Now that the city has reached a deal with the campers at Nickelsville that allows them to remin in Discovery Park until Friday, the question remains as to whether organizers of the camp will still face fines.
Notices were posted at Nickelsville last Friday by the Seattle Department of Planning and Development naming numerous individuals and organizations, including SHARE/WHEEL, Interfaith Task Force on Homelessness, the Seattle chapter of Veterans for Peace, a youth shelter in the U-District (ROOTS) and all current residents of NIckelsville.
Those named are held individually responsible for compliance with fines of $150 per day, and $500 daily after ten days. The city’s notice applies to all future encampments within city limits, and states that no notice will be required for future campsite removals.
5 responses so far ↓
1 Doug McKeehen // Oct 8, 2008 at 3:36 pm
It is important to recognize that David Bloom, ED of the Interfaith Task Force on Homelessness, and Sinan Demirel, ED of ROOTS had absolutely nothing to do with organizing Nickelsville, nor has anyone who represents the organizations that they work for. They flat out are NOT Nickelsville organizers, in any stretch of the imagination.
Neither of these men, nor anyone representing their respective organizations, ever attended a planning meeting before Nickelsville was set up, nor did they attend any meeting at all where any decisions were made since.
The Interfaith Task Force on Homelessness has offered moral support. ROOTS guilt seems to be that they were involved with bringing food down to people who were hungry.
Nickels naming these groups and organizations sent a clear message. Support these folks in any way, and risk getting fined by the city. Don’t even think about trying to feed them.
It is an over-reaching example of intimidation, and is just another example of how the Mayor has been dealing with these groups and their complaints for the last couple of years.
What is even more telling is the organizations that did not get named as supporters and organizers. There are some powerful people and groups that seem to have been missed on that list who have been very public in their support.
Doug McKeehen
2 giz // Oct 8, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Actually Nickels had the facts, which counter your claims here. Perhaps being hit in the pocket book, the individuals of the above named organizations are running scared.
Otherwise how would you explain their contradictory statements?
For example, Bil Kirlin Hacket made a false claim that he “wasn’t even there” when Nickelsville set up, yet earlier public statements made by him in which he states “I was there” counter these.
Nothing like the facts coming back to haunt you as you for and illegal encampment to further your own agenda.
3 happy // Oct 8, 2008 at 8:57 pm
as fletch would say “pig face scum, go back to where you’re from!”
4 giz // Oct 9, 2008 at 9:02 am
Just in case anyone missed this story reported in the Seattle P.I. regarding the incident that went down at Nickelsville on Friday….
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/seattle911/archives/150900.asp
And here at some of the highlights from that article:
“When the officer arrived at Nickelsville, where he interviewed members of the security team, he could “smell the odor of marijuana in the air,” he wrote in his report.”
And my personal favorite:
“That man, who called police, told the responding officer he had been one of the coordinators of Nickelsville, but quit his position on Friday because “residents are smoking crack cocaine and marijuana,” according to the report.”
Scott Morrow and SHARE/WHEEL want public land for a squatters camp with no accountability to house up to 1000 people. The incident occurred with a population of under 60.
Anyone still think this is a good idea?
5 Loretta Pirozzi // Oct 19, 2008 at 12:28 am
Hey, oug, well-written and I agree with virtually everything you said.
Giz is living in the same delusional world as Nickels who has all his “facts” wrong and refuses to dialogue with anyone about it.
Happy is just rude - I think that post should be removed.
Also, Giz, just for your information, I WAS at the setup of the original camp and if Bil Kirlin Hacket was there at the time he must have been hiding in the bushes because we didn’t see him.
As for smelling pot in the air, you must be mistaken OR the police are lying. I spent a lot of time there helping and was there during the media circus that occured when the police arrived. The was no marijuana in the air (but so what if there was, recall that we voted to decriminalize that in our city).
Nickelsville is a result of our failing economy and it mimics the Hoovervilles of the past.
How amusing is it that the city is threatening to fine people who don’t even have enough money to exist. Perhaps they will be arrested if they can’t pay and held in jail at taxpayer expense. Great solution there, Greg!
Let’s save taxpayer money and just LEAVE THEM ALONE. Attempts at survival should not be illegal.
I am BHL, and proud of it
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