Notices were posted at the camp near the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Way and South Graham Street warning of the impending camp closure.
“It’s just been a mess and we’ve been struggling for years,” said Michelle LeClech, who lives in the area. “It’s OK if they’re homeless waiting on housing, but it’s nothing but drugs. We just want peace and quiet and safety for the kids.”In a letter provided to KOMO News, Aki Kurose Principal Caine Lowery acknowledged “significant concerns” from the school community about the encampment.
“The presence of the encampment has prompted serious safety concerns, particularly regarding the commute of our students to and from school,” Lowery wrote in the letter to parents. “Many parents and guardians have voiced their apprehension about their children’s safety given the encampment’s proximity. Furthermore, an increase in litter and debris around our neighborhood has been observed, posing both aesthetic and health concerns for the community.
Some of the people who were staying in the encampment told KOMO News they were offered shelter by the city prior to the closure. Some said they did not want to take the shelter and services that were offered and were relocating their camp, but planned to stay in the area. “The people in south Seattle want more attention to our homeless people and get them help. We're tired of the mess and it’s just not safe," LeClech said.