Camp Quixote to become the second city-sanctioned tent city in the US!

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Camp Quixote to become the second city-sanctioned tent city in the US!

Submitted by Rob Richards on Sat, 07/07/2007 - 1:09pm.

You can't imagine how great it was to wake up to this article in the Olympian.

Homeless rules up for vote in 2 cities

Matt Batcheldor
The Olympian

Tent cities for the homeless, such as Olympia’s Camp Quixote III, would be legally recognized and regulated under ordinances that the Olympia and Tumwater city councils are considering. But Lacey and Thurston County have no plans to join them.

In an unusual move, Olympia and Tumwater are considering the same measure at the same time. Olympia Councilman Jeff Kingsbury will bring the ordinance to the Olympia City Council on Tuesday and ask for a vote July 17. The Tumwater City Council will have a public hearing about it July 17, Councilwoman Karen Valenzuela said, and she wants to pass the measure as an emergency ordinance the same night.

Rob Richards's blog
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Congratulations!!

Submitted by Norm on Sat, 07/07/2007 - 1:29pm.

It seems like steps are finally being taken. Hopefully this gets some statewide or national recognition, maybe olympia can join portland in being a trend setter in this area.

You've all done a great

Submitted by Ehver Green on Sat, 07/07/2007 - 1:31pm.

You've all done a great job. It makes complete sense. I hope this allows you to compete for city funds and in turn state and national grants. Guess that may be tied to your non-profit. Either way, congratulations! It will be interesting to see how Mah votes. I think I know where all the other council members stand.

empowerment..

Submitted by bubba z (not verified) on Sat, 07/07/2007 - 1:32pm.

empowerment goes a long way..

this is a very positive & thoughtful step the Olympia City Council is taking..

homeless people that are part of the Olympia community should be treated with dignity, & in turn, can help the Olympia community itself stay safe too..

Community is what makes Olympia an extra special place..

Don't forget about Tumwater

Submitted by Rob Richards on Sat, 07/07/2007 - 1:48pm.

Tumwater is sanctioning it also, and are trying to do it faster. Thanks should be offered to Jeff Kingsbury and Karen Valenzuela as well, both of them put in some great effort to get to this point with the cities.

Also, we should not forget about Lacey. They need to come to the table as well, despite what they say they have houseless people as well. Perhaps the next Camp Quixote location should be at a church in the Lacey city limits.

This is an issue that can only be resolved if everyone is working together. The City of Lacey is unwise in their stance, because it only ruffles feathers; of politicians from other jurisdictions, average citizens in the region, and certain "militant homeless activists".

I have a hard time with that

Submitted by Norm on Sat, 07/07/2007 - 4:05pm.

I understood what their rep said. ie there are so many homeless we should be looking at ways to help more than just 18 or so at a time.

If you can only help 18, that's still 18 more than are being helped right now. Come up with a better idea but in the meantime help who you can. Doesn't that seem pretty easy to come to? What's the story about the girl and the starfish?

Don't forget about the people of faith

Submitted by Paul on Sat, 07/07/2007 - 3:42pm.

The biggest thanks of all should go to our brothers and sisters at Camp Q for showing folks how compassion paired with determination can bring about significant change to the betterment of the community. I hope all here are witness to the fact that not all Christians, because it is, after all, churches that have hosted the camp, have fallen into the fashionable political trappings of the American evangelical right. Plenty of us choose instead to quietly live our faith daily in authentic obedience to Jesus' teachings and example.

When I feed the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.

Dom Helder Camara, Archbishop of Recife, Brazil

Thanks for reminding me, Paul

Submitted by Anonymously Larry on Sat, 07/07/2007 - 5:46pm.

I am the classic skeptic in terms of religions, especially Christianity, as I've witnessed the hypocritical bleeding deacons first hand. I've learned to follow the teachings of philosophical leaders without the community because of my personal experiences and, I guess, my own journey.

It is wonderful to see people that can truly follow that which Jesus professed.

"There is only one race, the human race" - The Neville Brothers

questions

Submitted by pseudonym on Sat, 07/07/2007 - 11:18pm.

I can see how recognition as a community would be a good thing but aside from the minimal cost of fees, when I looked at the list of propositions in the draft ordinance that were printed in the newspaper, it does not look like a positive to me.

What am I missing?

On a practical level what does this ordinance do? What does "recognized and regulated under ordinances" mean? Why is this a good thing for Camp Quixote?

We share the same concerns pseu,

Submitted by Rob Richards on Sun, 07/08/2007 - 1:50pm.

After conversations with folks involved at the city level, I'm assured that there will be deliberation before final passage in Olympia. Tumwater wants to rush it through, hopefully they will have some dialogue with the campers before they pass anything.

So far, there's no printed language of the ordinance, once that comes out we'll have something to work with.

The important thing is for all of us who care to be involved and share our concerns via email and public commentary at city council meetings.

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