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About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 28, 2011)
street roots 10 O c t 28, 2011 . J ■ J s L « ' Seattle eases rules for church homeless camps I am w h at I am Jeremy simmons I am what I am Afro American A native head of hair black as night As black as my African side I am east west south north A child of Oregon raised by Portland Sailed over by boat tied together with chains and hung by ropes Slayed for land given for any man Two survivors deceived by one liar I am a survivor walking along streets filled with secrets beneath Ripped from my culture my siblings the jungle in the heat L ost. . . stolen . . . languages and traditions that wasn’t up for thé keep Don’t know my real name but I am what I am The sun in the sky to depths of the moon at night The triangle trade is where I was made Those were the days that everything changed Those were the days that seem like they’ll never go away I am here and my bloodline was once there and somewhere near. T h e D ro n e an d th e T our B u s By Mike Hastie - While Americans take a tour bus to see the nation’s capital, a U.S. Government drone heads to Afghanistan to kill enemies of the American Empire. The pilot of the drone is somewhere in Arizona, believing that drones save American lives. A man about to receive a lethal dose for committing . mass murder 10 years ago says a prayer for his country. Mike Hastie was a U.S. Army medic in Vietnam SISTERS OF THE ROAD SSEA Announcing! Nominations for the Genevieve Nelson Nonviolence and Economic Human Rights Award are now open! Candidates for this award will have demonstrated a capacity for creative, compassionate nonviolence and demonstrated action towards creating a world where resources are shared based on need, not greed and violence. . must also provide space to keep perishable food cold and products to keep thè area eligious organizations in Seattle that clean. In a statement released after the vote, want to host a homeless encampment Mayor Mike McGinn said, “I want to thank no longer have to seek a permit, thanks to a new law that some homeless the City Council for recognizing the fundamental right of religious institutions to people oppose. care for people in need.” The Seattle City Council gave its blessing But not everyone agrees with the Oct. 3 to an ordinance that allows Seattle religious organizations to provide shelter to legislation. Jarvis Capucion, a resident of Tent City 3, an encampment or tent city without says that while the law makes it easier for obtaining a perm it The legislation, originally proposed by Councilmember Nick religious organizations, the requirement for private or public groups to obtain a permit Licata, passed with a unanimous vote. The new legislation eases the burden on to house an encampment creates a burden. churches, synagogues and mosques seeking Capucion, who is also a board member of SHARE/WHEEL, a grassroots organization to use their property to fulfill a mission to support homeless people. Churches are also of homeless and formerly homeless people, no longer required to notify neighbors of says there aren’t enough churches in plans to host an encampment Secular Seattle that have the space to host a camp. entities that wish to create space for Earlier this month, SHARE had to close encampments are still required to obtain a 15 shelters when the Federal Emergency permit Management Agency, or FEMA, cut its While all churches can now forego funding. The funding has since been permits to host camps, only encampments restored to reopen the shelters, but has yet deemed as “transitional” can put down to arrive. ‘ stakes on religious property. The legislation Capucion has seen space issues play out defines a transitional encampment as one at Tent City 3, where he’s lived for the past with tents or similar shelter that provides 18 months. The encampment — which “temporary quarters for sleeping and signed à consent decree with the city in shelter.” Even though the encampment may 2002 that allows it to be hosted by either only provide temporary quarters, there is religious or private groups without a permit no limit onhow long an encampment can until March 2012 — has shuffled from stay on church grounds. churches in Seattle to those in Shoreline An encampment must meet a number of and Tukwila. At the end of this month, Tent requirements: t can house no more than City 3 will move to Shoreline once again, to 100 people; the site must provide toilets, a church that has room for its 100 residents. running water and garbage collection; and it The new law goes into effect Nov. 2. must observe all health requirements issued Republished from Real Change Newspaper, by the city, county and public health Seattle, Wash. department. Cooking facilities, if provided, BY ROSETTE ROYALE C O N T R IB U T IN G W R IT E R R CENTRAL CITY concern Changing Lives All are invited to submit nominations for leaders in our community who have made an impact in the areas o f Nonviolence and Economic Human Rights. Go to Building Communities sistersoftheroad.org!programs/nvehr-award/ Creating Opportunities for our nonviolence and economic human rights statement; and to print a nomination form. Nominations due Friday, Nov..t8, 2011. Nomination forms can be emailed to: award@sistersoftheroad.org; mailed or dropped off at 133 NW 6th Ave., Portland, OR 97209 www.centralcityconcern.org 503-294-1681 coffee bean IN T E R N A T IO N A L ® We tip our mugs to Coffee Bean International for donating coffee to Street Roots and keeping our vendors warm in the morning! Thank you! M issed a n issue? Check out our b lo g a twww.streetroots. wordpress.com, or join us on Facebook a n d stay up on w hat’s happening.
