Time running out again for Nickelsville camp
SEATTLE -- Time is running out again for a group of homeless people camped illegally in the city of Seattle.
The group of about 100 campers who have set up camp on West Marginal Way Southwest is hours away from being kicked out again.
They've named their camp "Nickeslville", a dig at mayor Greg Nickels to highlight the city's lack of low-cost housing. The city has already kicked them out of one location already on Friday, and nearly two dozen were arrested for refusing to leave.
But many of the occupants of the "old" Nickelsville, located in a grassy field off West Marginal Way, moved next door to a parking lot owned by the state Department of Transportation
The governor's office made a deal to allow these people to camp here until midnight Thursday morning in the hopes a more permanent solution could be found. Although the city says their deadline is 5 p.m.
"These people--we're not going to evaporate," said resident Anne Rider. "If we're not here tonight, we're going to be somewhere -- on your door step...in your backyard."
The residents of Nickelsville say they just want a place to cook their meals, and a safe place to sleep and store their belongings. They say the parking lot that they're currently calling home is a good temporary solution.
"There is a need for this and we're just trying to be part of the solution," said Nickelsville resident Aaron Coyler. "I'm willing to go to jail as many times as it takes."
He'd like to see the governor come to the rescue a second time.
"We're asking the governor's office to just continue to support us as they've done," Coyler said. "We're planning to move to another piece of state land. I'm hopeful that something will work out by the time we move tonight."
In the meantime, the residents of Nickelsville are planning a vigil in Downtown Seattle later Wednesday, then possibly a march to Mayor Nickels' office to try and talk to him directly. Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis issued a statement to Nickelsville residents that the city will meet with them after they vacate the public property.
The group of about 100 campers who have set up camp on West Marginal Way Southwest is hours away from being kicked out again.
They've named their camp "Nickeslville", a dig at mayor Greg Nickels to highlight the city's lack of low-cost housing. The city has already kicked them out of one location already on Friday, and nearly two dozen were arrested for refusing to leave.
But many of the occupants of the "old" Nickelsville, located in a grassy field off West Marginal Way, moved next door to a parking lot owned by the state Department of Transportation
The governor's office made a deal to allow these people to camp here until midnight Thursday morning in the hopes a more permanent solution could be found. Although the city says their deadline is 5 p.m.
"These people--we're not going to evaporate," said resident Anne Rider. "If we're not here tonight, we're going to be somewhere -- on your door step...in your backyard."
The residents of Nickelsville say they just want a place to cook their meals, and a safe place to sleep and store their belongings. They say the parking lot that they're currently calling home is a good temporary solution.
"There is a need for this and we're just trying to be part of the solution," said Nickelsville resident Aaron Coyler. "I'm willing to go to jail as many times as it takes."
He'd like to see the governor come to the rescue a second time.
"We're asking the governor's office to just continue to support us as they've done," Coyler said. "We're planning to move to another piece of state land. I'm hopeful that something will work out by the time we move tonight."
In the meantime, the residents of Nickelsville are planning a vigil in Downtown Seattle later Wednesday, then possibly a march to Mayor Nickels' office to try and talk to him directly. Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis issued a statement to Nickelsville residents that the city will meet with them after they vacate the public property.