SEATTLE — With one week to go until the All-Star Game in Seattle, people in RV encampments are preparing to move their belongings from the SODO neighborhood after notices were posted advising them to leave.
The neighborhood has had ongoing issues with crime, drug dealing, and waste from RV encampments.
“They’re telling us we need to be out of here by Wednesday morning,” said Neal, a man who lives in an RV on Utah Avenue south of T-Mobile Park. “I have no idea where I’m going to go, as far as my gas tank will take me.”
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Neal shared a flyer with KOMO News he said he was given by someone who came to RV encampments in the area encouraging campers to move their RV’s close to the stadiums next Tuesday at midnight, right before the All-Star Game.
“They’ve been pushing us around for months hoping to clear us out sight for the for the MLB all-star game on July 11 – Let’s make sure their work was for nothing!” the flyer reads.
The flyer says a support team will help people in RV’s move their belongings and then have a party on July 11.
“When the tailgaters and rich (expletive) show up for the big game, they're going to find exactly what the city worked so hard to prevent: us!” the flyer states.
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Neal said he’s not sure if he’ll participate.
“Everybody is just waiting until tomorrow – what are they going to do? What are we going to do?” he said.
Seattle hasn't hosted an All-Star Game since 2001 and plans for the event have now been in the works for years.
In June, 450 people turned up for a city day of service to clean up the area near the stadiums.