Skip to main content
U.K. Edition
Friday, 16 August 2024

Philadelphia Officials Preparing To Dismantle Homeless Encampment On Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Credit: CBS 3 Philly
Duration: 02:23s 0 shares 1 views

Philadelphia Officials Preparing To Dismantle Homeless Encampment On Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia Officials Preparing To Dismantle Homeless Encampment On Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Natasha Brown reports.

AS MANY AS 10 FIRECOMPANIES HELPED DURING THEFIRE FIGHT.NO ONE WAS INJURED.WELL, DEVELOPING RIGHTNOW, THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIAIS PREPARING TO MOVE INTO ANDDISMANTLE THE HOMELESSENCAMPMENT ON THE PARKWAY.ORGANIZERS ARE RECEIVINGWARNINGS.NATASHA BROWN JOINS US NOWWITH THE UPDATE.GOOD EVENING.Reporter: WELL, GOODEVENING TO YOU, UKEE.THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT THEREALONG THE BEN FRANKLIN PARKWAYHAS BEEN THERE FOR A FEW WEEKSOR SO NOW BUT IT MAY NOT BETHERE WITHIN THE NEXT FEWWEEKS ACCORDING TO CITYOFFICIALS.THE CLOCK IS TICKING ASPHILADELPHIA OFFICIALS WILLSOON OFFER A TIME LINE TODISASSEMBLE THE HOMELESSENCAMPMENT ALONG THE BENFRANKLIN PARKWAY.WE'RE IN ACTIVECONVERSATIONS WITH THEENCAMPMENT AND ARE LOOKINGFORWARD TO A RESOLUTION.Reporter: THE ENCAMPMENTOF ABOUT A HUNDRED PEOPLE WASFORMED NEARLY THREE WEEKS AGOAND HAS BEEN THE SITE OFVIOLENCE.POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING ASTABBING SUNDAY AFTERNOON ATTHE ENCAMPMENT.CITY OFFICIALS CONTINUE TONEGOTIATE WITH THOSE LIVINGTHERE HOPING TO RELOCATE THEM.PARKWAY NEIGHBORS HAVELAUNCHED A PETITION ASKING FORTHE ENCAMPMENT TO BE MOVED BYNEXT MONDAY IN ORDER TOACCOMMODATE YOUTH BASEBALL INTHE AREA.AND WE DO HAVE CONCERNSABOUT THE ENCAMPMENT.ABOUT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OFTHOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY LIVINGTHERE AS WELL AS THE HEALTHAND SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITYAND OF COURSE FOR THERECREATIONAL ACTIVITY OF THEKIDS THAT WOULD NORMALLY USETHAT FIELD.WE'RE IN ACTIVE CONVERSATIONSWITH THE ENCAMPMENT AND ARELOOKING FORWARD TO ARESOLUTION.Reporter: A PORTION OFTHE GROUP HAS SPLIT OFF TOHOUSING AUTHORITY HEADQUARTERSIN NORTH PHILADELPHIA.PROTESTERS COULD BE SEENTRYING TO REMOVE POLES ERECTEDFOR FENCING.THEY NEVER COMMUNICATEDWITH ANY OF THE HOMELESSINDIVIDUALS DIRECTLY.THEY JUST STARTED BUILDINGFENCES AROUND US.Reporter: CITY OFFICIALSARE AWARE OF THAT SITE AND AREWORKING TO ADDRESS CONCERNS.WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HITTHE MARK FOR NEXT MONDAY.BUT WE CERTAINLY RECOGNIZETHAT THIS SITUATION IS NOTSOMETHING THAT CAN GO ONFOREVER AND WE MADE IT CLEAROUR EXPECTATION IS THEENCAMPMENT IS REMOVED THISMONTH.Reporter: THEPHILADELPHIA HOUSING AUTHORITYSENT US THIS STATEMENT:SO, BOTH ENCAMPMENTS CERTAINLYUNDER FIRE NOW BY THE CITY.THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUTWHAT TO DO WITH THEM ANDCERTAINLY WHEN TO DO IT.

You might like