Connector Congestion As City Clears Out Cooper Court

Mayor Bieter has declared the tent city growing being Interfaith Sanctuary a local emergency.  As 135 homeless Idahoans move out of "Cooper Court," traffic on the connector will be backed up through Saturday.

According to KTVB, the right lane and River Street exit will be closed through Saturday. The traffic pattern changes are meant to allow responders to go get into the area, process it and usher everyone out.

The city began encouraging people to start leaving the tent city around 10 AM on Friday morning and will no longer allow anyone to camp in that area.  City officials have issued warnings for several months saying the area is a risk for disease, violence and fire because of people defecating/urinating on buildings and cooking fires.

A temporary shelter will be open at Fort Boise Community Center this weekend where former Cooper Court residents can find food, information, medical and mental help resources.  There will be buses available for people wanting to take advantage of the temporary shelter.

Although the shelter will close after dinner on Saturday, Bieter says there is plenty of room available in other shelters across the city.

Public feedback about the city's actions has been split.