Comments on: Compass Center plans 7-story building

By: charliecooper

charliecooper — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:44:52 +0000

If you are “a fan of cold, hard data”, you should have no problem finding that information for yourself. Find the addresses of all facilities like the Compass Center and coordinate the addresses with the Seattle Police Departments crime statistics. That will provide you with everything you need.

The best “cold, hard data” you can find is actually going to those locations. Go at different times of the day and night. Smell around. Ask other people that live in those areas what they have experienced in those neighborhoods.

By: Michael Wolf

Michael Wolf — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:08:20 +0000

The agenda was printed in the Ballard News Tribune.

By: Michael Wolf

Michael Wolf — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:58:11 +0000

Having purchased the property, their next step is fund raising. They don't have the money in the bank now. Grant writing is one of their next steps.

By: Michael Wolf

Michael Wolf — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:55:39 +0000

The initial plan *was* for a woman's shelter to compensate for one that was expected to close. That one was able to stay open, so the plans changed to accomodate men and women in the Ballard site

By: shanedillon

shanedillon — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:47:30 +0000

Then please start by telephoning old redeemers so I am not the only one. You can also email and call Seattle Times/King TV.

By: Ballardite

Ballardite — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:01:19 +0000

HOW DARE YOU ASSUME WHAT I DO OR DON'T DO!
I am active, I do pay attention to the board and I do attend the community meetings. Yes, dear, I do put up a fight and no it isn't just on blogs.
Oh Margaret Bartley, Get off your high horse. I feel sorry for you – so full of negativity, anger, and SO QUICK to assume. chances are, you were just too busy “putting people in their place” on blogs such as these than to actually “participate”.

I would rather have the homeless people as neighbors than your angry self as my neighbor ringing my door bell ranting and raving like a lunatic.

By: shanedillon

shanedillon — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 09:24:19 +0000

I totally agree with you, nobody wants to actually do any work. This year when there was objection to the shelter proposal by the Old Redeemers church, I said I would pay for and put a table outside the church with flyers on the night of the shelter vote. I even arranged for press coverage, i gave my contact detail and asked for help on this website. Not a single person was willing to actually give their help. Not a single person.

Even the most frequent and vocal bloggers here wrote back and said they preferred to remain anonymous.

By: margaretbartley

margaretbartley — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 09:12:43 +0000

Why? Because you don't put up a fight, nor does anyone else. I don't mean whining on some blog, or sending emails. I mean like doing a little work, like finding out where Compass' money comes from, and which decision-makers are also funded by the same monies.
I mean like making sure the people on the neighborhood boards represent your interests.
I mean like going out and doorbelling your neighbors, and putting up a website with current information.

"Oh. That." you say.

Nevermind. Go back to your electronic distractions, your TV, your Tivo, your Ipod, your games, whatever.

By: Ballardite

Ballardite — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 10:13:11 +0000

Why does it feel like Ballard is holding up a sign that says, “Welcome to Ballard homeless people”. Yes I know not all homeless are drug dealers and drug users. I guess I'm just tired of being near the food bank, church homeless men's shelter and now this new building all within a close walking distance. I'm tired of people peeing in my yard. Tired of a way too much trash thrown in my yard. Tired of the yelling and fighting. Tired of being afraid to walk since some do make inappropriate comments. Tired of having Ballard be treated like downtown Seattle. This is a flipping neighborhood! Not a home for vagrants!

By: SPG

SPG — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 22:42:41 +0000

Please do voice your opinion.
I'd rather see this center go in somewhere else too, like a deserted island, but being realistic it has to go somewhere in Seattle if it's going to serve the homeless of Seattle. If the Compass Center can do what it advertises and ultimately reduce the number of bums on the street, then we have to look at the tradeoff as being the price we pay for the greater good.

By: Stripper

Stripper — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 09:14:49 +0000

“Homelessness is a lack of housing.”

OK, but what about bums?

By: Stripper

Stripper — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 09:13:21 +0000

So joining a wine club isn't a good start?

By: Freddie

Freddie — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 09:12:34 +0000

Sure you can…sell the stamps at a loss, take the cash, buy beer.

By: NoraBell

NoraBell — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 08:03:56 +0000

SPG for emperor! That is, if Silver doesn't want the job.

By: NoraBell

NoraBell — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 08:01:32 +0000

Once again, Ballard is not special. Not every shelter is in Ballard, in fact most of them are not.

By: NoraBell

NoraBell — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 07:57:45 +0000

You can't buy beer with food stamps.

By: NoraBell

NoraBell — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 07:56:06 +0000

I'll say what everyone else tells me every time I complain about another condo going up. They own the property. They can do whatever they want with it.

By: NoraBell

NoraBell — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 07:49:17 +0000

I read it every week. Good poetry, a challenging crossword, and well written articles.

By: Mondoman

Mondoman — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 06:39:26 +0000

Lars: “why shouldn't these folks get a chance to live in a vibrant neighborhood like ours”
Answer: because they are getting a handout — beggars can't be choosers.

By: Mondoman

Mondoman — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 06:35:56 +0000

Compared to other public meetings in the past 2 years, it had *very little* advertising. I've lived here 10 years, and only found out about the existence of BDC meetings last year. They may be well known among an “in” group, but meetings such as the Viaduct project and Missing Link and even the Design Review Board meetings are *much* better advertised to the general public.

Advertising the day of the meeting (as in the MyBallard article) is nice, but doesn't count.

By: SweetRose

SweetRose — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 05:54:54 +0000

One of the few things I have learned in my VERY long life is that nothing ever remains the same…other than human nature of course. Today I was in the CD talking to a store owner about the changes there. She said it is a very angry and also a very confused neighborhood right now. The old CD is angry and the new CD does not understand why they have not been welcomed with open arms. Cities grow and neighborhoods change. Do I always like it? No but sometimes I do like it. The CD is a perfect example. Look at the mansions built at the turn of the century that were made into tenement apartments by the 50s that are now being renovated back into mansions. In another 50 years they may well be tenements again.

We often make our choices in life based on the idea that the factors we used to determine our choice will never change. Plans are what we tell god to make her laugh. I do plan for the future, very carefully in fact, but I also plan for the future to be drastically different than what I think it might be.

Houses and neighborhoods are places to live. They do not define who we are.

By: SweetRose

SweetRose — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 05:43:02 +0000

Karen see list of shelters and areas
Roots : University District
Peace for the Streets: Capitol Hill
Downtown Emergency Service Center
Aloha Inn: Queen Anne
Catholic Community Services: CD
Sacred Heart: Lower Queen Anne
Jubilee Women’s Center: Capitol Hill
Teen Hope: Shoreline
Interfaith Hospitality: Beacon Hill

By: hopefulpoet

hopefulpoet — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 05:31:06 +0000

A shelter proposal is not happening here.
A solution for the homelessness social problem you mention.
Homelessness is a lack of housing.
This in not even a discussion of transitional housing with support services on site.
The proposal is for a 7 story building with 80 units of permanent housing.

By: hopefulpoet

hopefulpoet — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 05:20:56 +0000

Drink to the point of unconciousness, seizure.
Wear pants reeking of pee
Have every friend turn away
and you would earn this special priveledge.

By: Stripper

Stripper — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 05:08:26 +0000

Ever read Real Change? It's the “Hand-out Manifesto”…

By: Stripper

Stripper — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 05:06:58 +0000

“If those homeless guys had a room to drink in, maybe they would do it there and not on the streets. “

How can I get the public to pay for that for me? Sit around all day and drink French wine, never work. What a deal.

By: shanedillon

shanedillon — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 03:38:12 +0000

But is someones tax dollar is being spent on something they don't want (whether it is a war, shelter, health care, or wall street bailout) shouldn't we get a say?

It is not right to go against the majority to satisfy a minority.

I am all for helping people, but as I said before there are so many causes out there. Why does Ballard always have to have shelters and soup kitchens? Geographically we are a tiny neighborhood, how many people are we supposed to support with handouts?

I shall make sure I check the Ballard District site from now on and attend meetings to voice my opinion.

By: SPG

SPG — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 03:20:27 +0000

I like beer too, which is why I work and bought a house so that I could drink beer that I earned in the house that I bought.

By: SPG

SPG — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 03:18:54 +0000

I could survey my neighbors and see if they want the area in front of their house designated their own private parking only, but it doesn't mean that will or should happen. Not all things that are voted on or are the widely held opinion are the right thing.

By: stopthebuzz

stopthebuzz — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 02:27:49 +0000

Technically it's a representative democracy.

And the meeting is held the 2nd Wednesday of every month. If only people were interested in their neighborhood and how it works ALL THE TIME rather than just when something they don't like pops up. But as I understand it, we should have a say unless we have something else to do that day.