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Controversial Low Barrier Housing Project Protected from Journalists’ Inquiries

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Why are Plymouth Housing leaders afraid of journalists? An internal email shows how staff allegedly asked Redmond PR guy Derek Wing for cover.

Wing is a former Seattle anchor/reporter for FOX 13. So I hope he told them I am relentless and always chase the truth. That’s what journalists are supposed to do, especially when Plymouth officials have avoided all requests for comment on their controversial homeless housing project slated to open in downtown Redmond.

Plymouth Housing CEO Attempts Crisis Management

Since my devastating story exposed the conditions inside some Plymouth Housing facilities, CEO Karen Lee has been on a crisis management tour. But the video doesn’t lie. By the way, Lee also says suburban neighbors are reluctant to accept “low barrier” homeless housing because they read Seattle Times’ coverage of downtown murders. No, I think it’s because the data shows 911 calls and open-air drug use increases around these permanent supportive housing projects.

The Devastating Conditions in Plymouth Housing

I uncovered a nightmare of drugs, crime, chaos, and death in these homeless housing projects. But local lawmakers are doubling down, committing millions to failed “housing first” policies that only compound the problems.

Jonathan Choe

Journalist and Senior Fellow, Center on Wealth and Poverty
Jonathan Choe is a journalist and Senior Fellow with Discovery Institute's Center on Wealth and Poverty, covering homelessness issues for its Fix Homelessness initiative. Prior to joining Discovery, Choe spent several years as one of the lead reporters at KOMO-TV, consistently the top rated television station in Seattle. His in depth stories on crime and deep dive investigations into the homeless crisis led to measurable results in the community, including changes in public policy. Choe has more than two decades of experience in television news behind the scenes and in front of the camera for ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, and Tribune. He has also been nominated and honored with multiple industry awards including an Emmy. Choe spent several years teaching classes on emerging media and entrepreneurship to under privileged youth in inner city Chicago. As an independent journalist, Choe also contributes regularly to the Mill Creek View and Lynnwood Times and has reported on exclusive stories in the past year for Daily Wire and The Postmillennial.