A homeless encampment near the Space Needle that gained international media attention is testing Seattle’s homeless crisis response as Mayor-elect Katie Wilson prepares to end camp removals when she takes office in January 2026.
The father moved fast when he saw the encampment outside the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP). In one swift motion, he scooped up his toddler and rushed across 5th Avenue, away from the cluster of tents pitched in the shadow of Seattle’s most famous landmark. Nearby, a group of tourists grimaced at the scene, then turned their backs and smiled for a selfie with the Space Needle.
The growing camp highlights Seattle’s worsening homeless crisis as Microsoft announced it’s moving its Build 2026 conference to Las Vegas. It is widely believed this is due to safety concerns around the Seattle Convention Center…