Minneapolis officials clear second large homeless camp

A week after Minneapolis officials dismantled a large homeless site at Powderhorn Park, officials cleared another encampment on the city's South Side on Wednesday.

As police looked on, residents broke down their tents and crisscrossed the encampment on a city-owned lot at E. 26th Street, between S. 15th and 14th avenues, with pushcarts piled high with clothes, pillows and other belongings. A group of social service providers and volunteers were also on the scene to provide assistance. City workers hung back for a while, before moving in to clear trash with a small front-loader.

It was the latest encampment to be cleared since an executive order passed by Gov. Tim Walz for the coronavirus pandemic. Days after the Park Board issued an eviction notice, workers joined park police officers to clear out one of the two tent camps at Powderhorn Park, which became a haven for people displaced in the aftermath of the George Floyd riots, but also picked up a reputation for trouble. About 20 people were arrested during the operation, which some critics called unnecessarily heavy-handed.

https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-officials-clear-second-large-homeless-camp/571957602/