Video: 'Nickelsville' evicted, but not gone

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SEATTLE - Homeless advocates are trying to find a solution after the tent city was displaced Friday.

City officials executed their order of eviction at the makeshift homeless encampment in South Seattle Friday, but just as sweeping arrests started, the state of Washington gave residents of "Nickelsville" land to stay on for at least a few days.

A spokesman for Gov. Chris Gregoire said a parking lot where some of the homeless campers have now relocated to is state owned and they'll have another five to seven days to stay there.

The announcement came as city officials moved in and gave about 200 residents of the makeshift homeless camp on a city-owned lot an ultimatum: Move out now or be arrested.

"Unless you leave this property by 12:35 p.m., which is approximately 20 minutes from now, you will be subject to arrest and prosecution of criminal trespass," a city official announced to the campers shortly after noon. Accompanying the official were several police officers, city officials and human services representatives, who offered shelter and bus passes to those displaced by the eviction.

KING

Homeless campers at Nickelsville in the shuffle as city officials announce they must move or be arrested.

The first deadline came and went as police negotiated with homeless organizers. Officers then gave the campers a second deadline of 1:00 p.m. with three options: 1. Everyone leaves, no one gets arrested, 2. a small group chooses to stay and is arrested, and 3. No one leaves and mass arrests take place.

Some of the homeless campers evacuated to avoid arrest, while many moved to the state-owned parking lot a few yards away from the Nickelsville camp. But many vowed to stay and face arrest. In total, 22 people were arrested for criminal trespassing.

The illegal homeless camp - dubbed "Nickelsville" in a not-so-subtle jab at Mayor Greg Nickels's policy toward the city's estimated 2,000 homeless people - popped up earlier this week with 150 bright pink tents donated by the Girl Scouts. Homeless advocates said it's about survival. They claim the city doesn't have enough shelters for them, but Mayor Greg Nickels said that's not true.

"We're already begging the renewal of the housing levy. This will be the fourth renewal of the housing levy so that we have appropriate places for people to live and not out on the woods or vacant property," said Nickels.

Within the last few days, the homeless encampment along West Marginal Way Southwest and Highland Park Way Southwest has grown, with dozens of tents and makeshift shelters in place. The city warned them they were trespassing and would be evicted or arrested if they didn't leave within 72 hours, a standard deadline for the city when dealing with the homeless.

The Thursday night deadline passed, allowing the city to forcibly move the camp occupants. Over a dozen "no trespassing signs" were posted throughout Nickelsville, but more shelters went up overnight Thursday. Those who have moved in say they are staying no matter what the city laws are.

"The statement is drag me off. Drag me," said George Clement Williamson, homeless camper. "I'll continue to put myself in jail until somebody says there got to be a reason why they're doing these things."

By Friday morning, some of the campers had moved from the camp location to a nearby parking lot a short distance away. The parking lot belongs to the state, not the city, and a spokesperson for the governor said the campers could stay there for five to seven days.

The event was a precision protest by homeless advocates, who insist the mayor has failed the city's most vulnerable citizens.

"The opposition has been growing and growing and growing. This is the strongest action yet. The statements and the action are going to keep getting stronger until he negotiates with homeless advocates like he should have done a year ago," said Tim Harris, homeless advocate.

But the city spent $38 million on the homeless this year and services are being offered.

"There's a bed for anyone who wants on tonight and we have people who can help them," said Robert Mak, spokesman for Mayor Nickels. Fourteen of the homeless campers took advantage of the city's offer for services and shelter.

While he was not present at the emcampment during the eviction, another Mayor Nickels' spokesperson said the city was making 50-70 beds for those displaced by the eviction.

By the end of the day, the homeless camp on the city property was cleared and cleaned up by city crews. The new tent camp on state land will also be cleared out and cleaned up when the campers' time is up.

KING

Many campers of the 'Nickelsville' makeshift homeless camp on Seattle city property moved to a parking lot a few yards away owned by the state.