topic : Olympia Sidewalk Ordinance
March 2007
by Ray Kavick
My name is Ray Kavick, anarchist and member of the Olympia Poor People's Union (PPU). This is a short reflection on the first week of an encampment we set up in Downtown Olympia on Thursday, February 1. We called the encampment Camp Quixote. This piece is not that comprehensive, but gets the basic story out there. My comments do not represent those of the PPU. The PPU is a non-hierarchical group dedicated to improving the lives of the poor and "homeless" in Olympia by whatever means available.
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March 2007
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Camp Quixote in its original downtown location, at State and Columbia, February 7, 2007. (Photo by Sandy Mayes)
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March 2007
by Tony Zaragoza
The Poor People's Union (PPU) won a standoff with Olympia city officials. Despite ongoing objections from the City, the PPU won the right to reestablish the tent city, Camp Quixote, on a new site. According to one of the organizers of Camp Quixote, Rob Richards, "This is a major victory. We get to stay together. We get a place for now, and dialogue has been opened for a permanent site. We developed leadership, organization, and a plan. Now we're getting ready for what comes next."
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January 2007
by Peter Bohmer
The anti-homeless sidewalk ordinances passed [on] Nov. 28 are one more pinprick in the war against the poor, against homeless and street people. It is part of the ongoing attempt to criminalize the poor rather than to determine causes and solutions to poverty, racism, homophobia, the lack of affordable housing and the lack of meaningful work at livable wages.
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December 2006
Where the streets have no say: Selective enforcement keeps the Olympia homeless worrying about more than the yellow reign of patrons
by Wally Cuddeford
Recently, Olympia City Council members Jeff Kingsbury and Doug Mah co-sponsored proposed revisions to the city ordinances to discourage, what they call, "anti-social behavior" encountered downtown. The proposal would, among other things, make it illegal to sit, lie, vend, or solicit within six feet of the edge of a building. The proposal would only take effect within the downtown area, and has exemptions for people with disabilities, people . . .
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December 2006
I intend to oppose this ordinance for two reasons. First, because I believe it is based on a faulty assumption -- that our downtown is unsafe and that passing this ordinance will make it safer. Second, because passing this ordinance tonight is a divisive action when what this community clearly needs from its City Council is strong leadership that brings people together to create the kind of inclusive downtown that is welcoming to all and consistent with the vision of our comprehensive plan.
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December 2006
by Drew Hendricks
The Olympia City Council passed the amendments to the Sidewalk Ordinance Tuesday, Nov. 28, with Councilmember TJ Johnson voting against, and Councilmember Doug Mah absent.
Councilmember Laura Ware tacked on three amendments, setting an expiration for the ordinance on Dec. 15, 2007, pending renewal; allowing an exception for sitting or lying down in doorways between 10 pm and 7 am; and allowing "busking" (street performance) within designated areas, with a permit. Ware also secured a guarantee from the City Council to spend $200,000 to "fill gaps in services" to the homeless and . . .
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November 2006
by Pat Tassoni
Attempting once again to sanitize downtown into a shop-only area, certain members of the Olympia City Council have recently proposed a number of ordinances targeting the poor in our community. These ordinances include a ban on car camping, no panhandling, no sitting on the sidewalk, and a no sale of fortified wine. The city has considered such items before. The city claims it is responding to complaints from "Business," as presented by the Olympia Downtown Association (oda) and the Olympia Police, but as usual are unable to present any real statistical data demonstrating that . . .
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November 2006
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Demonstrators "sit-in" to show solidarity with those who have fewer seating options, September 30. (photo by Pat Tassoni)
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