BUILDING WARRIORS
Who says Amerika no longer creates anything of value?
If ever a vote was held asking Who Is the Most Decent Human on the Planet, my vote without question, would go to Ben Gant. Now if the reverse competition were held, Who is the Most Corrupt, the Most Inhuman Human, I would have a very hard time picking a top candidate. But if it were pick a group, I think I might go with bureaucrats. For me, Adolf Eichmann stands out as the epitome of bureaucracy. “I am just doing my job”. That’s the rallying cry of those without conscience, those who take no responsibility for their choices, those who delight in enforcing the inhumanity of their higher-ups.
Everything that Ben cites in his letter would be considered a deficit in the eyes of those without a soul. The City of Seattle, to my knowledge, has never had an interest in holding on to its history. Last time I visited, I could not recognize a single thing in the area in which I had lived for at least ten years. And, for me, it was not an improvement. It looked like something out of the movie “Metropolis”, cold, forbidding and anti-human. And the downtown area has been turned into a tent city for the disturbed and addicted, and as in many Amerikan cities these days, very well populated with these, the victims of the legal and illegal drug cartels as well as the cold indifference to those, impoverished, born into the end stages of capitalism convoluted into the not so early stages of fascism. I suspect those with the money and the power, have other plans for the destitute, for those most victimized by the lunatics in charge of this asylum.
What the Seattle bureaucracy doesn’t get is with all their obstructionism, they have been building a warrior named Ben Gant. Hopefully, there are many more like him. I wish him success in all his endeavors as well as the best outcome for his present and future. And for those who read this, please share Ben’s letter. I know this is hardly the only injustice going around these days. In fact, Seattle bureaurcrats have been keeping themselves busy lately destroying community gardens. I believe that all of it is connected to the agenda of destroying our communities, destroying our families, our connectedness, our humanity. Divide and conquer never gets old. So again, please share Ben’s letter.
Attention Seattle City Council:
My name is Ben Gant. I have owned and operated the Historic 3rd and Pike Newsstand in downtown Seattle for the last 22 years.
As you know 3rd avenue in downtown Seattle has been in a nearly apocalyptic state for the last four plus years. After repairing the Newsstand from numerous break ins and looting during the downtown riots of 2020 and drug fueled sidewalk encampments of 2021. I reopened the Newsstand in November of 2022 with the idea of providing access to vital resources to people suffering on the streets of downtown Seattle.
In addition to selling multiple publications. The Newsstand has given away over 1,200 copies of the Emerald City Resource Guides provided by the Real Change Newspaper. I have partnered with the King County Condom Distribution Program and we have given away over 10,000 free condoms to people, many of whom are victims of sex trafficking.
In December of 2022 I partnered with Olga Sagen owner of Piroshky Piroshky, she began donating her end of the day leftover Piroshky's to me to pass out to homeless and low income people at the 3rd and Pike Newsstand. Olga and I provided over 1,500 hot meals to hungry people on 3rd and Pike. In April of 2023 I transferred the duty of passing out Piroshky's to the City's We Deliver Care Team, They continue supplying Piroshky's to hungry people on 3rd avenue today. I have formed relationships with multiple members of the WDC team, we refer people to each other to help desperate people receive the services they require. I have formed relationships with caseworkers at DESC, The Recovery Cafe and LIHI, and I am eager to participate with any organizations that are interested in providing resources.
In July of 2023 I became a service provider with the ACP and LIFELINE programs giving away free federally funded cell phones to low income and homeless people. I am now able to earn a living wage while providing desperate people with the tools of communication needed to better their situation, my fellow contractors and I have provided over 1,200 free cell phones to our most desperate populations on the corner of 3rd and Pike.
In December of 2022, I partnered with the King County Overdose Prevention Program, they have provided me with over 3,100 doses of Narcan, I have distributed more than 2,800 of those doses to people in need, and we have resuscitated 33 people on the sidewalk, effectively bringing them back to life sparring countless people from death and heartbreak.
On 3/17/2023 the Seattle Department of Transportation sent me an email revoking permit #SUPSM0000299 issued to me to operate a Newsstand on 3rd and Pike, claiming authority to remove the Newsstand under 15.04.070 of the Seattle Municipal Code. On 4/9/2023 I submitted a Director's Review appeal to SDOT. On 2/15/2024 SDOT director's upheld their decision. Yesterday I filed an appeal with the Hearing Examiner.
The Historical value of the 3rd Pike Newsstand also known as Turco's Last Stand cannot be overstated, the Newsstand has been on the southeast corner of 3rd and Pike for 107 years, and is the oldest sidewalk Newsstand on the west coast. The Newsstand was originally built by Frank Turco in 1917, He worked the stand for 49 years until his death in 1966 at the age of 88. Frank Turco was the Vice President of the Seattle General Strike Committee in 1919 which was the first time in American history that essentially an entire American city went on strike, Turco was a AFL-CIO delegate for over 50 years, he served as President of the Blacksmiths Union during WWI, and was the President of the Seattle Newsboys Union for almost 40 years. Turco ran for Seattle City Council 4 times in the 1940's and 50's as the "Common People's Candidate" using the 3rd and Pike Newsstand as his campaign headquarters. I have uncovered a letter from the White House in the 1950's addressed to Frank Turco at the 3rd and Pike Newsstand, as well as Letters from Frank Turco to President John F Kennedy, President Dwight D Eisenhower, and the President of the Miners Union John L Lewis, all addressed from the 3rd and Pike Newsstand. I have countless photos and newspaper articles about Frank Turco and the Newsstand dating as far back as 1908. In the waiting room for the Seattle City Council there is a book titled " Seattle at 150" it highlights 150 objects that tell the 150 year history of Seattle, in that book is a picture of the 3rd and Pike Newsstand in 1938. I have attached it to this email.
The City of Seattle's motivations to remove the Newsstand are shortsighted, and would take from the people of Seattle, a unique and irreplaceable cultural landmark and American history.
The actions of SDOT directors are in violation of SMC Chapter 14.06 UNFAIR PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS PRACTICES
The SDOT Director's decision to remove the Newsstand under SMC 15.04.070 is not correct. A more applicable and correct code is SMC 15.14.070 Authority of the Director of Transportation. I believe the SDOT director is attempting to usurp the SMC Chapter on Newsstands and using less applicable Municipal Codes in 15.04.070 in an attempt to gain leverage and violate my right to due process. I never received a hard copy of the permit revocation and notice to remove my business of 22 years, I feel this is an additional violation of my right to due process.
The 3rd and Pike Newsstand qualifies as a permit exempt Newsstand under SMC section 15.14.020 Placement without Permit -- Exceptions. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 15.14.030, 15.14.040 and 15.14.050, publishers and distributors may place Newsstand in public places without a permit. I have attached a document titled SMC 15.14.020 it contains the applicable SMC code 15.14.020 through 15.14.050
Additionally the 3rd and Pike Newsstand currently holds two permits, one is a mixed use permit number 85047 allowing the sale of prepackaged items as well as publications issued by the Seattle Department of Transportation in 2009. I have attached a SDOT 8/20/2013 statement of monthly charges detailing permit 85047 specifications.
The other permit the Newsstand was granted was issued by King County, permit # 24331 granted on 3/22/1972 to a former owner of the Newsstand named Dennis Hogan to "Build and construct a Newsstand on the southeast corner of 3rd and Pike." I have attached a copy of the granted King County permit.
In 2008 I brought forth the same decision by SDOT Director's that the Newsstand was in violation of Title 15 before King County Superior Court Judge Charles Mertel. Justice Mertel granted me a Preliminary injunction barring The city from issuing any stop work notices, or attempts to remove the Newsstand without Judicial proceedings. I believe Justice Mertel's ruling sets a legal precedent. I have attached a copy of the ruling.
After the ruling from the Superior Court, I held a meeting with the 2008 Seattle City Council and the City of Seattle and I were able to find a resolution resulting in SDOT issuing me permits to sell publications and a mixed use permit allowing me to sell approved food items at the Newsstand.
The Seattle Department of Transportation's sudden revocation of permit #SUPSM0000299 without cause, and the City of Seattle's refusal to not only negotiate, but communicate with me has drawn the interest of The United States Department Of Justice. On April 6th the U.S. Attorney's Office opened an investigation into the Seattle Department of Transportation over potential Americans with Disability Act (ADA) violations. I have attached a copy of the notice titled Gant Opening Letter. I have yet to hear of the conclusion of the DOJ's investigation.
I have never had the opportunity to engage with the City Council or any City departments and have a open conversation about the realistic possibilities of what can be accomplished by utilizing the Newsstand as a centralized location to connect desperate people with the available resources they need.
With zero funding my volunteers and I have connected thousands of people with resources they need to survive. We have formed relationships and gained the trust of many people suffering from chronic homelessness downtown. I believe that with the participation of the City of Seattle we could make a substantially larger impact helping people in need and restoring a sense of safety and civility on 3rd avenue.
I would like to meet with any Council members interested in revitalizing 3rd avenue and Pike/Pine corridor. I am not interested in maintaining the status quo on 3rd and Pike. I would like to institute some minor design renovations to the Newsstand to prevent future vandalism and prevent pedestrian congestion on the corner, while enabling me to expand my hours of operation and provide more resources to people.
The synergy of the Newsstand's history and my experience and relationships formed with people stuck struggling on 3rd avenue is a unique opportunity to make substantial progress in the much-needed healing process of 3rd and Pike. I have attached a copy of the Seattle Newsboys Pledge, written by Frank Turco in the 1940's which I find to be as relevant to the crisis on 3rd avenue as it is inspiring.
I have been in contact with multiple media outlets concerning this matter and will be sending them this email.
If you have any questions or would like additional documentation, please feel free to contact me.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Ben Gant
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I am so aware of what 5G, even 4G does to us. So are those forcing them on us. I wince when on pulic transportation seing a little one in her strollr holding a tablet in front of her face. I keep my landline for that reason, but as tech-ignorant as I am, I do believe those too are wireless technology, not the landlines of yesteryear. Still, emf will have to get in line as the reason for our demise. All the shit they put in our food - and I can't believe it, but they aree talking about putting mRNA into the already itainted meat supplied to Amerikans if they don't have the wherewithal to buy directly from farms, which is the majority of people. Looks like 40 is now the new 80.
I am sorry, but there is so little good in this world today. So much meanness, so much selfishness. So yes, I don't expect every person I meet, every person I don't meet, to be a saint, to sacrifice him/herself for the good-of-all. I shouldn't have published his letter as I have few people who even read what I write and the one who does focuses on the fact that he's distributing cell phones. And you feel that negates all the good that he's responsible for. Whether or not he distributes them, they're not going anywhere, at least not now. And If they destroy the earth, they'll have to get in line because it looks to me like the human race is on a speeding train to suicide one way or another. I worked for the City of Seattle. I also worked for the feds for awhile. I tried to do good despite that. I am but one person, as are we all. You have no idea what this man has been put through, but personally, I would like to see him leave Seattle. We all do what we have to do to survive,, and maybe we should all be saying the Hippocratic Oath with our jobs, instead of it just being lip service for doctors. For too many if they ever had a soul, it's long been dead (I think that's where bureaucrats come from). For some, in a world increasingly hostile, we manage to hold on to our humanity. I know you would like to see cellphones banned, and so would I. Ben is very bright and very aware, but being younger, I'm not sure he sees cell technology in the same way, most younger people don't.. And yes, there are things I wouldn't do for money, such as turniiing down a job working at a collections agency - or working topless in a bar in the 70',, both I consider exploitative an harmful but perhaps not lethal. So is distributing cell phones equivalent to selling zyklon B to the Third Reich? Or how about those poisoning our water with fluoride and god-knows-what-else? It's not the ones who make the money who do the work, it's working people. Ben is the kind of person who is very loved and has a lot of supporters in Seattle. Unfortunately, the bureaurcracy is not among his fanss. Every step he takes, there's a bureaucrat there attempting to trip him, stifle him or stop him. They have an agenda apparently to destroy Seattle and he interferes with that. They want him gone anyway they can -currently patently illegally. The City destroyed his liveliihood and, what they did is straight out of the Third Reich Playbook. He had a complete breakdown. He is doing what he has to right now to survive. He is not responsible for the breakdown of society. Even cellphones aren't. They are only a symptom. And, yes, I'm well aware of the harm they cause. The Hopi prophecies say we re in the fourth world, heading to the fifth. The previous three worlds were destroyed when people became evil and corrupt. Maybe it's something we can't change. I don't know. I know I can't and I'm pretty sure Ben can't and sorry, neither can you. I write to try to make a difference but hardly anyone reads what I write, not that it would make a difference anyway. Jerry Mander said that in a capitalist society the only criteria you need for putting something on the marrket is will it make a profit. He said that in a sane society the health of society would be the determining factor. And if that were the case, we wouldn't even have TV. Kali Yuga, which lasts thousands of years,, is said to be ending in 2025. The four Vedic Yugas go from heaven to hell., from complete consciousness to complete self-unawareness. So we are in the "hell" cycle - a short definition: " Men and women are steeped in unrighteousness. Every virtue has been engulfed by the sins of Kali Yuga, all good books disappeared. Imposters promulgate a number of creeds which they had invented out of their own wit. The people have all fallen prey to delusion and all pious acts have been swallowed by greed.". It's what gives me hope that no matter the stupidity, the callousness and self-delusion of our so-called leaders, somehow the human race will survive to thrive and live and to love another day. And those of us alive today, astrologically, have chosen this time because we have the strength to be witnesses to this debacle -or perhaps to help turn it around.... Like the prayer says, we should act to change what we can but learn to accept that which we can't change.. A miracle could happen and it could all change tomorrow. Our government gone, replaced by an evolved human race that finally wakes up. But it won't be Ben or me or you that can create that. It will be because it's time for it to happen. And whether we're here or not when it does, I believe it will.