Seattle Councilmember Sally Bagshaw responds to criticism of Jungle, homeless response

Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw responded to public criticism of the council’s homeless response Wednesday, including actions in The Jungle. Critics have argued that council actions have slowed down progress in the area.

“Nobody stopped or slowed down the work under the Duwamish Greenbelt,” Bagshaw said after a Seattle resident expressed disapproval during a public meeting. “We have people under there with garbage bags, with needle containers to start cleaning that up. We on this particular council would like to see porta-johns out there because it’s a public health problem.”

The Jungle, aka the I-5 East Duwamish Greenbelt, is an infamous stretch along I-5 where many illegal homeless encampments exist.

Related: Homeless return to The Jungle after Seattle officials remove exit deadline

It was an uneventful and procedural meeting Wednesday for the Seattle City Council’s Human Services and Public Health Committee, but there was one moment that shook things up. Seattleite Jennifer Aspelund addressed the committee to express her disapproval of how the council has handled problems around town. Such problems include trash and waste left throughout the city — including Aspelund’s neighborhood of Lake City — as well as how officials have addressed The Jungle.

“You all took an oath to serve the public to make policies, laws and codes to serve all citizens of this city,” Aspelund said. “You are failing. People are being killed, raped and assaulted in The Jungle and you pass a resolution that slowed cleanup of the area. Moving more slowly will help no one.”

Aspelund is referring to a recently passed resolution that some have criticized as slowing down progress in The Jungle.

“The fact remains that on a daily basis people are in great harm who live there,” she said. “The Jungle, as it is now, is a public health threat and has led to death.”

Bagshaw has also recently asked that people stop calling the area “The Jungle.” Instead she wants people to refer to it as the I-5 East Duwamish Greenbelt.

“I will continue to address it as ‘The Jungle,’” Aspelund said. “I don’t agree with you, Sally, that calling it the ‘East Duwamish Greenbelt’ will help anyone.”

Bagshaw said that she agrees with Aspelund and that trash and litter should be cleaned up. She also said that the council has asked that problem areas around Lake City be addressed.

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