Updated with comments from SPD Sergeant Anne Martin.

Occupy Seattle has emerged from hibernation just in time for spring: Today at 4:00pm, Occupy Seattle activists are joining homeless residents of Beacon Hill's "Jungle" encampment in front of Mayor Mike McGinn's Greenwood residence to protest rumors that Seattle Police will soon be sweeping through the Jungle, evicting residents.

"Based on uncorroborated reports of gunfire near the area and a need for Department of Transportation to clean, an eviction notice will soon be posted at the site, giving the 20-30 homeless residing there, 72 hours to pack up and disappear," writes Occupy Seattle in their press release. They also claim that the mayor's office has not extended social services or outreach efforts of any kind to Jungle residents.

I have calls into Mayor McGinn's office and SPD to confirm whether those rumors are true. In the meantime, protesters say they're prepared to stand their ground at the corner of Greenwood Avenue N and N 87th Street—"an earshot away from the mayor's house"—through the weekend with daily delivery of meals and a generator providing power.

As I said, the mayor's office has yet to rebut their claims. However, Occupy Seattle's charges don't ring true to me. McGinn has a pretty good track record when it comes to considering and responding to the needs of Seattle's homeless population; I can't imagine him ordering police to start homeless sweeps without warning or outreach. I'm thinking there's more to the story. But hey, I could be wrong.

UPDATE: Still no word from the mayor's office but two city sources have confirmed that the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and several city departments share control of the land the Jungle is on and has requested a cleanup, which is "routine" and "happens from time to time," says the first source. It's not a push out. What's more, social service providers were in the area last week checking on campers, and the affected area is very small—just two campsites.

Last week, South Precinct SPD Sergeant Ann Martin accompanied a group of government officials who identified abandoned campsites that need cleaning up. "This was just with two areas—campsites, not acres or lot sizes," she says, "It's my understanding that we posted about [the cleanup] last week."

Martin confirms that the Seattle Police Department acts in a supportive capacity during the cleanups. "Basically, SPD provides security for property owners who want to go in, take a look at their property where they feel uncomfortable, identify trash, debris, serious human waste—those kinds of items that need to be cleaned up for environmental reasons," she explains.

Martin also denies that the mayor or any other city or state official have ordered a homeless push-out on a larger scale, which makes sense. Under McGinn's administration, the city generally has a hands-off policy when it comes to camps—that is, homeless campers are left alone unless property owners specifically complain about their presence.

More and more, this protest at McGinn's house seems like the ultimate fool's errand.

UPDATE 2: Aaand the mayor's office finally responds with a detailed time line of what has happened on the city's end. Spokesman Aaron Pickus writes to confirm all of the above and add: "On Tuesday April 17th, a 72-hour notice was posted at both of the encampments that had been surveyed on April the 12th. Clean-up has not yet been scheduled. The city policy regarding encampments, updated in early 2010 after consultation with homeless advocates, calls for on-going outreach before clean-up occurs.

"Notices for clean-up have not been posted at the other existing encampments in the Greenbelt, south of Holgate."

Pickus declined to comment on how McGinn feels about having his house protested by Occupy Seattle, but mentions that the mayor will be getting home late and will probably stop by to speak with activists. He also stressed that, "There is currently shelter space available at City Hall and Frye Hotel and beds dedicated for those leaving encampments available at Roy St. and First Church shelters."

TGIF.