Port says

theshell August 25, 2009 (2:13 pm)

That’s too bad, especially with Winter coming up. A lot of people with no place but the street. I feel really badly for all those people. I hope the Shelters are planning for this to keep more people indoors, especially with the upcoming flu season, and possibly swine flu epidemic on its way.

My heart goes out to the people without shelter

Chris O'Rourke August 25, 2009 (2:37 pm)

It’s hilarious to me that cities think that by closing encampments the homeless problem just goes poof. If they take up space in an otherwise unused city area what’s the problem? Give them a place to stay, even help them improve it a bit (not a real answer but public storage style buildings would be a cheap alternative to building new shelters especially for those that don’t want to be in a shelter).

If the city government exists to serve the people shouldn’t that include all of it’s people and be tasked with finding a solution that serves the common good.

whatever August 25, 2009 (2:38 pm)

In case anyone forgot: trespassing/squatting is against the law. Regardless of these individuals misfortunes they must adhere to our society rules and be law abiding citizens. In a town with as many resources as Seattle I doubt that anyone would have trouble finding shelter. I believe that the Port has been more than flexible and tolerable of their lawlessness. Curious “theshell”: do you feel bad enough to let them live in your back yard?

Sage August 25, 2009 (2:40 pm)

Weird, that seems to completely contradict the previous statements on a Frank Chopp-brokered agreement extending the stay. What happened?

zazarilla August 25, 2009 (3:23 pm)

whatever: Do you realize that shelters are already overpopulated, especially now in the midst of our economic crisis? Seattle doesn’t have enough resources to help these individuals which is why surrounding towns constantly have to ramp up theirs for the overflow, which still is not enough. I think that as law abiding citizens it is everyone’s duty- including the homeless- to create and maintain some sort of sustainable housing for these individuals. It’s been done successfully before and it can be done again. And yes, I’ve taken in homeless people before and would again. Read the comments from last week’s story!

Hunter August 25, 2009 (3:35 pm)

Here is what I struggle to understand in this amazing part of the country. We are surrounded by amazing resources, wilderness, oceans, etc. and yet we have hungry people amongst us.

Who are we to say that these people need to live indoors? Why so we not train them to live off of the land, to hunt and fish. In so many ways there is a great opportunity for these people to gain a level of self-sufficiency that I would find enviable. Outside of the dependency of corporations.

As they say, education is key.

Doug McKeehen August 25, 2009 (4:14 pm)

Hunter, one reason that we can’t “train” these people to live off of the land is because if you are homeless in this area, and you have anything at all in your possession that can be remotely described as a weapon, you WILL go to jail with a possible felony charge.

You and I could not cook anything at home without a knife. Put any of my sharp kitchen utensils in a homeless person’s pack, have a cop search him or her, and BOOM, it is jail time.

We could “train” all we want, without the basic tools to live off of the land, it would be useless.

WSGuy August 25, 2009 (6:46 pm)

How can you be charged with felony knife possession just because you are homeless??

WSM August 25, 2009 (6:48 pm)

What’s the point of continuing to use the term Nickelsville? He lost.

losers August 25, 2009 (7:11 pm)

Oh..please. you guys here wanted them out and gone. Don’t sugarcoat it morons.

Chris August 25, 2009 (7:50 pm)

Glad they are moving on. Train them to hunt and fish ? Where and when do you think we are living. This is not the NW of 100 yrs ago.

laurie August 25, 2009 (7:52 pm)

Good riddance. Now if we could get rid of the rest of the crap.

Alcina August 25, 2009 (8:35 pm)

Sage, I think this may be the best that Chopp could broker. The Port had planned to evict them from the Terminal 107 Park last Friday. Getting to stay there a month longer is certainly better than that.

noreaster August 25, 2009 (9:19 pm)

I agree that the port has done more than their share. Besides, it’s a public park that I can no longer go to because I wouldn’t feel safe there. How about the city offers up on of the many parks they plan to shut down?

Mark August 25, 2009 (9:23 pm)

What do these encampments offer to the local communities? What do they have to offer us? Are they going to make my neighborhood safer? Cleaner? A nicer place to live and raise children? Are they going to contribute to the local tax base? Volunteer to be on the local crime watch? Pitch in on a local community effort?
Those that support, advocate, perpetuate and tolerate these encampments are enabling this sad sad cycle of behavior to continue. There needs to be an intervention on misguided compassion. You’re being manipulated.

WSB August 25, 2009 (9:24 pm)

Noreaster, a clarification. The city is not shutting down parks. The county is proposing to shut down – stop maintaining, and fence off play equipment/close restrooms – parks in urban, unincorporated areas (including the section of White Center that was not part of last week’s annexation vote) – TR

What August 25, 2009 (10:33 pm)

Have any of you actually be to the park and talked to the people who live there? Again. I have met some to the residents and they have jobs. So they do contribute. They just can’t begin to afford anything. Until people actually GO to the park and talk to the residents … stop calling them trash. For the ones who are afraid of going to the park…. What are you afraid of? Are you afraid of people who aren’t as rich as you? I end up at the longhouse for many events, that park wasn’t very clean or well used 6 months ago. How does it personally hurt you if the homeless are in the park? Does it stop you from going out to dinner? Does it stop you from sleeping? Does it stop you from going to Starbucks? How are ones so personally hurt by them that people would wish them such ill will?

Compassion is the key August 26, 2009 (4:10 am)

theses people in the park either chose to live that way or like many have lost a job and a home and could be a old neighbor who has lost all there unemployment bene’s Is it there fault that the system has let them down? what would happen to you If you lost your job? your home? would you end up were they are? Ask your self that Question before you go and Judge anyone
People you all need to learn Compassion

Yes some people Chose to live that way but many dont have a choice We all need to realize that at any time It could be you. We need to be part of a solution not hide em somewhere and forget them

PDieter August 26, 2009 (7:44 am)

I go to T107 almost everyday and have been doing so for several years. I do see most everything (or hints of) that goes on down there. I held my tongue when I saw them move in there to see how they treated MY park. They have been great! I guarantee you that T107 is safer now then before they moved in. They are friendly and when I did bring up a suggestion they agreed and acted on it immediately to the best of their ability. Their camp is an eyesore in a public park and it’s not what I want for my favorite park but life is complicated and sometimes I don’t get everything I want. I will certainly share this place for this short time.

gladys August 26, 2009 (10:37 am)

Compassion, what’s that? We are in America were we are taught to be greedy.

ProudPugetRidger August 26, 2009 (12:02 pm)

Actually, I prefer to think that in America we’re taught to be industrious and ambitious, resulting in general prosperity. Hard work is rewarding indeed, regularly sleeping ‘til mid-morning will not help the Nickelsville folks at all.

I have gone to meet the folks down there, on two occasions. Generally, they’re able-bodied folks who are making a decision NOT to improve their situation. Frankly, the incentive for improvement is lacking, as we’re giving them a free ride at our expense.

The Stranger has implied a connection betweenthe man accused of the horrific South Park crimes and Nickelsville. Why is that not discussed amongst the fair-weather compassionate ones??

They are squatters, not destitute. They are law breakers. They are putting our neighborhood at risk, as well as affecting the value of our investments. There must be some assurances that the people are safe (no warrants, no registered sex offender, etc). They must go. They must go now.

To the WSB and fellow West Seattle’ites I ask this question: Would our coverage and opinions be the same if these trespassers had chosen to move in at Me-Kwa-Mooks or Hiawatha Park?? Perhaps the WSB should rename itself “ ‘chosen portions’ of West Seattle Blog”!

Because this is happening in the Delridge and Duwamish neighborhoods most of you seem to think it is somehow OK.

The hypocrisy is frustrating.

WSB August 26, 2009 (12:22 pm)

PPR, while we respect your opinion to have whatever opinion you have of us, we take great pride in NOT only covering “chosen portions of West Seattle.”
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We are often the only journalists reporting on what’s going on with neighborhood organizations from the North Delridge Neighborhood Council to the South Delridge/White Center Community Safety Coalition to the Highland Park Action Committee .. we covered the jail-site issue back when another local news organization didn’t even think the two original proposed jail sites were IN West Seattle.
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We cover WS from the shores of the Duwamish to Harbor Island to Alki Point to Arbor Heights/Marine View Drive, and since we do the news for White Center Now as well, our coverage stretches beyond there. Not to say we have every shred of news from every single neighborhood – but we try our damnedest to cover everything that comes to our attention, in zillions of ways.
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But that said – the news starts with you. Have you experienced problems with this camp? Have you organized a community meeting? Have you contacted the Port, or Seattle Police, or other responsible agencies to express your concerns? We don’t editorialize – we report. And so far, the bulk of what there is to report on this has been: They came back to West Seattle. The state told them to move. They moved. The port told them to move. They didn’t move. They’ve talked with government organizations. Now they’re being told to move. We’ve reported all that every step of the way.
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If there have been police callouts, arrests, crimes, that information has not come to our attention, but we would report it too if it did/does.
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By the way, regarding the South Park/Nickelsville alleged connection, if you mean this story:
http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/while-south-park-slept/Content?oid=1930550

you need to read through to the end. What was raised in the fifth graf was dismissed in the second-to-last. I read that when it first came out and would have linked it here if there had been a real suggestion of a connection. But if you have seen a connection suggested somewhere else, let us know.
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TR

westseattletroll August 26, 2009 (1:01 pm)

Yes…Some folks don’t want to improve themselves–or maybe they can’t because they have a medical issue that get’s in the way of work because they need constant treatments at the hospital. So, you can’t make a decent living even working at a part-time job that only pays you $10 an hour plus whatever you get for disability which ain’t squat. The government starts deducting your S.S. benefits/payments after a solid year of employment regardless even if you have not been cured of your medical condition. It’s a catch 22. It is almost better not to work a lousy job than get deducted and still have a permanent medical condition. Look it up. It’s all in plain English. I know because it happened to me. I have a permanent illness which there is no cure for. I’m still young, but think there’s still small hope left for me. Other older folks have serious decisions to make in this regards and there are a lot of them around. If you think being homeless is because of pure laziness, you are a very ignorant fool. Keep laughing it up because what comes around goes around and one day you’ll find that you’ll be in the same spot.

Mark August 26, 2009 (1:03 pm)

Spare me all the drivel about finding compassion for these folks. We should be judging them all day as long as they want to suckle up to the teat and take take take. Want free housing? Join the ARMY, NAVY, MARINES or the Peace Corp.

Every year hundreds of thousands of young people leave their family home, get a job or two or three, grab some roommates and start making a life for themselves. It’s just pathetic that we put up with this.

ProudPugetRidger August 26, 2009 (1:19 pm)

I’d vote for Mark for president!

nofear August 26, 2009 (1:37 pm)

Yeah….I work hard for what I have. Kick them out I say kick them all out of Seattle and arrest those people that sleep in parks and in doorways yes.

Seeds of compassion August 26, 2009 (3:22 pm)

The anonymous reactionaries who have crawled out are so very loud today.

Two of the most counterproductive forces in this life are fear and ignorance. Witness that and the absence of any kind of gratitude for what they have in their posts. I can only hope I do not know them.

ilovegregnickels August 26, 2009 (3:37 pm)

Exactly nofear.. Why should anyone and I mean anyone get a free ride? I pay rent from my lousy $12 an hour desk job. I’m going to disturb and bother homeless people from now on and make them feel very uncomfortable anywhere I see them. I have a big dog that will bite. I’ll make sure that they get the message that you either clean your act up and become a tax-paying citizen by getting a job and pay a landlord rent money, be part of the community instead of free loading in our parks and doorways. Businesses who see a homeless person sleeping in front of their store or parks should immediately call 9/11 and have them arrested for tresspassing.

lonelycrow August 26, 2009 (4:03 pm)

I’m on welfare so I’ll be on the street soon.

dave August 26, 2009 (4:04 pm)

well, mark and proudpugetridger, enjoy your next rally, get that campaign going…i do find it sad that folks have such a selfish view of our community. what have these folks taken from you? of all the ways homelessness can be addressed, this is by far the least costly (to the individuals and the public), folks in an encampment can live for just a few dollars a day (not supplied by you), have a semi stable community that is safe for their few belongings and their persons…couples can stay together, and know their things will be there when they get back from their day – something that we all should be secure in doing. these folks are very good neighbors, doing the best they can. heck, i wouldn’t mind them being in lincoln park if that could be worked out….they haven’t tried to locate in sites that imposed on the larger community-their intial site is practically invisible, on under-utilized land in a neglected corner of an industrial zone. if this were a sactioned and state/city supported effort, it could became a model of responsible alternative support to help aleviate homelessness – something we all could be proud of. just think about it a little.

proudpugetridger August 26, 2009 (7:30 pm)

Dave-
“just think about it a little”…
You mention the possible imposition on the “larger community” but fail to be concerned about the neighbors who live in the smaller community that’s being impacted so severly at this moment. Their “neglected corner of an industrial zone” is getting dumped on yet again.

Is it possible you’re being a bit selfish, not thinking about others who are much more impacted than yourself?? Those others, I might add, are self-sufficient and paying taxes.

Lincoln Park tresspassing by these freeloaders would trigger a riot’ish response from those residents…and the media!

the oldest codger August 27, 2009 (8:58 am)

If you really think there aren’t a few homeless who stash their stuff in lincoln park then you don’t get there very much. It’s the previous blogs that are the exact reason the homeless are having a hard time restarting. Judging from the attitude, if a homeless person did try to get out, who of you would help them? Who of you would hire them so they wouldn’t be homeless? With all the hate, how can they “Just get a job” If a homeless person did manage to get a job, (which the guy with the attack dog wants them to do) They still wouldn’t be able to afford first, last, deposit, ect… until they saved up. where do they go while they save? If you dare to make eye contact with the homeless in Oxnard park downtown, you may notice that many of the homeless there are seniors. How do they just “get a job!”

been here a very long time August 27, 2009 (9:15 am)

Not even talking about tent city staying or going…
How does harassing the weaker and poorer and setting your attack dog on those who have nothing; prove your better? Chilling. There are many who are afraid of the homeless, but they don’t have to threaten physical harm to those who are weaker and have less.
As far as a tightening budget on $12.00 an hour, you are not the only one in the boat. Which is why the homeless numbers are growing.