Interesting that "giz" still hasn't posted his/her name and background to substantiate views. It appears both persons have inside knowledge of the inner workings so I have to assume both of you are connected very intimately to the "top." I give my respect to the person who is open with his name and his connection. At least I know what his slant is. Anonymous people have something to hide in my opinion. I am just a citizen who thinks the homeless get the short end of things and it's a disgrace in a city such as Seattle. No one should have to live on the streets and if they have to band together in pink tents well at least they have each other and aren't alone trying to make it. There is empty land all over that they should be able to use until the city comes up with a way for permanant solution to their problem. I heard a rumor that Mr Nickels gave his relative the ability to erect the senior housing going up at OlsonPlace & Myers Way. Don't know if it's a fact or not but if it's true that sounds kind of like a conflict of interest to me.
Any way now you probably know how I feel about the mayor and how he treats the underdogs in this city. I emailed him and the governor about what I thought of the treatment of homeless people in Seattle. Not sure what else I can do to help.
Jolene M Dantzler

Chances are they share your views, Mr. McKeenhen as the Aloha Inn, your employer, came about through SHARE/WHEEL and Scott Morrow and their early days of Tent City back in 1990. Information on the Aloha Inn can be found at www.alohainn.org.
The Interfaith Task Force is under the umbrella of the Greater Church Council of Seattle and run by Bill Kirlin Hackett, both of which are supporters of SHARE/WHEEL.
Nickelsville exists because SHARE/WHEEL and Scott Morrow have always envisioned a Dignity Village model, like Porland. (www.dignityvillage.org) Scott thought that he was going to get that back in May 2004, but the Brickyard Park and Ride site didn't work out so well for him and thus Tent City 4 began rotating through Eastside churches every 90 days.
Scott Morrow and his associates at SHARE/WHEEL are trying desperately to disassociate with being behind "Nickelsville" as a way to get around the 2002 Consent Decree. (King County Superior Court Cast #01-2-10396-2SEA.)
SHARE/WHEEL's attempts to intimidate and make threats in order to extort public land are wearing thin. SHARE/WHEEL and Scott Morrow used these tactics over the Safe Harbors issue two years ago. They used it back in May 2004 as a way of forming Tent City 4. It's always "give us/or we will open mulitiple tent cities."
Now, SHARE/WHEEL and Scott Morrow are taking advantage of the economic crisis and using it as an excuse when the fact remains the majority of the residents of Nickelsville came from other SHARE/WHEEL shelters.

giz, you have posted repeatedly on this issue, and you are trying to paint a picture that is simply not true.

Most of the current residents that are in Nickelsville are NOT from the tent cities. Your initial reporting of some of the organizers was straight up on the money. Scott, Anitra and others have been long time activists. None of these people have hid this fact. However, Nickelsville has been supported by many other groups, organizations and individuals.

Your attempts to portray this as some sort of conspiracy from a few trouble makers just does not wash. Even the city of Seattle quickly backed off of that assertion when they saw who was occupying Nickelsville, and who else has been involved and been supporting them.

The city even has threatened to fine the Interfaith Task Force on Homelessness and ROOTS, along with their respective ED's for as long as Nickelsville is active. This shows that the city is not trying to paint the picture you are. They are very aware of the many organizations that are supporting Nickelsville, and has chosen a path of threatening intimidation towards these groups instead of trying to deny their existence and support.

Scott Morrow is heavilly involved and has been from the beginning. Never been a secret. What you have reported is true. You are, however, only reporting part of the story and trying to make it seem like the whole.

Nickelsville exists because the Mayor's office has been aggressively, illegally, immorally and inhumanely been trying to harrass our societies most vulnerable out of sight or out of town. His tactics have included strong arming groups who have tried to feed the homeless, and through sweeps of encampments without following victim's constitutional rights or due process. In court case after court case throughout the US, it has been found that Mayor Nickels policies and practices against the homeless is illegal. It is not illegal to try to survive, and homeless enjoy the same protections against siezure of property that the rest of us do.

The Mayor's office was asked to meet with people concerned about his policies towards the homeless over two years ago. Groups such as Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness tried to work with the city back then. These groups were put off and fought at every turn. Lawsuits, both individually and class action have been explored, and will eventually cost us all heavilly. In the meantime, people living without shelter are now banding together, because they are safer that way.

Nickelsville is not a "publicity stunt". It is a result of people in crisis being treated less than human by the policies of local polititians supported by developer money. Your attempts to paint it as anything less fall horribly short if anyone goes even slightly past your painted and false rhetoric.

Nickelsville is not victimizing the homeless to make a point. Nickelsville is the result of city policy victimizing the homeless.

Unlike you, "giz", here is my full and real name.

Doug McKeehen

Now, Google it and fire away at will while you hide behind your misnomer. Just remember one thing. If you choose to publish who I work for, I speak here for myself, not as their representative. They may or may not share my views.

"He is also asking supporters for help with moving the camp on Friday, requesting that volunteers with vehicles come to the camp to help pack and move the tent city residents. "

Is somewhere on the slopes of Mt. St. Helens out of the question?

Here's a suggestion..Why doesn't Scott Morrow let these people go back to his Tent City 3 & Tent City 4 where the majority came from in the first place.

Nickelsville is a publicity stunt and it's doing nothing but using these people as pawns and parading them from location to location every few days.