Police arrest a homeless supporter at Nickelsville on Wednesday(Seattle PostGlobe)
A dozen protesters were arrested without incident Tuesday afternoon as Port of Seattle police cleared the “Nickelsville” encampment on the Duwamish.
Shortly after the arrests, though, Nickelsville was on the move again. After regrouping at a nearby city park, an organizer announced to the Nickelsville residents that St. Andrew's Episcopal Church on Northeast 80th Street had offered them shelter for a week.
About half of the arrested appeared to be supporters and another half the residents who had set up tents at Terminal 107 park July 25.
The port had given the encampment until Tuesday to leave. After four warnings over a loudspeaker, about 50 officers moved in to make the arrests.
Police arrest a Nickelsville resident (Seattle PostGlobe)
Prior to the arrests Port of Seattle officials spoke to the homeless, urging them all to leave voluntarily. Port staff, church leaders and Nickelsville residents had met several times in the previous trying to work out a solution. However, the homeless residents had insisted on finding a permanent locatin for the camp, so they wouldn't have to keep moving.
As Kurt Beckett, the port's external affairs director spoke to the crowd of homeless people, one resident Raymond Beckett said they'd policed their litter. The residents had portable toilets and they'd chased off people who'd come to vandalize the park.
"I don't see what we're doing to hurt the park," he told Beckett
A Nickelsville resident is led away after deciding to be arrested in protest of the camp being cleared on Wednesday (Seattle PostGlobe)
Beckett said the port had tried to resolve the situation but couldn't meet the encampment's demand to stay permanently.
Earlier, Nickelsville resident Richard Gilbert waited for the police to come. He was planning on being arrested,
Others – some clearing up court issues or worried about jeopardizing finding work – said they wouldn’t get arrested and wanted to keep the community together.
Gilbert, standing amid the sea of tents, said: “I’m from Seattle, Washington. If I don’t stand up for what I believe, I’m going to be running for the rest of my life.”
The residents have said they feel safer in the drug- and alcohol-free camp than on the streets or full shelters. (See previous story )
About 50- King County Police officers arrive at Nickelsville (Seattle PostGlobe)
But there is a political point as well. “Homeless people need shelter. The city has to create jobs and affordable housing for people, not jails or prisons.”
The port, caught by surprise by the appearance of the camp, allowed the homes to stay more than a month but said it couldn’t let them stay in a public park.
Port spokeswoman Charla Skaggs just released the following statement:
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.
A Nickelsville residents waits for police to arrive Wednesday (Seattle PostGlobe)
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,” Chief Executive Officer Tay Yoshitani said. “Our first concern remains the health and safety of the men and women of the camp, and I’m relieved to hear that many of the original residents are now using our community’s network of shelters and support services.”
A Nickelsville resident brushes his teeth at the camp Wednesday morning(Seattle PostGlobe)
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.
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