John Jolly's a loveable character and all, but his story fits the cliche of "Freeattle" that people point to when frustrated by the growing number of homeless on Seattle's streets.
He moved here from Alabama already indigent? How is the 10-year plan to end homelessness supposed to work when we're responsible for Alabama's homeless, too?
I suspect that the 10-year plan might take a couple additional decades...
@5 - it's not unusual for someone to say "shit, this town is too small and I can't find work," pull up stakes and move someplace with a bigger/better economy. Mr. Jolly said he came to Seattle because his kids are here. Nothing about this sounds like "oh shit now we have to take care of Alabama's homeless." It sounds like "I found work but couldn't find affordable housing, so I came up with a plan B."
@5,being the good guys means we take care of anyone who comes into our borders. It's actually one of the more positive "Christian" values that's a good one.
@ 7: well, yeah. i've defended Seattle's high homeless population to my own visiting family with that argument. my sister saw it as evidence of our neglect of the homeless, when the fact is we're a magnet of sorts - for weather, services, tolerance, etc.
though i don't believe Nicklesville counts as "Agape".
I really liked a drawing that Seattle Sketcher (Gabriel Campanario) made of a resident of Nickelsville--didn't look at the whole post though because it was behind the Times paywall.
Is this a bad time to point out that Columbus and his men enslaved the local population to establish their colony? Or that the first successful colony in North America followed the mantra, you don't work, you don't eat just to ensure the colonists' basic survival (and, for that matter, threatened violence to get the local population to provide them food)?
Thank you for humanizing these folks a bit. The craven abdication of responsibility shown by the Council on this issue is stunning. I seriously don't know how they sleep at night.
If every church in the city took in one of these people, the problem would be solved. Instead on the night of the eviction they are going to hold a candlelight vigil and pray for someone else to fix the problem.
And I suspect the city would be quite willing to look the other way if a private property owner were to set up an encampment, provided it had a nice buffer of blackberries or berms or what have you, and wasn't too close to a nice residential neighborhood.
And even if it had no fences at all and was right smack dab in the middle of a bedroom community, the city might not have an easy time fighting it. If there were some private property owner ready to give his or her land over to a homeless encampment, that is.
"is there actually an ordinance that limits encampments to churches? That can't be legal can it?"
I guess you've never heard of a thing called a "city planning department"? Are you really that dumb that you think society would be better served with a deregulated land use policy, a free-for-all?
Goats, and horses and well everyone is advised to keep at a safe distance.
He moved here from Alabama already indigent? How is the 10-year plan to end homelessness supposed to work when we're responsible for Alabama's homeless, too?
I suspect that the 10-year plan might take a couple additional decades...
though i don't believe Nicklesville counts as "Agape".
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=…
Glad some folks are using the luxury of their Internet access to throw shade at these brothers and sisters of ours.
"a city ordinance permitting encampments run by nonprofits instead of only by churches"
is there actually an ordinance that limits encampments to churches? That can't be legal can it?
And the church only thing is ridiculous.
praise Jesus!
And I suspect the city would be quite willing to look the other way if a private property owner were to set up an encampment, provided it had a nice buffer of blackberries or berms or what have you, and wasn't too close to a nice residential neighborhood.
And even if it had no fences at all and was right smack dab in the middle of a bedroom community, the city might not have an easy time fighting it. If there were some private property owner ready to give his or her land over to a homeless encampment, that is.
...what a cute cat.
Up 29%
http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=HYSR
So how many bums on your couch?
"If every church in the city took in one of these people, the problem would be solved"
Seattle doesn't have 2700 churches. Apparently it also doesn't have 2700 bleeding heart liberals with a couch for a bum.
I guess you've never heard of a thing called a "city planning department"? Are you really that dumb that you think society would be better served with a deregulated land use policy, a free-for-all?