Seattle Battles the Homeless

[marmar]

from In These Times:



News > March 27, 2008
Seattle Battles the Homeless
By Silja J.A. Talvi


Underneath the I-5 highway in south Seattle, Isaac Palmer had found a spot to sleep. Hidden away from public view, Palmer likely thought he had found a bit of safety in a city where many homeless people die, often as a result of hypothermia, illness, drug overdose or violent attack. But while tucked in his sleeping bag on June 3, 2007, Palmer, 66, was crushed to death by a brush-clearing machine rolling through the weeds that had been his cover.

At the time, Palmer’s death didn’t provoke public outrage. Instead, it was chalked up to an unfortunate consequence of being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

The Washington Department of Transportation says it posted a flyer 48 hours in advance, warning homeless people in the area of a clean-up operation.

Palmer’s death didn’t raise concerns until Seattle’s investigative weekly street newspaper, Real Change, uncovered a city government plan—in cooperation with county and state agencies—to rid the area of homeless encampments.

The eradication plan first came to light in October 2007, when Real Change Editor Adam Hyla published the results of a public disclosure request, which confirmed that a ramped-up policy of aggressive sweeps had been a city priority since spring 2007. Previously, homeless encampments were torn down only after multiple complaints, and people who lived in the camps were given enough time to pack their belongings and migrate to another area. It wasn’t a perfect approach, but it was better than the recent covertly organized camp eradication. ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3575/seattle_battles_the_homeless/

[gateley]

1. K&R -

I trust the folks in Seattle to make this a big issue -- they always do the right thing.

[YOY]

2. You'd think everyone in the home of "skid row" would understand this

Not the band.