EDITOR’S NOTE: This post was updated with a response from King County on Thursday morning, Oct. 3, 2024.

Burien City Manager Adolfo Bailon this week expressed concerns in a letter to King County over its recent decision to close the homeless encampment near the District Court, accusing the county of acting unilaterally and excluding Burien officials from the decision-making process.

This all comes some seven months after the county filed a lawsuit over Burien’s anti-camping Ordinance 832, which was dismissed by a federal court last week. The City countersued the county, and has been publicly criticizing them ever since.

The encampment in question is located on King County property on 6th Ave SW near the District Court and the King County Sheriff’s Office Precinct 4 police station.

In his letter, Bailon claims the City was excluded from critical discussions, despite the encampment’s location within city limits. The letter emphasizes the lack of collaboration and questions the county’s handling of outreach, shelter services, and the financial impact of the closure on local law enforcement.

Burien officials said they were neither informed nor involved in the decision-making process, despite King County’s claims of collaboration.

“This ‘only King County matters’ approach is like other unilateral decisions by the county that negatively affect Burien, its residents, and businesses,” Bailon wrote in the letter.

Bailon raised several other concerns, including the timeline for the closure, the adequacy of outreach efforts, and the availability of shelter for those displaced.

But critics say that Bailon has previously distanced the city from the county and even refused $1 million dollars to help with its homeless problems.

“In the letter, City Manager Bailon claims the city wants to help unhoused people in the community, however the city has been essentially waging a war on the unhoused for the last year and a half, sweeping people repeatedly and passing policies that criminalize their existence (resulting in several lawsuits still currently pending against the city for violating people’s rights, and racking up substantial legal costs on the tax payers’ dime),” said former Burien City Councilmember and homeless advocate Cydney Moore.

Concerns Over Process and Treatment

Bailon said that King County allowed the encampment to be established on its property and fenced it off earlier this year. The county also decided which services, if any, would be provided. Burien officials said the services offered were inadequate, prompting the city to inquire about the county’s plans to install basic facilities for the unhoused. When the bathrooms at the King County District Court and the adjacent King County Sheriff’s Office in Burien were closed to the unhoused, the city stepped in to ask for solutions.

The city’s frustration was compounded by the fact that the county did not set a formal removal date or provide any assurance that the displaced individuals would be offered shelter.

“King County’s closure notice expels its unhoused residents from its property without offering all of them an alternative to living on Burien streets,” Bailon wrote.

Lack of Coordination

In the letter (full text below), Bailon asked several pointed questions about King County’s process, including the criteria used to determine which individuals would be offered shelter, and whether the county was following the processes it had previously advocated for addressing homelessness. The city also inquired about the type of shelter being offered and whether it would be temporary or permanent.

The city expressed particular concern for individuals who may be left behind after the closure but are not on King County’s “shelter list.” Burien asked what plans, if any, the county had for those who remained once the encampment is cleared.

Impact on Local Law Enforcement

Burien officials also raised concerns about the impact of the encampment closure on local law enforcement resources. Since the King County Sheriff’s Office oversees deputies assigned to Burien, the city urged King County to use deputies not assigned to Burien to clear the encampment. The city emphasized that deputies stationed in Burien should focus on local law enforcement duties, rather than being diverted to address issues on King County property.

Bailon also said that King County is not authorized to use the Burien Police Department’s name, logos, or badges in connection with the encampment closure. He stressed that any references to clearing or sweeping the encampment should specifically refer to the King County Sheriff’s Office, not Burien Police.

Financial Responsibility and Accountability

Bailon also called for financial accountability from King County and the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) for costs associated with clearing or sweeping the encampment.

“King County/KCRHA and the King County Sheriff’s Office should be financially responsible for clearing the encampment,” the letter stated.

The city took issue with what it sees as King County’s inconsistency in its approach to homelessness. While Burien has prohibited camping on public property in certain areas, the city has allowed overnight camping in designated zones from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. In contrast, King County is not permitting camping on its District Court property at any time and appears to be displacing the unhoused without offering them alternative shelter.

Calls for a Coordinated Approach

The letter concluded with a call for a truly coordinated approach to homelessness between Burien and King County.

“The Burien community deserves a coordinated approach to homelessness that acknowledges, financially and otherwise, that Burien has not caused or exacerbated homelessness but is trying to help in a way that it believes is appropriate,” Bailon said.

Bailon also said that the City is committed to supporting the unhoused, but they want King County to take responsibility for the impacts of its decisions.

“If King County wants to try a different approach, it has plenty of land to do it outside of Burien,” Bailon wrote.

King County has not yet responded publicly to Burien’s concerns.

King County Responds

UPDATE Oct. 3, 2024:: The county responded to us on Thursday, Oct. 3 with the following statement:

“Burien Police officers will assist, as needed, to help maintain and keep the peace. We continue to support all efforts made by community outreach groups working to connect people with local services and shelters.”

Former Councilmember & Homeless Advocate Responds

Former Councilmember, Director of the Burien Community Support Coalition and homeless advocate Cydney Moore sent us the following statement in response to Bailon’s letter:

“The letter from the Burien City Manager regarding King County’s efforts to clear the encampment in front of the courthouse appears to be yet another attempt to stoke contention between the city and county, while deflecting blame and refusing to take accountability for the actions of Burien’s leadership. In the letter, City Manager Bailon claims the city wants to help unhoused people in the community, however the city has been essentially waging a war on the unhoused for the last year and a half, sweeping people repeatedly and passing policies that criminalize their existence (resulting in several lawsuits still currently pending against the city for violating people’s rights, and racking up substantial legal costs on the tax payers’ dime).

“The very same questions City Manager Bailon is posing to the county have yet to be answered by the city itself as it implements aggressive tactics to remove unhoused people from public land – including whether unhoused people swept by the city receive adequate treatment services and shelter, what types of shelter are offered, and what happens to individuals who remain in encampments every time the city sweeps them.

“Notably, the City has refused support offered by the county to help address the homelessness crisis in Burien, including $1 million and 35 pallet shelters. While the city may continue denying assistance offered by the county, criticizing King County for their current efforts to house people – and specifically telling them to ‘do it outside of Burien’ – seems nothing short of counterproductive, and contradictory.

“The encampment at the courthouse only exists because of city leaders’ failure to meet the needs of our unhoused people, and its closure will result in unhoused people being displaced and dispersed throughout the city yet again. While it may be easier for city leaders to pick fights with the county than work collaboratively, it certainly won’t bring us any closer to effective solutions. Our community deserves better than the representation we are seeing from the city today.”

City Manager’s Letter

Below is full text of the City Manager’s letter to the county:

“The City of Burien is concerned by King County’s recent announcement to close the King County District Court encampment. Despite claims of collaboration in the closure notice, Burien was neither informed nor involved in the encampment closure decision-making process, raising significant concerns for both the unhoused and Burien communities.

“King County unilaterally permitted or hosted this encampment.  King County unilaterally decided to fence it.  King County unilaterally decided what services, if any, would be provided. In fact, the services were so lacking that Burien asked King County about its plan to install facilities for the unhoused after the King County District Court and King County Sheriff’s Office in Burien closed its bathrooms to the unhoused. This “only King County matters approach” is like other unilateral King County decisions that involve and negatively impact Burien and its residents and businesses.

“Here, while the encampment is King County’s, on King County property, and presumably, the removal will involve King County deputies, its unilateral decision to close the encampment without any input or consultation from Burien officials raises serious questions, including:

• “Timeline for Closure: When will King County’s encampment close?
• “Outreach Efforts: Is outreach limited to LEAD, REACH, and KCRHA?
• “Eligibility Criteria: What were King County’s criteria for the “shelter list?”
“Fair Treatment: King County had many ideas about how encampments and the unhoused should be handled, is King County following those processes or at least an equitable process?
• “Shelter Services: While King County does not have to share this with Burien, will it reveal whether the unhoused receive adequate treatment services and shelter?
• “Type of Shelter: What types of shelter are offered, and is it permanent or temporary?
• “Encampment Closure: King County claims no new residents will be permitted. Is King County preventing new residents, and if so, how?
• “Post-Closure Site for the unhoused: What will happen to individuals who remain in the encampment when it closes but are not included in King County/KCRHA’s list? Where will they be placed?

“It is disheartening to see King County disregard Burien’s authority and need to protect its community while King County presents a façade of collaboration. Since King County controls the sheriff’s deputies assigned to Burien, references to clearing or sweeping King County’s property should refer to the King County Sheriff’s Office, not the Burien Police Department.”

“Since Burien was not involved in the planning of King County’s efforts and Burien has not approved the use of its name, marks, logo, etc., King County is not authorized to use the Burien Police Department’s name, marks, logo, badges, or vehicles. Additionally, Burien has concerns about,

• “Financial Accountability: King County/KCRHA and the King County Sheriff’s Office should be financially responsible for clearing or sweeping the King County District Court encampment.
• “Local Law Enforcement Impact: King County should use its deputies who are not assigned to Burien to clear or sweep the encampment on King County property.  Deputies assigned to Burien should be doing Burien or contract-related law enforcement in our community during this operation.

“Burien notes that King County and Sheriff Patricia Cole-Tindall are comfortable doing a version of what Ordinance 832 (unlawful public camping) provides for:

  1. “Burien prohibited unhoused people from staying on Burien’s public property in certain areas but never said they had to leave all Burien property. King County is displacing or banishing the unhoused from King County property without any assurance they are hosting them at other King County properties. It appears unlikely that King County will host or shelter the unhoused since it cavalierly encourages some unhoused “to utilize other sleeping arrangements or locations.”
  2. “Burien prohibited “camping” during the day and permitted it in nonprohibited locations from 7:00 pm to 6:00 am the following morning.  King County is not permitting camping on its District Court property at any time.

“King County and its sheriff have not:

  1. “Provided adequate due process since King County’s closure notice has no removal date.
  2. “Ensured shelter to all unhoused individuals on their property as they claimed Burien should do.  King County’s closure notice expels King County’s unhoused residents from King County property without offering all of them an alternative to living on Burien streets.
  3. “Been transparent or collaborative, abusing their discretion and ignoring Burien’s authority to regulate within its borders without King County’s interference.

“The City of Burien is committed to helping the unhoused. In exchange, the Burien community deserves a truly coordinated approach to homelessness with an acknowledgment, financially and otherwise, that recognizes that Burien has not caused or exacerbated homelessness but is trying to help in a way that it believes is appropriate.  If King County wants to try a different approach it has plenty of land to do it outside of Burien.

“Adolfo Bailon
“City Manager”

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13 Comments

  1. This reeks of bad-faith posturing by Bailon. He’s like a toddler who throws his toys out of the playpen, then cries when the grownups won’t fetch them back.

  2. It’s tiresome to have Cydney Moore serve as self appointed spokesperson as her statements are misleading and full of inaccuracies. She never mentions how the shack village was to fund itself when the funds quickly ran out, or why she always has others to blame when her actions only perpetuate misery by enabling camping.

  3. I agree with RickB. It seems that the City Manager has said all along that people temporarily housed on county property by the Courthouse/Police Department are the problem of the county, not the City of Burien. The City has refused any help from the county for the past two+ years in terms of money and housing, choosing instead to harass the unhoused.

    Mr. Bailon and the City Council need to figure out which side of this issue they want to be on – are you helping or are you hindering.

    The City of Burien needs to have a City Manager that acts like an adult, not a child. Perhaps then everyone could reach some sort of resolution.

  4. This leaves me very confused. First, they didn’t want the county to put a shelter there, now they don’t want them to remove it? What exactly is Bailon trying to accomplish with this? Is he just looking for any opportunity to battle with the county that we’re geographically located within? How is this good for the people of Burien?

    1. It’s good for Burien because King County needs to be held accountable for allowing the camp on County property within Burien. The County has used that property as a dumping ground and now due to Court rulings has to clean it up and prove they have a plan. Burien pays for the enforcement of laws within the City limits, why should we pay for this when the County has treated that parcel as an island within the City and wrecked the entire neighborhood playing landlord.

  5. It’s because the county is not following Burien City camping laws, even though the courts have found the county at fault, Burien didn’t want the camp but County put it in because it’s county property and it’s a mess thanks to Dow Constantine

    1. You need to make up your mind. If it’s county property and they can make a decision to move an encampment there, then why are you complaining that they are now moving everything from the property? And if, even though it’s county property, they CAN’T have an encampment there, why didn’t the city REMOVE the encampment from there when it was first set up?

      1. Because it’s County Property the city can only do what they can within the laws, you need to brush up on the legalize, the city never wanted it to there, or anywhere else in the city, the council made City camping laws, the KCSO refused to comply to the city law

  6. Why are we hearing from a homeless advocate in this letter, that’s her personal opinion and personally I know another homeless advocate group that keeps their distance from the one she leads for a reason. ( I see a whole lot of finger pointing and excuses but no problem solving.)

  7. Tired of the Crime and Squalor and Aggressive Attitude so many Homeless have ! Get rid of them at the Courthouse location ! Where ? I Don’t Care as long as they’re Gone from Burien ! How about McNeil Island ? How about the Council Members Backyards ?

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