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Planned sweep of Seattle homeless camp postponed

Published 11:33 am Wednesday, December 16, 2020

The homeless camp is completely encircled with debris and fencing blocking the City of Seattle's sweep of the camp Cal Anderson Park, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020, in Seattle. This is the only entrance to the area within the park. (Steve Ringman/The Seattle Times via AP)
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The homeless camp is completely encircled with debris and fencing blocking the City of Seattle's sweep of the camp Cal Anderson Park, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020, in Seattle. This is the only entrance to the area within the park. (Steve Ringman/The Seattle Times via AP)
The homeless camp is completely encircled with debris and fencing blocking the City of Seattle’s sweep of the camp Cal Anderson Park, on Wednesday in Seattle. This is the only entrance to the area within the park. (Steve Ringman/The Seattle Times via AP)

Associated Press

SEATTLE — The removal of a homeless camp from a Seattle park was postponed after makeshfit barrires went up and dozens of black-clad protesters arrived on the scene.

The sweep of Cal Anderson Park in the city’s Capitol Hill neighborhood had been schedueld for early Wednesday morning, but a city parks spokersperson told KOMO it would not occur as scheduled.

Michael Winter, a longtime neighbor of Cal Anderson Park, said he no longer ventures past the turf field, considering it “hazardous” among the piles of trash and tents.

City officials had posted notices saying a sweep of the park was scheduled on Wednesday to remove the tents and trash. However, entrances to the ball field have been glued shut and wooden pallets and metal fencing have been placed around the area.

The Seattle Police Department had said they would be present if asked by the city to accompany park crews.

Some nearby residents have argued the encampment has brought crime and filth to the neighborhood and hope a sweep will make a difference.

“We want to be empathetic and tolerant,” Winter said. “At the same time, there’s a health and safety factor.”

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