Blog | Page 91

It Was Inevitable First tent just showed up to the Leary Triangle in Ballard. City removed the fencing and concrete blocks around this parcel last week, hoping to turn this into a dog park. Meanwhile, the tent encampments in the area continue to expand. The 72 hour parking rule is being enforced, but the RV’s keep coming back. Councilmember Dan Strauss (@CMDanStrauss) has his hands full. Marc Dones and the @KingCoRHA needs to do more outreach here. I counted at least 30 tents and RV’s in this area alone. No end in sight for this part of #Seattle. @GovInslee @kcexec @MayorofSeattle @seattlecouncil @KCCouncil @SeattleParks @seattledot Block Party’s Over…Sort of Earlier this month, SDOT removed the blocks around Leary Triangle. But Read More ›

Jonathan Choe joins Fox News to share footage of a man chasing him with a knife in downtown Seattle and discuss the failed policies that are leading to increased crime, violence, homelessness, and addiction.

Choe’s Stories “Turco’s Last Stand” and “Seattle’s Unending Drug Crisis” Recognized for Excellence in News Reporting Seattle, WA – Discovery Institute is pleased to announce that Jonathan Choe, Senior Fellow at the Center on Wealth and Poverty’s Fix Homelessness Initiative, has been nominated for four Emmy Awards by the Northwest chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Choe was nominated for Reporter – News Specialty Assignment. His story “Turco’s Last Stand” was nominated for Serious News Feature, and “Seattle’s Unending Drug Crisis” was nominated for Hard News Report. Choe’s prior work at KOMO news, “Seattle’s Homeless Crisis,” was nominated in the Continuing Coverage category. The nominations were made by peer judges in the media industry outside of Read More ›

Crazy Town Gets Crazier Another insane Monday afternoon in downtown #Seattle. I was doing my usual rounds, about to report some POSITIVE NEWS regarding the encampment sweep at 3rd Ave & Pike St this morning. Mayor Bruce Harrell (@mayorofseattle) defending the corner from “trap tents” that are set up consistently to sell drugs just a block away from City Hall. Most of these folks are not homeless people. Many live in the nearby DESC buildings, hang out, and attract even more problems. As usual, I wanted to show the progress. But one fella didn’t want me pointing the camera at all the drug activity. So he pulled out a knife and started chasing me! He also threatened to kill me Read More ›

More Olympia Problems This is wild. Just minutes from Governor Jay Inslee’s (@GovInslee) Mansion and the Capitol Campus, workers at this Starbucks (@Starbucks, @StarbucksNews) on Martin Way say some nut job recently smashed the drive-thru screen with a golf club. So the store no longer allows indoor seating for safety reasons! Employees also say thefts along with smash and grabs are spiking in this strip mall with Hobby Lobby (@HobbyLobby) and several other chain stores. Meanwhile, a problematic homeless encampment next door on WSDOT (@WSDOT) property is exploding out of control. It’s been allowed to flourish since last year. It’s now packed with more than 30 tents and structures. Fires are also constantly breaking out at this camp. Many biz Read More ›

After being chased by a knife wielding maniac near #Seattle City Hall Monday afternoon, I walked down a few blocks to 3rd Ave & Pike St. The drug addicts were still out. But the insane crowds and the black market of stolen goods that I saw this past weekend were gone. Once again, all the illicit activity just ebbs and flows. It gets bad once the sun starts to set. However, the city is still hoping Mayor Bruce Harrell’s (@MayorofSeattle) Downtown Activation Plan will start paying off before the warmer summer months hit the area. Area needs way more outreach and police. WA state drug laws need to be fixed. Call a special session and figure it out. The addiction Read More ›

Same Scene in Little Saigon There is no doubt the encampment sweeps on WSDOT (@WSDOT) properties in #Chinatown-ID have made a huge difference. No more tents or encampment fires. But the drug dealers, addicts, and the open air black market continues to thrive at bus stops along 12th Ave. in Little Saigon this weekend. Mayor Bruce Harrell (@MayorofSeattle) said this neighborhood would also be getting police emphasis patrols like 3rd Ave & Pike St. in the downtown core. But nothing is changing. The issues just ebb and flow. I know virtually all the regulars out here. But the concern now, there are so many NEW FACES of addiction coming into this area. Councilmember Kshama Sawant (@cmkshama) reps Little Saigon and Read More ›

Nothing Has Changed I spent hours in downtown #Seattle on Saturday to see the illicit activity ebb and flow. This is the first weekend since Mayor Bruce Harrell (@mayorofseattle) announced his Downtown Activation Plan to clean up this mess. Most of the action is still concentrated at 3rd Ave & Pike St. near the Ross Store (@Ross_Stores.) But police emphasis patrols are now scattering drug addicts and dealers to other streets. The vestibules of empty store fronts remain popular spots to do fentanyl. Folks continue to use public transportation (@SoundTransit, @KingCountyMetro) to move stolen merchandise back and forth on to the streets. The black market is thriving and it’s a free for all. I also witnessed two men being saved Read More ›

Seattle Problems This bizarre encounter happened on I-5 Thursday during a busy evening commute in #Seattle. Witnesses say a homeless woman was wearing a clear plastic bag on her head and carrying sack full of vegetation. Cops showed up and tried to talk her off the ledge. She was also swinging some type of metal object. Just another day in the Emerald City. @GovInslee @kcexec @MayorofSeattle @KC_RHA @KCCouncil @SeattleCouncil @CMTammyMorales @CMSaraNelson @CMTMosqueda @D5Juarez Walked Her Off the Ledge It appears this situation was eventually resolved with no one seriously hurt. There are still dozens of encampments on @WSDOT properties in #Seattle. Ask any commuter. I see homeless people constantly crossing busy highways or walking in the breakdown lanes daily.

Here We Go Again Ari Hoffman (@thehoffather) first to report on a NEW RV encampment expanding on the former Burger King, 7-11, and Baskin Robbins parking lot off S. Rainier Ave. So sad that south #Seattle is losing vital businesses in this already underserved neighborhood. Numerous shops like Grease Monkey (@GreaseMonkeyInt) already left because of crime, shootings, and homeless related issues. Squatters have caused fires and continue to take over these abandoned properties in the city. They know city has limited power to remove them. It’s on the owner of this lot to properly fence it off. At the very least, city should be enforcing this requirement already on the books. Where is Councilmember Tammy Morales (@CMTammyMorales?) She was supposed Read More ›