Burien Mayor Calls Out King County Leaders for Homelessness and Drug Crisis

Thursday Morning Press Conference

In a public show of force, Burien Mayor Kevin Schilling blasted King County Executive Dow Constantine and Sheriff Patty Cole-Tindall, accusing them of allowing the homeless drug crisis to get worse on his streets.

Schilling also claims Cole-Tindall is refusing to return calls or meet in person.

During the Thursday morning press conference, business owners also unloaded their frustrations. Some are planning to pack up and leave the city if conditions do not improve. The downtown core is littered with tents and there’s also a massive encampment next to the courthouse. Both sides remain far apart in nasty litigation over the city’s public camping ordinance. The sheriff’s office believes it’s unconstitutional and won’t enforce it. But Burien says that’s a breach of contract.