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Monday, August 30, 2010

City / Chow / News Nobody Dies at Weiner War 2010

Posted by Riya Bhattacharjee on Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 2:44 PM

R.B.
Tom Douglas, two-eyed Chihuly

After a hubbub between a self-important chef and a self-important organization, a competing salmon bake (hosted by Tom Douglas) and sausage sale (hosted by the homeless-advocacy group SHARE) ended without incident this weekend. The events—on their face just about barbecues on opposite sides of Victor Steinbrueck Park—had become symbolic of a tension over cleaning up downtown streets and accommodating people who have nowhere else to go.

Douglas (AKA "T-Doug"), who owns two restaurants right across the street, is tired of seeing tourists and visitors being harassed by panhandlers and thugs who frequent the spot. "The city doesn't have any money for more security, so we decided to do something," he told The Stranger while grilling some corn. "I just want the park to be safe." His money will go toward paying for more park security.

But leaders of SHARE see Douglas's intent to beef up security as a threat. They contend that security starts with shelters for homeless people. "Contrary to popular belief we have no real animosity with Tom Douglas," said SHARE spokesperson Jerry Thomas. "We are not trying to get into a political wrestling match with this gentleman. He's concerned about park security. Our main concern is we have so many homeless—if you are homeless where do you go when the park closes at 10:00 p.m.?" Their sausages would go for more shelters.

Despite some past hard feelings, things were pretty peaceful. Both sides even went over to say hi to each other. SHARE managed to sell 160 hot dogs at $4 each. "Four dollars is what it costs us to have one person get a bed for a night," said Thomas. Douglas's team had sold almost 400 plates of salmon, which each cost $15.

Comments (12) RSS

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You know, I just really hate Tom Douglas at this point. And it sucks since I LOVE Palace Kitchen.

Posted by Cato the Younger Younger on August 30, 2010 at 2:47 PM

Its an open air drug market 50 feet from one of the jewels of our city. More security in this park please, because tourists and locals don't like watching crackheads shit in the streets during the day.

Posted by wisepunk on August 30, 2010 at 3:15 PM

I'll say it again: let's eat the poor.

Posted by JF on August 30, 2010 at 3:16 PM

@2, amen to that. It's also one of very few public spaces downtown where one can SIT outside. The behavior of street people was one of the main forces that kept me inside at my desk all summer.

Posted by starsandgarters on August 30, 2010 at 3:23 PM

Hey - I know!

Let's spend even more money on a Billionaires' Tunnel we don't need so we can cut back city services even more!

Posted by Will in Seattle

on August 30, 2010 at 3:43 PM

Tom Douglas does a lot in Seattle for non-profit causes and contributes a lot to charity. He also saved the firework show on lake Union for everyone. This is a stabby, unfair attack from the Stranger.

Posted by DM1 on August 30, 2010 at 4:08 PM

true story:
last week my car window was broken out and mostly worthless stuff was stolen while i was in the palace kitchen across the street.
although not the exact area they are talking about in this article it is close enough. it makes me feel compassion for mr. douglas. although a private salmon bake in the park where so many homeless native americans congregate makes me feel squirm-y.

Posted by seattlejenny on August 30, 2010 at 4:25 PM

I don't see how discouraging drug dealing in a park full of families is a bad thing.

Oh and $15 for salmon or $4 for a cancer dog? I'll take the salmon.

Posted by JesseJB on August 30, 2010 at 5:42 PM

So, Tom Douglas got to pawn his business- food, and SHARE got to pawn theirs- shelters.

Now that's what I call capitalism!

Posted by madcap on August 31, 2010 at 2:15 AM

Eat the Rich-It tastes better, why? It's Rich...:P

Posted by Doc98115 on August 31, 2010 at 4:14 AM

Please note: there is a difference between wiener and weiner. Wiener originated in Vienna or Wien (German.) Just because people customarily misspell it you should know that the right spelling is wiener not weiner (which is pronounced like whiner.)

Posted by Weekilter on August 31, 2010 at 12:27 PM

Riya, you're way off the mark here. Mr. Douglas is not a "self-important" chef. Do a little fact-checking into his numerous charitable efforts here in Seattle, and the fantastic way he runs his business and mentors cooks before you make snide comments. It's easy to sit at your computer and take stupid pot-shots at others, but I doubt that you're as connected to the community and doing as many good things as Mr. Douglas is.

Posted by anita772 on August 31, 2010 at 12:37 PM