Considering Seaton, but concerned about the homeless encampment

[Anonymous]

Hello, we're excited to have been offered a PK3 spot at Seaton for next fall, but are concerned about the homeless encampment near the school. Can current parents or neighbors comment about what's going on with that and whether students' safety has been compromised as a result of the people living on school property? Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Not a Seaton parent but I know tons of people who go there and I have never heard of it being an issue.

[Anonymous]

Hi!

We are a Seaton family. The encampment has really grown during the pandemic (before that there was just one woman there and it was a non issue).

we haven't been directly impacted by it, and we play there many times a week... But the parent community has just recently gotten more concerned about it and there are people pushing the issue with the ANC/council/city. The city isn't removing encampments right now due to the pandemic, but all of these unhoused have been offered housing, and they have refused it. It's a little unclear what the options are...

[Anonymous]

Someone at that encampment was just arrested with multiple guns and a high capacity magazine, which is totally unacceptable on many levels, and particularly in front of a school. Unfortunately, many in the community have been too compassionate about the encampment, which was clearly more dangerous than anyone thought.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi!

We are a Seaton family. The encampment has really grown during the pandemic (before that there was just one woman there and it was a non issue).

we haven't been directly impacted by it, and we play there many times a week... But the parent community has just recently gotten more concerned about it and there are people pushing the issue with the ANC/council/city. The city isn't removing encampments right now due to the pandemic, but all of these unhoused have been offered housing, and they have refused it. It's a little unclear what the options are...

This is an issue in bigger cities in US in general, it’s odd that so many get offered housing and refuse. Why won’t cities do anything about it? This isn’t the ‘explorer days’ where people can just live anywhere.

[Anonymous]

What a fun thread!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone at that encampment was just arrested with multiple guns and a high capacity magazine, which is totally unacceptable on many levels, and particularly in front of a school. Unfortunately, many in the community have been too compassionate about the encampment, which was clearly more dangerous than anyone thought.

There's also a whole more detailed thread about what's going on on NextDoor if you use that app. Just search for it, you should be able to find it.

[Anonymous]

Yes on Next door. And the official Seaton Community (parent listserv and Principal) has started a big conversation about it this week. People are definitely concerned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone at that encampment was just arrested with multiple guns and a high capacity magazine, which is totally unacceptable on many levels, and particularly in front of a school. Unfortunately, many in the community have been too compassionate about the encampment, which was clearly more dangerous than anyone thought.

That’s awful, generally I have found homeless people to keep to themselves but regardless that’s not acceptable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone at that encampment was just arrested with multiple guns and a high capacity magazine, which is totally unacceptable on many levels, and particularly in front of a school. Unfortunately, many in the community have been too compassionate about the encampment, which was clearly more dangerous than anyone thought.

That’s awful, generally I have found homeless people to keep to themselves but regardless that’s not acceptable.

So the guy was picked up a few blocks away at 6th and Q, according to the police report. Neighbors heard that he lived in the encampment from another member of the encampment.

Not that I don't find it extremely alarming, but just adding facts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone at that encampment was just arrested with multiple guns and a high capacity magazine, which is totally unacceptable on many levels, and particularly in front of a school. Unfortunately, many in the community have been too compassionate about the encampment, which was clearly more dangerous than anyone thought.

That’s awful, generally I have found homeless people to keep to themselves but regardless that’s not acceptable.

So the guy was picked up a few blocks away at 6th and Q, according to the police report. Neighbors heard that he lived in the encampment from another member of the encampment.

Not that I don't find it extremely alarming, but just adding facts.

So there is clear evidence of guns on public school property and nothing is being done about it? I'm all for rehousing people, but if I were a parent and my kids were being now knowingly being exposed to firearms literally on their playground I would be beyond alarmed and asking for immediate action.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone at that encampment was just arrested with multiple guns and a high capacity magazine, which is totally unacceptable on many levels, and particularly in front of a school. Unfortunately, many in the community have been too compassionate about the encampment, which was clearly more dangerous than anyone thought.

That’s awful, generally I have found homeless people to keep to themselves but regardless that’s not acceptable.

So the guy was picked up a few blocks away at 6th and Q, according to the police report. Neighbors heard that he lived in the encampment from another member of the encampment.

Not that I don't find it extremely alarming, but just adding facts.

So there is clear evidence of guns on public school property and nothing is being done about it? I'm all for rehousing people, but if I were a parent and my kids were being now knowingly being exposed to firearms literally on their playground I would be beyond alarmed and asking for immediate action.

I don't think it actually is owned by the school.

[Anonymous]

Your snowflakes are safe from the downtrodden. Don't worry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your snowflakes are safe from the downtrodden. Don't worry.

The downtrodden? All of them are offered housing, many refuse. Some are mentally ill but the city I assume cannot force them to get mental care.
I'm not saying it has to be like Japan whose homeless are generally very polite and do not make themselves visible in high traffic areas but the smell of p*ss and homeless with guns is not right.

[Anonymous]

A letter was sent out regarding the homeless camp. They are on it.

> On Apr 19, 2021, at 2:52 PM, REMOVED for PRIVACY wrote:
>
> 
>
> Dear Seaton Community,
>
> Many of you may have received a note from Seaton’s principal earlier today regarding the encampment next to the playground at Seaton Elementary School. We wanted to provide you with some more context and information regarding the encampment, especially the issue that led to the note.
>
> Over the course of the last year the homeless encampment on 10th Street along the Seaton playground fence has been growing. The encampment started prior to the pandemic with one resident and has now grown to more than 12 structures.
>
> In the course of regular conversations with the residents of the encampment, one resident recently informed us that another resident was arrested on April 11 (at 6th and Q NW) for charges including assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a pistol without a license, possession of a large capacity Ammunition Feeding Device, possession of Unregistered Ammunition, and receiving Stolen Property (information on the arrest is available here: https://mpdc.dc.gov/release/mpd%E2%80%99s-weekly-firearm-recoveries-april-5-2021-april-12-2021). We were told that the arrested individual had been keeping the gun at the encampment, in their tent, next to the Seaton Elementary School playground. Officials from DCPS (including Chancellor Lewis Ferebee and Chief Operating Officer Patrick Davis), the Mayor’s Office, and Councilman Charles Allen’s office were notified of this development last week. So far the only response has been the letter you recently received from Seaton.
>
> Community members have spent the last year engaging with city officials, the Mayor’s office, DCPS, and the Seaton administration and PTO to request services and assistance for the unhoused residents of the encampment and to improve the conditions at the encampment. They have been in touch with organizations including Miriam’s Kitchen and Bread for the City and representatives from those organizations and the Mayor’s Office have regularly engaged residents. Residents have been offered spaces in shelters for more permanent housing, but the unhoused residents have not accepted.
>
> Despite having worked with every possible resource and agency to find practical, win-win solutions that would work for all the members of the neighborhood, recent events have raised the level of concern about the effect of the encampment on the health and safety of the Seaton community. The City previously responded to community voices by conducting a clean-up in mid-March, asking residents to move their belongings 3 feet from the fence, and installing a mesh fabric barrier on both sides of the fence. However, as events since then have demonstrated, these measures are ineffective and insufficient to protect the students, staff, and parents of Seaton Elementary School.
>
> The proximity of the encampment, its residents and their property, to both the playground and the area used for student pick-up make compliance with CDC, DC, and DCPS mandated COVID protocols difficult, if not impossible. Additionally, the police have responded to the encampment multiple times to address domestic disturbances, open fires, drinking, and drug use in sight of the playground, and a police officer is now present for pick-up because residents of the encampment have harassed students and parents.
>
> DCPS officials have said that they cannot do anything more to address the situation because the encampment sits on city rather than DCPS property, and the city has said that they will not move or clear the encampment as that practice has been suspended according to CDC recommendations during the pandemic.
>
> While we have tremendous empathy for the residents of the encampment, especially after having engaged with them as neighbors over the past year and having done everything we can think of to find a solution that is sustainable over the long-term for all involved, the recent developments have cemented concerns about the effect of the encampment on the health and safety of the Seaton community and made it clear that is only a matter of time before something happens to a member of the community. We are concerned that something will happen to one of the children who attends Seaton and/or uses its outdoor space.
>
> After speaking with members of the PTO executive board, we are sharing this information with the Seaton Community so that everyone is at least aware of the ongoing situation. If you have concerns about the safety of those at Seaton Elementary, you should consider asking the city and DCPS to remove the encampment (while providing residents with help moving their tents and continuing to offer spots in shelters and assistance finding more permanent housing), make the land on which it sits DCPS property, and incorporate it with the rest of the Seaton outdoor space by moving the fence out to the sidewalk.
>
> We are sharing this information because we feel that it is important that every parent of a student at Seaton is aware of the situation. The community has tried every avenue to address the safety concerns posed by the encampment. Based on the experiences of the past year, it is unsafe for an encampment to be located in such close proximity to a school. It is also clear that the leadership in DCPS, the Mayor’s Office, and the City Council consider the status quo situation acceptable and have no intention of changing policy.
>

>REMOVED FOR PRIVACY ---Emails below are DC.gov or dccouncil.us , people who are accountable to DC residents, so, not private
>
> Here is a list of the city officials who have already been involved:
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> Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen [e-mail]
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> Deputy Chief of Staff to the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Jessica Smith [e-mail]
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> Encampment Coordinator Monika Merk [e-mail]
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> Chancellor Lewis Ferebee [e-mail]
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> COO of DCPS Patrick Davis [e-mail]
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> Michael Eichler [e-mail]
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> Rochelle Nigro [e-mail]
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> Other officials to engage:
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> Paul Kihn, Deputy Mayor for Education [e-mail]
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> DC Council Chairman [e-mail]
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> Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto [e-mail]
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> At Large Council Members:
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> Elissa Silverman [e-mail]
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> Anita Bonds [e-mail] <---she is not going to do jack for you.
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> Robert White [e-mail] <---- just as useless
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> Christina Henderson [e-mail]