Near the beginning was the Police Department's presentation: "Telling our story." The Chief of Police, Gary Michel, told of some of the recent accomplishments of the department, including the city's very low statistics for certain crimes, like burglary for example. I couldn't find information about the presentation in the council meeting packet (I didn't take notes, sorry.). The Chief's presentation made the police department sound very good. If all I had to base my understanding on was the presentation, I might think that there were very few to no problems with the police department's operations.

To be accurate, this person is not a panhandler, he is a street performer. Go check him out most evenings along 4th Ave!

Name: Richard

Age: 29

Hobbies: Music and Cooking. "Soon I'll be in an apartment and I want to go to SPSCC to study music first, then cooking. I already have 6 months of community college from Seattle, so I have a head start."

Favorite Books: The Bible, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Hobbit, Grimms Fairy Tales and poetry by William Blake and Jim Morrison

Favorite Movies: Apocalypse Now, Young Guns, Maverick, Last of the Mohicans, Legend, The Princess Bride

My wife and I recently went on a shopping trip to pick up some coats, hats, and umbrellas, as well as some hand-warmers for the people in the camp. We've decided that we want to be more active in the community, and to be directly involved in the lives of people who have the greatest need. We want to partner with groups (such as the camp) who are already knee-deep in the situation, and are doing whatever they can to help. And we want to help people get out of the situation they're in and work to equip them with skills and opportunities they need to get back on their own feet.

Read more from Olympia blogger Josh at Hungry and Cold via his newprotest.org site. Comments are enabled there.

Homeless Pinellas residents are moving into Pinellas Hope, a temporary "tent city" operated by Catholic Charities on 10 acres in an industrial area in mid Pinellas County.

The five-month pilot program was the multiagency response to last year's homeless debacle that thrust the city into an unwanted national spotlight. That's when St. Petersburg police caused an uproar by slashing dozens of tents belonging to the homeless.