encampment chair
Homeless encampment at Peoples Park, a historic site of political activism
Photo licensed via Adobe Stock
Fix Homelessness How to rebuild human lives
Blog

Massive Clean Up at Woodland Park

Read at Twitter
Share
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Flipboard
Print
Email

Eve of Massive Sweep

Tuesday morning, Woodland Park will finally be cleared. Campers are scrambling to leave with help of outreach workers. This may be largest homeless encampment sweep under @MayorofSeattle. Area so massive, it is scheduled to happen over several days.

On the Move

@SeattleParks giving homeless campers rides out of Woodland Park today before Tuesday’s sweep. Several gracious campers spoke to me about their next steps. Several people like “Cassandra” have found a place to stay with the help of city outreach workers. #Seattle

Not Again

Earlier today, I was at Woodland Park trying to document this sprawling homeless encampment before it’s cleared. Out of nowhere comes this far left activist with “Stop the Sweeps Seattle.” She’s a regular and has interfered with @SeattleParks crews as well.

One of My Favorites

I met “Troy” last year. He built this amazing shack and has lived in Woodland Park for more than two years. But he’s ready to leave this lifestyle behind. Listen to his parting thoughts as he prepares to move on before Tuesday’s sweep.

Jolly Green Giant

Another new guy I’ve never seen. Tall fella. Initially a bit menacing as he walked up to me out of the activist crowd. But he did not have the stamina to chase me around like the umbrella crew.

Jonathan Choe

Journalist and Senior Fellow, Center on Wealth and Poverty
Jonathan Choe is a journalist and Senior Fellow with Discovery Institute's Center on Wealth and Poverty, covering homelessness issues for its Fix Homelessness initiative. Prior to joining Discovery, Choe spent several years as one of the lead reporters at KOMO-TV, consistently the top rated television station in Seattle. His in depth stories on crime and deep dive investigations into the homeless crisis led to measurable results in the community, including changes in public policy. Choe has more than two decades of experience in television news behind the scenes and in front of the camera for ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, and Tribune. He has also been nominated and honored with multiple industry awards including an Emmy. Choe spent several years teaching classes on emerging media and entrepreneurship to under privileged youth in inner city Chicago. As an independent journalist, Choe also contributes regularly to the Mill Creek View and Lynnwood Times and has reported on exclusive stories in the past year for Daily Wire and The Postmillennial.