R-COP Real Change Organizing Project

Ten Reasons You Need To Be At Real Change's Forum On The New Jail

RealChangeOrganizingProject@gmail.com (RCOP) — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 23:14:00 +0000

1. Silja J.A. Talvi, multiple award-winning essayist, investigative journalist and author of Women Behind Bars: The Crisis of Women in the U.S. Prison System.

2. Aaron Dixon, Green Party Senate candidate in 2006, co-founder of the Seattle Black Panthers and well-known activist.

3. Larry Gossett, King County Councilmember

4. Tim Harris, Founder and Executive Director of Real Change

5. Jesse Hagopian, Seattle teacher and activist

6. Alexes Harris, part of the Clean Dreams pre-arrest diversion program.

7. Because 1 in 33 Americans is under correctional supervision.

8. Because 1 in 99 Americans is in jail.

9. Because the city wants to spend 220 million dollars on a monument to economic injustice and structural racism without having any real public discussion.

10. Because our city and our nation are at a crossroads, and the time is now.

Join Real Change and the Seattle University School of Law for an evening of education, debate and organizing. Learn about the costs of a new jail to our neighborhoods, our communities, and our schools through a panel discussion moderated by David Bloom. Hear about the better ways. And join others to find out what we can do about it. RSVP!

Wednesday, January 28th

6:30 to 8:30 PM

Seattle University

Pigott Auditorium

What Would YOU do with $200,000,000? Build a jail?

RealChangeOrganizingProject@gmail.com (RCOP) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 05:24:00 +0000

What would YOU do with $200 million dollars? Build a new jail? Jails are expensive.

The City says it's planning ahead by 15 years. During that time, enough people living in despair and poverty in Seattle, with limited hopes for a future, can regularly ripen for criminalization and warehousing in an expensive new jail.

To help subsidize it, funding will be cut from hugely successful programs that help: at-risk youth, the growing number of people trying to survive poverty, thousands of homeless, people trying to break the cycle of drug addiction and drug-related crime, people who need health or human services help, people with mental-illness who don't get enough help (often criminalized) . . .

In otherwords, this $200 million dollar jail will house the people the City fails when it cuts programs. It's absurd.

Monday night at 6pm is the City's big Budget Hearing. It's our last chance to give them the word that we don't want another new jail. Write it down on a piece of paper if you want. Not in your neighborhood, not downtown, not at all. NO NEW JAIL.

Enough already.

-Revel

Sanctuary

RealChangeOrganizingProject@gmail.com (RCOP) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:34:00 +0000

Friday morning Nickelsville relocated to University Christian Church.

They were invited to use the parking lot. It's private property. The church owns it and most of the block adjacent. The Church Council of Greater Seattle offices are across the street. There's a power center of social justice so significant here that the Mayor's office and the City wouldn't even answer phone calls from major media, much less set police loose with eviction notices.

But is nothing sacred in Seattle? Even the survival of increasing numbers of homeless people in organized communities on church ground? Not according to the Mayor's 'drift.'

Listen to Mayor Nickels fib, choke, and go-all-tangential during "The Conversation" with KUOW's Steve Scher this morning.

Read transcripts of the show, plus an informative reality-check by Tim Harris, right here at Apesma's Lament.

Stay tuned.

Pink and A Whole Lot to Like

RealChangeOrganizingProject@gmail.com (RCOP) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 06:27:00 +0000

"I Like Pink" - A little ditty by Tim Harris

People ask us daily where Nickelsville's pink tents came from.

"We saw tents at a breast cancer awareness event just before Nickelsville opened. They were the same shade of pink, kind of dark pink ("fuschia") yeahhh - and approximately the same shape. Did they give those to you?

People still thinking hard about those tents.

"Yeah, they are a similar shade of fuschia pink. Just a coincidence. Girl Scouts of America sells tons of 'em. Hmm? Maybe they use them for their Jamboree gig. I don't know. Maybe the tents come from the same manufacturer . . . ANYWAY, we acquired as many as we could to shelter about 150 people who are homeless and building a shantytown."

"Pink tents. Huh. Well, they're cheerful. "

Here we are 2 weeks in, and about 3 days until Nickelsville leaves Discovery Park.

People have made something of those tents along with the shanties they've built.

Some tents are enclosed in creative structures to make them more secure, more sturdy. Some have lean-to's added-on to store people's things or give them a little extra space. Some are elevated on planks to keep them off the damp ground and have canopies to protect them from the elements (It's getting cold). There are personal touches like welcome signs, decorations. Tools and cooking utensils hang outide while thick blanketed bedrooms and roll-ups containing clothes and personal items are stored inside. Some tents are set-up far apart for those who like extra peace and tranquility. Most are close together in a community with bathrooms, kitchen, secure entry to the camp. The basics.

It's been work, but people made homes of them. Pink's been all-right.

Revel

Daybreak at Discovery

RealChangeOrganizingProject@gmail.com (RCOP) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 20:28:00 +0000

Go Forward With Courage
When you are in doubt, be still, and wait;
when doubt no longer exists for you, then go forward with courage.
So long as mists envelop you, be still;
be still until the sunlight pours through and dispels the mists -- as it surely will.

Then act with courage.

Chief White Eagle - Ponca

Daybreak Star Center

" . . .the center owes its existence to Bernie Whitebear and other Native Americans, who staged a generally successful self-styled "invasion" and occupation of the land in 1970 after most of the Fort Lawton military base was declared surplus by the U.S. Department of Defense."

Getting Ready for the Exodus

RealChangeOrganizingProject@gmail.com (RCOP) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 07:21:00 +0000

Nickelsville is preparing to move. Time's up at midnight.

25 sites were reviewed for relocation. Farms, churches, vacant properties, facilities with available space on their grounds, open parcels in King County . . .

Please keep residents in your hearts and minds, along with all of the other people without homes who will live in tent cities, camp in their cars, sleep on the street or stay out of sight tonight.

"Nickelsville? That's my home. That's where I live."

- Richard W.

RCOP - Failure to Obey

RealChangeOrganizingProject@gmail.com (RCOP) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 06:22:00 +0000

14 homeless activists arrested at the RCOP Camp4Unity demonstration at City Hall on June 9th finally went to a pre-trial hearing today.

The charges are pedestrian interference and failure to obey.

Given the opportunity today to plea-out with community service, and an agreement, basically, to not commit crime for 1 year - they opted to go to trial instead.

Why? Because today the City Prosecuting Attorney wouldn't give a year of exclusion of criminal charges for trespassing against members of the group, homeless, who might have to sleep some place illegally for survival. Without some exclusionary protection, they could be in violation of the plea agreement with that 'crime' and subject to stiff penalties.

That's solidarity.

********************

Nickelsville will have to move-out of the parking lot at West Marginal Way SW and Highland Park Way by Wednesday night. They're looking at 25 sites where they might relocate to. Requests/negotiations are in the works.

Meanwhile Operation Nightwatch says shelters are still full. 28 more people were referred to Nickelsville last night.

Nickelsville needs food, water, beverages, coffee, soda, ice, ice chests, blankets. Please see the Nickelsville website for a nice map.

Shelters Full - People being referred back to Nickelsville

RealChangeOrganizingProject@gmail.com (RCOP) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 06:37:00 +0000

UPDATE

Shelters full. People turned away and referred back to Nickelsville.

King 5 News - Saturday 9/27/08 - 6:23 pm update

Dropped-by remaining Nickelsville at 3:30 pm. There are at least 85 tents. 4 more days left to for Nickelsville to stay open in the adjacent WA State owned parking lot (7115 W Marginal Way SW near corner at Highland Park, across from Pacific Plumbing building).

They really need: ice chests, ice, milk, coffee, soda, water, hot dogs, and cheese

Does Mayor Nickels Watch TV? WATCH THIS

RealChangeOrganizingProject@gmail.com (RCOP) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 17:12:00 +0000

"In the absence of proper shelter, it is the basic right of any living being to construct a temporary one." - posted at Nickelsville

This isn't just a demonstration.

This is something new.

This is a Movement

KIRO NEWS channel 7 with VIDEO
22 Arrested by Seattle Police. Gregoire says that the city is not taking immediate action so that the state can find a solution.

NW CABLE NEWS with video - Synopis of the day. Reporters Linda Brill and Roberta Romero are on scene for the day and broadcast live for three hours from Nickelsville, and went long past 1pm (sorry The Mayor missed his soaps)

KING 5 NEWS with VIDEO
Campers can stay on WA State property 5 Days

KOMO NEWS 4

Inside Edition TV, NPR, The Stranger Slog (blog), The Daily Weekly Blog for Seattle Weekly News, Komo Radio, Kiro Radio, Inside Edition TV, Georgetown blog, West Seattle blog, The Seattle P.I., Real Change News, The Seattle Times . . .

People are watching. Nickelsville will be open through Wednesday October 1st. . .

Sleep Well Nickelodeons

RealChangeOrganizingProject@gmail.com (RCOP) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 03:14:00 +0000

Yes it happened. City-side Nickelsville was evacuated this afternoon, but it turned out to be quite a magnificent thing.

Now a substantial Nickelsville of 50 tents still sits in the front parking lot which is in Washington State's authority. Things are on a whole different level now. The governor stepped-up. Mayor Nickels may have lost a great opportunity for dialogue, but higher powers did not:

Letter to the Mayor:
September 26, 2008 The Honorable Greg Nickels Mayor of Seattle Seattle City Hall

Dear Mayor Nickels,

As legislators representing districts in the Seattle area, we are calling on you today to enter into discussions with the Church Council of Greater Seattle, Real Change, Veterans for Peace Chapter 92 and other interested parties in order to craft a humane and productive path forward in regards to the real and urgent needs of the homeless and destitute people of Seattle.

The City of Seattle has been an important partner in the state goal to end homelessness. We know you share the desire to substantively address the complex and difficult issues affecting homeless people. As many of us discussed yesterday at the Legislative Breakfast for the King County Coalition to End Homelessness, you have put real resources on the ground to accomplish this goal, just as the state has.

In light of our shared commitment, we feel the positive path forward would be to negotiate with the Church Council for the removal of tents and to enter in to partnership discussions with these organizations to identify both short and long term solutions to help our homeless people, instead of the City of Seattle taking immediate action.

As we approach the winter months where homelessness becomes an even harsher and more difficult reality for many men, women and families, we hope you will quickly and urgently move to bring people together in partnership and dialogue.

We appreciate your immediate attention to this request and would be happy to participate in solution-oriented discussions.

Thank you and sincerely,

Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, 36th District, Sen. Joe McDermott, 34th District, Rep. Eileen Cody, 34th District, Rep. Sharon Nelson, 34th District, Rep. Bob Hasegawa, 11th District, Rep. Ruth Kagi, 32nd District, Rep. Maralyn Chase, 32nd District, Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, 36th District, Rep. Helen Sommers, 36th District, Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, 37th District, Rep. Eric Pettigrew, 37th District, Rep. Frank Chopp, 43rd District, Rep. Phyllis Guiterrez Kenney, 46th District

Here's to Nickelodeons. Here's to the growing numbers of supporters who are Nickelodeons at heart.

SUPPORT NICKELSVILLE NOW

RealChangeOrganizingProject@gmail.com (RCOP) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 02:18:00 +0000

Hi Everyone!

Here was the day so-far:

Seattle Police came by Nickelsville and did a friendly walk-through, checking things out. More stop-by later to view it from the hill above.

Chief Hansen of the Duwamish Tribe stops by to talk with organizers and pray.

Department of Transportation, escorted by Seattle PD posted signs at the vacant lot: "No Trespassing."

By 5:00 PM Multiple TV news trucks and reporters, photographers, newspapers are there interviewing. People are still arriving, dropping-off donations, dropping off HUGE donations of lumber and dry goods. Hot food arrives as Nickelsville continues to build.

******************************************

The City will sweep the area anytime.

In mere minutes police and "clean-up" crews could arrive to remove people from the land. Those who refuse -- because where are homeless people supposed to go? -- will be issued citations or arrested.

Nickelsville needs your presence RIGHT NOW!

Bring a camera if you've got one.

If not, bring a pen and pencil. We need observers and supporters; some people intend to risk arrest.

Just yesterday, Nickelsville begans to go permanent. The building party continues until the authorities arrive. THIS IS THE TIME! Join us right now. And tell your friends!

Nickelsville has posted a letter to their supporters at www.nickelsvilleseattle.org.

We also ask you to continue to contact the mayor at 206-684-4000. Urge him to take a stand for compassion and let this needed community stand. The shelter doesn't exist tonight. Nickelsville does.

7:00 pm SUPPORTERS AND PRESS CONTINUE TO ARRIVE AT NICKELSVILLE RIGHT NOW. PEOPLE ARE HELPING. SHANTYS ARE GOING UP. SEE NEWSLINKS FOR UPDATES:

KING 5 NEWS

KOMO NEWS

Q13NEWS

SEATTLE P.I.

THE SEATTLE WEEKLY DAILY WEEKLY BLOG
Reporter Aimee Curl on Nickelsville as Shantytown today -pics

WASHBLOG - Highland Park Neighborhood's letter to the Mayor

"Yes in My Backyard"

RealChangeOrganizingProject@gmail.com (RCOP) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 06:49:00 +0000

What does a neighborhood do when a tent city sets-up in their backyard?

Highland Park neighborhood is where Nickelsville found a vacant field in the industrial flatlands to set-up camp. It also happens to be one of 4 neighborhood areas being considered by the city for placement of a new jail. As expected, "Not in My Backyard" said residents about the proposed jail site, but how would they respond to the appearance of a tent city?

Last night, the Highland Park Action Committee (HPAC) met to discuss various items of neighborhood interest when suddenly something very decent happened. Highland Park Action Committee will make a proposal to Mayor Nickels to let Nickelsville stay until Seattle can provide shelter for these people without a safe secure place to go to. (Click on the link to see the VIDEO). High-five to HPAC chair Dorsal Plants for visiting Nickelsville and for the compassion and realism expressed in his speech.

Nickelsville is Here!

RealChangeOrganizingProject@gmail.com (RCOP) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:04:00 +0000

The call to "move" came-in at 8:00 pm last night. By 4:00 a.m. this morning, groups of sleepy , cautious-but-excited Nickelsville supporters made their way to the address of a grassy vacant lot to stake ground for survival. Sitting smack dab in the middle of South Seattle, it was harder to find than an underground dance rave - and the organizers kept better secret than the DaVinci Codes.

But somehow something phenomenal happened and we all found our way there.
150 fuschia tents (thanks to Girl Scout donations from jamborees past) were pitched and ready to live-in in just 90 minutes. "Little Pink Houses" as one homeless friend called them. Reporters arrived fully-loaded with questions while news choppers, and cameras broadcasting the event live. 'Twas a beautiful sight to see.

NICKELSVILLE was born.

This is just the start of Seattle's long-awaited shantytown - a real shelter community to be erected by-hand, it's intent is to become an assemblage of structures so 1,000 of the 2,600-plus homeless who currently cannot fit into the existing shelters can have an alternative to attempting to survive in Seattle alone as the Nickels sweeps dragnet closes on them.

Stay tuned. Learn more about the phenomena at NickelsvilleSeattle.org.

3:15 pm - Nickels has just sent message that the homeless in Nickelsville have 72 hours to leave. Yeah right.

Support Nickelsville! Please call Mayor Nickels at (206)684-4000 or or email him at: http://www.seattle.gov/mayor/citizen_response.htm . Tell him this is a matter of SURVIVAL. Keep Nickelsville alive!!

-Revel

Real Change Goes Viral - Tent Cities Article

RealChangeOrganizingProject@gmail.com (RCOP) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 08:32:00 +0000

"Tent Cities Rise Across the Nation" by Evelyn Nieves. The Associated Press shot this article off to nearly every media source in the nation today, from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer to CNN. It describes the phenomenal number of tent cities rapidly appearing in many major U.S. cities as sub-prime foreclosure'd middle class suddenly find themselves members of the homeless class.

Our own Tim Harris, RCOP founder and Executive Director at Real Change News, was interviewed and quoted with several other major advocacy leaders:

"What's happening in Seattle is what's happening everywhere else — on steroids," said Tim Harris, executive director of Real Change, an advocacy organization that publishes a weekly newspaper sold by homeless people.

"Homeless people and their advocates have organized three tent cities at City Hall in recent months to call attention to the homeless and protest the sweeps — acts of militancy, said Harris, "that we really haven't seen around homeless activism since the early '90s'."

Welcome to RCOP!