Latest news with #DavidBeatty
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
D.C. Homeless Encampments Removed amid Trump Police Takeover: ‘They Don't Want to Be Reminded That Poor People Exist'
The president announced on Aug. 11 that he was temporarily seizing control of the Metropolitan Police Department NEED TO KNOW Bulldozers, garbage trucks and apparent warning notes have appeared on tents in Washington, D.C., following Donald Trump's takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department Trump announced the temporary federalization of the police force in D.C. on Aug. 11, citing crime and homelessness 'It just feels wrong to me. The idea that we're poor makes them uncomfortable,' resident David Beatty told NPR Days after Donald Trump announced the temporary federalization of the police force in Washington, D.C., people living in homeless encampments have begun to pack up — with some camps already being cleared. The president announced on Monday, Aug. 11, that he was seizing control of the Metropolitan Police Department and deploying the National Guard in an effort to target the homeless population and address crime. Residents have since spotted bulldozers clearing left-behind tents, notes on tents warning people to move out and garbage trucks collecting items. On Friday, Aug. 15, the New York Post reported that 75 encampments have been cleared around the capital, with the Department of the Interior confirming to the outlet that United States Park Police have done so since the signing of Trump's 'Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful' executive order in March. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also shared during a recent news conference that police have removed 70 encampments since Trump signed his executive order. It is not clear how many more encampments have been removed as of Saturday, Aug. 16. A spokesperson for the department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. According to The Washington Post, members of D.C.'s Health and Human Services began removing an encampment near the Kennedy Center after giving residents a day's notice to clear out, setting a 10 a.m. deadline. A spokesperson for the deputy mayor for Health and Human Services told the outlet that the area qualified for expedited removal due to its location near a highway, and referred the Post to the mayor's communication team when asked if the White House was involved in the decision. Nonprofit outreach workers helped residents clear their belongings. The spokesperson told the Post that they made offers of shelter for those in the encampment. D.C. Council member Brianne K. Nadeau told the outlet that such "dramatic action" erodes "the trust we have built with folks living outside and diminishes our ability to bring them into permanent housing and get them stabilized." David Beatty, 65, told NPR on Thursday, when crews near the Lincoln Memorial began to dismantle a small encampment: "It just feels wrong to me. The idea that we're poor makes them uncomfortable. They don't want to be reminded that poor people exist.' '[The president] is targeting us and persecuting us,' Beatty also told USA Today. 'He wants to take our freedom away.' Related: Trump announced during a White House press conference this week that officials would be "removing homeless encampments from all over our parks," claiming that those who don't have homes are "not going to be allowed to turn our capital into a wasteland." According to NPR, experts says between 800 and 900 people sleep on Washington's streets per night in the summer, as some people experiencing homelessness told the outlet that they aren't comfortable living in the city's other options. Dana White of Miriam's Kitchen said that shelter capacity in the city can also be "very limited." "No, I don't want to be there. Shelters are not the best option because they cram people in there and you [aren't] always sure of who is who," said Jessy Wall, who spoke with NPR while packing his belongings into garbage bags. Wall told USA Today that he found a note on his tent Wednesday night warning him that it would be removed the following day. He moved into the tent a year prior and shared that he doesn't know where he's headed in the weeks to come, calling the removal of encampments "cruel." Earlier this week, the president put Attorney General Pam Bondi in charge of the city police as he warned of deploying other military forces "if needed." Trump later indicated that he planned to extend the initial 30-day takeover of D.C. police and expand to other cities, sharing while announcing the 2025 Kennedy Center nominees that the White House would be "asking for extensions on that long-term." "That's going to serve as a beacon for New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and other places all over the country," Trump said. "Our whole country is going to be so different and so great. It's going to be clean and safe and beautiful, and people are going to love our flag more than they've ever loved it. And we're going to do a great job." Trump's latest move has prompted protests around the city, with some residents calling the action extreme and accusing the White House of attempting to distract from the Epstein files. Despite Trump's recent claims, crime rates in the city have been substantially declining over the past year and a half — with violent crime in 2025 down 26% from 2024. Trump has since alleged without evidence that crime statistics have been skewed to cover up the extent of the city's crime. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump's crackdown on DC homeless encampments begins
WASHINGTON – Under the blazing summer sun, people living in Washington's homeless encampments packed up their belongings before authorities moved in with garbage trucks on Aug. 14, as President Donald Trump's crackdown on the nation's capital ramps up. At an encampment a few miles from the Lincoln Memorial and the Kennedy Center, a group of a dozen people broke down their tents and stuffed their clothes in garbage bags with the help of city workers and local homeless advocacy groups. The tents that remained – and everything in them – were soon bulldozed and taken to a landfill. '(The president) is targeting us and persecuting us,' said David Beatty, a homeless man living in the encampment that Trump posted a photo of on social media last week. 'He wants to take our freedom away.' The moves come days after Trump assumed federal control of the city's police department and mobilized the National Guard, declaring a "crime emergency" and vowing to clear homeless people off the streets of DC. As more federal agents and National Guard troops are brought into Washington, local officials and social workers have sought to get ahead of the anticipated operations. The push to clear encampments also comes as cities across the United States, including longtime Democratic strongholds such as Los Angeles and San Francisco, have also seen an increase in homeless sweeps and encampment closures. A landmark 2024 Supreme Court decision that allowed laws banning people from sleeping outside, even if they have nowhere else to go, led to a broad crackdown on homelessness in California, and in dozens of cities, towns and rural communities nationwide. City boosts shelter space as encampments are broken up In mid-August, workers with the DC Department of Human Services visited each of the known encampments, warning of the impending crackdown and offering residents beds in local shelters and storage space. The speedy operations came with little warning and have left the city's homeless population scrambling for places to go. Some plan to move into shelters, while others say they're going to go to neighboring states like Virginia or Maryland. A few said they will continue to wander the city hoping they will stumble on a safe place to sleep. 'I haven't known what's next for so long that it's part of normal life at this point,' said Jesse Wall, 43, who was forced to pack up his tent and leave the encampment he's lived in for the last several months. "We'll see what happens." In anticipation of a sweeping clampdown on homelessness, the city's human services department added about 70 beds to shelters and expanded storage space to hold people's possessions that they can't carry with them on the street, said Rachel Pierre, acting director of the agency. She said shelters were full when the president's order came down, but that the agency is prepared to open up more beds and storage facilities if they need to. "What we are committed to is that we don't turn anybody away from shelter right now," Pierre said. Since the pandemic, the number of people living in DC's homeless encampments has declined by two-thirds, said Wayne Turnage, deputy mayor of the city's Department of Health and Human Services. This year alone, the U.S. Park Police have disbanded about 70 encampments from federal parks in the city, said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. The last two still standing will be broken down this week, she added. There are still many homeless people who are not living in encampments, local advocate groups say. In January, the city counted 900 people living on the streets during a one-night survey. Advocates warn that encampment sweeps don't address the root causes of homelessness and only make the crisis worse by forcing people into a cycle of jail, debt and living on the streets. 'Fines, arrests, and encampment evictions make homelessness worse, further traumatize our homeless neighbors while disconnecting them from community and support," said Dana White, director of advocacy for Miriam's Kitchen, a local organization that works with homeless people. 'If policing resolved homelessness, we wouldn't have homelessness here in DC or anywhere else in this country.' DC's homeless communities face uncertain future On Aug. 14, Wall stuffed his clothes, his rolled-up sleeping bag and a folder of important documents in silver trash bags. The night before, he came home to find a note tacked on to his tent saying the encampment he's called home for the last few months would be taken down the following morning. After packing up, he and several of his neighbors milled around the grassy median where they live, discussing what they will do next and where to go. Wall, who moved into a tent nearly a year ago, told USA TODAY he might stay at a shelter for a few nights. Beyond that, he's not sure where he'll end up. 'It's cruel,' he said of the sweeping order and push to move people off the streets. Beatty, who has been homeless in DC for several years, said he may go to Virginia to avoid the federal crackdown. 'I don't know how far of a walk that is,' he said, as a bulldozer began tearing through a nearby tent. Contributing: Karissa Waddick (This story was updated to add new information.) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Washington DC cracks down on homeless encampments Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
DC cracks down on homeless encampments amid pressure from Trump
WASHINGTON – Under the blazing summer sun, people living in Washington's homeless encampments packed up their belongings before authorities moved in with garbage trucks on Aug. 14, as President Donald Trump's crackdown on the nation's capital ramps up. At an encampment a few miles from the Lincoln Memorial and the Kennedy Center, a group of about 8 people broke down their tents and stuffed their clothes in garbage bags with the help of city workers and local homeless advocacy groups. The tents that remained – and everything in them – were soon bulldozed and taken to a landfill. '(The president) is targeting us and persecuting us,' said David Beatty, a homeless man living in the encampment that Trump posted a photo of on social media last week. 'He wants to take our freedom away.' The moves come days after Trump assumed federal control of the city's police department and mobilized the National Guard, declaring a "crime emergency" and vowing to clear homeless people off the streets of DC. As more federal agents and National Guard troops are brought into Washington, local officials and social workers have sought to get ahead of the anticipated operations. The push to clear encampments also comes as cities across the United States, including longtime Democratic strongholds such as Los Angeles and San Francisco, have also seen an increase in homeless sweeps and encampment closures. A landmark 2024 Supreme Court decision that allowed laws banning people from sleeping outside, even if they have nowhere else to go, led to a broad crackdown on homelessness in California, and in dozens of cities, towns and rural communities nationwide. City boosts shelter space as encampments are broken up In mid-August, workers with the DC Department of Human Services visited each of the known encampments, warning of the impending crackdown and offering residents beds in local shelters and storage space. The speedy operations came with little warning and have left the city's homeless population scrambling for places to go. Some plan to move into shelters, while others say they're going to go to neighboring states like Virginia or Maryland. A few said they will continue to wander the city hoping they will stumble on a safe place to sleep. 'I haven't known what's next for so long that it's part of normal life at this point,' said Jesse Wall, 43, who was forced to pack up his tent and leave the encampment he's lived in for the last several months. "We'll see what happens." In anticipation of a sweeping clampdown on homelessness, the city's human services department added about 70 beds to shelters and expanded storage space to hold people's possessions that they can't carry with them on the street, said Rachel Pierre, acting director of the agency. She said shelters were full when the president's order came down, but that the agency is prepared to open up more beds and storage facilities if they need to. "What we are committed to is that we don't turn anybody away from shelter right now," Pierre said. Since the pandemic, the number of people living in DC's homeless encampments has declined by two-thirds, said Wayne Turnage, deputy mayor of the city's Department of Health and Human Services. This year alone, the U.S. Park Police have disbanded about 70 encampments from federal parks in the city, said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. The last two still standing will be broken down this week, she added. There are still many homeless people who are not living in encampments, local advocate groups say. In January, the city counted 900 people living on the streets during a one-night survey. Advocates warn that encampment sweeps don't address the root causes of homelessness and only make the crisis worse by forcing people into a cycle of jail, debt and living on the streets. 'Fines, arrests, and encampment evictions make homelessness worse, further traumatize our homeless neighbors while disconnecting them from community and support," said Dana White, director of advocacy for Miriam's Kitchen, a local organization that works with homeless people. 'If policing resolved homelessness, we wouldn't have homelessness here in DC or anywhere else in this country.' DC's homeless communities face uncertain future On Aug. 14, Wall stuffed his clothes, his rolled-up sleeping bag and a folder of important documents in silver trash bags. The night before, he came home to find a note tacked on to his tent saying the encampment he's called home for the last few months would be taken down the following morning. After packing up, he and several of his neighbors milled around the grassy median where they live, discussing what they will do next and where to go. Wall, who moved into a tent nearly a year ago, told USA TODAY he might stay at a shelter for a few nights. Beyond that, he's not sure where he'll end up. 'It's cruel,' he said of the sweeping order and push to move people off the streets. Beatty, who has been homeless in DC for several years, said he may go to Virginia to avoid the federal crackdown. 'I don't know how far of a walk that is,' he said, as a bulldozer began tearing through a nearby tent. Contributing: Karissa Waddick This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Washington DC cracks down on homeless encampments Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
DC cracks down on homeless encampments amid pressure from Trump
WASHINGTON – Under the blazing summer sun, people living in Washington's homeless encampments packed up their belongings before authorities moved in with garbage trucks on Aug. 14, as President Donald Trump's crackdown on the nation's capital ramps up. At an encampment a few miles from the Lincoln Memorial and the Kennedy Center, a dozen people broke down their tents and stuffed their clothes in garbage bags with the help of city workers and local homeless advocacy groups. The tents that remained – and everything in them – were soon bulldozed and taken to a landfill. '(The president) is targeting us and persecuting us,' said David Beatty, a homeless man living in a tent places between a pair of busy roadways. 'He wants to take our freedom away.' The moves come days after President Donald Trump assumed federal control of the city's police department and mobilized the National Guard, declaring a "crime emergency" and vowing to clear homeless people off the streets of DC. As more federal agents and National Guard troops are brought into Washington, local officials and social workers have sought to get ahead of the anticipated operations. The push to clear encampments also comes as cities across the United States, including longtime Democratic strongholds such as Los Angeles and San Francisco, have also seen an increase in homeless sweeps and encampment closures. A landmark 2024 Supreme Court decision that allowed laws banning people from sleeping outside, even if they have nowhere else to go, led to a broad crackdown on homelessness in California, and in dozens of cities, towns and rural communities nationwide. City boosts shelter space as encampments are broken up In mid-August, workers with the DC Department of Human Services visited each of the known encampments, warning of the impending crackdown and offering residents beds in local shelters and storage space. The speedy operations came with little warning and have left the city's homeless population scrambling for places to go. Some plan to move into shelters, while others say they're going to go to neighboring states like Virginia or Maryland. A few said they will continue to wander the city hoping they will stumble on a safe place to sleep. 'I haven't known what's next for so long that it's part of normal life at this point,' said Jesse Wall, 43, who was forced to pack up his tent and leave the encampment he's lived in for the last several months. "We'll see what happens." In anticipation of a sweeping clampdown on homelessness, the city's human services department added about 70 beds to shelters and expanded storage space to hold people's possessions that they can't carry with them on the street, said Rachel Pierre, acting director of the agency. She said shelters were full when the president's order came down, but that the agency is prepared to open up more beds and storage facilities if they need to. "What we are committed to is that we don't turn anybody away from shelter right now," Pierre said. Since the pandemic, the number of people living in DC's homeless encampments has declined by two-thirds, said Wayne Turnage, deputy mayor of the city's Department of Health and Human Services. This year alone, the U.S. Park Police have disbanded about 70 encampments from federal parks in the city, said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. The last two still standing will be broken down this week, she added. There are still many homeless people who are not living in encampments, local advocate groups say. In January, the city counted 900 people living on the streets during a one-night survey. Advocates warn that these bans don't address the root causes of homelessness and only make the crisis worse by forcing people into a cycle of jail, debt and living on the streets. 'Fines, arrests, and encampment evictions make homelessness worse, further traumatize our homeless neighbors while disconnecting them from community and support," said Dana White, director of advocacy for Miriam's Kitchen, a local organization that works with homeless people. 'If policing resolved homelessness, we wouldn't have homelessness here in DC or anywhere else in this country.' DC's homeless communities face uncertain future On Aug. 14, Wall stuffed his clothes, his rolled-up sleeping bag and a folder of important documents in silver trash bags. The night before, he came home to find a note tacked on to his tent saying the encampment he's called home for the last few months would be taken down the following morning. After packing up, he and several of his neighbors milled around the grassy median where they live, discussing what they will do next and where to go. Wall, who moved into a tent nearly a year ago, told USA TODAY he might stay at a shelter for a few nights. Beyond that, he's not sure where he'll end up. 'It's cruel,' he said of the sweeping order and push to move people off the streets. Beatty, who has been homeless in DC for several years, said he may go to Virginia to avoid the federal crackdown. 'I don't know how far of a walk that is,' he said, as a bulldozer began tearing through a nearby tent. Contributing: Karissa Waddick This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Washington DC cracks down on homeless encampments
