West Seattle scene: ‘Educational sleepout’ by Seacrest

Carolyn shared that photo via the WSB Facebook page and wondered what was happening; we just went over to find out. A dozen or so people are camped out on the sidewalk east of Seacrest for the second-to-last in a series of “educational sleepouts” organized by the homelessness advocacy/shelter-operating organization SHARE/WHEEL. According to the flyer they gave us, the location for this one was chosen because they think that some of the money the county is spending on the Water Taxi – which was finishing its late-night runs when we stopped by – should go to SHARE instead, to help pay for shelter operations, which they say were affected by a county budget cut. The group has had “sleepout” protests before, including one we covered in 2009 outside then-Mayor Greg Nickels’ house in North Admiral. Its final sleepout in this series is Monday night in Georgetown; details are on the SHARE/WHEEL website. They told us they’ll be on the sidewalk by Seacrest until about 9 am tomorrow.

Mike June 28, 2015 (12:14 am)

Are they not sleeping on the fresh paint that the city spent over $66,000 on? http://mynorthwest.com/11/2776713/Seattles-mayor-unveils-rainbow-crosswalks-painted-on-Capitol-Hill
.
Paint….really…colorful paint. Is it neat, sure, is it symbolic, sure…but it’s paint. I think people need to look at where funds are being wasted for fun rather than use.

WSB June 28, 2015 (12:18 am)

That’s city spending, not county; the latter is what this is about. I don’t know where this group stands with the city budget and can’t find any further elaboration on their claims about the county budget, so it remains attributed. Other county facilities they have protested outside, according to their literature, include the jail.

Diane June 28, 2015 (12:25 am)

jeez, most of the comments on that 2009 story are horrible, heartless, uninformed; sure hope people have learned more about realities of homelessness and developed more compassion since then

Hanice June 28, 2015 (5:51 am)

VERY PROUD OF THIS GROUP!

Mike June 28, 2015 (7:55 am)

Good point WSB. The idea of what they wish to convey is being pin pointed at Seattle and not King County, even if the funds they are targeting are County (and also provided by the Fed). I’m surprised they’re not in South Lake Union where the majority of low income housing has been depleted, homeless booted out, blue collar jobs lost and prices are highest. Maybe taking the battle to where the heart of the issue is at in Medina would be more meaningful?

flimflam June 28, 2015 (8:13 am)

ugh. share/wheel don’t actually want people improving their situation, they simply want more heads in the shelters/camps they run and receive tax money for.

Be mama June 28, 2015 (10:11 am)

as if the water taxi is frivolous? It’s an important transportation method for many- and major attraction for tourists.

Will June 28, 2015 (10:30 am)

Actually, the Water Taxis are heavily subsidized by King County, not the City of Seattle.

Craig June 28, 2015 (3:44 pm)

Is it good to protest funding mass transit (water taxi) spending when we’re trying to get people – for the greater good – to use it by being readily available? Glad they are expressing themselves, but I’d hope there’s a better focus of perceived wasted spending to highlight.

Will June 28, 2015 (7:06 pm)

According to the flyer they handed me, they weren’t protesting the Water taxis, per se. Just pointing out that Dow Constantine’s 2015 King County budget subsidizes each and every water taxi trip (about $14 per trip) while totally eliminating funding to SHARE who provides shelter to hundreds of homeless people in King County each night for about $5 a night,per person.