1:36 PM UPDATE: You’ll probably recall that seven other candidates had declared they were running – they and Burgess all participated in the April 29th “Super Seattle Mayor’s Forum” co-sponsored by the 34th District Democrats (WSB coverage, including video, here). The other seven have all filed for official candidacy, according to this page on the King County Elections website; it had been noted by political-news site PubliCola that Burgess was the only one not to have filed by noontime today.

6:12 PM UPDATE: Two more candidates joined the race, making it a field of nine, by the deadline. One is West Seattle lawyer Doug McQuaid, who ran last year for state Supreme Court; his campaign website does not appear to be up yet (at least not at the link listed on the county Elections website), but his background is detailed on a site related to last year’s court campaign. The other new candidate to file in the mayor’s race is Joey Gray, whose bio is on her website. The full list of candidates in this office and others on King County ballots in the August primary is here.

(May 13, 2011, WSB photo)
Two years ago today, the homeless encampment that calls itself “Nickelsville” returned to the site where it had begun – a mostly-city-owned parcel on the eastern edge of West Seattle. According to a flyer posted on the semi-official Nickelsville Works Facebook group page, encampment residents and supporters plan a second-anniversary party next Sunday afternoon. That’s three days before their uphill neighbors from the Highland Park Action Committee have a meeting scheduled with Mayor McGinn.

Today was also the deadline that HPAC chair Carolyn Stauffer had given McGinn and City Councilmembers for announcing a move-out date for the encampment. The nonprofit Food Lifeline has proposed building a new center there, to collect and process food for food banks around the region. But in addition to the encampment’s presence, there’s also bureaucracy in the way, such as getting the site declared “surplus” so the city could consider selling it.

Stauffer writes on the HPAC website that only one city leader to whom the letter was sent, Councilmember Richard Conlin, replied, though without any commitment of specific action. As for the mayor, she writes in part:

The Mayor has donated [to Nickelsville] thousands of dollars in materials and rat abatement, and has been ignoring the neighborhood pleas for city action. We asked again that he be brave enough politically to stand up for our neighborhood and say no- that one cannot squat illegally on public land anymore, that it is too much to ask of our neighborhoods without due process and public comment. Giving the encampment a move out date is the Mayor’s job, and we are meeting with him on May 22nd to make sure that he understands that, and to make sure he knows that the neighborhood is serious when we ask for a move out date.

If he chooses to continue to ignore this, he will have a difficult time getting through the political season coming up without having to address his non-action. As we stated in our April 2nd letter, we will be taking steps to pursue legal action at this point.

We too have an inquiry out to the mayor’s office and will update when we hear back.

Seattle Port Commission races often get little attention, but deserve more, candidates told the 34th District Democrats at their monthly meeting in Fauntleroy last night. Most of the meeting was devoted to a candidates’ forum moderated by chair Marcee Stone-Vekich, with various races from Burien City Council to Southwest Sewer District – not including Seattle Mayor, since the 34th DDs co-sponsored the campaign’s first major forum just last week in Georgetown. (Here’s our coverage of that event, including video of the entire forum.)

Our video above features the three Port Commission candidates who showed up, from left: Commissioner John Creighton, candidate Michael Wolfe, and recent commission appointee Stephanie Bowman.

Part of the forum included unopposed (so far) candidates, among them King County Sheriff John Urquhart, who was elected last year to the remaining year of his predecessor’s term, so has to run again this year:

Also appearing, three Seattle City Councilmembers (Sally Bagshaw, Mike O’Brien, and Richard Conlin) and one candidate, Albert Shen. Our video from that section of the forum had technical trouble, unfortunately, so we will have to catch up with them at another forum. 34th DDs’ webmaster Bill Schrier did share a photo from a point where the four were asked if they support Seattle annexing White Center and vicinity – the “waffles” were for those who hadn’t made up their mind – only Conlin held up his “YES” paddle:

Before the forum, the district’s state Sen. Sharon Nelson and Rep. Eileen Cody discussed the legislative session just past and the special session coming up next week. Asked if they see much hope of a transportation/transit-funding fix in the special session, here’s how they replied:

The 34th DDs did not take any endorsement votes last night – that’s coming up at their next meeting, second Wednesday in June (that’ll be June 12th).

6:42 PM: We’re with a standing-room only crowd at South Seattle Community College‘s Georgetown campus for the first big forum of the Seattle mayoral campaign, co-sponsored by the 34th District Democrats along with two other Democratic organizations on the south side of the city. All eight declared candidates are here, along with news media galore. We’ll be updating live, and we’re recording it on video too. (Added: Here it is in its entirety, starting with quick intros from Holly Krejci of the 11th DDs and Marcee Stone-Vekich of the 34th DDs:)

The eight candidates are starting off answering a question about the moment when they decided to run for mayor.

7:06 PM: The wi-fi signal in here is intermittent, which is preventing reliable live-chronicling. So we’ll point you to Twitter for the rest of the way – look for hashtag #seamayor (can’t get a direct link right now but find it via our account at twitter.com/westseattleblog).

7:16 PM: Question now for some of the candidates – which comes first, transportation or development, and do you support impact fees? Mary Martin starts by saying she doesn’t like the question. Tim Burgess says they should happen simultaneously but it doesn’t go that way, and we’re only now talking about zoning for light rail, “we should have done that four years ago.” He says infrastructure for transportation is an issue of social justice too. Kate Martin says she agrees with him, that transportation should be concurrent with growth – and freight must be kept in mind too.

7:25 PM: Next – should we move Nickelsville, and where? Bruce Harrell is asked first, and he says, “yes.” He says people shouldn’t be living with rats and no water hookups, “we can do better than that.” He has no specific location in mind. Peter Steinbrueck says, “We should not have to endure Nickelsville in the first place … no neighborhood should endure indefinitely those kind of conditions, nor should the people wh seek shelter have to endure those kinds of conditions.” Mike McGinn answers next and says it’s a “problem” that people prefer that situation to shelters. “I think we’re going to have to find a way to (change the situation) but I need the City Council to step up, and they haven’t.” (Some in the room boo that answer.)

7:33 PM: Subsequent questions include how to close the gender gap for wages – Bruce Harrell drew applause for saying “institutional practices,” after Tim Burgess quipped that “if everyone had daughters like mine,” the problem would “self-correct.”

7:45 PM: What’s the most surprising thing on your iPod? Steinbrueck says he doesn’t have one. How about most interesting app on his phone? He says, One Bus Away. Staadecker says most interesting thing on his iPod is his just-born granddaughter. Murray says he has an app for a new puppy. McGinn says he started listening to more local bands – but Seattle RainWatch is his favorite. Mary Martin says she prefers to talk to people face-to-face. Kate Martin says she collects vinyl records, and has a BlackBerry so no apps. Harrell says he has an app for estate sales. Burgess says he doesn’t have an iPod either but best thing on his iPhone is picture of his 15-month-old granddaughter, and another app tracking another daughter’s current pregnancy.

Next question, how to best get to know you as a candidate? Steinbrueck: Come over and have homemade pizza. Staadecker says to ask people about his authentic qualities. Murray says he likes to talk, so talk to him. McGinn: “Look at my budgets; come on a walking tour with me out in a neighborhood.” Mary Martin: Walk on May Day, to “unionize, organize.” Kate Martin: “Call me or have coffee with me, invite me over,” and come check out her vinyl collection. Harrell: “come by my campaign office and imagine with me, imagine a new Seattle.” Burgess says go meet his wife and daughter who are here (one of his three daughters), and look at the reading list on his “city blog.”

7:48 AM: Should Seattle annex White Center, West Hill, and “the sliver”? That drew mixed responses (we have most on video – it’s a lightning round so we’ll have to consult later). Next lightning questions, your three closest advisers. Then, which endorsement matters the most, that you’ve already received? And then – which two candidates will make it through the primary? McGinn said “me and somebody else.” Staadecker also said himself and (question mark). Harrell said himself and “waffle.”

7:54 PM: The forum is wrapping up, after yet another lightning-round question about “what was your favorite part of the forum?” Closing statement: Why should you be the next mayor? “We have lots to be thankful for,” said Steinbrueck, talking about transportation projects, and the 150,000 people he says are headed to Seattle – how do we balance growth and quality of life? Staadecker said the two most important issues are the qualities of a mayor – including trust, collaboration, integrity – and the long-term vision for the city: “jobs, education, city services, safety, infrastructure, and fun – life is too short …” Murray: “this race is about leadership and I think I have the leadership this city needs. … Look at my record; I’ve worked on contentious issues with people who disagree, but we turned defeat into victory because we found ways to bring people together …” McGinn said, “We worked to change the debate in Seattle,” including talking about education. “They said Seattle can’t do transit – we have a master transit plan …” and touted more initiatives he’s working on “to make the city what it can be” before mentioning Sierra Club and Cascade Bicycle Club endorsements and that he was called “the most progressive mayor in America” and wants to make Seattle “the most progressive city in America.” Mary Martin says “the capitalist system is in crisis” and adds that “the working class has no voice.” She says she’s not just running to be elected, but also to seek solutions – “once and for all remove the capitalist system and put workers and farmers in power.”

Kate Martin lists her resume of activism and parenting and “I invite all of you to join me on that journey … but it’s not going to be issue to issue, this is who I am: When it comes to children, I am a radical. When it comes to health care, I’m a socialist,” and she lists other beliefs including “when it comes to the bottom line, I’m conservative,” before pitching for contributions. Bruce Harrell begins, “There’s a reason why 7 people are challenging this mayor – they want (a mayor) who is fighting for us … imagine a city where the mayor demonstrates listening abilities … that’s what my candidacy is all about,” and says he has “walked the talk all my life, and I think that’s what Seattle is looking for … I hope to wake up Seattle, because I am tired of the same old/same old … we want to reset the norms on how we look at this beautiful city of ours.” Burgess: “This campaign is about leadership … to fulfill the promise to our children … It’s about leadership to help fulfill the promise to future generations, to protect the environment, it’s our promise to you that we’ll fulfill that, that you’ll be able to get to work on time and back, live in a safe neighborhood, grow old and reflect on life here in our great city … unleash the power of innovation … and the quality of leadership in the mayor’s office that will restore your trust and confidence in city government.”

And at 8:04, moderator CR Douglas thanks the candidates and the legislative district organizations (including the West Seattle-headquartered 34th District Democrats) and it’s over, with mingling and handshaking following. We’ll be adding photos and our video of the entire forum once we’re back at HQ.

P.S. The candidates, as they were seated from left to right, each one’s name linked below to her/his campaign website if available:

Councilmember Tim Burgess
Councilmember Bruce Harrell
Kate Martin
Mary Martin
Mayor Mike McGinn
State Sen. Ed Murray
Charlie Staadecker
Peter Steinbrueck

That “cartoon” is what Metro Transit executives used to wrap up their briefing for the Seattle City Council this morning. “Cartoon” isn’t quite the right word; the prospect of more bus-service cuts is no laughing matter, as they warned – the briefing was basically the same one that Metro general manager Kevin Desmond gave to news media four weeks ago (WSB coverage here), with one extra twist: The Legislature has now adjourned without approving a transportation-funding package, and there’s no guarantee it’ll do so in the special session that is set to start May 13th. If they don’t, Desmond warned councilmembers, “we risk taking a giant step backward … the impacts will be very, very significant, (putting) up to 70 percent of current routes at risk.”

If you missed the previous round of coverage and discussion: The problem is twofold – the “congestion reduction charge” to supplement Metro funding expires next year, and it can’t be extended or replaced without Legislature approval. Then there’s the state “mitigation” money that added bus service to help while Highway 99 construction was under way; though the construction’s not really over till 2019, that money expires next year too.

So, Metro has drawn up its list of the types of cuts it might have to make if one or both of those funding sources isn’t replaced. Never mind the fact, it’s pointed out, that the service shouldn’t just be holding steady right now, it should be growing along with the population and usage.

At City Hall this morning, though Desmond stressed that the potential scenario is still an “illustration,” not a definite “plan” (same basic list shown during the April 1st briefing – here’s the West Seattle and vicinity breakout), he said that if the Legislature’s special session ends without a solution to Metro’s money woes, they’ll have to start working immediately on a plan to cut/reduce service, to be brought to the public this fall.

(Route 21, photographed this morning on Avalon Way)
(See today’s full slide deck here – note the West Seattle page saying “Neighborhoods such as Arbor Heights, Shorewood, Genesee Hill and Beach Drive could lose all service.)

Bus riders aren’t the only ones with someone at stake, Desmond noted – cuts would put tens of thousands of car trips back on the road. He acknowledged that in areas such as West Seattle’s Arbor Heights and Beach Drive neighborhoods, where service was cut last fall, some already have gone back to cars, if that’s an option for them. And without replacement funding, that’ll already get worse, though West Seattle is by no means the only area that’ll be affected.

West Seattle-residing Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who chairs the council’s Transportation Committee, called it a “sobering assessment,” adding that legislators “need to give us the options to find solutions to meet the region’s transportation needs.” He was particularly concerned about more cuts making the bus system less reliable.

After the briefing, both Rasmussen and fellow Councilmember Tim Burgess issued news releases including calls for the Legislature to take action to help Metro avoid cuts. Do note that this is not a call for new state money – it’s just a call for the Legislature to give local governments/agencies permission to ask their taxpayers in turn to approve potential funding sources such as motor-vehicle excise tax, a car-registration fee, and/or a gas tax.

Before the session in Olympia ended, we had been in touch with 34th District State Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon – a member of the state House Transportation Committee – regarding progress (or lack of it) on this issue, so we have a message out to him again today seeking comment on transit-funding prospects when legislators reconvene.

ADDED TUESDAY MORNING: Rep. Fitzgibbon’s reply:

While the primary focus of the special session will be the state operating budget, I definitely expect the transportation revenue package to be one of the issues that we discuss and try to resolve in the special session. There continue to be some differences between the Senate and the House on transportation revenue but we are working to come to an agreement so that we can pass a package, including a local funding option for Metro. The bills from the last session will remain alive in the special session.

Dozens of interfaith and denominational faith leaders from throughout the state came together this morning and announced plans to pursue a 2014 initiative to the legislature requiring criminal background checks for firearm sales in Washington State. The legislature adjourned yesterday without passing similar legislation.

“Today we are announcing a statewide campaign to bring an initiative to the State Legislature calling for universal background checks,” said Reverend Paul G. Ryan of St. James Cathedral in Seattle. “Preventing gun violence is not only a political issue; it is a solemn moral obligation.”

The faith leaders initially organized following the December tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary, where 20 children and 6 adults lost their lives. Joining with the newly formed Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility, the coalition worked to pass background checks in Olympia where it was a priority for a bi-partisan team of legislators and Governor Jay Inslee.

When it was clear that the bill would not reach a vote, the coalition decided to adopt an initiative strategy to address this urgent issue of public health and safety.

“We will no longer wait,” said Rabbi Daniel Weiner of Temple De Hirsch Sinai. We will no longer wait as another family grieves the death of a loved one, as another youth is shot down on our streets. We will not wait for another Café Racer, or another Sandy Hook. The time has come for sensible violence protection measures.”

Snohomish County Sheriff John Lovick, a former legislator and longtime supporter of closing background check loopholes, gave his support to the initiative launch.

“For law enforcement, criminal background checks are essential in protecting lives and property. Closing loopholes in our existing laws is common sense and long overdue,” said Lovick. “Like many, I am disappointed that the legislature failed to take action on this issue, and Congress remains unwilling—even in the face of overwhelming loss and overwhelming public outcry— to take action.”

“This is a public health crisis,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine, who in his role as executive oversees the state’s largest public health department. “130 people die in King County every year from firearm use, more than auto accidents. The cost is not only human life but millions in medical and emergency costs, and an estimated $174 million in lost work and productivity. Like any health crisis, we can solve it, but it will take decisive action—at the local, state, and federal level—to make real progress.”

The Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility will finalize language for the initiative in the coming weeks and begin gathering signatures in the summer months. Signatures on this type of initiative are due in January. If the legislature failed to take action, it will be placed on the 2014 general election ballot.

The group is planning a May 30 fundraising event to formally launch campaign efforts.

(Photo courtesy ‘Keep King County Moving’ Coalition)
Following up on our Monday report about transportation-funding proposals approved by the House Transportation Committee, two notes:

First – as promised, the “Keep King County Moving” coalition of political and organizational leaders hit the road for Olympia this morning to urge approval of the package. Among them were two West Seattleites seen in the photo above – County Executive Dow Constantine and County Councilmember Joe McDermott.

Second – a little more information on part of the proposal that sparked some discussion among WSB commenters following our Monday story. It would include funding to “split” Metro RapidRide Lines C and D – which currently are really one line going between West Seattle and Ballard. We asked the King County Department of Transportation if any more details were available, and spokesperson Rochelle Ogershok replied today:

This is a proposal for capital improvements. It calls for $15 million to split the RapidRide C and D lines to improve reliability and provide additional direct service to growing job centers in the South Lake Union and SODO neighborhoods.

The approach under consideration would have the C Line running between West Seattle and South Lake Union. The D Line would operate between Ballard and SODO. There is no specific routing sketched out at this point – that is something we would want to work with businesses and the city on if this legislation passes. Also, this proposal does not include added service hours or bus terminal/transit center space in South Lake Union that would be required to support these changes so this concept would need to be part of a broader legislative package that includes sufficient operating revenues.

Again, the bills are HB 1954 and HB 1955. 34th District State Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon says the next move is up to the Rules Committee.

*$125,000 for safety improvements at the notorious 47th & Admiral intersection.

*$500,000 for safety improvements on the West Seattle Bridge bike trail

*$33 million for improvements to Metro Route 120

*$15 million to split RapidRide C and RapidRide D – this will significantly improve reliability on both routes and add a new bus connection between West Seattle and South Lake Union

*Authorization for King County to seek the full 1.5% motor vehicle excise tax for transit (60%) and local roads (40%), subject to voter approval. This will enable Metro to maintain current levels of service.

That last one is related to the dire dollar situation outlined by Metro Transit general manager Kevin Desmond at his media briefing three weeks ago (WSB coverage here). Regarding the biggest proposal on the list, Route 120 improvements, Rep. Fitzgibbon says the money is proposed to “leverage nearly completed speed and reliability enhancements supported by the State Regional Mobility Grant Program to serve a rapidly growing ridership base of over 8,000 daily riders. Implementing RapidRide in the corridor would provide additional enhancements such as real-time information and off-board fare payment. An investment of service hours would be required to get to frequency levels of 10 minutes or better in the high commute times and 15 minutes all day.” We’re still waiting for all the fine print on today’s action to appear online; the bills involved are HB 1954 and 1955, according to Rep. Fitzgibbon, who says their next stop is the Rules Committee.

ADDED 4:02 PM: A group of local politicians and advocates is planning to head to Olympia tomorrow morning to lobby for this to make it the rest of the way through the Legislature. They’re planning a 10:30 am media briefing; County Executive Dow Constantine and City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw are among them.

Thanks to 34th District Democrats webmaster Bill Schrier for the photo from Wednesday night’s meeting, during a presentation on the proposal for electing some Seattle City Councilmembers by district. At left is James Bush, a supporter; next to him, former Councilmember Jim Street, an opponent; at right, 34th member Susan Harmon asking a question. The group did not take a position on the proposal – its endorsement meeting is coming up in June. Schrier’s full recap of the meeting, including resolutions that were approved, is on the 34th DDs’ home page. His live Twitter stream, with quick updates as the meeting unfolded, can be seen here. Next month, on May 8th, the group plans a candidates’ forum for everything on the primary ballot except Seattle mayor, since the 34th is co-sponsoring an April 29th forum in Georgetown.

That projection of a future bioswale/raingarden-added Westwood/Sunrise Heights block comes from a slide deck that will be shown to the Seattle City Council‘s Transportation Committee next Tuesday morning (April 9). This “green stormwater infrastructure” plan to reduce combined-sewer overflows at the Barton Pump Station is a county project, but it’s happening in city-owned right-of-way, such as the planting strip in the rendering, so the committee will be asked to give “conceptual approval” to the project. Public comment is on the agenda before the meeting’s business/action items including this one; the meeting is at 9:30 am Tuesday (April 9) in City Council chambers at City Hall downtown.

P.S. The latest project update on the county website identifies 15 blocks for construction of 93 bioswales and 15 underground drains, with four more to be monitored for possible later addition. Most are in the north part of the project area:

Construction is scheduled to start next year.

Help Food Lifeline secure their chosen piece of land for the Hunger Relief Center.

Your voice in support of Food Lifeline being able to secure its parcel of land is critical to expediting the procedure. Reach out to the Seattle City Council today and let them know that you want them to declare the 10-acre site on West Marginal Way in Seattle surplus, and sell the land to Food Lifeline. The City’s plan for the property is a future storage site. Please call or email the Seattle City Council in support of Food Lifeline today.

Here is sample language for you to use when you call or e-mail the Seattle City Council:

“Food Lifeline distributes millions of pounds of food each year to help end hunger in Western Washington. Help Food Lifeline secure their piece of land to build the Hunger Relief Center by expediting the procedure for land purchase. As my representative on the Seattle City Council, I urge you to declare the 10-acre site on West Marginal Way in Seattle surplus, and sell the land to Food Lifeline NOW.

Thank you for your support of Food Lifeline.
Your Name Here”

Contact information for the council, whether collectively or individually, for this issue or any other, is on this page.

Three years ago, Highland Park Action Committee marked the end of a two-year fight against a proposal to build, in their neighborhood, a city jail that ultimately turned out to be – as they had pointed out all along – unnecessary.

In the fight’s first year, 2008, the proposed jail site on city- and state-owned property at West Marginal Way and Highland Park Way was briefly occupied by a homeless encampment calling itself Nickelsville, until then-Mayor Greg Nickels ordered it evicted.

In May 2011, Nickelsville returned, and Nickels’ successor, Mayor Mike McGinn, said it could stay.

For months, the encampment was not an issue for the Highland Park community. But now, after Nickelsville declared itself to be in dangerous straits, as reported here Sunday, they’re on the brink of marshaling for another intensive fight.

That was the upshot of last night’s HPAC meeting – from which we reported live via Twitter – and of a letter that HPAC has sent to city leadership. And there is another letter involved – this morning, we received one from Nickelsville’s “Central Committee,” with its side of an incident we reported in last Sunday’s story, as well as their declaration that things are improving.

More on the major new developments, ahead:

First, from last night’s HPAC meeting.

“What a mess,” offered one community member, after hearing HPAC co-chair Carolyn Stauffer summarize recent reports and developments. The encampment is something with which HPAC has taken pains to deal calmly over the past year-plus, including inviting encampment representatives to their meetings (WSB coverage here) and participating in discussions with city officials.

To take the community’s temperature, HPAC even conducted a survey last year (WSB coverage here). The general sentiment was that it was time for the encampment to go but not until it had a new site.

But even before what transpired last weekend, with camp leadership temporarily having Nickelsville’s toilets removed because, they said, they could not evict troublemakers and needed to send a message, patience in Highland Park was running thin.

Stauffer said last night: “Highland Park is patient and kind – we’re all struggling ourselves … it’s been 2 years now and we have a compassionate community; I don’t know any other Seattle community that would act the way that our community has.” Since the stories over the weekend, she said, she’d been getting barraged with e-mails expressing concern.

Stauffer said she and co-chair Billy Stauffer had been at a meeting at Councilmember Nick Licata‘s office with other stakeholders just last week, including homeless-advocacy organizations SHARE/WHEEL and Nickelsville “staff person” Scott Morrow, as Licata considers legislation related to homeless encampments. She also mentioned that Food Lifeline has been working toward an end of March deadline for decisionmaking on its push for the site.

The mayor’s office has told her that they’re meeting with Nickelsville and the police this week. Stauffer outlined community options from calling for eviction to suing to going public with information they have not made public before.

Regarding the hangup in Food Lifeline’s proposal, the coordination between multiple site owners – the city and state – was the hangup, as Stauffer recapped, saying that FL needed the entire site. (We checked this morning with FLL, whose spokesperson Amy Lee Derenthal told WSB that they expect to hear from the Mayor and City Council tomorrow or Monday regarding affirmation that they will work to help the project proceed.)

“Seems to me whatever we do, we’re going to get called NIMBYs, but the city is operating illegally – there is no statute (that allows this), there is no process allowing a community to have input into this, I don’t think the camp is our problem any more – the city needs to evict them.” said one community member, who also said that any other community is at risk of having this happen to them – having an encampment show up and stay for two years. “It’s time for them (the city) to deal with this problem in some legal way … it’s gotta go then; we’re allowing the process to go on. It’s going to screw every other neighborhood in the city.”

Stauffer said that the mayor’s office has committed to taking care of any off-the-site encampments spotted, like those that have been cropping up chronically in the West Duwamish Greenbelt just west of Nickelsville – and gave a phone number people could use to report them: 206-684-2489.

Former HPAC chair Dan Mullins also brought up that when HPAC fought the jail once considered for that same site “it was a completely illegal use of the property,” but he was told at the time “we’re the city, we can do anything we want” with it. He said he has brought up concerns and received “generic” responses talking about Nickelsville in glowing terms. “The only way we stopped the jail is we all pulled together, we all showed up at the meetings … and after a while we walked into their offices and they said ‘Not you guys again’.”

It is a health and safety problem, among other things. And liability for the city, others pointed out.

“We need them to be afraid that we’re going to give them a black eye. We need to make more noise, get more organized .. when we had the jail looming, we had letter writing, we had people out in front of (businesses) with clipboards, we did online signature-gathering – it was painstaking, but they finally listened to us,” said Mullins. “And when the camp doesn’t let the meth-heads in, they go across the street (to the greenbelt), and you know what’s across the street? My back yard.”

More on this at the end of the story. But first, to our latest communication from Nickelsville – from the Central Committee letter addressed to your editor here, e-mailed to WSB this morning by Scott Morrow:

Last Sunday, March 24th, you wrote about “Trouble at Nickelsville.” (Wednesday) morning the Nickelsville Central Committee met. We reviewed the events of the last week and your coverage of them. It was the Central Committee’s conclusion that your reporting was fair, but incomplete. It was agreed that we would try to fill out the important things that were missed.

Several of us then volunteered to write you. Other people worked on other projects. At the end of the meeting an outline of this letter was written and read aloud. The Central Committee voted to approve it, with corrections. Now we will take it to Nickelsville and see who wants to sign it. By signing it, we are saying that it is a truthful account.

What was most incomplete about your report was any fact checking of the March 17th Police Report that allegedly details an assault. We don’t know who this officer is, but we do know he got many things very wrong.

On Sunday afternoon, March 17th, 2013 a “Show of Force” team was put together to extract four permanently barred campers from the Nickelsville community. These 4 barred campers had all been given written notice that they were barred, and why.

Each of these campers had signed our Encampment Rules upon moving in. They state “if we ask you to leave. You will also be required to give up your tent, which belongs to the encampment. If you refuse, the encampment show of force team will be called in to ensure that you leave …”

Note: What we are saying is true, but we will not object if the West Seattle Blog takes out the names of the barred campers and substitutes “x” or “y,” just like the police reports do.”

(Editor’s notes: That is what we are doing, as publishing the names of accused but not charged people is against general WSB policy. Also regarding the report-writing officer’s identity, that was in the police report, which is available for public download, free of charge, the same way we got it.)

The letter continues:

Back to Sunday: We in the “Show of Force” team first approached the barred camper named (Y) and warned that she needed to leave immediately or we would reclaim Nickelsville property; cinder blocks, tarps, pallets, plywood, blankets, and most importantly, our tent. Another barred camper, (Z), called in SPD while we were beginning to reclaim our items.

SPD arrived on the scene and our Show of Force Team was threatened to be arrested if we did not cease trying to get these individuals out of our camp. All attempts ceased immediately and no further actions were taken.

Here is what the mystery SPD Police Report got wrong:

1) We were not a mob, and the police officers never called us that to our faces. We were an organized team. We brought along tools to get our property with – mostly hammers. We don’t have any crowbars, and none of our tools were used in a threatening manner, or as weapons.
2) (Y) ‘aka the victim’ was no innocent. She knew why she was barred – it was for smuggling another barred camper into her tent.
3) (X) was no innocent. She knew she was barred for allowing another permanently barred camper into her tent. She cries at the drop of a hat, and for no other reason than conning someone into feeling sorry for her.
4) Our security heads never told the police that they were being evicted for calling the police.

The reason that the four barred campers needed to leave was because they were letting barred people into their tents repeatedly. The amount of visitors to their tent – for very short periods – was extremely high. We knew lots of their visitors, and we knew what they wanted – meth.

Now, it is true that (Z) and the people who kept coming to his tent didn’t say they were trafficking meth. Is this any surprise?

The following Wednesday at our weekly Central Community meeting, it was discussed what other ways that we could get these unwanted campers, who had still refused to leave, out of our camp. The first decision at last week’s meeting was to send a letter to the Police Chief expressing how upset and disappointed we were about the lack of support from SPD on these issues – a copy of which we will provide you with as well.

We also decided that we would attempt to reclaim our property again. The situation was dire – we know Nickelsville can’t survive if we’ve got meth dealers there. So on Friday March 22, 2013, we met at 9:00 am with several supporters and returned to the Nickelsville tents and property the barred campers had refused to give up.

Once again, they called the police. But this time, when the police came out, they acknowledged we had a right to reclaim our property. They just asked that our Show of Force Team give the barred camperas some time to pack and leave.

Unfortunately, a second group of Police Officers came out in the afternoon. They totally contradicted the police from the morning, and tried to tell us that our situation was like a “Landlord/Tenant” one.

Of course, it’s not. Our situation is no different than the relationship any other shelter or transitional housing provider in Seattle has with the homeless people who stay with them. The Police support these organizations’ staff and leadership when people have to leave.

The property owner at Nickelsville knows well we are here. We are grateful for the help the city has given us. Last year the City supported our garden. This year, along with the County Health Department, the City has helped us in the successful campaign to rid Nickelsville of rats.

Informed people know that it is better to have a well-run and safe encampment – like Nickelsville works hard to be – than to pretend that all homeless people are just beasts in a jungle, unworthy of protection.

After a hard weekend, the barred campers are gone and our camp is slowly returning to stability. In order for us to remain safe and stable, police cooperation is needed. The Mayor’s Office has now invited us to meet with the SW Precinct Leadership. We hope that together ways can be found to work together to keep Nickelsville a safe camp, and also to protect the neighborhood.

Sincerely,
(19 handwritten signatures)
The Citizens of Nickelsville

The letter to police mentioned above is dated March 19th and alleges that “Nickelodeons and Nickelsville are being treated as Second Class Citizens by the Seattle Police Department” and says their “rights – as Citizens, as a community, and as an organization – to police protection from unlawful acts of criminals is being ignored by (SPD).” It names three people the camp claims are troublemakers, including the same alleged meth dealer mentioned in the note to WSB, and reiterates the claim that police are thwarting evictions.

As we reported after Tuesday night’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting, Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Joe Kessler denies that SPD is not responding to Nickelsville calls as it would answer calls for help from elsewhere, and reiterated that the current policy – which he said comes from higher-up the city-decisionmaking chain – is that people camping on public property have no right to boot other people off public property.

So where does this all stand? Somebody has to make the next move. Even as we finished writing this story, we checked in with HPAC co-chair Carolyn Stauffer, who said she has sent a letter of her own to city leadership today and granted us permission to include it here:

I want to give you a heads up that the Highland Park Action Committee met last night, and while we have been very patient with having Nickelsville at the bottom of Highland Park Drive, the consensus in the neighborhood is that we are ready to call for an eviction and ask for a move out date.

We have not asked for that yet, but have continued to inform you of our displeasure with having the camp in the same location for 2 years now. You have set a dangerous precedent for all neighborhoods in Seattle, one I am confident not all neighborhoods will be tolerant of.

Organizations such as Scott Morrow’s can now point to Nickelsville and your inaction (and help in some cases), as a justification for squatting illegally on public land for years at a time. We do not want to go through another summer with the encampment at its current location, and look forward to hearing a move out date from you as soon as possible. We understand that Food Lifeline’s interests in the property will end at the end of March, if you can’t figure out how to make that deal happen, you have missed a golden opportunity. Regardless of that opportunity, we would like that property free of an encampment. Should we not hear from you with a move out date, we will be forced to take action which will include media on a local and national level, a lot of emails and visits to your offices from our community, and a lawsuit.

Thank you for your prompt attention, and I am sorry to be so abrupt – we have tried to be kind, we have tried to be tolerant and understanding of both your situation, and that of the homeless, but we are finished. We feel taken advantage of and ignored, we feel disrespected as a community, and are one big group of angry voters. We are working on a more official call for eviction to come to you after Food Lifeline’s “end of March” date for having that deal figured out.

More followups to come.