Skip to main content

You make this possible. Support our independent, nonprofit newsroom today.

Give Now

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell pledges to lead with compassion — and encampment removal

caption: Tents are shown as people gathered to protest the sweeps of homeless camps on Wednesday, November 1, 2017, at City Hall in Seattle.
Enlarge Icon
Tents are shown as people gathered to protest the sweeps of homeless camps on Wednesday, November 1, 2017, at City Hall in Seattle.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer

Citing sidewalk obstruction, the city of Seattle cleared a longstanding tent encampment that sat right across from city hall, on 4th avenue. It's the latest move by Mayor Bruce Harrell's administration in response to the city's ongoing homelessness crisis.

At a press conference earlier this week, Harrell repeated his pledge to lead with "compassion" when it comes to unhoused communities. But critics say sweeps are the opposite of compassion.

Soundside host Libby Denkmann spoke with Seattle Times Project Homeless reporter Scott Greenstone about Mayor Harrell's approach to homelessness.

Why you can trust KUOW