Comments on: SHARE: Sex offender screening ‘un-American’

By: blueben

blueben — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:51:24 +0000

This is possibly the most ignorant remark I've heard in quite a while. The homeless are homeless because they're drunk or mentally ill? That kind of sweeping generalization is not only completely wrong, but speaks volumes about your prejudices and lack of information.

By: Bob

Bob — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:24:42 +0000

Churches have harbored many more sexual predators than homeless camps. Perhaps the wrong side is asking for background checks.

By: Take back our streets

Take back our streets — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 13:00:46 +0000

Actually this country was founded by the most educated, elites and Freemasons from Europe at the time. What you are saying is factually inaccurate. The religious people you speak of, were a separate group called Puritans, which did not drink or engage in prostitution. What we have walking Ballard today are low lives, not the next Thomas Jeffersons and Benjamin Franklins as you seem to believe. These are what on would commonly refer to as drug addicts and criminals.

By: ASDF

ASDF — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 11:32:29 +0000

Sounds good to me. Can we start right away, please?

By: Keep Seattle Sleazy

Keep Seattle Sleazy — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 09:15:28 +0000

THis country was also built by people who came here with ambition, drive and were willing to work hard.

By: Keep Seattle Sleazy

Keep Seattle Sleazy — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 09:12:37 +0000

Mommy and daddy made you move out?

By: darnative

darnative — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 07:18:27 +0000

How about turning Calvary into a community center where those of us posting here can meet, get to know each other and use the building to build community. Maybe we could take direction from a long standing community center, like Sunset Hill?

By: darnative

darnative — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 06:42:54 +0000

SHARE…Shame on you for making such a huge deal of doing background checks and possibly costing your shelter a place to stay a Calvary.
If your residents ever re-enter society,they will find background checks are a way of life and required often.

Background checks will be a requirement for many things to progress in life. Why not teach your homeless population that a background check is a part of life for many who want a job, get insurance, rent a house , apartment, or even to volunteer in some cases. Get them used to it and teach them to deal head-on with whatever might be on their background check . In my opinion, your refusal to allow background checks does nothing but hold your residents back and helps to keep them on the outskirts of society and still homeless.

By: darnative

darnative — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 05:29:09 +0000

A criminal backgroud check is hardly prying into your privacy. If you have no record, it tells nothing else about you.
I think it's a shame that SHARE is holding out on this small request, posssibly sending those 20 men back to the street.

By: Oloyuo

Oloyuo — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 05:17:52 +0000

This is so entertaining especially when one remembers that this country was founded by rejects. Europe used to ship out its prostitutes, drunks, felons and religious wingnuts to “the colonies”.
Later on, homeless and jobless people came to the new world (The Italians, the Irish, the Eastern European Jews)
Watching the descendants of whores, drunks, homeless people and other outcasts act “holier than thou” is just too funny. Sorry guys but having a mortgage doesn't give one class, breeding or moral superiority

By: Take back our streets

Take back our streets — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 04:55:28 +0000

Robert – If you love criminals and transients that are dangerous so much, make a group of friends of them and go on a cross country trip this summer. Out of Ballard, PLEASE!

By: Take back our streets

Take back our streets — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 04:52:40 +0000

Most of these new transients into Ballard are straight from release at King County and other Prisons. Ask them yourselves. They are more than glad to tell you. Ask around Bergen Park. They are all ex cons or wanted on warrants

By: Oloyuo

Oloyuo — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 04:50:01 +0000

By: Dad

Dad — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 03:36:19 +0000

Previous Q for Robert-
Thanks,

By: Dad

Dad — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 03:34:23 +0000

Are you saying that that you believe that Sexual Offender locations should be kept private? Yes or No will do-
Honestly just trying to get a read on your input with out sarcasm and innuendo. No other explanation necessary.
Thanks,

By: busdrivermike

busdrivermike — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 03:19:19 +0000

Actually bobby, I did, and you did.

Every time you get a drivers license or ID, the government runs a check on you.

Did you not know this? Where have you been? It is a brave new world with this law called the Patriot act?

Anything else I can fill you in on?

And didn't a homeless guy just steal a car last week, and get into a high speed chase with the police right here in Ballard?

Good to know you are keeping up with the news.

By: Robert

Robert — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 02:30:12 +0000

Security checks are required at airports because there has been a history of people hijacking airplanes. Are you aware of anyone hijacking Ballard and crashing it into a building at any time in the past? And, did YOU submit to a security check before you moved here? If not, would you please go to the neighborhood service office and tell the police officer there all about all of your business? The innocent have nothing to hide, you know.

By: Robert

Robert — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 02:25:43 +0000

I've never had to answer questions about my criminal history for any of the home loans I've taken out.

By: Josh

Josh — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:13:03 +0000

You are right. Forget the background checks for the homeless. Then, when a man gets beat up, or a lady is robbed, or maybe a kid murdered, we'll have more to comment about on My Ballard.

I live down by 8th and 95th, where there is often an encampment of "homeless" or transients camping out in their trailers and vans under Holman. I also have a young fiancee who is rather petite. I prefer that she be able to walk the few blocks to QFC without fearing for her life as she strolls under the Holman overpass.

The cops have been called to shoo these trollers away. You bet I'd rather those people have background checks and/or asked to move away than something happen to my fiancee. Because if something were to happen to her, or some kid in my neighborhood, you can bet I'd do something back.

Background checks are wholly American. As a college grad who works at Boeing and formerly was a teacher, I've always had to do background checks. When I bought a home - background check. Get off your theoretical high horse. This is not WWII or krystalnaught.

By: Josh Young

Josh Young — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:59:14 +0000

Come on? Do you know why homeless people are homeless? Mental and substance abuse problems. Don't placate to them and play dumb. Many are harmless to others, while harmful to themselves, but don't for a second thing there aren't a number of issues to deal with when interacting with a homeless camp.

By: busdrivermike

busdrivermike — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:35:54 +0000

"Discrimination, invasion of privacy, and presumption of guilt are un-American."

Has the author of this sophomoric letter been to an airport lately? Every American goes through a background check every time they get on a commercial airliner. Why shouldn't the residents of Ballard be able to seek reasonable assurances such as background checks and drug tests and mental health evaluations from people who are staying for free on tax exempt property?

"How many times have we had a problem with a sex offender at a SHARE shelter?

NEVER. NOT ONCE."

I am glad that they have never had a problem with a sex offender at their shelter, but I am concerned with a sex offender from their shelter leaving the grounds of the shelter and committing a crime while residing in the neighborhood.

And frankly, bold caps written in a communication is generally considered to be shouting, and I do not like being shouted at. So, I guess I will try to get over being one of:

"The real losers in all this are the Ballard neighbors who are trapped in their fears and ignorance"

Before I read this letter, I was against this shelter, now I am VEHEMENTLY against this shelter.

Maybe SHARE should be more POLITE.

By: Sweet Rose

Sweet Rose — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 08:01:20 +0000

I simply don't care for suburbia but to each his own. I tried it once and hated every minute. I have no doubt others feel just the opposite.

By: Stupid Hippie

Stupid Hippie — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 06:53:10 +0000

I agree Rose, you just mention Bellevue and I get hives. It's my sensitive, compassion-driven beliefs, I just step out of my Seattle bubble and it's rash time.

By: Mr. B

Mr. B — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 05:10:51 +0000

I looked it up, and found there is a level 2 living down the street from me. I'm glad I know, but I figure he's served his time, so leave him be, but it's good to know.

By: Sweet Rose

Sweet Rose — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:57:07 +0000

Reason #814 to avoid the East Side.

By: Mr. B

Mr. B — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:56:50 +0000

Hmmmmmm, I can pretty much say I don't agree with the camps idea. Giving people a choice to submit to a background check in exchange for letting them live here is vastly different then rounding them up and putting them into a camp. One's a deal, the other is well, pretty much prison. I could be wrong.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:48:00 +0000

So basically anyonne who isn't like you, or submit to your way of thinking is a fascist? Interesting point of view you have there.

By: Mr. B

Mr. B — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:44:44 +0000

Ditto to that man, the papers I had to sign for my mortgage were killer. I feel I had to submit to a background check to move here.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:42:19 +0000

But you do recognize there is a difference between “show me your papers” to someone walking down the street and “show me your papers” to a group of individuals moving in at no cost, nor responsibility to you or the neighborhood. It's not like these people are buying a home around here, they are asking a community to accept them and house them. Once the community had a condition, they cried “nazi”. It was not a requirement, they requested something, and the neighborhood asked if they would abide by this condition.

By: Julie

Julie — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:31:07 +0000

Mercer Island.