In 1986 Washington State operated a GAU, often known as give a bum a paycheck program
which offered $314.00 in easy money to any homeless person who could claim to live in
the state by claiming to be a drug addict, alcholic, or mentally imbalanced. The
California Wine Growers were realizing $12.5 million dollars in yearly sales from
fortified liquors in Seattle and had worked with the Washington State Legislature
to protect their vested interest that homeless clients had money to buy their product.
The program empowered homeless from all over the United States to come to Washington,
claim to be living under the bridge, and get instant benefits without actually having
to prove residence. This appears to be a large postal fraud. The US Postal Inspector
at San Bruno California explained they program might involved extensive postal fraud,
however they could not be bothered to investigate.
The organized criminal interest also wanted to use poorly operated homeless shelters in
the downtown area to drive down the value of property in and around the Pioneer Square
area. Nothing like a poorly run homeless shelter in the neighborhood to wreck business.
Once enough property changes hands, the human garbage can be dumped somewhere else. We
did everything we could to help them,right?
In 1986 I began a public awareness campaign concerning this program and soon encountered
the Pioneer Square Association and Casey Carmondy who works at a business called Semantics.
Casey took time off from her business to mobilize and operate a state wide campaign to
replace the GAU program with something which assisted the needs of clients. Casey did
extensive research and had to speak to the Washington State Legislature. A person really
has to have a sense of humor to appreciate the idea of a Washington State resident or
organization having to debate reform in their state in front of the legislature with a
group of business interest from California.
Casey next lead the national campaign to reform fortified liquors and was last seen
attacking the production of such materials. As far as is known Casey has nothing
against the homeless and her actions have cause an improvement in the plight of the
homeless.
Pioneer Square Community Council
600 1st Ave #105
Seattle,WA 98104
(206-623-1162)
