Street Report

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.

Homeless Motel King County’s latest move is not a purchase but permit application to convert Stevenson Motel into temp shelter in #FederalWay. However it’s already drawing scrutiny from some city leaders and KOREAN immigrant biz community next door.

#Seattle‘s Little Saigon remains economic WAR ZONE. Illegal drug use and thriving black market. King County Sheriff’s Deputies patrolling tonight, but moment they leave mayhem starts again around corner at 12th and Jackson.

Exclusive After he tried to dodge me TODAY, I confronted Dr. Dat Nguyen, owner of building that could be home to controversial #Lynnwood OPIOID CLINIC. Business owners in area including his tenant are asking Nguyen to reconsider deal with Acadia Healthcare. Massive Protest After multiple pleas with @WADeptHealth, Acadia Healthcare, and even City of #Lynnwood, coalition of neighbors and community stakeholders are protesting on Saturday. This will be one of many according to organizers. They are promising a PR nightmare. Latest from DOH @WADeptHealth sent out response to community concerns over proposed #Lynnwood OPIOID CLINIC that would be few hundred feet from Alderwood Boys & Girls Club. DOH being put on BLAST by neighbors. @LynnwoodTimes about to drop more details! Read More ›

Finally Happening After more than a year, sweep notices just went up at S. Royal Brougham Way encampment in SODO. Friday DEADLINE. But good news is outreach has been happening here for months and many people have taken housing options offered. Back in June 2022 I’ve been tracking Royal Brougham Way encampment for more than a year. It’s walking distance to the stadiums and is right outside the gates of the SODO Salvation Army. On other side, Airport Way encampment remains near BMW dealership.

Exclusive Tuesday evening, massive RV INFERNO in #Seattle‘s Wallingford neighborhood. Everyone got out safe. Owner of vehicle says he was trying to stay warm when propane tank exploded. @SeattleFire saved day. Neighbors came by w/blankets. RV’s Remain Liability There are multiple RV’s parked across street from Wallingford post office. Neighbors have complained to city for months with ZERO action. Not just about fire risks, but more crime linked to campers. More thefts+gas being siphoned from parked cars. Major Drain #Seattle Fire Dept. released latest list of encampment-related fires+medical responses for people experiencing homelessness for 2020, 2021 and 2022. All approximates. Volume spiking each year. Seattle’s First Encampment Fire of 2023 On Jan 3, no casualties or serious injuries at S. Read More ›

Birth of a New Movement This weekend policy makers, activists, and outreach workers from U.S. and Canada met in #Seattle to create powerful coalition confronting homelessness/addiction crisis. Responsibility of Media At this point, we all know mainstream media is NOT going to consistently cover these raw realities in Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Philly, etc. @EricaJSandberg and other independent/citizen journos now tasked to fill this huge gap. Powerful Coalition It’s evident, “housing first” is not working and is liability for politicians who subscribe to this. Just look on streets of PNW/West Coast/Vancouver BC Canada. Prioritizing solutions for drug addiction and mental illness will be key to “housing earned.”

Breaking This evening tensions flare inside and outside #Lynnwood council meeting. Residents confronting Acadia Healthcare rep telling him not to open controversial OPIOID CLINIC near Alderwood Boys & Girls Club. @WADeptHealth and state leaders also being called out. Wild! Put on Blast #Lynnwood Council Prez George Hurst personally calling out @WADeptHealth, accusing state agency of bungling communication over OPIOID CLINIC saying, “It was a deliberate attempt to tamp down public comments.” DOH will ultimately make final call on clinic. Massive Fight This evening, #Lynnwood council gave Acadia Healthcare and @WADeptHealth an out. Don’t open OPIOID CLINIC near Alderwood Boys & Girls Club. Otherwise, residents plan on launching FEROCIOUS FIGHT and it will become a PR disaster and mess for state Read More ›

Lynnwood Meeting Was Fire Tuesday night’s council meeting lasted nearly 4 hours. Bottom line, here’s consensus argument against @WADeptHealth allowing Acadia Healthcare to open OPIOID CLINIC near Boys & Girls Club. Opponents frame company as greedy corporation. Why Opioid Clinic is Needed Vast majority of room and most of #Lynnwood council say they want methadone clinic in low traffic area of city away from kids, biz, and homes. However some interpreted that as being a NIMBY. Here’s case for clinic at proposed site. What is Acadia Healthcare? Nation’s largest operator of “behavioral health” centers. If allowed to come in by @WADeptHealth, officials say it would be #Lynnwood‘s only clinic providing METHADONE. City already has detox centers but does not provide Read More ›