Ken Schram: Is Mercer Island snooty? Or not?

Ken Schram: Is Mercer Island snooty? Or not?

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Story Published: Aug 7, 2008 at 12:29 PM PDT

Story Updated: Nov 21, 2008 at 12:18 AM PDT

By Ken Schram

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SEATTLE -- It's been interesting keeping track of the tent city move to Mercer Island.

As usual, there was the ubiquitous display of paranoia from a group of island residents who feel that homeless people in their midst equates to the end of life as they know it.

There was hand-wringing and woe for the children.

There was consternation over the thought of blue tarps and the idea of disheveled men peeing on someone's rhododendron.

There was a lawsuit - still pending - and an injunction that failed.

Know what there wasn't?

No angry demonstrations.

No chorus of screechy voices.

There was only a relatively small group of snooty people who'd rather believe the lies about tent city then face the truth that hosting the nomadic homeless might actually bring out the best in them.

Mercer Island Mayor Jim Pearman said it best: "I've always been a little saddened by the reputation that we're a community of kind of elitists, or self centered. But that is not our community."

Keeping track of the tent city move to Mercer Island, I agree with him.

By the way, I'm involved with an auction that benefits the homeless of tent city.

If you'd like to know when and where, just e-mail me.

Have something to say to Ken? E-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com.

And be sure to join Ken, along with John Carlson, on "The Commentators", which airs every weekday from 3-6 p.m. on AM 570 KVI.

It's a lively exchange of information, insight and perspective with two guys who don't agree on much, but still manage to enjoy each other as they tackle issues of the day. Even better, callers are invited in on the verbal action.

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