A video of a Burien City Council Member yelling at unhoused people in front of her luxury condo has rocked the small Washington State community.
In a video first obtained by the local B-town Blog, council member Linda Akey was shown threatening to call the police on a small group of unhoused people in tents outside of her condo building.
“I have authority. I have authority,” says Akey. “I live here, and you do not belong here. You are trespassing right now.”
An unhoused man on camera is seen attempting to calm her down, but she continued. “You all need to move away from the building because it is trespassing. We will call the police on trespassing,” she says.
A woman filming countered that they didn’t choose to live in a tent. “You think we want to live in a tent? You think we want to live on the street,” she asked.
Some outlets have noted the irony of Akey attacking unhoused people with nowhere to go despite running on a platform that included addressing homelessness. However, anyone who’s been following the housing crisis can attest that what many politicians mean by addressing the homelessness problem is forcing unhoused people out of sight.
For example, in Washington D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser has rapidly pushed to clear encampments of unhoused people — leaving many stranded without a place to sleep.
Back in Burien, Washington, Akey responded to the criticism she faced in a statement to the B-Ttown Blog.
“I recognize I may look angry and I apologize for raising my voice,” said Akey, who added that she was acting in her capacity as a homeowner.
“As councilmember and resident, I understand the complex issues surrounding homelessness and residents’ safety concerns. I’ve been in communication with both parties regarding unauthorized belongings on private property,” she wrote in the statement. “On the night in question, I approached individuals camped on the sidewalk, informing them of condo policies and city ordinances. While I empathize with their challenges, ensuring everyone’s safety is a top priority.”