I checked out this encampment this morning on my usual weekend run around Lake Union and I’m writing to let you know I support your call for attention to this area — and along N. Northlake way more broadly where there has been a proliferation of illegally parked RVs to the north and east. Last week I had dinner at Westward restaurant which has experienced several break-ins and whose customers routinely complain about public safety issues. So often, in fact, that workers there hand out a paper directing diners to raise their concerns with city officials. My point is that I understand the neighborhood’s frustrations.
I support Mayor Harrell’s efforts to address illegal RV parking and its associated public health issues and I know his team is working to address tent encampments in a systematic way and I stand by to support that strategy. The litter hazard you cite merits attention but I’m less familiar with the specifics of this blocked trail and whether or not it’s a trail the Parks Department regularly maintains for foot traffic — so I can’t speak to that.
You included your two citywide representatives in your emails and I know you seek more than an “I hear you” response from me but for the moment, that’s what I’ve got. We need to get people sleeping in tents and RVs into housing and treatment if needed and I’m optimistic that with the new leadership of Mayor Harrell and Marc Dones at the Regional Homelessness Authority, we’ll see accelerated progress in this area. My role is to support a more effective and robust citywide response to homelessness and increased investigation into high-level drug dealing (which would reduce street-level dealing). That’s difficult with SPD’s staffing shortage but Mayor Harrell’s Operation New Day is a good start.
Regards,
Sara Nelson
Seattle City Councilmember
City of Seattle, Position 9 (at-large)
O: 206-684-8809 | Sara.Nelson@Seattle.gov