Turco's Last Stand

My name is Ben Gant. I have owned and operated the 3rd and Pike Newsstand for 22 years. Currently in addition to providing local newspapers and the U.S. Constitution's the Newsstand offers free resources to low income and homeless people on street. Since reopening in November of 2022 we have resuscitated 33 people on the corner of 3rd and Pike and given away over 2,800 doses of narcan and over 1,200 free government provided cell phones. The City of Seattle has illegally revoked the Newsstand's permit and is attempting to remove the Newsstand while refusing to communicate or negotiate with me. I am in need of community support and legal representation to continue to save lives and serve my community in a place of tremendous hopelessness and suffering.

The Newsstand has been on this corner for 107 years and is the oldest corner Newsstand on the west coast. The history of this Newsstand is a gateway into American history and Seattle's unique labor and Newspaper history.

The Newsstand was founded in 1917 by Frank Turco. Turco worked the stand for 47 years until his death in 1966 at the age of 88. We was the president of the local Blacksmiths Union during WWI and Vice President of the Seattle General Strike Comitee in 1919 which was the first time in American history that an entire city went on strike. He was the president of the Seattle Newsboys union and an AFL labor deligate fo over 40 years, Turco was a militant labor organizer and champion of the working class who ran for city council 4 times in the 40's and 50's as the "Common People's Candidate " using his 3rd and Pike Newsstand as his campaign headquarters.

With legal representation, security upgrades and enough public support the Newsstand will continue providing essential services to people struggling on the streets of downtown Seattle. It is a beacon of light in a very dark place. If you are interested in participating in this project please contact me Thank you,

Ben