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Overdose Death Discovered in Controversial Burien Sanctioned Encampment

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Deadly day in Burien. Thursday morning, officials say a homeless man living in a tent near City Hall died of a drug overdose. The gruesome discovery was made as the city prepares for the upcoming farmer’s market. Sources say the male victim goes by “Randolph.”

Full statement from Burien Mayor Kevin Schilling:

“There’s been an overdose death at the camp that the Burien Community Support Coalition, led by Cydney Moore, continues to bring folks into the Downtown core of Burien to camp in.

This is a direct result of the irresponsibility of Moore and her organization.  As well as a direct result of the Sheriff’s Department and the County Executive suing us so they don’t have to enforce our common sense tent regulating measure, as well as not enforcing drug laws in the Downtown core.

These overdoses are incredibly sad.  And King County has had a record year for overdoses last year.  Do-Nothing government at the County level has led to this death and the hundreds of others.  Burien will continue to push for our common sense measures to get folks off the streets and into shelter and services.  I sure hope the Sheriff and County Executive staff taking their roles seriously, and stop wasting taxpayer time and money with their stunts that are leading to deaths.”

Meanwhile, more tents are now popping up across downtown Burien after King County Executive Dow Constantine ordered Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall to stand down on enforcing the city’s homeless camping ordinance. This is in front of the Grocery Outlet that was cleared last year.

Earlier this week King County sued Burien, claiming the city’s homeless camping ordinance was unconstitutional. Since the sheriff is not enforcing the ordinance, it’s opened up the flood gates for more homeless to move into the downtown core.

Cydney Moore’s Burien Community Support Coalition is getting crushed for orchestrating this tent debacle in downtown. Some homeless say Moore advised them to set up in front of City Hall as a protest stunt. Her backyard church encampment also failed.

Burien Community Support Coalition has been the epitome of amateur hour. It’s still led by former Burien City Councilmember Moore, failed Burien Council candidate Daniel Martin, and disgraced former Burien Planning Commissioner Charles Schaefer(wearing glasses and hat.)

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.