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Exclusive They’re back! RV’s set up again near 7th Ave S. & S. Fidalgo St in GEORGETOWN after sweep. I’ve obtained surveillance video showing guy removing “ECO-blocks.” Neighbors+biz owners pleading with @seattledot and @MayorofSeattle to enforce. Right Now Entire street was cleared by @seattledot@SeattleSPU@MayorofSeattle a few months ago. I was there when crews moved in. I also saw aftermath when biz owners quietly moved in “ECO-blocks.” Technically illegal to use. This is now a FULL BLOWN street war. The Dude Biz owners say guy with the hat and orange shirt chained up “ECO-blocks” and dragged several to the side of the road so RV’s could move back and park.@seattledot says anyone bringing in these blocks are illegal. What about moving Read More ›

As Stephanie Woodley, 42, sat last month in the dayroom of Area Relief Ministries (ARM) in Jackson, Tenn., she said the stabbing of her ex-husband was no big deal. “The gash is only this big,” she said as she extended her right thumb and index finger to demonstrate a one-incher.  Woodley said her ex-husband tried to push their daughter, Maddie, down the stairs, so Maddie stabbed him. Maddie moved in with her aunt in Memphis, and Woodley was sleeping on the streets in Jackson, 88 miles away. Woodley’s dark almond eyes teared up: “I miss my daughter.”  Woodley showed the homescreen on her phone: a picture of Maddie standing next to a pink agapanthus flower. She said Maddie has offered Read More ›

Dow Constantine Speaks He dodged my questions last week, but today @kcexec stood in there and responded after I asked him about PUBLIC SAFETY plan around HOMELESS MEGAPLEX. He’s refusing #Chinatown-ID’s request for 6 month moratorium on project. I guess I’m a JOURNALIST again. Major Public Safety Concerns Dow’s response shows there is NO new plan for PUBLIC SAFETY around this HOMELESS MEGAPLEX. Relying on current law enforcement agencies when they’re already down officers is not reassuring. This is what I was referring to. What About Moratorium? Leo Flor is Director of King County Department of Community and Human Services. He’s in charge of getting Dow Constantine’s (@kcexec) HOMELESS MEGAPLEX up and running. Listen to his SPIN when I ask Read More ›

Last week on Fix Homelessness and in my monthly OlaskyBooks newsletter, I gave highlights and lowlights from Andrew Scull’s Desperate Remedies: Psychiatry’s Turbulent Quest to Cure Mental Illness (Harvard University Press, 2022). He notes that many mentally ill people are now homeless and on the streets instead of in state-funded mental hospitals. (Those institutions, like Michigan’s Lapeer State Home and Training School, housed sufferers. Then the 1960s brought in new drugs and new Washington-paid health plans, Medicare and Medicaid.) I didn’t have room last week to dive into an important question: Which came first, medical panaceas (that turned out not to be so) or money incentives? Scull says money, in many instances: “In at least seventeen states, inpatient censuses had Read More ›

It’s a National Story Did a quick wrap for @newsmax this morning on the WAR being waged by #Chinatown-ID community against Dow Constantine’s (@kcexec) HOMELESS MEGAPLEX. There are so many angles that need digging. More protests on way. Will have another update today. Still No Answers But looking forward to the next opportunity with Dow Constantine.

Exclusive Earlier today, @kcexec dodged my questions about the HOMELESS MEGAPLEX he’s trying to RAM through #Seattle. #Chinatown-ID is begging him to put a moratorium on project until public comments are gathered. This is a TOP 3 story in the city. We need more MEDIA on this. Questions I Was Trying to Ask 1) Since you did not hold a public comment period or consult #Chinatown-ID, why not PAUSE this project until input can be gathered? 2) What’s your public safety plan? Recently #Seattle‘s Interim Police Chief Adrian Diaz expressed concerns. More Questions 3) When are you going to personally FACE questions from #Chinatown-ID residents? 4) Are you aware many in #Chinatown-ID say your homeless policies are racist against Asian Read More ›

More Public Safety Concerns Now @SeattlePD Interim Chief Adrian Diaz questioning @kcexec‘s HOMELESS MEGAPLEX. “Have we thought this out? Have we done our homework?”-Diaz More From Seattle’s Top Cop Diaz says he drives through #Chinatown-ID everyday. “When you actually have the #CID, that is actually the area that has the most shootings in our city. So you can add literally the most violent crime in our city in that area.”-Diaz Unfair Burden Diaz RECOGNIZES @kcexec decision to dump ANOTHER homeless shelter near #Seattle‘s #CID. “When we start putting more services in that area as far as like housing services like the Navigation Center…this community is already struggling with what is going on.”-Diaz Seattle’s Top Law Enforcement Officials So now you Read More ›

More Evidence Last week as #Chinatown International District prepared to protest against @kcexec‘s HOMELESS MEGAPLEX, Dow’s representative essentially asked @KCCouncil permission to FAST TRACK project by doing away with COMPETITIVE bidding process on construction. Outrage Community advocate Matt Chan (@Lofanland) is a former special advisor to @MayorofSeattle. Chan says it’s evident @kcexec is trying to push his HOMELESS MEGAPLEX through without #Chinatown-ID community input. Even some @KCCouncil are now questioning the process. More Protests Tues Sept.13, #Chinatown-ID will confront @KCCouncil as members consider voting on request from @kcexec to fast track HOMELESS MEGAPLEX. They’re demanding answers from @JoeMcDermottWA who sponsored project. Will he show in person? Details. Holding the Line #Chinatown-ID held massive rally to say HOMELESS MEGAPLEX project must Read More ›