• Evening Magazine
  • :
  • Up Front
  • :
  • Ciscoe
  • :
  • NW Backroads
  •         
  • :
  • Member Center
  • :
  • Offers
Looking for a great local job or a great local employee? Try our employment classifieds.

»Click here to search for jobs
Use our home search
or condo map
to locate your next home
»Find a home
»Explore new condos
Sell your stuff by
posting a free ad.

»Browse the listings
»Post a free ad
Comments | Recommended

'Nickelsville' campers evicted again

11:15 PM PDT on Wednesday, October 1, 2008

By LORI MATSUKAWA / KING 5 News

Video: Homeless campers moving again
Larger screen

SEATTLE - The clock was ticking again for campers at a South Seattle homeless camp dubbed "Nickelsville" to move.

The camp's name is a jab at Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, who has been cracking down on illegal homeless encampments throughout the city.

Wednesday evening, the evicted band of homeless people pitched their tents at their new location – in Seattle's Discovery Park. They say they have permission to be there, but didn't disclose the spot sooner for fear that others might try to chase them out.

They are now on former federal land that is leased to the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation.

This move capped more than a week of turmoil for the dozens of homeless, filled with warnings, evictions, and arrests.

Some of the homeless have accepted the city's offer of shelters. Others claim, there are not enough beds for everyone.

They say they're working with landowners to find a permanent location for up to 1,000 homeless residents. But until then, they're setting the ground rules for yet another new tent city.

The campers had arrived at their South Seattle site last Thursday after being ordered off city land which stood just a few feet away.Their new site was on state land but within city limits, but the city said it was an illegal encampment and had to go.

Campers said they moved out of respect for Washington Governor Christine Gregoire.

Last Friday, the city claims 14 people accepted shelter referral cards but never showed up at the city shelter. Residents at "Nickelsville" dispute that claim.

Seattle's mayor says there will be no more tent cities and he calls on other cities to open up shelters because he says homelessness is a regional problem.

Advertisement

KING5.com Feature

KING5.com on your Web site
Put our news, weather, sports and more on your site.
Click here...

Popular Stories