From former P-I reporter Deborah Bach and ex-Times reporter Marty McOmber’s Seattle maritime site, Three Sheets Northwest:

Construction was recently completed on a new wheelchair-accessible fishing site at Hoodsport Hatchery, on the southern end of Hood Canal.

The site, engineered and developed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, includes a ramp, grated walkways

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The homeless protesters who slept in front of Mayor Greg Nickels house on Monday night, moved on to City Councilman Tim Burgess’ house. Burgess posted about the experience on Facebook:

A group of about 40 people slept in front of my house and my neighbors’ houses last night. They were advocates with the group SHARE/WHEEL, a local nonprofit organization that operates several homeless shelters around the city. They showed up a little after 7 p.m. last night and left just before 7 a.m. today. (Read this Queen Anne View summary of the protest. And this editorial in today’s Seattle Times.)

The campers were protesting what they believe is the city’s inadequate funding of their services, especially money for Metro transit passes so those living in their shelters can travel to jobs, job interviews, and other necessary appointments. Because SHARE is facing a budget shortfall, they have asked for more money. The city offered to advance $50,000 to SHARE from their 2009 allocation of just over $300,000 on the condition SHARE keep their shelters open through the end of this year. SHARE’s annual subsidy from the city is paid out monthly and there was concern that if the city advanced what would be the equivalent of two monthly payments SHARE would deplete all of its financial resources before the end of December. SHARE declined to accept the year-end condition.

That’s the big picture, but I want to recount what I learned last night and this morning as I spoke with some of those in front of my house.

Just after 10 o’clock, I ventured outside and spoke with a group of the protesters. The TV cameras had gone and we were alone. (Joleen took the above photo on her iPhone from inside our house.) I’m

wearing blue jeans with a black baseball cap; my back is to the camera. You can see the campers’ port-a-potty on its little wagon in the upper right corner of the photo.

I listened as campers shared their stories and expressed their frustration with the city. And I heard them explain how they organized themselves, a bit about their sleeping arrangements and logistics. One fellow told of his journey from Orlando, Florida to Seattle. Another told me about his three boys and how much he missed them. Several mentioned how calm and laid-back my neighborhood was compared to the night before when they were at the Mayor’s home in West Seattle where many more reporters and police were present. Several expressed their opinion that the city should fund SHARE more than other shelters who, in their view, do less and don’t need city money. Almost everyone was worried about when the rain would come back and whether they could stay dry.

When I asked why they hadn’t accepted the city’s offer to advance some of their 2009 funding they said there were “too many restrictions.” The only restriction I’m aware of is the city’s expectation that the SHARE shelters remain open through the end of the year; the SHARE advocates couldn’t identify any other restrictions when we talked last night. (I verified today that no other conditions were placed on the financial advance.)

We talked for 20 to 25 minutes last night. Just before I went back inside, I told the group that I would be up early for my walk around the hill and that they could join me if they wanted. Sure enough, just after 5 a.m. today, seven of the men pulled themselves out from beneath their blankets and plastic sheeting and joined me for some early morning exercise. We had a good time, even stopping at Starbucks for coffee before we returned to the house. The protesters picked up their belongings and I left for City Hall. I understand they’re coming back tonight.

Police arrest a homeless supporter at Nickelsville on Wednesday(Seattle PostGlobe)

 

A dozen protesters were arrested without incident Tuesday afternoon as Port of Seattle police cleared the “Nickelsville” encampment on the Duwamish.

Shortly after the arrests, though, Nickelsville was on the move again. After regrouping at a nearby city park, an organizer announced to the Nickelsville residents that St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church on Northeast 80th Street had offered them shelter for a week.

About half of the arrested appeared to be supporters and another half the residents who had set up tents at Terminal 107 park July 25.

The port had given the encampment until Tuesday to leave.  After four warnings over a loudspeaker, about 50 officers moved in to make the arrests. 

 

Police arrest a Nickelsville resident (Seattle PostGlobe)

Prior to the arrests Port of Seattle officials spoke to the homeless, urging them all to leave voluntarily. Port staff, church leaders and Nickelsville residents had met several times in the previous trying to work out a solution. However, the homeless residents had insisted on finding a permanent locatin for the camp, so they wouldn’t have to keep moving.

As Kurt Beckett, the port’s external affairs director spoke to the crowd of homeless people, one resident Raymond Beckett said they’d policed their litter. The residents had portable toilets and they’d chased off people who’d come to vandalize the park.

“I don’t see what we’re doing to hurt the park,” he told Beckett

 

A Nickelsville resident is led away after deciding to be arrested in protest of the camp being cleared on Wednesday (Seattle PostGlobe)

Beckett said the port had tried to resolve the situation but couldn’t meet the encampment’s demand to stay permanently.

Earlier, Nickelsville resident Richard Gilbert waited for the police to come. He was planning on being arrested,

Others – some clearing up court issues or worried about jeopardizing finding work – said they wouldn’t get arrested and wanted to keep the community together.

Gilbert, standing amid the sea of tents, said: “I’m from Seattle, Washington. If I don’t stand up for what I believe, I’m going to be running for the rest of my life.”

The residents have said they feel safer in the drug- and alcohol-free camp than on the streets or full shelters.  (See previous story )

 

About 50- King County Police officers arrive at Nickelsville (Seattle PostGlobe)

But there is a political point as well. “Homeless people need shelter. The city has to create jobs and affordable housing for people, not jails or prisons.”

The port, caught by surprise by the appearance of the camp, allowed the homes to stay more than a month but said it couldn’t let them stay in a public park. 

Port spokeswoman Charla Skaggs just released the following statement:

Port of Seattle officials expressed regret that some members of the homeless encampment known as ‘Nickelsville’ have thus far refused to leave port property voluntarily.

A Nickelsville residents waits for police to arrive Wednesday (Seattle PostGlobe)

The group set up the encampment on port property without permission and has been at the public park illegally for 69 days. The group’s presence violates city land use and shoreline codes as well as prohibitions against camping and lighting fires within the city of Seattle. In addition, the Port of Seattle does not have the authority to provide land for housing or housing purposes. Nickelsville organizers and residents have been given multiple warnings that if they did not leave by September 30th, they would be subject to arrest for trespassing.  Many residents are choosing to leave, seeking help from resources offered throughout the county.  Encampment organizers issued invitations Tuesday to other tent cities across the region to join with them in choosing to be arrested to send a political message about the larger issue of homelessness in our community. While the port respects the right to civil disobedience, encampment members have been asked repeatedly to leave voluntarily. “The port has worked diligently with Nickelsville and community leaders to find safe and legal options for the residents,” Chief Executive Officer Tay Yoshitani said. “Our first concern remains the health and safety of the men and women of the camp, and I’m relieved to hear that many of the original residents are now using our community’s network of shelters and support services.” 

A Nickelsville resident brushes his teeth at the camp Wednesday morning(Seattle PostGlobe)

Port commissioners and staff members have worked for more than two months with members of the Nickelsville leadership, its supporters and members of the faith community to facilitate efforts to find safe and legal shelter for those individuals who want it. Instead, Nickelsville organizers have pursued a permanent site with plans for hundreds of people. Over the past year, both the state and the city have rejected their request for permanent sites, and the city of Seattle has communicated repeatedly that a permanent Nickelsville encampment will not be allowed. Despite consistent communication from the port that their presence was illegal and would not be tolerated, as recently as Monday organizers reiterated their request to stay an additional 90 days and their desire to extend that agreement on an ongoing basis. The port has repeatedly stated that the Terminal 107 public park is not an appropriate location for housing or an encampment. Independent of the numerous code violations, there are not acceptable human services and hygiene facilities and lacks access to public transportation.

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An EU-sponsored report into the Russia-Georgia war in 2008 has blamed both countries for the conflict and said both countries violated international humanitarian law.

The report released Wednesday said about 850 people were killed in the August 2008 war, and that more than 100,000 fled their homes, about 35,000 of whom are still displaced.

Both Georgia and Russia issued statements welcoming the report. And both countries called it a vindication of their respective actions and during the war.  

The report blames Georgia for starting the conflict, although it adds that Georgia had been provoked.

The five-day war started on Aug. 7, 2008, when Georgia shelled the breakaway region of South Ossetia, in an attempt to regain control over it and claiming that Russian forces were invading. The previous months had seen a series of clashes between Georgia and the Russian-backed forces.

The Russian military quickly repelled the assault, and pushed further into Georgia before a ceasefire was reached. Russia pulled back, but continued to build up its military presence in both South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another disputed region.

Russia has recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent and has vowed to protect them. But Georgia and the most of the international community still view them as part of Georgia, and the report’s author, Swiss diplomat Heidi Tagliavini, said Russia’s recognition “must be considered as being not valid in the context of international law, and as violations of Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.”

The report also warned of a “serious” risk of new confrontation in the region.

Overall, the report appears to be good news for Russia, which had been accused by Georgia of launching an invasion. For Georgia, the report is not so good. Georgia had been seen as the brave underdog, standing up to its giant, aggressive neighbor. That definitely was the view pushed by Georgia’s president, Mikheil Saakashvili, who has withstood calls to resign over the conflict.

It will be interesting to see how the citizens of Georgia view this report. Salome Samadashvili, Georgia’s ambassador to the EU, has already made his government’s position on the report clear Wednesday.

“The allegations of my country have been proven. It was Georgia which came under invasion from another country, in violation of the international law,” he said.

Larry Johnson is the former foreign editor of the Seattle P-I. His blog is at www.larryjohnsononline.com.

Rebekah Denn is the former food critic for the Seattle P-I. This is from her blog, Eat All About It.

Enjoying a dish cooked “sous vide” at one of the many Seattle restaurants that use the high-tech technique? Chances are the restaurant is unwittingly violating county health codes. The King County Health Department recently notified restaurants…

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(Western Bridge)

Regina Hackett is the former arts critic for the Seattle P-I. This, from her blog Another Bouncing Ball.

In a video at Western Bridge, one child reads from Bill Clinton’s welfare reform speech as others unwrap what prove to be empty boxes in a rapid-fire blur. “Work organizes life,” observed Clinton, ringing the wrong bell. “Arbeit Macht Frei” (“Work will set you free”) was on a sign over a Nazi death camp.

Even without a Nazi echo in a piping voice, Clinton’s plan assumed a fantasy, as DailyKos noted, that “hard work stocking shelves will lead Wal-Mart to pay you more than $7.50 per hour.”

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In just the last two weeks, Joe Mallahan may have racked up a number of high-profile endorsements from business and labor. But over that time, opponent Mike McGinn has evened the race, according to the latest KING5/Survey USA poll.

Mallahan had led McGinn 41 percent to 36 percent in the last poll on September 15. Mallahan and McGinn garnered 38 percent each in the new poll released on Tuesday.

However, about a quarter of voters in both polls remain undecided with about five weeks before the election.

Mallahan, a T-Mobile executive, won the endorsements of the Alki Foundation — the political arm of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce on September 14, followed by the nod of the King County Labor Council and the King County Democrats over the next two days. The endorsements were in no small measure due to Mallahan’s support of the tunnel plan.

McGinn, an attorney and former Sierra Club leader, is best known for his opposition to replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

But McGinn has appeared more active in the last couple of weeks, releasing position papers almost every day on issues ranging from public safety to land use.  With voters only having had a vague notion of  both candidates after the primary, McGinn has been introducing himself around the city through a number of town hall meetings. His next will be at 8 p.m. Friday night at University House, 4400 Stone Way in Wallingford.

The KING5 poll showed McGinn has gained in most categories, but especially among Democrats and women.

According to the poll:

• Among Democrats, Mallahan had led by 3, now trails by 7, a 10-point shift to McGinn.
• Among Republicans, Mallahan had led by 21, now leads by 13.

• dAmong men, Mallahan had led by 3, now trails by 1, a 4-point shift to McGinn.

• Among women, Mallahan had led by 8, now leads by 1, a 7-point shift to McGinn.

• Among the youngest voters, McGinn has widened his lead from 6 points to 19.

• Among voters age 35 to 49, Mallahan had led by 3, now trails by 3, a 6-point shift to McGinn.