³ÉÈËXÕ¾

GEE & URSULA

Gee & Ursula: Someone has to take responsibility to fix encampments

Dec 20, 2021, 1:43 PM

Green Lake, encampments...

RVs and tents line a street near Green Lake in Seattle, pictured here in September 2020. (MyNorthwest photo)

(MyNorthwest photo)

After months and from neighbors, homeless encampments in Seattle’s Green Lake neighborhood will be cleared out Monday.

Right now, RVs and tents are lined up on West Green Lake Way, but the people living there are being asked to leave.

Should Seattle take a traffic lane for an outer loop at Green Lake?

An advocate for the homeless told ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ 7 TV he believes the city is trying to rush this process.

“We have to start with a legitimate outreach that makes the kind of connection that can’t happen over a period of days and blitzing folks with a bunch of outreach workers at the last minute,” he said.

But the mayor’s office says they have done several months of outreach. Only 15 people took up their offers for other shelter. City staff posted notices at the park on Saturday, warning that any remaining belongings have to be removed by Monday. Crews will also be clearing a nearby camp at Woodland Park.

“Patience? Warnings? Let me give you some numbers. … The Seattle Fire Department, when responding to a fire under I-5 at Mercer Street, just as an area, in 2019, they responded to 540 fires. In 2020, they responded to 849 fires. Y’all ready for 2021? — 1,371 fires that they have responded to,” ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Radio host Gee Scott said. “You want to talk about patience? Ladies and gentlemen, what are we doing here?”

“I want to give credit. It’s taken too long and the city had always used the pandemic as the excuse. Well, it looks like the pandemic is going to keep going for a while, but I’m glad to see that some movement is happening,” host Ursula Reutin said. “They’ve been given a lot of notice. I don’t buy this idea that they’re suddenly caught off guard. And I’m glad they’re trying to find more shelter for the folks who are willing to take it and, again, if you’re not, then I’m sorry.”

“I don’t think that just because you are not willing to go somewhere else, you should be allowed to continue doing what is not healthy for you or for your neighbors,” she added. “And about the fires, I mean, there’s been explosions and fires in this Green Lake encampment. Also the one in Ballard.”

Ursula said the city needs to start looking into what’s happening the freeway encampments again. She thinks part of the problem with the encampments near I-5 is that no one wants to take responsibility.

“Whether it’s what’s happening in the city of Olympia, what’s happening in Tacoma, what’s happening in Seattle, the cities are taking responsibility,” she said. “But I-5 — who’s responsible, and what’s happening?”

“It’s like when my grandma used to come in and say, ‘Who made this mess?’ and my cousins look at me, I look at them, and everybody’s pointing at each other,” Gee said. “That’s what’s happening with I-5.”

Listen to the Gee and Ursula Show weekday mornings from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

Gee and Ursula Show

Gee & Ursula

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: Inside the Mind of Bill Belichick

What is the deal with Bill Belichick? Gee Scott has an intriguing theory. Listen to the Gee and Ursula Show every weekday at 9am on ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Newsradio 97.3 FM. Listen to ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Newsradio 97.3 FM or go to MyNorthwest.com to learn more!

2 days ago

Seattle mayor education levy...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

‘Taxes are going up’: Will Seattle voters approve $1.3 billion in taxes for education?

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell proposes a tax increase to fund the Every Child Ready Initiative, enhancing education for all children.

2 days ago

Neighbors are suing over public masturbation at a local Seattle park that they say has been allowed...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

‘Your boy don’t want a nude beach’: Denny Blaine Park plagued by flashers

Denny Blaine Park, Seattle's only nude beach, faces backlash as flashers disrupt the peaceful experience for sunbathers and swimmers.

3 days ago

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: Is Earth Day Still About the Planet?

Today is Earth Day! On the Gee & Ursula Show, they talk about Earth Day and ways you can reduce your carbon footprint today. Listen to the Gee and Ursula Show every weekday at 9am on ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Newsradio 97.3 FM. Listen to ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Newsradio 97.3 FM or go to MyNorthwest.com to learn more!

8 days ago

Garfield High School...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

Gee and Ursula: Until stricter gun laws are implemented, ‘don’t expect anything to change’

Gee and Ursula underscore the urgent need for stricter gun laws to combat teen gun violence and protect youth.

8 days ago

FILE - Rioters loyal to President Donald Trump rally at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 6, 202...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

‘I don’t know that you have a right to privacy’: Seattle cops at Jan. 6 riot try to hide identities

Current and former Seattle cops involved in the Capitol riot are now trying to hide their identities amid growing scrutiny.

8 days ago

Gee & Ursula: Someone has to take responsibility to fix encampments