Push to condemn Seattle park with large homeless population

A local lawmaker plans to condemn a city-owned park in Seattle with a large homeless camp next to a courthouse and declare the area a public safety hazard or disruptive property.

Under King County Councilman Reagan Dunn’s proposal, King County would acquire the park from the City of Seattle and require Executive Dow Constantine to relocate the park’s dozen of residents to temporary or permanent homes, provide additional security, and repair damage to the park. The Seattle Times reports.

The proposal came after a 31-year-old man was fatally stabbed to death in the park on June 17. Seattle Police Sgt.

“The city of Seattle has no one but itself to blame for failing to alleviate the nuisance and protect this area,” said Dunn. “People have the right to a safe district court and we shouldn’t have to fight so hard for it.”

The adjacent King County Courthouse is owned by the county and the acquisition of City Hall Park would allow it to be monitored by the King County Sheriff’s Office rather than the Seattle Police Department, he said.

The underutilized state law would require the county to pay the city’s fair value for the property, Dunn said. It takes five votes, including his own, to move the law forward.

“It’s going to be a lively debate,” he said.

King County Superior Court presiding judge Jim Rogers said the park adjacent to the courthouse was “quite full of tents and people and (park residents) are increasingly hostile to anyone walking through the park.”

This week, three potential jurors told court staff that they would refuse to serve, specifically citing the dangers of City Hall Park as a reason, Rogers said.

Anthony Derrick, a spokeswoman for Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, said the city has been working closely with the county for several years to improve park safety, add lighting, pruning trees and strengthening police patrols.

On Monday, Seattle City Council pledged $ 7.5 million to tackle homelessness in City Hall Park and Pioneer Square over the next year, the equivalent of the $ 7.5 million the county is spending on a program Tackling homelessness has expended, Derrick said.