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What justifies clearing a homeless encampment?

caption: Tents are shown near a barricade set up around the perimeter of an encampment where unhoused community members reside on Wednesday, December 16, 2020, ahead of a scheduled sweep by the Seattle Police Department at Cal Anderson Park in Seattle.
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Tents are shown near a barricade set up around the perimeter of an encampment where unhoused community members reside on Wednesday, December 16, 2020, ahead of a scheduled sweep by the Seattle Police Department at Cal Anderson Park in Seattle.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer

Seattle city officials move to clear a homeless encampment in Miller Park neighborhood. Students are back in the classroom, but debate remains around measuring learning loss. And our weekly conversation with Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan.

With students expected to return to Meany Middle School in Seattle’s Miller Park neighborhood next week, the city of Seattle gave notice to those living in a nearby homeless encampment they would need to relocate their belongings by the end of the week. Bill Radke discusses this news with KUOW reporter Casey Martin who has been reporting on encampment sweeps during the pandemic. By the end of this month, schools will be back in session for all who choose to return, but now the question isn’t how to get kids back in a classroom, but what to do once they’re there. Seattle high school teacher and writer Jesse Hagopian and director of the Center for Education at Washington Policy Center Liv Finne join Bill to discuss the concept of “learning loss” and the pros and cons of trying to measure it. Lastly, Mayor Jenny Durkan joins Bill to discuss the Miller Park sweep and what to expect when scheduling a vaccine appointment now that all who are over 16 years old are eligible.

Learning loss: to test or not to test

Washington state has announced that all standardized exams for public schools will be delayed until the fall. Was this the right decision? Seattle high school teacher and writer Jesse Hagopian and director of the Center for Education at Washington Policy Center Liv Finne join Bill Radke to discuss.

City of Seattle plans homeless encampment sweep in Miller Park

In Seattle’s Miller Park neighborhood, children are expected to return to Meany Middle School next week for in-person instruction. Ahead of that, the city of Seattle has announced that they are planning to have a homeless encampment cleared by tomorrow, April 16, 2021. KUOW reporter Casey Martin talks with Bill Radke about this upcoming sweep.

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan 4.15.21

Our weekly conversation with Mayor Jenny Durkan includes her reaction to the Miller Park sweep and a discussion around vaccine eligibility.

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