Mayor George Brown defends clearing of river encampments; residents and advocates call for more humane housing solutions

Mayor George Brown defended the city's recent removal of river encampments, saying crews found hazardous conditions and that the city provided shelter resources; residents and advocates countered that the sweeps were inhumane and stressed the need for long-term housing solutions.

The mayor said crews encountered a ``dump'' with ``buckets of feces, buckets of urine, needles, and other hazards'' and that the removals were done after giving people "adequate time to move their belongings out." He said the city has provided money and services to help people who want help: "As the mayor of City Wilkes-Barre, I provided over 300,000 for a place for people to go that are homeless, that can get showers, get clean clothing, that can get counseling, that can get other resources," he said.

Nut graf: The exchange at the April 10 council meeting underscored a recurring local conflict over how the city handles encampments: city officials say removals protect public safety and protect responders; advocates and residents say the approach displaces vulnerable people without sufficient shelter or housing alternatives.

Council and the mayor described the site as hazardous and said responders faced safety risks while trying to assist people in the encampments. "I am not gonna allow our people that are trying to lend aid to go over there and have to fight that at night when it's dark out," the mayor said. Supporters of the removals argued the city offers services and gave advance notice before clearing the park.

Public commenters disputed the portrayal of homelessness as a voluntary choice and urged more housing and supportive services. April Haller, introduced as a resident of Oregon Street, told council: "To suggest that homeless individuals choose to live in squalor oversimplifies their circumstances and undermines the systemic factors that contribute to their situation." Resident Anthony Farrow said: "Kicking them out on the street that after they have an established camp is not a humane way of dealing with things." Jasmine Rodriguez, who identified herself as an advocate, cited national data and said affordable housing shortages and rising rents contribute to the crisis.

Speakers at the meeting and witnesses listed numerous local programs and providers that the mayor and others said are available, including the Wilkes-Barre Housing Authority, Keystone Mission (which the mayor said is changing its model to include more active case management), Catholic Social Services, Salvation Army housing units, Volunteers in America crisis counselors, and federal programs such as Section 8 vouchers. City officials credited volunteers and nonprofits for part of the response and said the city has sold property for low-income housing in past years.

Advocates said the city's short-term shelter capacity and case-management services are not yet a substitute for long-term affordable housing and that repeated clearings simply move people from one location to another. Several speakers urged more emphasis on housing-first solutions and more public outreach before removals.

Ending: Council members and the mayor said resources are available and that the city would continue outreach and cleanups when officials judge conditions unsafe; advocates said they will press for expanded shelter and permanent housing options. No formal council action or change in city policy on encampments was recorded during the meeting.