there an automatic assumption that they’re thieves? You do realize that people become unsheltered due to various reasons, and this could’ve been a person who worked and bought that item, and then hit hard times and lost their housing. We can’t assume every person living on the street or in an RV is a thief and/or addict. I know someone who lost their job, then lost their income due to medical issues and then ended up living in a tent city – just someone who hit hard times.
- Seth November 3, 2023 (11:18 am)
  
  As a guy who had his car stolen two weeks ago and found at this street while they were recovering four other stolen motorcycles… Hard not to make that assumption.
- Bob November 3, 2023 (12:30 pm)
  
  It’s a brand new $8,000 arc welder that weighs roughly 500 pounds, Sue. I’m open to learning and don’t agree with leaping to “criminals!” conclusions, however, I do truly struggle to identify a logical series of events that includes 1) someone purchasing that tool, 2) subsequently losing their housing, and 3) maintaining the arc welder – but not using it – rather than selling it.
- T Rex November 3, 2023 (12:36 pm)
  
  Good Lord, I HIGHLY doubt any of these folks hit upon hard times. If they did, most people have friends and family who will help them. There are many industrial places in that area that could have had that machine, so not only did they steal, but they also put a company or an individual out of a valuable and expensive tool that they need. Hardly doubt that the people who took this give a rat’s bottom. Nor do they care about the garbage they leave behind, the other things they have stolen. They are addicts and refuse to get help. PERIOD.

Actually Mike November 2, 2023 (3:18 pm)

Nice. Somebody musta left in a hurry–that’s an approximately $10K item, depending on how it’s set up. Think they’ll be coming back for it?

Guy Olson November 2, 2023 (3:20 pm)

Isn’t SFD missing some items from their complex over in that area?

AL November 2, 2023 (3:39 pm)

I wish they would clean up Trenton by WW village.

MyThruppence November 2, 2023 (6:21 pm)

Me too. Particularly the big hulk of nasty at 29th and Trenton that blocks oncoming traffic if one is taking a left to head East. It’s going to cause an accident if it hasn’t already. Tow that garbage away.
- Terremoto November 3, 2023 (8:26 am)
  
  Yes, last time I looked, this big RV seemed to have a bunch of wood and trash in the front 2 seats against the window which would prevent a driver from sitting. I have often wondered whether any of these RV dwellers are interviewed by police given how close they are to 2 schools. Students walking by every day.
- local November 3, 2023 (3:50 pm)
  
  Totally agree. I’m amazed there hasn’t been a horrible accident.
1994 November 3, 2023 (10:07 pm)

I thought the city is enforcing the 72 hour parking rule and these rolling dumps, aka massive fire hazards, had to move or else risk being ticketed or towed?

bolo November 2, 2023 (3:49 pm)

That’s a $7-8,000 welder, new. That calculates out to a 17 month supply of “blues,” assuming usage of 30/day and the new street price of 50 cents a pill.

bolo November 2, 2023 (3:52 pm)

*at* the new street price of 50 cents a pill.

Bye Now November 2, 2023 (4:08 pm)

Good f*cking riddance. Again. This was cleared out a few months ago and they started repopulating the strip just days afterwards. Garbage everywhere. Chopping stolen vehicles in broad daylight. Doors opening directly into traffic. This shouldn’t be allowed for everyone’s safety.

K November 2, 2023 (7:58 pm)

Swept a few months ago and back a few days later? It’s almost as if sweeps don’t work…
- elephant in the room November 2, 2023 (11:08 pm)
  
  Rob Saka says there’s no other way to help homeless people than making them move a few blocks away. He better practice his American Ninja Warrior moves so his family can patronize small businesses at the Alaska Way Junction. He’s one of us you know.
  - Nathan Todd November 3, 2023 (9:44 am)
    
    You’d rather they be left there indefinitely…..

Spooled November 2, 2023 (4:58 pm)

This roving band of probable cause has gone on far too long. I wonder how many of those motorcycles behind the one RV are also stolen? Keep sweeping! Impound and scrap the unregistered or unroadworthy derelicts. Been sick of this since Nicholsville!

anonyme November 3, 2023 (12:48 pm)

“This roving band of probable cause”. Brilliant quip! Maybe campers involved in any sweep should be prohibited from parking anywhere within Seattle city limits for at least 30 days, with violators subject to immediate seizure of the vehicle.
- Spooled November 3, 2023 (2:44 pm)
  
  Drive by them every day on your way to work at 3am and you’ll see what I’m on about. The place is lit up like Bartertown and that’s what it is! Their nocturnal shopping time.
  - peasant November 4, 2023 (5:04 pm)
    
    same, but ≈430am, they are up, probably getting ready for their jobs at the factory 😂 always a new vehicle there getting cut up and parted out. my heart bleeds

Dale November 2, 2023 (5:33 pm)

The sprawling encampment down the road from this one (1st Avenue, just north of Cloverdale) is filthier and more populated with zombie-like characters than this one ever was. They’ve trashed the woods, wander in the road, been stripping multiple cars every day, and seem to be under the radar of any public officials who care. Drive by, you’ll be impressed.

Actually Mike November 3, 2023 (1:46 pm)

Yeah–I drove by there today. It’s a festering mess with a big, smoky fire going and garbage everywhere, broken-down cars half in and half out of the road, etc. I don’t want to beat on people for being down but at some point the community’s needs should be taken into account too…

RX November 2, 2023 (6:45 pm)

Good. More of this.Since it’s election season, a reminder of where our candidates stand on sweeps: Costa is a “never” and Saka is a “sometimes”.

Seattle times: The opponents say they diverge on street homelessness. Costa opposes “sweeps” of encampments while Saka supports “cleaning up and remove problem encampments and connecting people with shelter services.”

NPR: On homelessness, Costa said she rejects the city’s current approach to sweeping encampments, “because we are not doing a good enough job of hooking up people with services.”“Moving people from one site to another is expensive, inhumane, and ineffective,’ she said.On the other side, Saka said he backs the city’s current approach.“We’re not doing anyone any favors when we continue to turn our backs on people suffering, in need, and living in unsafe, unsanitary and deplorable conditions,” he said.

Jeepney November 3, 2023 (5:38 am)

Thank you for posting this, reinforces who I am voting for.
R November 3, 2023 (9:54 am)

I’m a little leery of him currently. He put on his flyers that he was backed by the fire department when in fact he’s not. And they’re not happy about it. But I guess when you’re backed by huge corporations you can get away with things.
- neighbor November 3, 2023 (12:25 pm)
  
  HE didn’t put that on the flyers. An organization that supports him did that. So whether innocent error or integrity issue, it’s that org’s, not his personally. A small clarification, but it matters.
  - R November 6, 2023 (9:10 am)
    
    That’s good to know. I’d be firing someone.

Alki resident November 2, 2023 (7:09 pm)

I’m very worried about the encampment that’s growing under the first Ave bridge. If there’s an inferno, they could damage the bridge structure. Get it gone.

1994 November 2, 2023 (9:12 pm)

Again? Under the First Ave bridge? The WA DOT right of way mitigation team better get on that again! In the past I sent e-mail to their local office, about 1/2 mile away from the bridge, about potential damage the campers could cause to the bridge. One person even made a loft type structure using the beams under the bridge right where the bridge met the earth ramp.
- Alki resident November 2, 2023 (10:55 pm)
  
  Yep there’s currently a hammock hanging from the ceiling. I’m watching it grow every time I leave Michigan to head south on the bridge.
Gatewood88 November 2, 2023 (10:38 pm)

Is there really another camp in the same place they made a big deal out of clearing within the last year ?? The one on WSDOT land? Or is it in another spot under the bridge?
- Alki resident November 3, 2023 (8:35 am)
  
  It’s under the north concrete of the bridge. If you’re leaving Michigan to swing around to go south on the 1st Ave bridge, you can see it.
  - waikikigirl November 3, 2023 (5:12 pm)
    
    SB on I-5 taking the Albro St. exit I noticed a 2 story tree house built in those trees right next to the exit. OMG how in the heck did they build them? They have to be 25ft above the ground or more.

Andrew November 3, 2023 (5:25 am)

They have already started parking on Cambridge in between 15th & 16th ave sw again.

EMPM November 3, 2023 (2:01 pm)

I was just showing this to my husband to explain why they just reappeared in this spot after a (really nice) stretch of this street being clear, quiet, and garbage free. We regularly report this spot to Find it Fix it to at least keep the garbage picked up.

Erik November 3, 2023 (12:20 pm)

It looks like they put concrete blocks up to prevent them from parking on that stretch again. Probably for the best. Unfortunately I think that’s the only real immediate solution to making sure they’re not parking long term.

Jeff November 3, 2023 (12:41 pm)

This is so gross. Harrell should be ashamed of himself.

Spooled November 3, 2023 (2:40 pm)

Did you miss the part about the stolen cars and motorcycles (and likely the welder) being recovered there? Also how the vast majority of them refused outreach yet again? Maybe not all homeless are criminals but this bunch SURE are. Harrell is doing his job.
stew November 3, 2023 (3:08 pm)

i agree with jeff, it is shameful this took so long to occur. sweep after 72 hours, maybe, good idea jeff.
Jeepney November 3, 2023 (3:12 pm)

Agreed, He hasn’t done enough remove these illegal encampments.
WSlifelong November 3, 2023 (4:04 pm)

Jeff. Being an enabler does nothing for the honest citizens.

wetone November 3, 2023 (5:13 pm)

Nice they finally got this cleaned up, but have little faith it will last long. There is another one that might even be worse than 1st ave south bridge fiasco shantytown and it’s located between Airport way S. (8000 block) and I-5. It’s access is from S Rose st. from Military Rd. S. Have also seen gate used that is accessed from south bound I-5. Can be seen from I-5 if you look carefully, about 2/3 the way down Boeing field. Easy to see on google earth or maps. Place is littered with vehicles, trailers, motor homes and everything else that was at 1st south bridge and more. Amazing how this state and city can continue allowing these places to exist. Closing there eyes knowing there haven’s for drugs, stolen property and many other illegal activities………. Leaving the tax payers and law abiding having to deal with the lawlessness ……

WSB November 3, 2023 (5:18 pm)

As a commenter noted above, eco-blocks are now in place along the entire stretch. The city wasn’t placing those last I heard so likely a local business, same as Andover before the bike lane. Also, re: the commenter mention of the 1st Avenue South Bridge, we just went by there too. Whatever area they’re returning to, it is NOT the area cleared by the state and city a few months back – that remains empty, mostly fenced and blocked – TR

Sorry, comment time is over.