That encampment ordinance from yesterday passed, a lawsuit against SPD gets $20,000 for an elderly man, and a "suspicious" death. The Mariners get a shutout, Apolo Ohno gets naked. Oh, and there's some "fish waste," too. more ›

Way back in March of 2002, the City entered a Consent Decree with El Centro de la Raza and SHARE/WHEEL, the organization that operates homeless encampments Tent City and Nickelsville. This agreement due to "exceptional circumstances" "pressing needs" of the city's homeless population, provided a set of guidelines for operation of Tent City over the following 10 years. The City Council Housing, Human Services, Health and Culture Committee will hear public comment today on a proposed new homeless encampment ordinance to replace the existing policy, put forward by 2001's Consent Decree, set to expire this March. The biggest difference? While the new ordinance recognizes that secular organizations can host encampments under currently existing laws, SHARE/WHEEL says that the proposed ordinance essentially nullifies their agreement -- for everyone except religious organizations. (Updated with comments from Nick Licata's office!) more ›

One of our more grotesque civic comedies is reaching its Act 2 climax this afternoon--denied a restraining order, the homeless encampment dubbed Nickelsville is expecting state police to arrive at 7 p.m. today, to evict them from their latest refuge. more ›

63 percent of the University Congregational United Church of Christ voted to open their hearts and their parking lot--at 15th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 45th Street--to the roaming homeless encampment known as Nickelsville. more ›

The Seattle Police Department gave residents of Nickelsville a 20-minute warning at 12:15 p.m. to vacate their encampment or face arrest. As of 12:35 p.m., the homeless residents of Nickelsville were officially considered criminal trespassers and subject to arrest. According to reports, some campers have chosen to follow orders while others have decided to stay and face charges. Sadly, at least those who stay at Nickelsville against orders are more likely to have a roof over their head tonight in jail than those who chose to comply.
more ›

• A couple of Seattle's finest neighborhood blogs are also covering Nickelsville. Blogging Georgetown and West Seattle Blog are both giving thorough coverage to the story.
• Did someone say gumbo? Honest to god, Louisiana-made gumbo in Seattle? Hallelujah! The Central District News has a glowing (tummy-grumble-inducing) review.
• Ballard High graduate Jean Smart won an Emmy last night and MyBallard celebrates the news. In other once-local celebrity news, according to the Big Blog, UW Alumni Anna Faris will host SNL this weekend.

Under the cover of darkness and secrecy, a Seattle homeless encampment named "Nickelsville" in mockery of Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels moved to a new location early this morning. The residents of the new Nickelsville pitched 155 neon pink tents in a field off West Marginal Way. The residents of Nickelsville hope the encampment can become a permanent location for their tent town, while Mayor Nickels says that like any illegal encampment in the city, Nickelsville faces ousting by police in 72 hours. It would seem Mayor Nickels is trying especially hard to live up to the honor of the shantytown being named after him. While he's eager to get rid of homeless encampments with the explanation that it's not proper housing, he doesn't seem to have any bright ideas or funding for finding an answer that helps Seattle's homeless population now rather than the far-off future. It's raining now, Greg. more ›

This weekend, the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center is having an Open House, while Cooper Artist Housing is having Open Studios. We know this because some old friends of ours are Cooper cultists and they sent us a postcard. How droll! How last century! more ›

Hey, there's an editorial about Tent City in the Seattle Times - This oughta be predictable and lame. more ›

A tent city occured at St Joe's on the Hill this week marking the beginning of the apocolypse. Rapture, please come before the fabric of our society rends. Or we run out of oil. Which ever comes first. more ›

Mayday, Mayday! May 1 is the day the City of Seattle will pull funding for SHARE/WHEEL, the people who brought you Tent City I, II, III, and IV, unless SHARE agrees to share information about its campers. The City of Seattle, wants shelters to participate in Safeharbors, a homeless tracking database designed to better count the homeless, in order to better address their needs, according to its supporters. more ›

-Ha, Spokane sucks. Gonzaga students have been reprimanded for chanting "Brokeback Mountain" at opposing players during basketball games. Apparently a reference to "Brokeback Mountain" indicates that one is a cowboy. Ironic that the biggest cowboy of them all actually plays for the Zags... more ›

-The two high school kids who were killed by a train this week in Pierce County were apparently listening to a boom box when they were struck in the back. Man, that thing must go to eleven... more ›

Metropolitan King County Council interjected on the issue of the region's various Tent Cities yesterday, setting guidelines for the temporary permits the homeless communities will require. While it's nice to finally see the council acknowledge Tent Cities, the ordinance comes across as unnecessarily restrictive to Seattlest's eye, although others believe it is not strong enough. more ›

After a failed run for governor last year (or perhaps he won, we're still going through old voting rolls) Ron Sims will be seeking his third term as King County Executive this fall. more ›

Tent City IV appears to have found a home on the East side of Lake Washington after all. Seattlest reported at the end of January that the Eastside homeless community was in search of a place to set up camp after being voted out of their proposed site at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Bellevue. more ›

The Eastside's tent city homeless community is getting the boot on February 20 from their current digs in Kirkland. They had hoped to move to Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Bellevue, but the church's parisioners voted Not In My Front Yard yesterday. more ›