Agenda items include the Honeybucket at Ballard Commons, introduction of the cop who's replacing Scott McGlashan on the Ballard community policing team, and the so-called "scofflaw mitigation" project, which pays off parking tickets for people parked illegal and camping in their vehicles.
My Ballard Forum » Open Forum
Homelessness task force meeting tomorrow night
(22 posts)-
Compass Rose
offlineMemberPosted 2 months ago # -
Compass Rose
offlineMemberAnyone planning to go to this? I might stop by.
Posted 2 months ago # -
Cate
onlineMemberI want to go but am at work till 7:00 tomorrow. If you or anyone else goes could you report back to us on what is discussed?
Posted 2 months ago # -
Compass Rose
offlineMemberIf I go, sure, I will take notes and share them here.
Posted 2 months ago # -
ynh98107
offlineMemberShoot. I just saw this post. I have a few things to contribute.
Posted 2 months ago # -
Compass Rose
offlineMemberOkay, I went to the meeting last night. There were close to 20 people there, most of them affiliated with various organizations - Central Ballard Residents Association, Interfaith Task Force on Homelessness, Compass Housing Alliance, LIHI (the organization planning to open the Urban Rest Stop), a couple of Seattle Police Department parking cops, etc. A homeless couple was also there.
Here's a brief recap of what was discussed:
- Safe parking project - there's currently only one Ballard church offering safe parking (Our Redeemers Luthern Church) and St. Luke's across from Ballard Commons is about to start offering parking for RVs, but only overnight. The church needs the spots during the day so the RVs will have to leave. One of the stipulations of the safe parking places is that people have to be willing to be helped out of homelessness, so apparently many churches don't want to take RVs because they're big and people living in them sometimes aren't interested in more permanent housing. Evidently it's very hard to find places that will take RVs. There's a person on the task force that reaches out to churches around the city to try to get them to participate in the safe parking project. She's trying to get more churches in Ballard involved.
- Honeybucket - the Honeybucket at Ballard Commons is coming back in the summer, but it sounded like the location hasn't been confirmed yet (that is, it may or may not be at the park). They talked about the need for public restrooms in central Ballard; apparently there aren't any. I asked about the Honeybucket behind St. Luke's and was told that it's for the shelter there and would be "easily overwhelmed" if it was used by the public.
- Urban Rest Stop - the URS planned for the senior housing building going up on 57th between 22nd and 20th is currently on hold and there have been a series of public meetings about it. There was one this week and concerns were voiced about noise and parking issues. ** The next meeting about it is on Tuesday, March 26 at St. Luke's at 6 p.m.
- Scofflaw mitigation project - this is a program under which the task force helps people living in their vehicles when they've received four tickets and are about to get booted or towed. They also provide help with vehicle title issues, mechanical problems, etc. So far they've helped more than 70 people, around 50 of those with money. Spent $6500 so far. The program's volunteer-run and underfunded.The task force asked the homeless couple what they need most and they said access to phones. This couple lives in an RV by Ballard Market. The woman said she's supposed to be on oxygen all the time but hasn't been able to in months since they can't find parking for their RV that has an electrical hookup.
That's about it. The next meeting of the task force is on Thursday, March 28 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
The Central Ballard Residents Association next meeting is on Thursday, March 14 from 7 to 8:30 at Swedish, conference room A. They're going to have someone from the city's department of transportation there to talk about residential zoned parking.
Posted 2 months ago # -
SmartsyArtsy
onlineMembergood synopsis, thanks CR.
I called it, saying the Honey Bucket was coming back after the winter. They even left the bolts in the ground for people to trip on. They'll put it back right where it was.
Posted 2 months ago # -
Compass Rose
offlineMemberYou're welcome.
I wouldn't be surprised if it goes back where it was (though I hope not). But it sounded like they're looking at other locations as well.
Posted 2 months ago # -
Compass Rose
offlineMemberInteresting that my purse post, which has absolutely no relevance in the life of other posters here, has gotten almost 90 responses so far and this thread - about issues that actually matter if you live in Ballard - has just 8.
What does that say, I wonder?
Posted 2 months ago # -
eric
offlineMemberthe purse thread is very entertaining, that's why! (although I was only entertained enough to post after the little update today)
also, possibly, because the homeless issues come up often and maybe people are burned out arguing about it? usually a homeless thread is good for at least 50 posts...
what do you think it says, I wonder?
Posted 2 months ago # -
Compass Rose
offlineMemberI think it says that Internet posters love a good pile-on, an opportunity to throw stones behind the cloak of anonymity. Everyone loves a good drama. Throw in the bitchy, sanctimonious comments and you have a clear winner. People love to be holier-than-thou, especially around these parts. Seattle is filled with scoldy, righteous hall monitor types. Count yourself among the horde, Eric.
And it doesn't take a lot of mental energy to post about a purse and a disgruntled customer. The important stuff, like homelessness, well, that's just not as fun, is it?
Posted 2 months ago # -
Big D
offlineMember"an opportunity to throw stones behind the cloak of anonymity."
Kinda like what you did when you started the post "Classic Consignment Sucks".
Posted 2 months ago # -
Compass Rose
offlineMemberThe owners of CC know who I am. I voiced my displeasure clearly, in person. There was nothing anonymous about it.
Posted 2 months ago # -
Mondoman
offlineMemberLets keep the purse comments to the pre-existing thread. I'm certainly sick of the back-and-forth.
I do very much appreciate the task force meeting report!Posted 2 months ago # -
Compass Rose
offlineMemberAgreed, Mondo. And you're welcome!
Posted 2 months ago # -
Gnomie
offlineMemberYes, a good report indeed. Thank you for attending CR!
The Honey Bucket should move to the place where more violations are spotted (let's keep a tally, dogs excluded).
I see most potty offenders at Marvin Gardens probably because there is minimal light.Eric - LOL, HA HA HA HA HA (ROTF,LMAO).
PS - My dog hasn't pooped today!
Posted 2 months ago # -
iPlod
offlineMemberI have an AKC registered ROTF,LMAO puppy for sale if anyone is interested.
Posted 2 months ago # -
Cate
onlineMemberCompass Rose - Thank you for your report. I'd love to attend these but am usually leading a parent group on fourth Thursdays. Appreciate the mtg date for the URS meeting and plan on going. I am surprised by the mitigation figures. If they have helped 50 people with money and they have spent $6500 that is only $130 a person. From things I'd read I thought it was much more then that. Having just today gotten a parking ticket (in the I.D. not Ballard) that is $44.00, that is "only" about three parking tickets a person. Somehow that is reassuring, past comments had led me to believe we were talking 20 or 30 tickets per person.
Oh, I got a Zappos delivery yesterday - I put the box on the floor. Let's see if I can get a matching picture.Posted 2 months ago # -
racerX
offlineMemberPeople love to be holier-than-thou, especially around these parts. Seattle is filled with scoldy, righteous hall monitor types.
Posted 2 months ago # -
Pokerguy
offlineMemberCR- The reason you aren't getting more posts is because the people here like to bury their heads in thesand and act like Ballard is some utopia. They ignore the vagrants, homeless, drunks, campers, sex offenders and assaults, religious groups trying to tell everyone how they should feel, and a city council that knows they have a dumping ground for all of the above. But hey, you can walk to Safeway, so Ballard RAWKS!
Posted 2 months ago # -
OingoBoingo
offlineMemberI also went to a Homeless Taskforce Meeting not too long ago and it didn't sound too different. Participants made up of like minded advocacy groups with the presence of a SPD officer with one or two homeless persons.
There are no solutions, just homeless advocacy.
Posted 2 months ago # -
Norge
offlineMemberThese organizations are religious pro homeless advocacy groups. They try to tell you that they are comprised of community leaders, businesses in the area, concerned citizens and I guess you could say they actually are. The businesses are Compass Housing (Lutheran), LIHI, concerned citizens that live outside Ballard -- such as members of the Interfaith Task Force out of Bellevue, or residents of Queen Anne and exclusive parts of Ballard that would not allow a Honey Bucket at their private beach. As of yesterday, the City does not have a site for the Honey Bucket. Someone from the Interfaith Task Force is supposed to be trying to find a sight on private property. I wonder if they are really trying -- when they want more Honey Buckets in Ballard.
I find it interesting that St. Luke's is hosting the LIHI meetings at a time when they open the homeless shelter. This is another goal of the Ballard Community Task Force for Hunger and Homelessness -- they want the community to come meet and rub elbows with their homeless neighbors -- or maybe they want to pack the audience with more pro homeless so their numbers look greater for their reporting on the meeting. If 50 people attend and 35 are pro homeless it looks like the neighborhood has no issues with bringing the URS or more Honey Buckets to Ballard.
Posted 2 months ago #
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