Good morning everyone,

We received word from the volunteer group Food Not Bombs about 6pm Friday evening that the attached 72 hour notice had been posted at the 509 encampment earlier that day.  The City representative to the Coalition, Klarissa Monteros, had advised us during our Friday morning Coalition meeting that a sweep was planned for the 509 on Port of Tacoma and Puyallup Tribal land but that she did not know the date.  

I reached out to the City Attorney and forwarded my message to NCS.  I also gave the Mayor a heads up.  The notice is confusing - since it clearly says it is a 72 hour notice and also gives June 10 as the date of the sweep.  Given that the notice was given just before a three-day week=end when no services would be available, this confusion caused a fair amount of distress.  

Fortunately Linda Stewart saw my message and responded Friday night that the June 10 date was the actual date of the sweep and that the Homeless Outreach Team would provide services.  I immediately shared that information with Food Not Bombs.

We are, as usual, working with the National Homelessness Law Center and local advocates.  

Bill has referred my email to him to the Deputy Attorney who advises NCS.  I will follow up with her and NCS.

Here's some of what I'm thinking - 

We all have the Report on the Alternative Response Study (the Matrix report).  

The City Council has signed off on the County's commitment to end street homelessness by Nov. 1, 2021

We have a working group around proposed Ord. 28756

We have a new sweep citing unspecified TMC Obstructing a Public Servant and the Trespassing law with nearly two weeks' lead time.

I believe this gives us an opportunity to better understand exactly what the City processes are and address some of the concerns we've discussed in our meetings.  I know that we could request this information through a PDR and we might have to do so but it would be far more expedient if we can just get it directly from NCS.  I'll ask.

As for the notice itself - some key points:

1 - it is unclear.  

Is this public land or private land? Land owned by the Port of Tacoma and thus public land? Land owned by a private owner within the Port? Land owned by the Puyallup Tribe or land used by the Puyallup Tribe? How would you know?

Is the notice for the general public or for people in the 509 encampment?

It says it is 72 hour notice but has a sweep date two weeks out.

Are you subject to arrest after 72 hours?  

How would you know what the penalties are for non-compliance?

Who will execute any violations to the Trespassing law?  TPD?  Port "police"? - I don't actually know if there is such an entity.  Puyallup Tribal Police?  Or does it vary by the exact piece of land?  

2 - it is not specific

What does "obstructing a public servant" exactly mean?  Was this a single action by a single person?  If so, why was that person not cited?  Or were they?  

How does whatever this "obstructing a public servant" was serve to violate the CDC guidance and the Governor's Eviction Moratorium  especially since whatever it is can wait for two weeks from the date of the notice plus whatever time it took to decide to do the sweep?

When will you be removed?  And by whom?

What about volunteers who regularly reach out to people living in the 509?  Are they subject to arrest?  Is their volunteer work considered "loitering?