HomeMy WebLinkAbout032425 email - Urban Rest Stop_ catch upALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Last monday march 17,2025 I went to A Jefferson Health Care Public Outreach at the Cotton Building on Water street in Port Townsend Washington. James the CEO gave a rah rah cheer speech
for the Hospital. Also in attendance was Kees "Case"Kolff, a physician, former mayor of Port Townsend and elected board member of Jefferson Healthcare. After the talk and audience
participation was over I walked up and talked to a group of people that Case was in. He heard me talk about the Urban Rest Stop, we briefly needed on some CDC stats, I explained that
the Port Townsend Yacht Club had an office that could be used for medical triage if we could turn the PTYC into an Urban Rest Stop, Jefferson Healthcare could use the office for triaging
low income and homeless folks saving the hospital money because people wouldn't have to come to the emergency room for health care issues that could be handled in an office setting.
I Explained how the PTYC had ADA showers, toilets and laundry across the street at Mom's. It stunned me how quickly Case agreed what a very excellent idea it was. I explained that
the city and the Port of Port Townsend think homeless people are a threat to the shoreline ecology. That the Port of Port Townsend and the city were blocking me from getting an application
for shoreline use because of this opinion about people who live in poverty. He asked me who supported the project, I said Jefferson County Commissioner Heather Dudley -Nollette and
Ben Thomas on city council. He said great go tell them to put something together to formalize the vision of the Urban Rest Stop. Then he told me not to worry about the shoreline master
plan permit for the Port of Port Townsend shoreline land lease that he would take care of it. I imma ran over to Port Townsend City Council which was in session. Heather and Ben were
there in the session. I spoke about the Port Townsend Yacht Club and the two docks on the shoreline in front of the PTYC building. How we would like to turn them over for the use
of small vessels involved in shoreline ecology restoration, shoreline climate change mitigation, seasonal harvest by indigenous folks with tribes in Jefferson County. I said we are
going to interface social and environmental justice. That Case Kolff said not to worry about the shoreline permit he would take care of it. Everyone knows that part of the Port of
Port Townsend Mission is supporting the maritime economy. This proposal does that while helping the shoreline environment. ADA accessibility to shoreline business and the shoreline
is a federal and state mandate to increase access to marginalized groups and individuals. The Urban Rest Stop and shoreline restoration program will do this. We want a 50 year lease
from the Port of Port Townsend. This is so financially efficient that it squeaks. 375,000 for the building, 4200 a year for the lease for a total of 200,000. Together that is 575,000
for 50 years. The Urban Rest Stop/Day Center is so financially sound it's a fire sale on black Friday at Christmas. The building was built in 1985 by boat building people. It is
super solid super sturdy, has wonderful bones. It is ADA accessible with Disability parking.
The zoning allows for a homeless day center in commercial areas where there are also hotels which there are. It is on Washington Street.
It was briefly a mic drop moment in city council. They pulled away for a quick executive session. But no one has e-mailed any opposition. It's been a week. I think at this point we
move forward. Someone needs to call Bill Leland so we can inspect the building. We need the permits Case agreed to work on the permits. We need the department of commerce to come up
with a Grant and we need matching funds. I expect this project will bring down the infections disease rate. I want all the folks involved. Fire department. EMT, National Guard, etc
etc etc. money from the County and Olycap for violating fair housing laws in the shelter, money from Port of Port Townsend for blocking access to a permit, money from the transit center
for always having their bathrooms locked during the day when they shouldn't and money from the AG and department of commerce for not caring about the housing violations, and the health
department for not caring about the spread of Infectious diseases for vulnerable populations. I want Riley to get back to me about this conversation about how the money is divided
among providers. Consumers want to participate. But they want to be compensated for participating because they are aware they are treated like a commodity. Unwanted space doesn't
make money, counties and cities love to fill unwanted space with unwanted homeless people, the more crowded because they make more money. They don't want to spend money on showers
sinks toilets and laundry because those things cost money. This project is very financially efficient, while at the same time providing essential life needs that government contractors
don't like to provide. This is not a show boat and this is not the Titanic the burden should be spread over all agencies. Hopefully we can convince some foundations to come on board.
Eden Bloom with her " Curating Empathy" wall panel project that displays a slice of life of people in poverty is very inspiring. It needs to be spiced up for the Port Townsend Museum
Display in August. This is all I can think of now. If you have questions please e-mail or txt me Cheers Maggie 253-988-3446.