Tent city of homeless welcomed to church; city sues

[icymist]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/aplocal_story.asp?category=6420&slug=WA%20Tent%20City

Monday, May 17, 2004 · Last updated 8:27 p.m. PT

Tent city of homeless welcomed to church; city sues

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BOTHELL, Wash. -- A few dozen homeless people set up a tent city in this suburban community Monday, greeted both by donations of bread, pillows and blankets - and by a lawsuit filed by the City of Bothell.

After opposition from residents of this northeast Seattle suburb, King County officials changed the proposed site of Tent City 4 from a park-and-ride lot to St. Brendan's Catholic Church, a few miles away. The location was more palatable to many, though some people said they were concerned because the church is near three schools.

Late Monday afternoon, the city filed suit in King County Superior Court, asking for a hearing to determine whether the tent city use of church property inside city boundaries violated municipal zoning regulations.

The city requested a hearing date next week so the move had no immediate impact on the homeless encampment, city spokeswoman Joyce Goedeke said.

"This issue isn't about whether the city is for or against homelessness," she said. "Certainly we recognize it's a regional problem and empathize with homeless men and women.

(more)

[Eye and Monkey]

1. Call it what it is - a REFUGEE CAMP. Bushville.

Well, technically, "refugees" aren't refugees until they cross an international border. The correct term is "IDP" - internally displaced persons.

But that doesn't have quite the same impact.

[icymist]

2. It takes the pay of two minimum wage jobs to afford an apartment..

out here in the 'Great Northwest'! To me, this sad saga shows how badly Bu*sh's idea, at the beginning of his term, of 'Faith based charities' taking up the slack for slashed social welfare programs is. The people complaining the loudest while using stereotypes of the homeless are showing the world how 'good Christians' they are.

[flamingyouth]

3. Reminds me of that great line in the movie "Hype!"

Photographer Charles Peterson is talking about growing up in Bothell, "a suburban hellhole," and he mentioned the sign as you enter town that reads, "Welcome to Bothell, for a day or a lifetime." Apparently some wit had erased the "Bot" so it read, "Welcome to Hell for a day or a lifetime."

What a bunch of assholes running that town, I swear.