KCRHA

Wendy Yim is an aspiring writer, and by all measures a good one. Her first novel attracted the attention of literary agents and she was working on a second when she was forced to pivot to much less rewarding work: defending her neighborhood against the dangers posed by a low-barrier homeless shelter. Wendy’s family lives in Seattle’s picturesque, middle-class Madison Valley neighborhood, situated just east of Capitol Hill — a place filled with eclectic and colorful homes, winding streets lined with trees, and yards landscaped with flowers. Through the middle runs East Madison Street, host to about twenty small businesses, including a flower shop, bakery, music school, several ethnic restaurants, a small supermarket, and a massage clinic. Children make up Read More ›

Follow the Money According to a 2022 document from the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (@KingCoRHA) the agency dished out a staggering $107, 396, 057.97 to providers. Look at all the non-profits and players in this industry. Stunning amount of money being spent to address the region’s homeless crisis. It’s broken down by agency name and project. So much to unpack. I encourage all journalists in #Seattle and #KingCounty to start picking this apart. According to a recent KCRHA call, homeless service providers also complained about late payments being an issue this year and last year as well. Post Mortem Check out this tweet showing records of KCRHA staff salaries. 30 of the 100 employees made at least $100,000.

Post Mortem Even before Marc Dones abruptly resigned on Tuesday as CEO of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (@KingCoRHA), the agency was under heavy scrutiny for it’s performance or lack thereof. Questions were being raised about spending and salaries, especially after Dones asked for $12 billion dollars to fund housing in the region. As Helen Howell becomes interim CEO, the KCRHA Governing Committee and other boards have a lot of soul searching to do. Do they stay the course and stick to the framework left by Dones, or is it time for a total gut rehab? Clearly, the “HOUSING FIRST” strategy is not working. The public is asking for more transparency and accountability, like actual measures of success and Read More ›

Crisis Management Time The King County Regional Homelessness Authority (@KingCoRHA) just dropped this slick promo video featuring embattled CEO Marc Dones who rarely takes questions from the media. This comes at a time when his agency is being accused of incompetence and mismanagement. Dones is dealing with complaints from service providers about late payments, elected officials continue to scoff at his $12 billion dollar homelessnesss plan, and there have been numerous communication missteps this past year. Remember when Dones incorrectly cited state law and insisted no one could be removed from encampments unless a “permanent housing solution” was offered? Even Gov. Jay Inslee (@GovInslee) had to correct Dones. And King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn (@KCCReaganDunn) still wants KCRHA to be Read More ›

Massive Liability Tuesday morning, another INFERNO at the King Street #Chinatown-ID homeless encampment. This is the same @WSDOT property that’s now been the scene of nearly a dozen fires this month alone. In my over 20 year journalism career, I have never witnessed so many elected officials fail a community like this. Asian American immigrant business owners continue to be victimized. High school students at Summit Sierra are now walking home past this disaster. @KC_RHA CEO Marc Dones continues to offer no timeline on when it will be cleared. @CMTammyMorales being called out again for being MIA. Kim Nguyen owns Vuu’s Beauty School right next to this dangerous encampment. Nguyen is challenging Tammy Morales to show up for her CID Read More ›

Final Word Today, Governor Inslee @GovInslee confirmed that proviso language DOES NOT require offers of “permanent housing ” to homeless on state right of ways. This is a direct rebuke of @KC_RHA CEO Marc Dones’ interpretation. But will this change the pace of clearings?#Seattle @MayorofSeattle @kcexec @WSDOT Dones Responds During @KC_RHA Governing Committee meeting today, Dones walked back his recent statements about encampment outreach and “permanent housing” as a requirement. He now says congregate shelters are still an option. #Seattle Calling on Mayor Parents at John Stanford Int. School now begging @MayorofSeattle to take control from @WSDOT and lead encampment removals on state right of ways. Significant development this week as officials feel pressure to act swiftly. @GovInslee @KC_RHA @kcexec Read More ›

Happening Now After city spent tons of money sweeping this encampment on 3rd Ave. S and Holgate St. this summer, even more tents/RV’s are back. Biz owners are furious it’s being ignored. Waiting for @MayorofSeattle @CMTammyMorales to respond. Where’s enforcement? Her Words Back in May when @MayorofSeattle unveiled plan to tackle #Seattle‘s homeless crisis, I point blank asked Deputy Mayor Tiffany Washington what they would do if campers returned to an area already cleared by city crews. She said they would try to remove within 2 days! Few Blocks Away City also removed RV’s and tents on Utah Ave S. in SODO. But literally the same RV’s/vehicles and some NEW tents are back. Biz owners say there is “SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT” Read More ›

Nightmare Morning Commute Massive mess on 3rd Ave.& Columbia St. in downtown #Seattle. Biz owners sending me vids of fist fight, open air drug use, tents out of control, and mental illness on full display. I’m tracking situation. Already Warned the City Earlier this month, biz owners at 3rd Ave. & Columbia St. begged @MayorofSeattle @KC_RHA @CMAndrewJLewis to do something about this corner before it spiraled out of control. At the time, there were only 2 tents. This Remains the Challenge What’s the plan to get in front of these encampments before they spiral out of control, not after the fact? It was only 2 tents earlier this month. I’m Only One Guy There have been so many other incidents Read More ›