Anitra/nickelsville

Florida has had a successfully-running tent city for two years, with warm support from city government in St. Petersburg. The article mentions Seattle's opposite attitude toward tent cities, citing Nickelsville's experience; does not mention that, in spite of initial opposition from officials, Seattle's movable tent city TCIII has been operating successfully for nine years.

From the Real Change blog: a first-hand account of the Nickelsville move, from Cydney Gillis.

The 50 or so Nickelodeons had a final meeting last night before going to bed. Their decision--to move in the early hours this morning instead of last night in the dark, when people would be tired and could hurt themselves.

When they got up this morning at 3:30, they struck their tents and had another meeting, this time calling for men with strong backs to step forward and be the first to caravan in cars to Nickelsville's new, top-secret site--which turned out to be right back where they started last September, this time on the state-owned portion of the grassy lot at Highland Park Way and Second Avenue Southwest, where they are hoping the governor lets them stay permanently this time.

Photo of Nickelsville at new site. From the page: "The shelter is again on land enclosed by West Marginal Way Southwest, Highland Park Way Southwest, and 2nd Avenue Southwest. This time, however, Nickelsville sits on state land, an adjacent parcel to the city land it occupied Sept. 23 to 26 of last year. Residents and organizers said because they are on state land they are hoping Gov. Chris Gregoire will trump the mayor and let them stay."

Nickelsville, a homeless encampment in Seattle with ambitions to be an eco-village of handbuilt shacks, has moved to what the residents hope will be their permanent location. The state land they occupy now is right beside the city land they were arrested on last September. At that time, Governor Chris Gregoire tried to negotiate with the city to let the campers stay. Nickelodeons are hoping that she will let them stay now, now that she, and not Mayor Nickels, has the authority. (Photo is from an intervening stay in the University District.)

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels said on TV that most of the people in the homeless encampment "Nickelsville" aren't really homeless; he says they are "advocates" doing a political stunt! Tim harris of Real Change homeless newspaper took a video camera down to Nickelsville and found a lot of very vocal homeless people who can bloody well advocate for themselves! They gove the Mayor an earful in a 7:30 minute video.

"Nickelsville," named for Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, moved Friday afternoon from Discovery Park to a parking lot in the 4700 block of 15th Avenue Northeast, which is owned by University Christian Church.

Linda Brill of King 5 posts the first story covering Nickelsville's move to church property in the University District.

Being on church land seriously undercuts the City's threat to fine everybody they even suspect is helping Nickelsville, for every day that Nickelsville exists. The church has the constitutional right to use their own property to serve their religious mission as they see it. The only authority the City government has is to set health and safety standards, and those must be the least restrictive to protect public health and safety. Nickelsville already has in place all health and safety requirements that have previously been imposed on Tent Cities hosted at churches.

A satirical argument for moving Nickelsville to South Lake Union. First three reasons in the "Top Ten" list:

10. Exposure: Twice a day, you'll have a captive audience in Mercer Mess-mired commuters.

9. Ride the SLUT: Honor system streetcar essentially doubles the size of the ride-free zone. It drops you off three blocks from the Red Lion Hotel and its nightly free taco bar.

8. Get Comped: The city's looking to spend about $190 million widening Mercer street. Some of that money will go towards compensating owners of condemned property. Plant your flag, get condemned, and demand your compensation. No more getting kicked out for free.