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The Washington Legislature is considering a bill aimed at “improving housing stability for tenants” by capping rent increases at 7% and fees at 1.5% of monthly rent. Instead of mandating rent control, lawmakers should provide housing stability by enacting smart landlord-tenant laws.

More than half of Seattle residents are renters, and the growing dysfunction in Seattle’s affordable housing market offers cautionary insights into the meaning of housing stability. Last summer, the city distributed $14 million in emergency funding to affordable housing providers on the brink of collapse. If there is any picture painted by the applications for funding, it is one of housing instability.

The applications, which are public records, document what has happened in some of Seattle’s affordable housing: assaults, fecal matter in the hallways and on walls, needles in the stairwells, a unit operating as a methamphetamine lab, residents engaged in arms dealing, community room couches set on fire, the rape of a homeless woman and a fire started by a resident soldering Lime Scooter batteries together.

What is it like hanging around the Springs Rescue Mission (SRM) for several days? I wrote two weeks ago about its environment early in the morning. I’ll show now what it was like at 4:45 p.m. on a hot summer day. Ninety men and 29 women were lined up waiting to get into the air-conditioned dining hall. Most of the men had beards. Many of the women had leathery skin. Almost all were tattooed. The things they carried: Two enormous pillows, gigantic plastic bags, heavy blankets, spare pairs of sneakers — and almost everyone had a cell phone. (Medicaid provides free phones or tablets.) The T-shirts they wore: Just Do It. Never Too Much Bacon. The things some of them Read More ›

New For the past few years, all eyes have been on Seattle’s homeless drug crisis. But Kent’s street problems are being compounded by the “nomad class.” These are the people who have tapped out from society and are refusing shelter and services. They want to stay in nature and have taken over prime wetlands and greenbelts, building treehouses to evade enforcement in this South King County city. Beautiful streams are now clogged with trash and the environmental cost to clean this up is easily in the millions. I spent the past week investigating the situation which is spread out across the city. I will be launching the entire series soon. Here is a preview.

New Late Tuesday evening, I wanted to check on Little Saigon in Chinatown-ID. There’s been a massive law enforcement push to clear the streets of drug addicts and the black market of stolen goods. 12th Ave & Jackson St remains clear. But all the action has moved to King St and Weller St. Last month, Mayor Harrell decided to give the problematic DESC Navigation Center more time to move. That means CID residents will have to put up with crime and drug dealing for a couple more months. Good deal…not.

New After months of positive progress, parts of downtown Seattle have regressed. Look what’s happening on a Tuesday evening! The drug dens have come roaring back and the black market of stolen goods is thriving at the corner of 3rd Ave & Pike St. But now the hoard has moved over to Walgreens and Piroshky Bakery. Councilmember Bob Kettle and Downtown Seattle must ask for consistent patrols at all hours of the day. Otherwise, this place will turn into a wasteland. Btw, no doubt this is spillover from recent crackdowns in Chinatown-ID. The lawlessness just moves from one neighborhood to another. Consistent enforcement is the only way to get ahead of this crowd. The addicts must get into treatment. More Read More ›

SB 5222 WA’s Senate Housing Committee heard testimony on SB 5222, a bill that would mandate a 7% cap on rent increases (aka rent control). If you care about the cost of housing, watch these key moments from expert testimony. But first, the bill’s sponsor asking for grace. PRO PRO price cap: Bryce Yadon says renters “deserve the same assurance I have that my mortgage won’t increase 25% in a single year because the bank decided they didn’t plan.” “I’ll have to do some research…” Sen Chris Gildon asks Bryce for an example of where rent control has worked. “I’ll have to do some research and get back to you.” Counter-Question Sen Alvarado (who introduced the bill as a Rep Read More ›

New Massive law enforcement presence all week in Seattle’s Chinatown-ID. Officers from SPD and King County Sheriff’s Office are targeting the notorious 12th Ave & Jackson St. drug dens in Little Saigon. They’re even going after people on side streets. Authorities say they have made dozens of arrests for open-air drug use. In many cases, the men and women are repeat offenders with warrants. It’s not perfect by any means, but there is no doubt it is looking better. For how long, only time will tell. It’s amazing what a public shaming campaign can do to motivate city leaders. Community Activists Demand Action A brand new coalition is forming to defend Seattle’s Chinatown-ID. These community activists say politicians at the Read More ›

To understand why Springs Rescue Mission was so interesting to me, you should know something about the other three Christian homeless missions I have stayed at recently. Knowledgeable people call them model programs. That’s true, but each is different. The Orange County Rescue Mission (OCRM) in California is a beautiful place with an intensive, every-hour-occupied program in which individuals can advance over eighteen months or so from heavily regimented “freshman year” to a freer “senior year.” It’s perfect for men and women who are young enough and physically/mentally able enough to work again in the outside world. Eden Village in Springfield, Missouri is a beautiful strip of brightly-painted tiny houses in which beaten-down older people, some mentally disabled, can live Read More ›

New Surveillance footage shows King County Metro bus driver Shawn Yim fighting for his life before being stabbed to death in Seattle last month. Homeless man Richard Sitzlack is now facing murder charges. The video is a little grainy. Sitzlack boards the bus in a plastic poncho and Yim is wearing a reflective vest. Authorities say an argument about an open window on the bus triggered this deadly altercation. Sitzlack tries to close it because of the cold draft, but Yim keeps it open to prevent the bus from fogging up. You can see words were exchanged, Sitzlack pepper sprays Yim, and the altercation ensues outside. We have not yet seen any video showing the alleged stabbing incident off the Read More ›

Farewell After more than 50 years on Seattle’s Aurora Ave N., Empire Insurance Brokers is exiting this location today. Owner says the out-of-control pimp war is just bad for business. They are now merging with the Everett office. Another biz leaving the city due to major public safety concerns. Useless Laws Seattle has anti-prostitution laws on the books but what’s the point if it’s not being enforced?