City plans sweep of homeless camp under Spokane Street viaduct

An alleged attack on a bicyclist is prompting a swift cleanup of a growing homeless camp under the Spokane Street viaduct, near East Marginal Way in Seattle.

The city said at least a dozen campers, including some with RV's, living underneath the mile-long stretch of the viaduct have until Wednesday to move out.

The camp was on the city's list to cleanup, but has been pushed to the front of the line after the alleged attack.

Jackie Harris told police a homeless man grabbed her last Thursday night while she was riding her bike on a the path near the camp.

"It's always been like maybe one maybe two tents and I've never really had any problems down there and its just gotten really spooky recently," Harris told KOMO News.

Some camp residents think city is using the attack as an excuse to sweep them out, and many said the city hasn't offered any place to go.

"Somebody made a complaint that they were scared and they are blowing it all out of proportion as a way, as an excuse," said Chris McDaniel, who lives at the camp.

Camp residents also blame what they call "undesirables" who were forced out of other camps. They said after the large sweep of "the Jungle" homeless camp under Interstate 5, many went to another camp known as "the Field" or to another located on Dearborn Ave, near Interstate 90.

They claim after the city shut down "the Field," those homeless were shuffled to 4th Ave. near Safeco Field and some resettled under the Spokane Street viaduct.

"There have been a lot of unknown faces passing through here," said McDaniels. "The people that were over there were a little bit more sketchier and don't have it all together."

When the city clears out the camp on Wednesday, it's new homeless sweep protocols will really be put to the test.

The city must haul away and store a swept homeless camper's possessions for 60 days.

One camper known as Gizmo, said he's a former salvage man, who sells stuff to make money -- and he's got a lot of possessions to clear out.

"I want to know if they are keeping their promise coming here this Wednesday, I'm really curious too to find out," he said.

The city said it needs to move everyone out to repair the lighting over the bike path, because of a lot of the copper wiring has been stolen.

A city navigation team was supposed to visit the camp to help residents find a place to go, but so far residents said no one has come by.