Blog | Page 94

Now What? Sweeps continue Monday morning in #Seattle. It’s the only way to keep these dangerous encampments from becoming a liability for neighborhoods like Fremont. Once again, We Heart Seattle (@weheartseattle) and Andrea Suarez (@weheartfounder) tackling some of the most difficult cases. But when severe mental illness and drug addiction are in play, even the most well intentioned outreach becomes an exercise in futility. Listen to “Angel’s” story. This is also why “housing first” will not work for people like her. She’s been given pretty much all the options from tiny houses to apartments. She’s burned all bridges. Every lawmaker about to craft homelessness policy must listen to this. What will be done about the most extreme cases? This has Read More ›

Horrifying Discovery For the past few months, I have been following We Heart Seattle (@weheartseattle) founder Andrea Suarez (@weheartfounder) and her volunteers across #Seattle as they clean up this city and try to save homeless men and women living on the streets. But this past week, I was out of pocket when Suarez discovered the decomposing body of a 54 year old man in a tent right next to @TMobilePark as the @Mariners were getting ready for the season opener. Sunday afternoon, I went back to finally see where this all happened. Suarez says this must be a wake up call for this entire city and a call to action. @GovInslee @kcexec @MayorofSeattle @seattlecouncil @KCCouncil @CMTammyMorales @CMSaraNelson @CMTMosqueda @D5Juarez @KC_RHA

Breaking Woman dying after drug overdose was saved by four bystanders Sunday afternoon in #Chinatown-ID. TRUE HEROES. They teamed up to call 911, started chest compressions, and administered NARCAN. @SeattlePD and @SeattleFire arrived and took over. This is near the notorious Little Saigon drug den and open air black market which I have spotlighted for more than a year. It continues to thrive. Authorities say these types of close calls happen daily in #Seattle. In many cases, the addicts die. Why is this still being allowed on our streets? *We need to find the bro on the bike and the fella wearing the Air Jordan cap. They played a massive role but took off before I could get their story Read More ›

They’re Back On Wednesday, crews were polishing the sidewalks on 3rd Ave near #Seattle City Hall and there were zero tents in sight. Today, a few new tents have already popped right back up and the street hustlers are back. Open air drug use with Mariners fans walking by for Opening Day. Keep sweeping @MayorofSeattle. No other options. Gotta separate the criminal element from the actual homeless who need help. Still waiting for Councilmember Andrew Lewis (@CMAndrewJLewis) to come out with me for a walk through the hood. #Seattle Just Yesterday Aside from the open air drug use which is everywhere, 3rd Ave & Cherry St was looking better. This is just one block from #Seattle City Hall. Mayor needs Read More ›

Day After Sweep This evening, the fence is up at the former King St. homeless encampment on @WSDOT property after Wednesday’s clear out in #Chinatown-ID. But multiple tents, a couch, and a generator have already popped up on the other side. These sidewalks are city of #Seattle‘s responsibility. How soon until crews move in and clear this out? Unreal. Residents and biz owners are afraid @govinslee will surrender #CID again. They want @mayorofseattle to continue with on going sweeps. These are the folks who have refused housing options. Still no sign of Councilmember Tammy Morales (@CMTammyMorales.) @JoeMcDermottWA @kcexec @seattlecouncil @kccouncil @CMSaraNelson @CMTMosqueda @D5Juarez @WAStateCommerce The Other Side At the former Jackson St. encampment in #Chinatown-ID, crews were still cleaning the Read More ›

Washington State Department of Transportation Confronted Thursday, The Washington State Dept. of Transportation (@WSDOT) gave some members of the media a final tour of the U. District side of the Ship Canal Bridge encampment before it gets fenced off. Some parents showed up to direct pointed questions at WSDOT Region Administrator Brien Nielsen. Otherwise, outreach workers say 14 homeless men and women were placed into housing situations that met their needs. Unfortunately for the folks who showed up recently to this encampment, they did not get housing they wanted so are headed back on to the streets of #SEATTLE. Otherwise, no sign of KCRHA CEO Marc Dones. Have not seen him at a sweep since the 10th and Dearborn removal Read More ›

Attempted Baseball Bat Attack I know Mariners Opening Day is right around the corner, but what happened to me Wednesday morning had nothing to do with America’s past time. I’m on 3rd Ave near #Seattle City Hall, following up on the progress being made to keep tents off the streets. The area has been looking decent. Then I noticed a guy with a mini torch set up trying to light his meth pipe. I go over to interview him. As I am recording, this maniac wielding a baseball bat comes charging at me from across the street saying he wanted to kill me. You can hear the fellas warning me to get out of the area. I have never seen Read More ›

Dozens of frustrated neighbors and business owners are mobilizing in Burien. They formed a coalition on Monday evening to address what they consider to be a failure on the part of city leadership to deal with public safety related to the homelessness crisis. According to attorney John Kannin, the coalition is preparing to launch a class action lawsuit against the City of Burien to recuperate their losses due to a homeless encampment around city hall and the library. Kannin says that taking legal action is “the only way to get any traction.” Although it is set to be cleared by the end of the month, the encampment has been a thorn in the side of the city due to its Read More ›