Reporter ISSAQUAH | SAMMAMISH
Friday, November 29, 2013
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Hello Mary Lou Meet Issaquah’s newest council member BY LINDA BALL LBALL@ISSAQUAHREPORTER.COM
KELLY MONTGOMERY, Issaquah & Sammamish Reporter
TENT CITY WILL STAY Tent City 4 will extend its stay at Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church through the holiday season, pending a city ordinance.
BY KELLY MONTGOMERY KMONTGOMERY@ISSAQUAHREPORTER.COM
It looks as though Tent City 4 will extend its stay in Sammamish to last through the holiday season. At the Nov. 18 Sammamish city council meeting, members discussed the occupancy of Tent City at Mary Queen of Peace Church and asked the staff to come back on their Dec. 3 meeting with an ordinance that would allow extension requests to be made. Tent City moved behind Mary Queen of Peace on Oct. 19 and was allowed a 60-day stay per the city ordinance. However, since day one they have had plans to ask for a 30-day extension. If approved, they will be able to stay at Mary Queen of Peace until Jan. 17. “Every step of the way, there has been favorable support,” said Rev. Kevin Duggan, pastor at Mary Queen of Peace, who explained that when the process began, it became clear that if they didn’t host Tent City, the residents wouldn’t have anywhere to go. “We just couldn’t say no.” Rev. Duggan said Tent City
“It’s brought people together” Tent City. KELLY MONTGOMERY, Issaquah & Sammamish Reporter has caused no problems. In fact, it has been a great thing for the community. Rev. Duggan said the Skyline High School boys lacrosse team came the day Tent City moved in to help with set-up, and other community members have stepped forward to help out. “It’s brought people together,” Rev. Duggan said. Rev. Duggan explained that every time Tent City goes somewhere, there tends to be some resistance from some people and openness from others. But once people experience it, there are far less concerns. “I would like to think, to
– Rev. Kevin Duggan Duggan said. “Most of the people here have jobs and go to work,” he said. “The reason they are homeless is not because they are lazy. It’s because of circumstances.” Christine Johnson, Tent City 4 executive committee member, said she has enough money to move out of Tent City, but she doesn’t want to.
some extent, it’s an educational experience,” he said. “It puts a human face on homelessness, so it becomes more than a statistic.” Rev. Duggan said there are many reasons why people want to live in Tent City, from being in a community to having people look out for you. There is a strict code of conduct, meaning no drugs, weapons or violence, along SEE TENT CITY, 6 with security, so it’s a much Best Happy Hour on the Eastside! better option y jo n E compared to fending for & visit The New Shops At Issaquah Highlands! yourself on Purchase Your Discounted Bring in your the street, Rev. REGAL CINEMAS® or REGAL CINEMAS®
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One of the tents that sits next to scripture behind Mary Queen of Peace in Sammamish
Mary Lou Pauly will be seated on the Issaquah City Council for her first meeting on Mary Lou Pauly Monday, Dec. 2, replacing Joe Forkner who was appointed to the seat when Mark Mullet was elected to the state Senate in Nov. 2012. Forkner, who unsuccessfully ran for mayor this November, could still be back on the council if he chooses to apply for and be selected to the seat which will now be vacated by Fred Butler, the Mayor-elect. Pauly ran unopposed for Position No. 1 on the council, and is about to begin her first experience as an elected official. Soft spoken and direct, Pauly and her husband, Karl, moved to Issaquah in 1993. Originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, the couple and their grown children — Karl James, 27 and Kaela, 24 — became U.S. citizens 7 years ago. A recession in Canada led them here, where Karl could
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