Olympia development debate attracts threats and vandalism

By Jeremy Pawloski | The Olympian • Published July 10, 2008

OLYMPIA – A self-proclaimed nihilist group hurled paint-filled light bulbs at a business owned by Olympia City Councilman Jeff Kingsbury, then posted its opposition to his political views on an anarchist Web site in what Kingsbury called an "act of cowardice."

Kingsbury said he cleaned up the damage to his business, Capital Playhouse, in downtown Olympia on Monday morning. The vandals used brown paint, not human feces, as they claimed in a post on the Web site Infoshop News. They attempted to glue the locks to the doors of the business, Kingsbury said.

The post by a group calling itself the Nihilist Assault Group claimed responsibility for the vandalism Wednesday. Nihilism is defined as total rejection of established laws and institutions.

The post took issue with Kingsbury's perceived support of downtown condos and his initial opposition to Camp Quixote, a tent city for the homeless. It also took issue with Kingsbury's perceived support of a proposal to enact a noise-limiting ordinance in downtown Olympia.

"We will make sure you pay the price for meddling in things it is best to leave alone," reads part of the post.

Kingsbury said Wednesday that he has not taken a position on a proposal to raise building-height limits that would allow Triway Enterprises to build proposed five- and seven-story mixed-use buildings on the waterfront. Kingsbury said he's not angry; he's annoyed. He said he will not let the vandalism influence his political positions on downtown condos or anything else. "I'm alarmed that there are people that believe that this is acceptable political discourse," Kingsbury said. "It isn't."

He called those responsible for the vandalism cowards.

"People who want to have a conversation with you look you in the eye," Kingsbury said. "This was an act of cowardice."

Capital Playhouse has been in downtown Olympia for 22 years, including 10 at its location on Fourth Avenue.

The nihilist group's posting also says it's responsible for graffiti sprayed on the old Department of Health building on Fourth Avenue where Triway wants to build condos.