Judge rules that Tent City must leave Woodinville site

Tent City 4 must leave its temporary home at Northshore United Church of Christ by June 17, King County Superior Court Judge Charles Mertel ruled today, marking the first major legal defeat for the homeless encampment since it began about two years ago.

Attorneys representing the Woodinville church and SHARE/WHEEL, tent-city's sponsoring organization, say they plan to appeal the decision early next week.

"We are very saddened by the judge's decision to throw out 65 homeless people who will mostly likely be on the streets," said Rev. Sanford Brown, the executive director for the Church Council of Greater Seattle that has been working with Tent City 4.

Pete Rose, Woodinville city manager, said he took solace in the ruling, which he believes will help restore balance to the city's land-use policies. But he said he hopes that cities would also come together to work on addressing homelessness.

"There is no joy at a decision that disrupts the homeless from a safe shelter template that has developed over the last several years," Rose said.