The city of Everett is intensifying its efforts to clear homeless encampments by establishing new restricted areas. These "buffer zones" prohibit sitting or sleeping on public land near specific commercial hubs to address business concerns over crime and drug use.
The New Buffer Zones Near Safeway and Midnight Smoke and Grocery
Everett is expanding its enforcement actions by designating two specific buffer zones: one situated near a Safeway on Broadway and another near Midnight Smoke and Grocery on Colby Avenue. according to the report, these zones effectively criminalize the act of sitting, lying down, or sleeping on public property within these boundaries.
By targeting these specific commercial corridors,the city of Everett aims to create a physical separation between business operations and the homeless population. this tactical shift moves the city beyond general encampment sweeps toward a more permanent, zone-based restriction of public space usage.
Addressing Business Reports of Drug Use and Theft in Everett
The decision to implement these restrictions follows a wave of complaints from local business owners. As reported, these businesses have flagged an increase in open drug use, theft, and the proliferation of encampments that obstruct access to their storefronts.
This approach reflects a growing trend in municipal governance where "exclusion zones" are used to protect economic interests. While the immediate goal is to restore order to the Broadway and Colby Avenue areas, this strategy often mirrors a broader pattern of urban displacement, where the symptoms of poverty are pushed from high-visibility commercial districts into residential or industrial fringes.
The KIRO Newsradio Critique of Visibility-Based Solutions
The tension between enforcement and prevention was highlighted by KIRO Newsradio hosts Gee and Ursula, who expressed support for the business-led crackdown while simultaneously questioning the city's long-term strategy. The hosts argued that Everett is spending excessive effort on making homelessness less visible rather than implementing measures to prevent it entirely.
This critique points to a systemic failure in urban planning:the tendency to treat homelessness as a nuisance to be managed through zoning rather than a social crisis to be solved through housing. When a city focuses on "buffer zones," it prioritizes the visual and operational comfort of the commercial sector over the survival needs of the unhoused population.
The Unanswered Question of Where Displaced Residents Will Go
Despite the city's focus on clearing the areas around Safeway and Midnight Smoke and Grocery, the report notes that advocates remain deeply concerned about the lack of alternative destinations for the displaced. There is currently no clear data provided by the city of Everett on how many shelter beds are available or where these individuals are expected to relocate once the buffer zones are enforced.
Furthermore, the source only presents the perspectives of business interests and media commentators, leaving a void regarding the specific plans for social services. Without a coordinated plan to transition people from the streets of Broadway and Colby Avenue into stable housing, the buffer zones likely serve as a temporary relocation tool rather than a permanent solution.
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