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Residents call for halt to Kirby Park encampment sweeps after short notice removal
Summary
Speakers criticized a recent sweep of a homeless encampment in Kirby Park as inhumane and urged the city to pause sweeps and disclose contractor spending; council offered no immediate reversal but heard multiple pleas.
Speakers at Wilkes‑Barre City Council’s public discussion urged a pause on homeless encampment sweeps after city contractors cleared an encampment in Kirby Park earlier the same day.
Anthony Farah and April Fowler told council members that the sweep provided only short notice and left residents of the encampment with insufficient time and support to secure belongings or find alternatives. Farah said the people affected were given just two or three days’ notice for a sweep that had earlier been postponed because of flooding, and he described the recent action as “inhumane.”
“Homeless encampment sweeps are not only inhumane, but also a misguided way to addressing a much bigger social issue,” April Fowler told council, urging the city to stop removing encampments until it can provide housing and services or a better‑coordinated transition. Commenters said personal items, identification documents and medicines are often lost during sweeps, complicating outreach and service referrals.
Farah asked the city to disclose how much it spent on private contractors used for the removal and to institute a hold on sweeps until the city develops more supportive alternatives. Council did not record an immediate policy change; staff did not offer specific expenditure figures at the meeting.
Councilmembers and staff did not dispute the comments but did not announce a suspension of sweep activity. The mayor and other officials noted that some encampment clearances have been delayed in the past for safety reasons (for example, when flooding threatened an encampment) and that the city coordinates with public works and other departments for park maintenance and public‑safety reasons. Commenters said better notice, storage options for property and coordinated social‑service referrals are needed to reduce harm when clearances occur.
No formal motion or vote was recorded on the issue at Tuesday’s meeting. Several speakers asked the council to consider a moratorium on sweeps until the city establishes clearer protocols and funding disclosure for contracted removals.
