public camping

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Grants Pass v. Johnson that city ordinances against public camping do not constitute “cruel and unusual punishment” under the Eighth Amendment. The Court’s decision is a win not only for the small Oregon city of Grants Pass, but also for dozens of Western localities that had been hamstrung by the Ninth Circuit as they grapple with record high rates of homelessness. In response to the ruling, Robert Marbut, Senior Fellow at Discovery Institute and former Executive Director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, said, “The Supreme Court’s reversal of the Ninth Circuit’s opinion in the City of Grants Pass v. Johnson is a great first step in giving authority back to local Read More ›

In a 5-2 vote Monday evening, the Burien City Council strengthened it’s public camping ordinance. Homeless now have to stay 500 ft away from libraries, schools, daycares, parks, and other “critical areas.” It goes into effect immediately. Mayor Kevin Schilling-Yes Deputy Mayor Stephanie Mora-Yes CM Jimmy Matta-Yes CM Alex Andrade-Yes CM Linda Akey-Yes CM Hugo Garcia-No CM Sarah Moore-No During Monday’s night’s Burien council meeting, I noticed several homeless guys making tons of noise in the bathroom. When I went inside, I saw a bowl of Cheerios and drug paraphernalia scattered across the sink area. Then I realized it was Austin, a young man I encountered last year. During Monday night’s Burien council meeting, a young homeless woman by the Read More ›

As city and county officials remain paralyzed trying to manage Burien’s out of control homeless encampment crisis, Kristine Moreland of “The More We Love” is building trust and relationships. “There are predators coming in from the community and preying on the people in here,” Moreland says as we walk past an encampment. She and her outreach partner, Chri Wee, are helping move men and women out of tents in the heart of downtown Burien into the services they need. They’ve been hired by local businesses to do the work politicians and the King County Regional Homelessness Authority have neglected. Together, they’ve moved more than two dozen men and women into housing or programs in just one month. “We celebrate because Read More ›

Exclusive Dozens of complaints sent to @MayorofSeattle about what’s being called Seattle’s next PROBLEMATIC homeless encampment w/new tents being set up consistently. Water being stolen from houses, drug dealing, loud noise, and confrontations w/campers. FULL report coming up. Inconvenient Truth Watch exclusive video. Guy stealing water from faucets. Neighbors say he’s associated w/rapidly expanding homeless encampment in Licton Springs. Campers tell me they MOVED here after series of recent encampment clearings in Seattle. Community Outrage vs. Homeless Needs Been tracking evolution of this Seattle homeless encampment for weeks. Started off with only a few tents. Now it’s more than 20. Homeless tell me @MayorofSeattle needs to add portable toilets. But neighbors say that would enable them to stay. Sunday Afternoon Read More ›