(cameraphone photo added 8:32 pm, a few protesters gathered in the park near Admiral Church sign)
ORIGINAL 8:12 PM REPORT: We’re out watching to see if the homelessness-advocacy group SHARE makes good on its threat to have protesters camp outside Mayor Nickels‘ North Admiral home tonight (earlier report here) to protest a denied request for bus-voucher money. So far, here’s what we’re seeing: Police have had a presence outside the mayor’s house for at least an hour, including a watch commander; about a dozen people believed to be part of the protest are gathering at California Place Park a few blocks away (thanks to @macjustice for the tip on that via Twitter). They have just had a meeting with one police officer and now they’re meeting to discuss what they plan to do from here. 8:41 PM UPDATE: Now they’re at the mayor’s house. They’ve been told they can’t be on sidewalks, in the street, or in gardened parking strips – so they’re setting up in what areas are left. Media-wise, at least 2 TV stations are there along with us, Seattle Post-Globe, and Real Change News. A spokesperson says they have at least 40 people there; we’re taking a count – that means they’re in parking strips in front of neighbors’ houses too – 7 houses, to be exact, stretching most of the way along the block. 9:40 PM UPDATE: A couple of our clips – too dark out there to get much usable video without a light, but what you’ll see first is Southwest Precinct Sgt. Joel Sweetland talking with the group before they walked from the park to the mayor’s house, discussing ground rules:
And here are some of the campers getting settled on a parking strip:
Barring word of anything happening overnight, we plan to go back in the morning to check on the campout’s status. 7:44 AM TUESDAY UPDATE: We haven’t gone yet but tipster Mac says via Twitter, ” Judging by the wheeled portapotty and loaded van that just drove by my bus stop, looks like the protesters are done.”
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