Community Impact

Dismissing Dow In what may be one of the most defiant moments of the year, the #Burien business community and volunteers decided to ignore legal threats made by King County Executive Dow Constantine (@kcexec,) and proceeded to sweep a problematic homeless encampment on their own. No law enforcement showed up Thursday morning and it was completely orderly. This could be a playbook for other communities tired of being strong armed by #KingCounty. It all depends on how Martin v. Boise is interpreted and applied. Back in 2018, the landmark ruling struck down Boise’s city-wide public camping ban because it lacked adequate emergency public shelter beds. Non-profit Burien Cares (@BurienCares) officially took over the lease for this plot of land and Read More ›

A showdown is looming in Burien over a homeless encampment in the center of downtown. Now more than 20 tents deep, a resident walking her dog near the site describes homeless encampments like this one as “a national humanitarian crisis.” The encampment is being blamed for open air drug use, a spike in thefts, and sex trafficking.  Burien City Councilmember Stephanie Mora tells me she has become aware that “there have been several underage girls sleeping there.” The city decided to lease out the property that the encampment is on to Burien Cares, a local non-profit with plans to turn the site back into a dog park. Burien Cares put up signs around the property asking campers to leave by Read More ›

More Work On Thursday city cleared encampments along E. Howell St. in Capitol Hill including one near Greek Orthodox Church with 3 people. But city did not include one that’s really problematic on 17th Ave. blamed for fires, drugs, and trash piles. Capitol Hill Crisis This is what it looked like for weeks leading up to Thursday’s sweep. And 17th Ave. is still a hot mess. Next Stretch Explosive growth of tents at 17th Ave and E. Howell St. First week of January, cops got called for “incendiary device.” Ended up being guy burning fire to stay warm. Camps remain major liability and drain on city.

Weekend Recap Powerful protest Saturday against controversial OPIOD CLINIC about to open near Boys & Girls Club. Demonstrators CALLING OUT @laurendavisWA, Acadia Healthcare, @GovInslee, and @WADeptHealth. Organizers promising ferocious fight. Reinforcements Called Numerous groups including #Lynnwood City Council Members and @KCGOP showed to take a stand. Protest organizers say this will be one of many demonstrations scheduled this month against Acadia Healthcare’s OPIOID CLINIC. Company is refusing to stand down. Serious Allegations @lynnwood Mayor Cristine Frizzell noticeably absent from rally. Council Member George Hurst couldn’t attend but in prepared statement accused Frizzell and #Lynnwood official Julie Moore of meeting w/Acadia, then failing to notify them about backroom conversations. Community Stakeholders While Boys & Girls Club+nearby residents could be impacted, building’s Read More ›

Ballard Problems RV’s removed months ago on NW Leary near @JackBox are back. Encampment next to @albertlee1939 on 8th Ave NW is blamed for fires as homeless try to stay warm. And multiple tents popping up elsewhere. Gonna be LONG WINTER. Blocks and Planters Making a Difference I understand this is a CONTROVERSIAL method to keep RV’s away. But streets near Fremont Brewing are now pretty clear. And look at those new metal planter boxes going in near Camco Electric.

Last week we concluded one look at homelessness in Jackson, Tennessee, with the story of Tracey King, 50, and her back-and-forth relationships. First she married, had a daughter, and divorced. Next she married a police officer and gave birth to twin boys. She divorced the police officer and then remarried him. King said he began taking drugs so they divorced again and she “lost everything.” When drinking and smoking pot no longer numbed her emotional pain, she snorted fentanyl. Stints at seven different drug treatment centers — in Nashville, Savannah, and elsewhere — failed to bring healing. In February 2022, she moved in with her mother, who also battled addiction, King said. Two months later, her mother kicked her out. Read More ›