DISQUS

LokelYokel · 1 month ago

Charlotte. I didn't know much about the issue. I was at the city dock two weeks ago. A liveaboard was belligerent to me ( he thought I paddled too close behind him) as I paddled to the dock. I watched another liveaboard fill his water jugs at little city building / rental shack on the dock. I presume they use the toilets & trash there. I also see them using the dinghy tie up, trash and bathrooms at Winslow wharf (those services are only for paying tenants). I have never seen anyone bring ashore human waste or seen one of the permanent liveaboards come to the pump-out station. So that is my experience, but I wanted to know more about the "history" you referenced. I searched "Live aboard" on this site and found 1 article, your editorial, a human interest story about a boat and EIGHT references from the Police Blotter. Not a good start. I then looked at the 2 recent articles in the Kitsap Sun. The comments run more than 2:1 against the liveaboards. The consensus in the community and the law are aligned. I dug a little deeper into the history available online. What I wanted to see was some History of liveaboards cleaning up the harbor, helping neighbors, pushing for environmental issues, volunteering to clean up the harbor etc....Here is what I saw:
11-Jul Police Blotter Live aboard threatens another
31-May Police Blotter Unmuffled generator
11-Apr Police Blotter 3 women flee overboard vessel when drunk owner threatens them
29-Jan Police Blotter Live aboard reports theft of anchoring system
26-Nov Police Blotter Liveaboards dog bites girl at sportsman's club
9-Oct-08 Police Blotter Liveaboards reports theft of accessories from his bike he keeps at City dock
8-Oct-08 Bainbridge Review New owner sought for dilapidated, but historic liveaboard barge "Wicca"
POLICE BLOTTER GOES ON LINE -- Searching for a match between "liveaboard" and "police blotter" not feasible before this date
7/16/2008 Letter to Editor Haul out facility suggested for use by liveaboards
7/12/2008 Letter to Editor Liveaboards are important too -CHARLOTTE ROVELSTAD
6/26/2008 Bainbridge Review Dilapated houseboat "Wicca" to be demolished
5/21/2008 Bainbridge Review Good News for liveaboards, DNR wont enforce
3/29/2009Bainbridge Review Liveaboard Brian Lewis abandons his boat "Jubilee" to drift ashore at Murden cove
12/22/2007 Bainbridge Review Liveaboard speaks up at meeting to denounce Seattle developer's plans
9/12/2007 Bainbridge Review Some liveabords threaten to move away if Open water marina goes through. Reporter is generally sympathetic
9/5/2007 Bainbridge Review Marina plan draws fire. 3 quotes from both sides of the issue
4/29/2007 Bainbridge Review Council weighs in on 50 boat marina with 13 liveaboards spots
11-Jul Bainbridge Review Harbor Plan goes forward
7/6/2007 Letter to Editor M. Martin decides to move ashore. General Class discussions on liveaboard lifestyle

My experience, the real history, the community consensus and the law all line up.

B.A.M.B.I. · 1 month ago

Well written letter. Very much to the point.

Hunter · 1 month ago

Yokel,
There are many unreported incidents that don't make it to the blotter. If you research the amount of money that both the city and the state were forced to spend on junk boats that sink in the harbor, it is in many thousands of dollars. I also recall a liveaboard attmpting to murder one of our police officers not too long ago, and that wasn't his first, second, third... brush with the legal system. I also find it strange that the majority seem to not really care for or want anything to do with the government. Yet seem to make full use of the tax subsidized amenities (trash dumpsters, water, restrooms, showers, etc) that they don't pay into. Nothing in life is free my friends.

I guess bottom line is for me, the liveaboards need to follow the law just like the rest of us. Perhaps the city should let the state take over. Let BAMBI knock their heads against that government wall instead of the non-stop slamming of a city that is one of the very few in the state that works to keep them in the harbor long-term.

LokelYokel · 1 month ago

Hunter I hear you. A) Can you find out the name of the guy who threatened the cops? Publish it. It is a myth that they are (all) good guys. Some are, most ain't. B) Try to convince the K. Sun or B. Review to do a reader poll. When they have done these, it has been informative. BAMBI knows they are not in compliance with the law, when they find out that the majority of people dont want them here - maybe they will voluntarily comply and ship out.

Hunter · 1 month ago

Yokel,
His name was Ralph F. Leonard, got an over 20 year prison sentence.