drug addiction

From “Doom Loop” to “Boom Loop,” San Francisco could be turning the corner on all the crime, chaos and death. A new mayor and new approach to the homeless drug crisis could be the game changer. Here’s part 1 of our series in the Bay Area. Parts of San Francisco have been described as being stuck in a perpetual doom loop. A never-ending pattern of crime, chaos, and death. But some of the most problematic neighborhoods in the city could be getting ready to break out of this vicious cycle. “Is the Tenderloin looking better?” I ask a local resident. “Oh yeah, it is,” he responds. That’s because new mayor Daniel Lurie is on a mission to reclaim what was Read More ›

Senior Fellow Dr. Robert Marbut and actor Billy Baldwin appeared on Fox News Radio’s Brian Kilmeade Show to discuss their new documentary, “Fentanyl: Death Incorporated.” Marbut and Baldwin discuss how they got involved with the creation of the documentary, the origin of the fentanyl crisis, and the scope of the problem. “The stat that really brings it home,” says Marbut, “[is] more people have died of fentanyl in the last five years than the last hundred years of war for Americans.” Find out more about “Fentanyl: Death Incorporated,” and where you can watch it, at fentanyldeathincorporated.com.

I’ve learned in my stays at homeless shelters one clear lesson: how hard it is to offer true help. Jeff Cook, chief program officer at Springs Rescue Mission (SRM), wrote this in his dissertation: “When reviewing the reason clients are homeless, it was apparent that they all had some traumatic experiences that caused them to be homeless. This trauma could have begun in many forms: the death of a parent or family member, the victim of a crime, human or drug trafficking, or the loss of a job due to illness.” Such stressful events shatter senses of security. They leave people feeling endangered by normal life, unstable even when placed in stable housing. A faith in Christ can be a Read More ›

New A notorious Seattle drug camp could be getting shut down today. It’s right next to Lake Washington Girls Middle School and it’s turned into a chop shop full of stolen bikes and motorcycles. But it’s taken months for the city to respond and neighbors say this is unacceptable. For nearly two months complaints have been pouring into the city about open-air drug use, warming fires, and trash overwhelming several streets in Beacon Hill. Most of the chaos is coming from this encampment at the corner of 22nd Ave South and South Walker Street. A notorious hot spot for broken RVs, tents, and all kinds of illegal activity. When I point out a black Hyundai, one local tells me, “That’s Read More ›

Two weeks ago I noted how Colorado Springs city officials a decade ago handed a $3 million federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant to Springs Rescue Mission (SRM) leaders. Later, City Hall gave $3 million more. That was because SRM, an explicitly Christian organization, was ready to help homeless wanderers in Colorado Springs, and no one else was ready. Strict church-state separationists didn’t like it, but city housing executive Steve Posey noted that the HUD Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) contract detailed public benefits: “SRM would build a commercial kitchen; they would build an overnight shelter for several hundred people; they would build a day center with showers and laundry facilities. Nowhere in those contracts, or any ongoing contracts Read More ›

In Seattle, the number of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness is on track to double in just the next three years. Robert Marbut appeared on KIRO Newsradio’s John Curley Show to discuss the policies that have exacerbated the crisis and the solutions available to the city and county. Discovery Institute released a report last November detailing our policy recommendations for the city of Seattle to curb their homelessness crisis.

Major Breakthrough Burien leaders say more homeless drug addicts are getting into detox, treatment, and housing. And the results are visible on the streets. At this week’s council meeting, city leaders credited “Co-Response,” a collaboration between first responders and Human Services. But most of the praise is going to Kristine Moreland and her outreach group The More We Love. Critics questioned the city after Moreland received a contract from Burien to do outreach work. Now it’s looking like a brilliant move. Her team’s rapid response and personal touch to helping the lost are game changers. And other King County cities are noticing the results. The More We Love Councilmember Stephanie Mora made the initial pitch to contract with Moreland’s group. Read More ›

Update After being arrested multiple times and causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to Seattle’s Dr. Jose Rizal Park, homeless man Steve Irwin is back on the streets. The legal system has failed to get Irwin the help he needs and now taxpayers are on the hook. Bail Reduced and Paid The city requested to maintain bail at the previously set amount of $5,000. But Judge Andrew Simons lowered the bail to $1,000. Irwin was bailed out by Daniel Roth Tenenbaum. Pretending to Enforce the Law This now signals to all homeless people that the City of Seattle will allow illegal camping and then burn through taxpayer dollars pretending to enforce the law.

“This Would Not Happen If This Were the Beautiful Waterfront” A brand new coalition is forming to defend Seattle’s Chinatown-ID. These community activists say politicians at the local and state level have failed them on public safety. They’re demanding more resources and attention to address crime, chaos, and death on the streets. Meanwhile, conditions in other parts of the city have improved. Which is why an elder went up to the podium today and torched Mayor Bruce Harrell by saying, “Mayor Harrell, he’s Asian American, does he give a sh*t? I don’t think so.” The Petition As I have reported now for the past year, Mayor Harrell is losing support in the CID because it has turned into a human Read More ›

New Late Saturday evening, there are way more cops patrolling the drug hot spots in Seattle’s Little Saigon neighborhood. But the addicts keep moving to nearby side streets and now it’s turning into a game of Whac-A-Mole. Here’s the play-by-play. Broken Windows Earlier, a Little Saigon neighbor had his car windows busted out. This is what happens if you leave your vehicle on these streets for an extended period of time. Lawless in Seattle.