All,

The Poor People's Union needs everyone's help to keep up the momentum we gained from the downtown Camp Quixote action. We got a lot of people's attention and now it's time to push our platform further.

There is a group meeting to begin planning for a Service Review Council, this group is made up primarily of service providers and other advocates, thus far, I am the only member of the PPU who has shown up. The future of services in our area depends on how this process is established, and I don't want to see it hijacked by bureaucrats. The voice of the people is needed.

There is also much work to be done to assist Camp Quixote in finding a permanent piece of land.

Camp Quixote is entering into the natural process of separating itself from the PPU and needs everyone's support and efforts to make this transition seamless. This could come in many different forms. Provide a meal for the camp once a week. If you have experience with consensus decision making, go give a training. Most importantly, stay connected with the campers, keep in touch with them. Emotional support is the most empowering kind.

The PPU is also planning MayDay activities, and we want to get as many people together as possible and make MayDay as fun and safe as possible.

If you would like to be a part of any of this planning, please contact me at 359.3293.

Thank you,

Rob Richards

Olympia, Washington – The Poor People’s Union (PPU) won a standoff with city officials last month. Despite ongoing objections, 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.

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- Homeless people who set up a tent city to protest their plight pulled up stakes under police orders Friday and vacated their temporary home in a vacant city lot. Still homeless, they moved to a church's property.

"There was a little grumbling, but not a whole lot," Olympia police Cmdr. Tor Bjornstad said. "They did a really good job of packing, cleaning up and leaving."

Bjornstad said about 20 officers, along with city maintenance workers, approached the camp at about 6 a.m. and told residents they had to leave. No arrests were made, and no citations were issued, he said.

Read the whole article here.

Starting at noon today we are having an open house potluck welcoming the community down to spend the day with us. We've got a couple of bands playing this afternoon (The Pasties and I believe the Hail Caesar's as well) and food and festivities planned all day.

I can't begin to describe what an amazing experience the past few days have been. The outpouring of support from the community; businesses, churches, and individuals; has been what has fueled us these extremely cold and damp days. There hasn't been a single problem at the camp since we set up, people have bonded together to make this not just another place to lay their heads, but a home and a community. It's a community based on mutual respect and the understanding that everyone has a place and deserves acceptance no matter who they are or what issues they're facing.

thank you Wally for giving the update. if people want to contact the PPU they should call 359.3293. do not call BRAC, those folks are busy enough without serving as an answering service for us.