Slog - Comments on New Neighborhood Group Forms to Oppose Casa Latina

Comment by Will in Seattle

Will in Seattle — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:48:18 -0800

Let's not forget that Judicial Watch still won't do anything about all the 935 proven LIES by GWB and his Red Comrades to get us into the Iraq War.

So, obviously, they're not patriots.

Comment by Fnarf

Fnarf — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 17:06:09 -0800

Is this like the "Lower Woodland Neighborhood Association" that opposed the skate park, but turned out to only have one member with a bee in her bonnet? Genji Shiga is the only member of this "group", I'll bet. And even if he's not, since when are neighborhoods "represented" by a handful of busybodies? 99% of the people in the neighborhood, ANY neighborhood, are too busy having a life to worry about crap like this.

But still the City, and the Stranger, pay attention to them.

As far as I'm concerned, the City should tell Mr. Shiga to go fuck himself unless and until he can bring, say, 100 people to the party. In person. At the same time.

Neighborhood associations are deeply suspicious things.

Comment by scott

scott — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 17:16:38 -0800

We posted on this yesterday and got a statement from Genji earlier today:

We believe that the JSCA is complimentary to the Jackson Place and Squire Park community groups, especially with respect to the issues regarding CASA Latina. For example, apparently the Presidents of both Jackson Place and Squire Park fully support CASA Latina's move to 17th Ave. S. and S. Jackson Street. We believe that such bias towards such move may have had the unintended negative consequence of preventing such community groups from informing and educating their constituents of all applicable issues. Accordingly, we believe that the JSCA provides a forum where residents and other stakeholders in the neighborhood can learn more about such move. We believe that regardless of your position on an issue, the disclosure of more information is always better than less.

http://www.centraldistrictnews.com/2008/01/23/dueling-community-groups

Comment by Fnarf

Fnarf — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 17:45:21 -0800

Yeah, I like that "constituents". Basically Shiga has appointed himself leader here. Odd that most of his constituents have never heard of him or the group that supposedly represents them.

Comment by yucca flower

yucca flower — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:29:41 -0800

"What is a day laborer center and why are there concerns? What are day laborer sites like nationally? What can we learn from other cities?"

They are a site designated by the city for (mostly) undocumented/illegal immigrants to gather so that employers (generally) in the construction or landscaping business can find them. Some are just like bus stops others offer social services.

They are a highly contentious issue in border states.

Comment by catalina vel-duray

catalina vel-duray — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 21:51:43 -0800

Fnarf, on the department level, city employees interact with "regulars" all the time: The person who will call DPD, City Light, SPU, and the Department of Neighborhoods about random, usually nonsensical, things.

When I was working the Ballard/Green Lake district, I ran into them all the time. Now that I am on the southend, not so much (unless they are all hibernating for the winter)

These same people tend to haunt the library and the neighborhood service centers as well, so everyone gets to know them.

But they still wield a lot of clout among the pols - probably because they have demonstrated that they know how to raise a stink. That's true of every city and town, however - it's not just a Seattle thing.

Comment by Fnarf

Fnarf — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 09:39:54 -0800

Yeah, I've met them too, Catalina. If it's just a crank from the neighborhood, that doesn't bother me. It's when a guy starts calling himself "we" that I get annoyed -- when he buys stationery with his "organization" on it.