Harrisburg to begin cleaning Mulberry Street bridge encampment site Tuesday
Homeless encampment under Mulberry Street bridge in HarrisburgThe City of Harrisburg plans to begin cleaning beneath the Mulberry Street bridge Tuesday morning, with city officials estimating Monday that only about five people remain at the homeless encampment.
City crews expect to begin the process at 8 a.m., Harrisburg Public Works Director Dave West said at a press conference Monday, 11 days after the city said the Mulberry camp would be cleared over what the city described as a rat problem spiraling out of control. Advocacy agencies worked over the weekend to move a handful of remaining Mulberry camp residents. On Sunday afternoon the area was still bustling with last-minute packing and removal of tents, blankets and other supplies. Although the city said last week it would be directing Mulberry residents to a new city-designated camp location, it was still unclear Monday how many would be going there. Officials said no one is currently residing at the new city-sanctioned location, although the city expects to provide amenities like trash pickup and portable restrooms. “We’re in the process of making that an area” where homeless residents may feel comfortable, said Darrel Reinford, director of Christian Churches United and one of the organizers of the homelessness assistance effort. “Part of what everyone is dealing with right now is that this has not been low-key for anyone,” Reinford said, given the amount of public and media scrutiny the city has come under for its decision to evict the Mulberry camp. The desire of most of the homeless population, Reinford said, is getting back to living their lives “without being on the public’s radar.” Removing the remaining refuse from under the Mulberry bridge is expected to take about 48 hours, West said. After that, rat trapping and chemical treatment by an extermination company is anticipated to last about six weeks. The area will be blocked off during the process, and city police will patrol the area to make sure no one is intruding, according to Matt Maisel, Mayor Wanda Williams’ spokesman. City police will not be making arrests or taking any remaining residents into custody, Maisel said. What will happen after the clean up is also uncertain. Maisel had said the city would not allow anyone to return to the bridge site, that stance changed last week, with the city saying it did not have the legal power to keep anyone out after the cleaning is complete. “There is nothing we can legally do to keep people from coming back because we do not own that land,” Maisel reiterated Monday. Although 10th Street, which is a city right-of-way, runs under the Mulberry Street bridge, the bridge itself and the land beneath it where tents have been set up are owned by PennDOT. Maisel cautioned Monday that he is “not a lawyer,” but that the city’s understanding is that – while it can make residents move in order to solve a pressing public health and sanitation issue – it cannot indefinitely keep them off land that the city does not technically own. Asked if the city has been in communication with PennDOT about how it would like the issue handled, Maisel said there is “not anything specific” being requested, but that the city would prefer residents do not return to the area. PennDOT is “committed to determining an appropriate response to these circumstances,” the agency said in a press statement. “We will engage with the city and local organizations to coordinate and collaborate about the future.” The Mulberry encampment has grown significantly in the past year, with assistance agencies estimating roughly 70 people there at the camp’s peak. The growth, in some cases,the region’s affordable housing crisis which has kept struggling residents homeless for longer periods of time. At Mulberry, however, both residents and city officials also described a significant growth in individuals who were not necessarily homeless, but using the camp as a hub to buy and sell drugs – contributing to a trash and crime issue despite, residents’ best attempts to keep the camp orderly.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Dallas Weather: Wintry mix possible on TuesdayThere is a chance North Texas could see a wintry mix on Tuesday.
Read more »
Much-Needed Rain, Mixed With Snow, in the Forecast for North Texas on TuesdayHello, snow? ❄❄❄ Some much-needed rain is on the horizon for North Texas. Also, this rainfall will be mixed with snow. Here's what to expect:
Read more »
Potentially wet week ahead for Harrisburg area: forecastersRain on Sunday may turn into snow on Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
Read more »
A needed rain chance arrives in South Central Texas by Tuesday morningA welcomed rain chance arrives in the next 48 hours! Here's what we'll be monitoring as rain chances increase locally overnight Monday & Tuesday:
Read more »
Bethesda Mission banking on revenue from courthouse parking to fund projectsExecutive Director Scott Dunwoody tells PennLive how the new federal courthouse in Harrisburg could provide an array of financial opportunities for Bethesda Mission, which is located across the street.
Read more »
Longtime newsstand at Harrisburg train station to close if buyer isn’t foundThe owners of Transit News said customer traffic is way down since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more »