Encampment Fires Continue, KCRHA Board Member “doesn’t know” if Living Conditions are Compassionate

Massive Liability

Tuesday morning, another INFERNO at the King Street #Chinatown-ID homeless encampment. This is the same @WSDOT property that’s now been the scene of nearly a dozen fires this month alone. In my over 20 year journalism career, I have never witnessed so many elected officials fail a community like this. Asian American immigrant business owners continue to be victimized. High school students at Summit Sierra are now walking home past this disaster. @KC_RHA CEO Marc Dones continues to offer no timeline on when it will be cleared. @CMTammyMorales being called out again for being MIA. Kim Nguyen owns Vuu’s Beauty School right next to this dangerous encampment. Nguyen is challenging Tammy Morales to show up for her CID community. @GovInslee @kcexec @WAStateCommerce @MayorofSeattle #Seattle

Testy Exchange

As the #Chinatown-ID fire was being put out Tuesday morning at the King Street encampment, @KC_RHA, the Lived Experience Coalition (LEC) and outreach workers were giving out food and supplies, and trying to help homeless people get IDs across the street. All positive. But Roosevelt McQuarter wasn’t too fond of some of my questions. McQuarter is with the LEC and was a designated alternate at the last KCRHA Governing Committee meeting. Parents at John Stanford International School accused him of being “tone deaf” after he rebuked some of them for using “stigmatized language” to describe the homeless. #Seattle

Earlier This Month

During a February @KC_RHA Governing Committee meeting, parents railed on officials about a dangerous homeless encampment left to flourish under the Ship Canal Bridge. But after public comment, Roosevelt McQuarter cautioned them from using “stigmatized language” about homeless. Some parents reached out to me saying he was “tone deaf.” #Seattle

King St. Problems

Along with challenges for #Chinatown-ID businesses and residents, Summit Sierra High School is caught in the middle of open air drug deals, homeless encampment infernos, and a black market that’s thriving. This is just the latest crisis threatening the safety of students in #Seattle. City, county, and state leaders remain paralyzed as near term solutions fail. I’ve been documenting this unfolding disaster for months. @KC_RHA @WSDOT @GovInslee @MayorofSeattle @CMTammyMorales @kcexec @WAStateCommerce

WSDOT Encampment Fires in Chinatown-ID

#CHINATOWN-ID: Remember this one on February 3rd? Major liability for @WSDOT. This problematic camp blamed for fires and shootings is still here. @KC_RHA @GovInslee @MayorofSeattle @WAStateCommerce @CMTammyMorales#Seattle

Fire City

This Super Bowl Sunday encampment inferno on @WSDOT property is victimizing #Chinatown-ID. No sign of @CMTammyMorales coming out to support her district. This is connected to the King St. encampment. Where is @KC_RHA and Marc Dones? @MayorofSeattle @GovInslee @kcexec @WAStateCommerce#Seattle

Multiple CID Fires in February

I have personally reported on at least 6 encampment fires this month on @WSDOT property in #Chinatown-ID. In many cases, it’s accidental as homeless try to stay warm. #Seattle @CMTammyMorales @MayorofSeattle @GovInslee @kcexec @KC_RHA @WAStateCommerce

How Much Longer?

One block away at a Jackson St. encampment on @WSDOT property, a meth lab is being blamed for inferno earlier this month. If a meth lab with weapons, drugs, and guns isn’t enough, what will it take for elected officials to deal with these extremely dangerous encampments on state right of ways? @KC_RHA @MayorofSeattle @GovInslee @kcexec @WAStateCommerce #seattle

Same Spot

A few weeks later, another inferno at a meth lab homeless encampment on @WSDOT property. How many more times will #Chinatown-ID be victimized before the city and state take action? @GovInslee @MayorofSeattle @CMTammyMorales @KC_RHA @WAStateCommerce #Seattle

Multiple Shots Fired

This past Friday night, diners in #Chinatown-ID called #Seattle Police after hearing bullets whiz by near the notorious King St. homeless encampment. Unclear if anyone was hit. Still no timeline from @WSDOT and Marc Dones/ @KC_RHA on when this will be cleared. This is the insanity Summit Sierra High School students and Asian American seniors have to face every day. Once again, no leadership from MIA Tammy Morales @CMTammyMorales or other elected officials on this public safety disaster. @GovInslee @kcexec @MayorofSeattle

October 2022

Fire erupts at a problematic homeless encampment on @WSDOT property in #Seattle‘s #Chinatown-ID. The inferno torched several tents. No injuries but business owners are furious and want #WSDOT to SWEEP.

November 2022

In response to a question about a camp along highway in #Chinatown-ID, @WSDOT Secretary of Transportation Roger Millar said, “When we see something starting, we get in and stop it.” Three months later, it’s still there. Watch @GovInslee throw Roger under the bus.