Comments

1
You mean to say "as aggregated in yesterday's Morning News."
2
But Jesus used drugs. He even multiplied drugs.
3
Kids also frequent fast food restaurants and convenience stores. The law doesn't create some sort of open ended buffer around places that kids are found. Fast food restaurants are even more similar to schools in the relevant sense that children come and go on their own. Children only go to church when dragged their by their parents. One has to be carefully taught to embrace a church.
4
This country is built off of christianity and can't respect the church. No person trying to live right wants themselves nor their children to smell that during church. They didn't say they were against drug stores it's just to close which affects them!
5
Hey Shawnda, why don't you just shove it up your ass? Did your church protest the liquor store? The answer is no. So don't go crying victim now.
6
@4 are you trolling or just an idiot? Your grammar and grasp of the issue makes me suspect the latter.

What about the drug store across the street that has been selling liquor way before the pot shop was there?

Hypocrite much?
7
@4: i'll just assume you're sincere.

#1, you cannot smoke weed in or outside the store. only at your house.
#2, if it's the overall smell of the product wafting out of the ventilation system and being sucked into the church's ventilation system, I bet Uncle Ike's will work with the church to address that.
#3, the church is asking for religious institutions to be included in the buffer zones. no. there are too many churches, and they can pop up in any storefront at any time.
#4, the country isn't "built" off the church, it's built on the exploitation of cheap labor and abundant raw materials. read up.
8
"CHS Seattle suggested that Seattle's rules about the locations of marijuana establishments are unclear."

I'm interested to know how Ansel says we "suggested" this. Maybe he's confused about what the people and actions we reported on "suggested" in this post http://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2014/1…

In the meantime, here's our update http://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2014/1…

9
@6:

I guess the difference is, you can't smell booze from a distance (of course, you can't smell cannabis at all when it's encased in hermetically sealed plastic bags, either. But clearly we're not dealing with a Phd level logician here.)
10
Does the Stranger support the unauthorized use of copyright photos from a professional photographer's Twitter feed?
11
@8, your sentence that probably caught his eye was, "It’s not clear if the 2013 City Council process for setting up Seattle’s marijuana retail zoning restrictions categorized churches such as Mount Calvary Christian Center like parks and schools which were required to have significant buffers to prevent I-502 stores from opening nearby."

I took "it's not clear" to mean "I haven't looked it up yet". Ansel seems to have taken it to mean "the legislation is not clear."
12
I for one worry about Pastafarians denied access to Rainbow Pasta by people who only accept Linguini or Radiatore
13
@4 - The USA was explicitly not built on Christianity. This is the only thing the Constitution says about any sort of religion at all: "no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."

Did you know that "In God We Trust" was only made the US' motto in 1956, and only started appearing on US money in 1957?

--

The 'just say no to drugs' sign is amusing. If "religion is the opiate of the masses", shouldn't we say 'no' to religion as well?

Even if you don't believe that, there are religions (more than one!) that partake of Cannabis as a sacrament and it is a sacred act to smoke it for those followers. So I don't think we should be going around and suppressing other religions, NOR preventing medical patients their access to valuable herbal medicine.

If the smell of MJ is really escaping the shop and wafting indiscriminately around the neighborhood, I would hope that Eisenberg/Ike's would make an effort to mitigate.

But you know, why not take the issue up directly with the management to resolve it, instead of using visible public protest as the first step taken.
14
Witherspoon did not respond to a message seeking comment
Of course he didn't. Like all conservatives, he is an abject coward, afraid to engage in debate with anyone outside of his bubble.
15
whoever did the graphic design for that 'say no to drugs' sign should be fired. The kerning is inconsistent, the font family is a mess...just look at the letter S! Don't let me finish about that trainwreck!
16
The pastor is conflating the business owner, who keeps his lot clean and his customers orderly, with the vandals who destroyed the Pratt mural, the pushers who used to sell crack and heroin on the same corner, and the arsonist who burnt down Med-Mix.

The convenience store across the street, with its glaring advertisements for beer and cigarettes, goes on as it always has. The liquor store around the corner continues to dole out bottles.

Uncle Ike's is the best neighbor that church has had in decades, they're just too slow to realize it.
17
Yes, but, the children!
18
They're not protesting the Shell station accross the street that sells beer, wine, cigs and lotto tickets? Umm... you and your SKY DADDY can Fuck off!

PS it's Gods plant.
19
You know,... SKY DADDY'S PLANT!
20
@me Whitherspoon did not commented 'cause he was enjoying a joint at home.
21
Whitherspon did no commented 'cause he was enjoying a 'joint' at home!
22
"Why drink water when you can turn it into wine!" -Party Jesus
23
My wife's Pentecostal church called coffee "Christian Crank" I guess caffeine isn't a drug when it comes from a plant that was created by gawd.
24
Sounds like the start of a shakedown of Ike's. The protests will magically disappear once Eisenberg makes a donation to a local community center, where members of Witherspoon's family just happen to work.
It's called a "bully pulpit" for a reason.
25
Ian Eisenberg is s good guy. This "church" can go jump in a lake. All of them.
26
@25 but then they'd be Baptists
27
Dear MCCC: We voted on I-502, fair and square. Your side lost. Get over.
28


THIS IS AN EXCELLENT BUSINESS FOR THE HIGHLANDS OFF 145TH AND AURORA, BROADMOOR, MADISON PARK, SEWARD PARK ETC, WHERE PEOPLE CAN AFFORD FOR THEIR MONEY TO “GO UP IN SMOKE”???. AS FAR AS A “WEED AND SEED” CRIME STORE ON 23RD AND UNION??? ONLY A COMMUNITY OUTSIDER, DESTROYER, “WANNA BE GENTRIFIER / EHTNIC CLEANSER LIKE IAN OR A “CIRCUS CLOWN” WOULD ATTEMPT TO ADD TO THE MURDER COUNT ON THIS BLOCK CURRENTLY AT 6 (LARRY WARD 1970, CHICAGO NATIVE 1990s (IN FRONT OF HELEN’S / TOMPSON’S VIEW POINT / NEIGHBOR LADIES, BOTH OWNERS OF FORMER BUSINESS BEFORE MED MIX (ARSON FIRE ENDING) ONE OWNER MURDERED INSIDE BUILDING THE OTHER NEAR BY (1990s), AARON ROBERTS (2001), AND KEVIN BROWN (2014),

WOW WHAT HISTORY NOT INCLUDING THE “FERGUSON STYLE” RIOTING ON THIS CORNER (1968, 1969) AND FORMER MAYOR PAUL SHELL’S ACCIDENT (2001)??? TWO SAYINGS APPLY, ONE “BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR, YOU JUST MIGHT GET IT” AND TWO, “THOSE THAT DO NOT LEARN FROM HISTORY ARE BOUND TO REPEAT IT”. 23RD AND UNION HAS BEEN / IS THE CENTER OF AFRICATOWN / CD SINCE THE 1950s. HOW WOULD I KNOW??? BEEN LIVING WITH IN 15 BLOCKS OF 23RD AND UNION SINCE 1946 INCLUDING DIRECTLY BEHIND POST OFFICE ON 24TH. PLEASE RESEARCH AND THEN FILE LAWSUIT AS TO HOW IAN ENDED UP WITH “WEED AND SEED” STORE WITH OUT WINING “WEED LOTTERY’???? STAY TUNED THE BATTLE IS AT THE STARTING LINE BUT THE END IS VERY EASY TO SEE??? NO ONE BUT A FOOL WOULD BE FORE A “WEED AND SEED” CRIME STORE TO ADD TO THE CONFLICT ON UNION?? TEAR DOWN THE “WEED STORE” NOT LIBERTY BANK??????? “IT TAKES A VILLAGE (AFRICATOWN AND CHINATOWN) TO RAISE A CHILD”. SEE YOU ON THE CORNER OF 23RD AND UNION DAILY. Omari Tahir, FOUNDER / PRESIDENT AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MUSEUM AND CULTURE CENTER, AFRICATOWN / CHINATOWN SUPPORTER.

Reply ↓

Omari Tahir on Monday, September 29, 2014 – 1:31 am said:

BY THE WAY DON’T FORGET TO CONTACT THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE AND YOUR LAWYER ABOUT THIS ASININE IDEA TO PUT A “WEED AND SEED” CRIME STORE ON 23RD AND UNION WHILE POLITICIANS WALK THE STREETS AGAINST CRIME AND WASTE MORE TAX DOLLAR$$$$$ HIRING 100 MORE UPRODUCTIVE TAX DRAINING ANGRY AND VIOLENT GOVERNMENT STREET AGENTS WITH GUNS AND BADGES WITH LITTLE EDUCATION (MEDICAL DOCTOR WITH OPERATING KNIFE AND ONLY HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA)??? WHAT ABOUT HIRING 100 MORE TEACHERS FOR MADRONA, LESHI, STEVENS, WASHINGTON, MEANY, GARFIELD ECT WITH COLLEGE DEGREES (MASTERS AND PHDs FOR CHEAPER PRICE??? Omari Tahir
29
I get all of these comments related to hypocrisy centering on weed=liquor store=cigarettes sold across the street=bad history of illegal drug dealing on that corner. I would only add that some of the opposition likely stems from that being the only place marijuana is allowed to be sold in Central Seattle while all those other comparable things can/do happen everywhere in Central Seattle. The zoning is pretty absurd and clearly created a bizarre situation that feels like a value judgement.
30
Ian Eisenberg is probably your average - liberal, some-what racially conscious, he even has "Black" friends, subdued Seattle - kinda white guy. There is technically nothing wrong with him opening up shop a "tambourine or two" from the a predominantly Black church - but there is something a bit perverse or should I say privileged about how it all went down. I mean are we really going see shops pop-up next door to a Catholic Church in West Seattle or a synagogue in Bellevue - I think not or at least not with out a real fight.



And granted Eisenberg did not have a hand in past discriminatory zoning laws that forced some of the congregants and ancestors of the neighboring church to live in Central District - but he did and does benefit from it.



Maybe Eisenberg should carry a sign in front of church - spare those angry Blacks people in the pews the inevitable - the sign could say something like "Some of best friends and customers are Black. They don't live here any more. Not sure what's that's about. Was sad to see them go" - but then again that would be a bit cynical and cruel.



Better the likes Ian to kill the congregation with what always works - white privilege and a very Seattle-like strain of what can best be described of quasi-racism or just plain indifference. Those Black people be damned.


31
Once the churches starts paying taxes, they may have a legitimate place at the table. Until then, who cares what they think?


32
Agree with Catalina.
33
@32, me too, pretty much always :)
34
@31 - You nailed it right there.
35
@29

There is no "zoning" forcing these pot stores into the CD. It just happens to be the only few blocks far enough from schools, parks, daycares, etc to be legal under state law.
36
So, I'm an atheist, but for the sake of argument, let's say God is really a dude. Okay, he put the animals here to eat them. (YUCK) He put the Bible here to teach us that slavery and spousal abuse are cool beans. (AWESOME) He put people here to worship him. (Did not work on me)

Yet you morons believe he put pot here to hate and fear? The thing is, I'm on a diet. Chocolate grows out of the ground. Weed grows out of the ground. Pot brownies are a salad. I should sue them for interfering with my health!
37
@31 for the win
38
I'm still waiting for A) the church to protest that liquor store which inevitably is a source of life-and-community-destroying booze, and B) for churches to start paying taxes on their space like every other business if they want to be treated like part of society. Until then, they can STFU about some nice people next door and their herbs which the church has singled out as an abomination. Ridiculous.
39
#30 broke it down.

40
Wow! What a hateful and awful thing for these Christians to do to a new neighbor! Whatever happened to their motto of peace and love and acceptance? Instead of giving the dispensary the benefit if a doubt and getting to know their new neighbor, these hateful Christians instead decided to try and publicly humiliate the new guy on the block by protesting and spewing lies and hate towards him. Sure glad I left the craziness and hypocracy that is Christianity years ago!
41
#30 - Thank you for addressing the larger issue ... the creeping 'occupation' of black neighborhoods. Yes, the new settlers are not intending harm, and, yes, they may even have a black friend or two. They really don't know how they insult and marginalize black culture with their arrogance and entitlement. They have never had to share.



So, let the discussion here continue about the only thing they can discuss - matters of laws, "rights," zoning, and (oh, the drama!) pot-bigotry.



Lets celebrate "Indigenous People's Day" with scorn, disgust and mockery of those who haven't accepted the right way of thinking ... the white way of thinking.
42
Churches, by definition, are not "fact-based" decision structures.
43
Mr. Eisenberg should offer the pastor's favorite "charity" a thousand bucks.
44
What should really be protested is how ASS UGLY this church's building is...honestly, it looks like a frickin' warehouse plopped right in the middle of the business district. The car wash next door is more attractive than that piece of hideous 1980s crap!

Why don't they worry about all the eye damage their crappy building does to the 'hood instead? We'd all appreciate that a hell of lot more!
45
@41:

Maybe that's because some of us view the "white folks coming in and messing with OUR neighborhood" stance for the specious argument it is. Squire Park & the area around 23rd & E. Union WAS a predominately black neighborhood up until about a decade ago. But, guess what? It wasn't ALWAYS a predominately black neighborhood. Prior to WW-II it was a very ethnically diverse working and middle-class neighborhood, until the Japanese residents were all shipped off to internment camps, the middle class started moving to more affluent neighborhoods, and more blacks, who emigrated here from other parts of the county to take advantage of the many well-paying wartime industrial jobs, moved in. And before THAT it was a predominately Jewish neighborhood, (hence the proximity of Temple De Hirsch Sinai, the oldest - and one of the largest - synagogues in the Pacific Northwest, just down the hill on 16th). And before THAT it was primarily a pathway for the Duwamish peoples to get from what we now call Lake Washington to what we now call Elliott Bay. So the whole idea that, because one particular group of people have occupied the area for a certain amount of time, they have some sort of a-priori claim to determine who else may subsequently occupy the neighborhood is both ridiculous on its face, and belies the historical record. It's an urban neighborhood, and neighborhood demographics tend to change over time; this area being a textbook example of the phenomenon. So, all this hue-and-cry is just the same sort of "we were here first, so fuck you!" NIMBY-ism that, in any other context, would be laughable were it not tinged with such a condescending sense of "moral outrage".
46
If it's because of the smell then I am going to protest Top Pot donuts, there's a smell AND the donuts are actually bad for you.
47
the pot shop is also a very ugly building, as well as the church. ian should have taken his neighbors into consideration...like landscaping/shielding the entrance from view of the church, or orienting the entrance away from the church. or several other design features that would be considerate of his neightbors. like being closed on sunday mornings and afternoons dring churc services. he'll still make a lot of money, dont worry.

no one says that he didnt have the right to open the store, legally. he could have been more considerate of the chuch, thats all. but now is too late, and the constant bickering will generate a lot of free PR for him. cool. until things get heated. and of course they never caught the arsonist of medimix yet either.
48
Cassette - I couldn't agree with you more. It is really ugly and a lot of aesthetic upgrades to the buildings will be happening in the next few months. There wasn't much we could do the the orientations due to the existing zoning in this area. Thanks, Ian
49
The Whites are coming. We're already there, in fact. With our craft beer shops, ironic old movie houses, handmade ice cream, pot stores, and new construction w/ exorbitant rents. But wait. Stop, just now. Take a deep breath. Now, exhale slowly while quietly saying to yourself "learn to enjoy gentrification..." Then go in peace, while we systematically remove you from your neighborhoods. And perhaps we should remind you that you weren't there first. Nay, people who migrated here from Asia around 10,000 years ago were here before all of us -- so we have no sympathy for you. The biggest shame in this whole situation is that your church at 23rd and Union isn't a "great looking old brick building" that would be worth turning into a doggy daycare. We will thus be forced to raze your church and build condos. Had you been Islamic and your church a mosque, we might have taken pause, but no such luck.

Keep breathing!
50
Equating this church's protests against a pot store with gentrification is just self-indulgent, self-pitying nonsense. It is an insult to the very real issue of low-income people who are being forced out of a neighborhood by development.
51
A sign reading "Just Say No"? Hard to imagine a more perfect 80s vs 2010s image.
52
Whether they know it or not, gentrification is exactly what this protest is fundamentally about.
53
How so?
54


THIS IS AN EXCELLENT BUSINESS FOR THE HIGHLANDS OFF 145TH AND AURORA, BROADMOOR, MADISON PARK, SEWARD PARK ETC, WHERE PEOPLE CAN AFFORD FOR THEIR MONEY TO “GO UP IN SMOKE”???. AS FAR AS A “WEED AND SEED” CRIME STORE ON 23RD AND UNION??? ONLY A COMMUNITY OUTSIDER, DESTROYER, “WANNA BE GENTRIFIER / EHTNIC CLEANSER LIKE IAN OR A “CIRCUS CLOWN” WOULD ATTEMPT TO ADD TO THE MURDER COUNT ON THIS BLOCK CURRENTLY AT 6 (LARRY WARD 1970, CHICAGO NATIVE 1990s (IN FRONT OF HELEN’S / TOMPSON’S VIEW POINT / NEIGHBOR LADIES, BOTH OWNERS OF FORMER BUSINESS BEFORE MED MIX (ARSON FIRE ENDING) ONE OWNER MURDERED INSIDE BUILDING THE OTHER NEAR BY (1990s), AARON ROBERTS (2001), AND KEVIN BROWN (2014),

WOW WHAT HISTORY NOT INCLUDING THE “FERGUSON STYLE” RIOTING ON THIS CORNER (1968, 1969) AND FORMER MAYOR PAUL SHELL’S ACCIDENT (2001)??? TWO SAYINGS APPLY, ONE “BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR, YOU JUST MIGHT GET IT” AND TWO, “THOSE THAT DO NOT LEARN FROM HISTORY ARE BOUND TO REPEAT IT”. 23RD AND UNION HAS BEEN / IS THE CENTER OF AFRICATOWN / CD SINCE THE 1950s. HOW WOULD I KNOW??? BEEN LIVING WITH IN 15 BLOCKS OF 23RD AND UNION SINCE 1946 INCLUDING DIRECTLY BEHIND POST OFFICE ON 24TH. PLEASE RESEARCH AND THEN FILE LAWSUIT AS TO HOW IAN ENDED UP WITH “WEED AND SEED” STORE WITH OUT WINING “WEED LOTTERY’???? STAY TUNED THE BATTLE IS AT THE STARTING LINE BUT THE END IS VERY EASY TO SEE??? NO ONE BUT A FOOL WOULD BE FORE A “WEED AND SEED” CRIME STORE TO ADD TO THE CONFLICT ON UNION?? TEAR DOWN THE “WEED STORE” NOT LIBERTY BANK??????? “IT TAKES A VILLAGE (AFRICATOWN AND CHINATOWN) TO RAISE A CHILD”. SEE YOU ON THE CORNER OF 23RD AND UNION DAILY. Omari Tahir, FOUNDER / PRESIDENT AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MUSEUM AND CULTURE CENTER, AFRICATOWN / CHINATOWN SUPPORTER.

Reply ↓

Omari Tahir on Monday, September 29, 2014 – 1:31 am said:

BY THE WAY DON’T FORGET TO CONTACT THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE AND YOUR LAWYER ABOUT THIS ASININE IDEA TO PUT A “WEED AND SEED” CRIME STORE ON 23RD AND UNION WHILE POLITICIANS WALK THE STREETS AGAINST CRIME AND WASTE MORE TAX DOLLAR$$$$$ HIRING 100 MORE UPRODUCTIVE TAX DRAINING ANGRY AND VIOLENT GOVERNMENT STREET AGENTS WITH GUNS AND BADGES WITH LITTLE EDUCATION (MEDICAL DOCTOR WITH OPERATING KNIFE AND ONLY HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA)??? WHAT ABOUT HIRING 100 MORE TEACHERS FOR MADRONA, LESHI, STEVENS, WASHINGTON, MEANY, GARFIELD ECT WITH COLLEGE DEGREES (MASTERS AND PHDs FOR CHEAPER PRICE??? Omari Tahir, Founder / President AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MUSEUM AND CULTURE CENTER, AFRICATOWN SEATTLE
55
Omari dear, you said exactly the same thing yesterday. Do try to keep up.
56
So many of the comments here just prove my point - Fighty Whiteys. Couldn't the business owner simply sit and listen to the new neighbors? Is it so hard to simply be with someone very different and just hear them talk. Is there nothing to be learned from humbly approaching a neighbor with no intentions or agenda?



Why should the 'bottom line' be only what is "lawful" - or what was voted on (i.e. what almost half of the people didn't - and still don't - like). What harmony is in that? What happens to the neighbors who have anger and resentment -- they should just disappear? Be shunned? Suck it up?



When the tools of privilege are unleashed - debate, argument, mockery, listing of facts/stats/laws - irreversible inequity is what is actually being communicated. There will be no discussions, no dialog. The ones being targeted know this. They are used to it. They know there is no intention of building community ... only the intention of exploiting it.
57
Nonsense. That church is trying to dictate to the rest of the community what manner of legal business is allowed to operate in their vicinity. Legal businesses underwrite the operation of that church by allowing it to be a tax-free entity. They can't pick and choose who their civic patrons are. Dressing this issue up with words like privilege and gentrification is intellectually lazy at best and outright dishonest at worst.

If the church felt they had a legitimate case and that someone in government had "allowed" this store to go in there against some sort of policy, why aren't they citing that policy? Why aren't they conducting a public records request? It happens in government literally all the time, and is remarkably easy to do.

Churches are given a great deal of freedom to operate within a tax-free environment, and with very few regulation. But their authority ends at the property line.
58
Nice try @49, but thanks for conveniently omitting the fact that the SECOND cannibis store scheduled to open just a couple of blocks down the street WILL in point of fact be displacing a storefront mosque that's been there for at least five or six years, to my recollection. So, I guess, in that sense, tax-paying businesses are an equal opportunity displacement for tax-exempt religious institutions; and why shouldn't they be? If religious organizations want to play that game, let them pay their fair share of taxes like the rest of us.
59
@56:

Because that's how the law works, that's how democracy works: we make laws, and people who operate within the boundaries drawn by those laws are free to do so without undue hindrance; we participate in elections and the social contract establishes that what the majority (or in rare instances, super-majority) decides will be adhered to by all of us. Sure, there's the concept of not trampling over the rights of the voting minority, but they are also free in a democracy to try to convince others to come to their side and turn into a majority themselves. If they can't accomplish that, they have to live with the consequences.

So far, in all this ruckus, the ONE thing this religious organization has categorically FAILED to do is show how this legal, permissibly-zoned business will in any way, shape or form negatively affect either the operation of the Church, or any of its individual members for that matter. Are they (or more specifically their children, since that seems to be one of their major objections) being FORCED to enter the premises, being forced to purchase the products contained within? I think not. Does the mere presence of this business create an atmosphere of threat or danger to them? Quite the opposite, I would say, given the long, sordid history of the intersection. Does it create a negative impact on other adjacent businesses? Again, I rather doubt it, since it actually attracts potential new patrons for those businesses to the area. Claiming merely that "I don't want my children walking past a pot store" categorically denies the reality that, for literally decades, those same children have had to walk past an unabashed open-air illegal drug market; yet we've never heard one peep out of the congregants protesting THAT activity, and so it's a perfectly reasonable response to wonder why not?

And if another major issue is one of white gentrification, then why hasn't the Church protested the influx of whites, or Asians, or Hispanics to this "black" neighborhood, which has been occurring for well over a decade? Why haven't they picketed Central Cinema, or Chuck's Hop Shop, or Katie's Coffee, or Blue Bird, or The Neighbor Lady, all of which, so far as I can tell at least, are also white-owned businesses of fairly recent establishment in the neighborhood? Why focus on just this one business? Why are other adjoining businesses selling equally legal-yet-more-harmful products such as alcohol and tobacco not targeted? These are all legitimate questions, yet you and the members of the Church consistently avoid addressing them, why? You want us to believe what they're doing is in the collective best interests of their neighbors, but they've demonstrated, their abject lack of action on these points, to be, at best, decided inconsistent in terms of defending their stated values, and so it's no wonder we look askance at them now.
60
@56 redux:

Also, if the Church had wanted to sit down and merely talk to the owner - why didn't they do so? If dialogue was truly their primary interest or motivation, why didn't THEY take the first step, and humbly approach their new neighbor with no intentions or agenda? A dialogue, by definition, requires two participants. But, instead of doing that, their first act was to engage in a vocal, public protest that clearly articulated THEIR agenda, essentially telling the business owner "we don't want your kind here", how is THAT conducive to dialogue and active listening?
61
#60 Actually, there is more history than has been recorded in the Stranger: http://seattlemag.com/article/changes-ce…

Are you all going to make me repeat the story of the starlings again?
62
#57 - "That church is trying to dictate to the rest of the community ..." Too bad you can only see what you allow yourself to see (i.e., not all the world mirrors your way of being or behaves as you do)

Re: "intellectually lazy at best and outright dishonest" ... I cannot have discourse (intellectually) with someone who only believes in binary "win/lose" debates (ever the archaic patriarchal fallback).
63
#59 "Because that's how the law works... democracy ... boundaries ... undue hindrance ... elections ... the majority ... super-majority ... voting minority....... " ... (yada, yada, yada)

How very 20th century! Amazing. Actually, it is almost fascinating to see that PolSci101 can still be regurgitated like religious liturgy. I doubt that saying it passionately will make it any more true.

Hard to change, I know, but you folks better get on the bus or be left far, far behind. The world is made of people; there are no shortcuts, no magical papers to move people out of your way. Everyone is going to learn to get along ... humility is not just for "the Others" anymore.
64
Dktr, with all due respect, you sound nuts. Just what is it that I have not allowed myself to see in this situation? When did I ever state that this is a win/lose debate? Why won't you answer my statement about how the churche's accusations appear entirely unfounded?

It's entirely possible to bullshit some of the people most of the time, but I Am not one of those people. Make your points - whatever they are - in a coherent manner, if you are capable of doing so. Don't just reply to my comments with nonsensical generalities.

65
Wait, all these white liberals who scream ’racist’ at the drop of a hat are suddenly telling us to ignore an important part of the black community and ignore their voices? Suddenly they rally around the rich white businessman displacing poor black kids making a living up on the corner?



My oh my, the hypocrisy is delicious.
66
@63:

What's your point? That people should practice humility? Does that also apply to the members of this church congregation, who apparently, want OTHERS to express "humility" by coming to them hat-in-hand like some sort of guilty adolescent looking for forgiveness? Or does humility work both ways? The Bible has quite a lot to say on the matter of what constitutes true humility, but in this particular instance, I would say Philippians 2:3-11 is most applicable:

"Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men."

Maybe if the congregants of Mount Calvary had approached Mr. Eisenberg in this spirit, as their Bible instructs them, we wouldn't even be having this discussion.
67
Wow ... How angry we get when our priviledge is questioned.



#64 I am not answering your question because it is not an interesting, nor enlightening, point. I really don't care about what is " right" in terms of evidence/law/precedence/decisions .. only what is most kind in terms of relationships.



#66 Nice quotes ... Probably can find them in any religious writings. I don't believe it really counts if only done on quid pro quo terms, though. Always pay it forward ... You may only get one chance to give.
68
I'm not angry, dear. Just trying to understand what your point is. (Frankly, you aren't very coherent). Do you object to zoning? Are you against legalized marijuana? Do you not beleive in democracy? Are you a religious type?

Let's try to avoid the cliches, if we can, and just have you answer this; What is your position on legalized marijuanna, and what is your objection to this store?
69
@67:

If the basic tenets of ones religion, its teachings and proscriptions, demand a certain type of action or behavior on ones part, then waiting for some sort of quid pro quo from another party, who may not share your particular set of beliefs, is not only irrelevant, but an outright shirking of ones obligations under that system, because the action or behavior in question isn't contingent on the other guy having to make the first move. That's the entire essence of the so-called "Golden Rule" for example, as enumerated in Matthew 7:12, "do unto others as you would also have them do unto you," which is very different than, say, requiring one to "do unto others as they have done unto you"; a subtle, yet significant distinction.
70
#68 I am not anti-pot nor anti the store, nor the zoning; I am criticizing the attacks on the questions/challenges of these. I am against the attacks on the community for expressing their challenges outside of the "legal process/debate". And, I most especially, am questioning the schizmogenisis of the debate. The attacks on the community challengers reflect a deep lack of self-knowledge regarding communication style, dominance-oppression, culture and privilege.



BTW, thank you for hanging in there with my way of communicating; I am not promoting religion or politics - I'm interested in humans being more humane humans.
71
#69 Once again you have proscribed for others what is meant for one's self (per your own quotes). We do not control others -- only ourselves. We can become what we believe or we can refuse to and just wait until others show "good will". Seems infantile to wait, eh?

Dr. Seuss wrote something about this, way, way back ...
72
@71:

But, I'm not an adherent to the belief system in question - that's the entire point. If believers are patently incapable of practicing what they preach, it should in no way be incumbent on non-believers to set the example for them. Or have you forgotten the admonition re: motes and logs per Matthew 7:3?
73
Dktr, I think I see what you are saying about communication styles, but you lose me at "dominance-oppression, culture and privilege". How does the pot store differ in those regards to the liquor store, gas station, or cash-for-gold store that are located in close proximity?

74
THIS IS AN EXCELLENT BUSINESS FOR THE HIGHLANDS OFF 145TH AND AURORA, BROADMOOR, MADISON PARK, SEWARD PARK ETC, WHERE PEOPLE CAN AFFORD FOR THEIR MONEY TO “GO UP IN SMOKE”???. AS FAR AS A “WEED AND SEED” CRIME STORE ON 23RD AND UNION??? ONLY A COMMUNITY OUTSIDER, DESTROYER, “WANNA BE GENTRIFIER / EHTNIC CLEANSER LIKE IAN OR A “CIRCUS CLOWN” WOULD ATTEMPT TO ADD TO THE MURDER COUNT ON THIS BLOCK CURRENTLY AT 6 (LARRY WARD 1970, CHICAGO NATIVE 1990s (IN FRONT OF HELEN’S / TOMPSON’S VIEW POINT / NEIGHBOR LADIES, BOTH OWNERS OF FORMER BUSINESS BEFORE MED MIX (ARSON FIRE ENDING) ONE OWNER MURDERED INSIDE BUILDING THE OTHER NEAR BY (1990s), AARON ROBERTS (2001), AND KEVIN BROWN (2014),
WOW WHAT HISTORY NOT INCLUDING THE “FERGUSON STYLE” RIOTING ON THIS CORNER (1968, 1969) AND FORMER MAYOR PAUL SHELL’S ACCIDENT (2001)??? TWO SAYINGS APPLY, ONE “BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR, YOU JUST MIGHT GET IT” AND TWO, “THOSE THAT DO NOT LEARN FROM HISTORY ARE BOUND TO REPEAT IT”. 23RD AND UNION HAS BEEN / IS THE CENTER OF AFRICATOWN / CD SINCE THE 1950s. HOW WOULD I KNOW??? BEEN LIVING WITH IN 15 BLOCKS OF 23RD AND UNION SINCE 1946 INCLUDING DIRECTLY BEHIND POST OFFICE ON 24TH. PLEASE RESEARCH AND THEN FILE LAWSUIT AS TO HOW IAN ENDED UP WITH “WEED AND SEED” STORE WITH OUT WINING “WEED LOTTERY’???? STAY TUNED THE BATTLE IS AT THE STARTING LINE BUT THE END IS VERY EASY TO SEE??? NO ONE BUT A FOOL WOULD BE FORE A “WEED AND SEED” CRIME STORE TO ADD TO THE CONFLICT ON UNION?? TEAR DOWN THE “WEED STORE” NOT LIBERTY BANK??????? “IT TAKES A VILLAGE (AFRICATOWN AND CHINATOWN) TO RAISE A CHILD”. SEE YOU ON THE CORNER OF 23RD AND UNION DAILY. Omari Tahir, FOUNDER / PRESIDENT AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MUSEUM AND CULTURE CENTER, AFRICATOWN / CHINATOWN SUPPORTER.
Reply ↓
Omari Tahir on Monday, September 29, 2014 – 1:31 am said:
BY THE WAY DON’T FORGET TO CONTACT THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE AND YOUR LAWYER ABOUT THIS ASININE IDEA TO PUT A “WEED AND SEED” CRIME STORE ON 23RD AND UNION WHILE POLITICIANS WALK THE STREETS AGAINST CRIME AND WASTE MORE TAX DOLLAR$$$$$ HIRING 100 MORE UPRODUCTIVE TAX DRAINING ANGRY AND VIOLENT GOVERNMENT STREET AGENTS WITH GUNS AND BADGES WITH LITTLE EDUCATION (MEDICAL DOCTOR WITH OPERATING KNIFE AND ONLY HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA)??? WHAT ABOUT HIRING 100 MORE TEACHERS FOR MADRONA, LESHI, STEVENS, WASHINGTON, MEANY, GARFIELD ECT WITH COLLEGE DEGREES (MASTERS AND PHDs FOR CHEAPER PRICE??? Omari Tahir

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