Juneau residents urge action on growing encampments, cite safety and sanitation concerns

At the May 19 meeting of the Juneau City and Borough Assembly, multiple residents and business owners urged city leaders to address what they described as an increasing homeless encampment problem in downtown Juneau and the Valley.

Speakers pressed the assembly for clearer enforcement, more resources for cleanup, and better coordination with police and service providers. They described trash and human waste in public spaces, threats to employee and resident safety, and encampments near private properties and businesses.

The testimony included specific complaints about camps near the Glory Hole and along the river near businesses on Mallory Street and the Valley. Scott Jenkins, who said he lives on Highland View Drive, told the assembly the “encampments around the Glory Hole are growing every day” and that he has observed needles, trash and drug use near residential property. He asked the city to “take action and allow our police to do the job they want to do.”

Tiffany Kieveman, director of HR and compliance for Alaska Glacier Seafoods, told the assembly that employees and company property have been threatened and that trespass enforcement efforts have failed to result in prosecution. “We partnered and we do trespass orders only to find out last month that the city attorneys will not prosecute,” she said. Kieveman said her company had provided surveillance video and license plates to police but that she still fears for employee safety.

Several downtown business owners and property owners described an uptick in visible drug use, broken windows, rummaged dumpsters and assaults near businesses. Josh Anderson, a Parks and Rec Advisory Committee member and local contractor, said he routinely cleans trash from downtown and sees the CARES van and fire crews responding daily to the same locations.

Other residents highlighted park and facility maintenance concerns they said are related to seasonal closures and staffing: Pete Karen said restrooms at Cope Park are locked ‘‘for the season’’ after the last cruise ship leaves and asked the city to provide off‑season portable facilities and restore trash cans to limit debris and human waste. He also asked the city to repaint a cross in Evergreen Cemetery and to address a pedestrian bridge that has not been installed.

Property owners outside downtown said encampments behind senior housing and business parks have made seniors uncomfortable and disrupted business operations. Marty McKeown, who identified himself as a property owner in Vintage Business Park, said an encampment 50 yards from senior housing has made residents fearful to go outside.

Speakers repeatedly asked for stronger, faster action from the Juneau Police Department and the city attorney’s office, and for clearer local policy on how and when to clear encampments on public and private land. Assembly members asked follow‑up questions of witnesses; staff and the city attorney later described the existing process for trespass notices and for pursuing criminal charges, noting limits set by evidence standards and prosecutorial discretion.

The assembly did not take an immediate vote or direct a single new policy during the public comment period. Several members asked staff and the police chief to brief the body on current enforcement options and to return with recommendations on operational and legal steps the city could take.

The breadth of testimony reflected concerns from both residents and businesses and signaled continuing pressure on the assembly to clarify enforcement, public‑space maintenance and interagency coordination as encampments persist.