Quote of the Week

"Kennedy supporters visibly excited."

--from a press release for Seattle's "alternative" mayoral candidate, Scott Kennedy.

Hating the Homeless

Last week, City Council President Margaret Pageler sent a letter to Mayor Paul Schell requesting that the city stop using the first floor of the Municipal Building as an emergency homeless shelter. Traditionally, the space provided about 50 beds during the winter months. Last year, the council's lefty contingent extended the service for 365-day use. Evidently, Pageler objects to using the building this way. "We... request that you direct [the] Human Services Department to inform DESC [the Downtown Emergency Services Center]... that the building will no longer be available for overflow shelter purpose," Pageler wrote. (The city contracts with the DESC to provide homeless shelters.)

"There is no provision for overflow/temporary shelter within the new City Hall once that is complete," Pageler concluded.

Citing hampered public access for evening hearings, garbage and rodent problems, and available capacity at other shelters, Pageler's June 28 letter implies that her request is A-okay with the rest of the council. "I haven't identified any dissent," she wrote.

(A) There's plenty of dissent. Five city council members (that's a majority)--Richard Conlin, Nick Licata, Judy Nicastro, Peter Steinbrueck, and Heidi Wills--all signed an April 4, 2000 letter asking the city to keep the first floor of the Municipal Building open as a homeless shelter all year. More important, Peter Steinbrueck sponsored legislation to that end in June 2000. Additionally, the city's 2001 budget formalized the estimated $90,000-per-year item.

(B) Pageler is off the mark when she says, "Other shelters are not consistently at capacity." Alan Painter, director of the Community Services Division of the city's Human Services Department, says, "Pageler is extrapolating from a one-night tally that didn't account a number of factors." For example, Painter points out that some program requirements at youth shelters (and Becca Bill guidelines) discourage or prevent kids from utilizing the beds. Also, family shelters might not be at capacity because a room for a family of five may be filled by a family of four. "Generally, capacity is full," Painter says. "Operation Nightwatch, the last stop for adults, is usually full." Nightwatch turned away 503 people in May. JOSH FEIT

Drippy Posters

BLT, 10th and Pike's beloved screening and poster shop for almost every band in town, suffered a major flood last week, threatening the business' future. Cleanup costs have already reached $3,500 and are climbing. A possible benefit is in the works. PAT KEARNEY