Recently I helped someone at the Mitigation Site downtown. He offered me stolen goods — power tools, “like new,” and phone chargers, “I have all types.” My emotions cycled.

During the storm this winter, my disabled neighbor was assaulted 100' from my house. He was jumped from behind by two men and suffered a broken rib, bruises and lacerations. The assailants were scared off by another neighbor.

A neighbor has chased men out of my yard several times. Due to theft, my shed is useless. The last lock was tampered with and could not be opened. I had to break into my own shed.

In early June, we had our first fire in an unsanctioned camp on Devoe Street and there have been several more since, including one under the 4th Avenue Bridge and one adjacent to I-5. Someone was shot in the “Jungle,” another person shot on the Eastside. There was a brawl downtown, and a man stabbed in Tumwater. In one week.

Heritage Park has been closed to many activities due to theft at the old brewery that released toxic chemicals into the water, costing millions of dollars in remediation. We have untreated human waste entering sensitive areas like Percival Creek and Puget Sound, both of which are also under threat due to the large amount of trash and needles being left by campers. Recently the city of Tumwater picked up approximately 1000 needles from land near Percival Creek.

Lack of respect

Hearts are closing because of what is perceived as either lack of respect or active disrespect toward those paying the bills and making the donations. People are livid when they see vandalism done to the port-a-potties under the 4th Avenue Bridge for which the city pays several hundred dollars a month. It is a middle finger to the taxpayers. It is meant to be. The lack of gratitude provokes.

Visible bike chop shops send a similar message — we can, and we will, steal from you, and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. Another middle finger. Message sent, and received.

Port-a-potties, at a cost of several hundreds of dollars a month, were vandalized within days of being installed under the 4th Avenue Bridge. The footings of the bridge have also been extensively spray painted in acts of defiance. Campers have broken many promises made to the city, including a ban on open fires.

It is not reasonable to demand or expect respect under these conditions. Recently a representative of the Mitigation Site brought a long list of (expensive) demands for additional services to the Olympia City Council, everything from free Wi-Fi, to solar power for individual tents, to a dog run and pet food.

There was no corresponding list of what the residents were willing to do in exchange for this aid. No concurrent sense of responsibility to the community from which they ask so much. No talk of contribution, financial or otherwise.

Hardworking people, especially those who struggle themselves, are understandably upset over this attitude of entitlement. Desire to help is trashed, the same as the port-a-potties.

Yet we still have a moral obligation to care for people, even when they are disrespectful and especially when they are ill. No wonder we have so much angst and anger. But to be even tacitly OK with this bad behavior is akin to submitting to an abusive relationship.

Information is power

If you want to keep the Olympia we all so deeply love, and the Lacey, and the Tumwater, it is time to make your voice heard. Speak. We need you to. Downtown businesses have a voice, homeless activists have a voice, but there is no organized voice from the perspective of ordinary people.

Elected officials need support to make difficult decisions. Good governance must be prioritized over politics and feel good actions. Both citizens and policy-makers need quality information. Not complaints or ideology, but practical, factual knowledge from those on the front lines of the epidemic.