Drug Addiction Run Wild Some King County Metro bus drivers say they feel unsafe and would prefer to avoid the Little Saigon stop at 12th Ave & Jackson St in Chinatown-ID. Can you blame them? Many of the passengers boarding here are criminal drug addicts and use these buses to transport stolen merchandise. It’s the worst kept secret. It’s lawless in Seattle.
Seattle’s incoming mayor, Katie Wilson, will inherit a homelessness crisis that will define her ability to lead. Seattle’s homeless population needs more than another round of aspirational promises. They need and deserve an operational reset grounded in compassion, accountability, and the courage to confront realities the city has failed to address for years. She must replace press releases and ceremonial groundbreaking for housing that may never materialize with programs that support the homeless in reclaiming their lives from the grip of untreated mental illness, addiction, and dangerous encampments that have taken root throughout the city. The scale of Seattle’s crisis is staggering. HUD’s 2024 Point-in-Time count identified 16,868 people struggling with homelessness in King County — 7,058 sheltered and 9,810 Read More ›
Damage Control Embattled Plymouth Housing CEO Karen Lee is doing damage control after our series of reports highlighting all the crime, chaos, and death in her Bellevue, WA facility. I have obtained an email Lee recently sent to Bellevue councilmembers. Based on her talking points and spin, she appears to think they’re gullible and stupid. Page 1 Lee claims some of the content about Plymouth contains misinformation or misleading characterizations. But she fails to call out specifics and also does not name the news organization or social media accounts. Page 2 She then goes on to say the Plymouth model works and tries to prove her point by citing debunked studies from liberal academics. However, Lee once again fails to Read More ›
No Regrets King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci admits she helped usher in the problematic Bellevue Plymouth Housing/Porchlight campus. I asked her point blank if she has any regrets allowing the facility into the community since it triggers the most 911 calls in the city. She did not answer my question directly but Balducci did defend the “Housing First” approach to solving the homeless drug crisis. Listen carefully in the end. She could only cite the former Silvercloud Inn location as the most successful “permanent supportive housing” facility in King County. That’s because it’s not being run by Plymouth. The Christian based Salvation Army is operator in Redmond. Notice the stark difference? Communities Worried About Plymouth Expansion We have tried to Read More ›
Plymouth Resident Threatens Staff Bellevue’s Plymouth Housing/Porchlight campus continues to be a cancer on the community. On Sunday, a non-verbal Plymouth resident allegedly made terroristic threats. He scribbled on the wall that he would shoot staff with a pistol and held a weapon in his hand. Arrestee Known for Spitting and Kicking People Cops later determined the “weapon” was actually a lighter. They arrested him on the spot. Witnesses say the man is Merrell James Gorham and is wheelchair bound. He is known for spitting and kicking people. He’s also been trespassed at numerous area businesses. Homeless Murder Suspect on the Loose This Bellevue homeless campus in the Eastgate neighborhood has turned into one of the most problematic hotspots in Read More ›
Latest Incident Why would anyone want to take a King County Metro bus in Seattle? Riders say they have to share space with homeless fentanyl addicts and the mentally ill. Here is the latest incident where this fella went on a profanity laced bender, bashing his head into the window several times. He’s apparently a regular on the E and H lines. Even after numerous complaints about public safety, riders say the agency only responds with robo emails. In other words, ride at your own risk.
What Does Harrell Plan To Do? Nearly four years ago, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell campaigned on the promise of making a serious dent in the city’s homeless drug crisis. But under his watch, there are more people living on the streets, the fentanyl epidemic remains out of control, and many encampments that were cleared are now repopulating. So this evening, I asked him what he plans to do about this ongoing issue that could become a political liability for his re-election campaign. Using the Wrong Measuring Stick Mayor Harrell is touting these accomplishments on his campaign website. But critics say citing a decrease in RV’s and tent encampments as a metric for success is the wrong barometer. Homelessness on the Read More ›
New For the past few years, all eyes have been on Seattle’s homeless drug crisis. But Kent’s street problems are being compounded by the “nomad class.” These are the people who have tapped out from society and are refusing shelter and services. They want to stay in nature and have taken over prime wetlands and greenbelts, building treehouses to evade enforcement in this South King County city. Beautiful streams are now clogged with trash and the environmental cost to clean this up is easily in the millions. I spent the past week investigating the situation which is spread out across the city. I will be launching the entire series soon. Here is a preview.
New Massive law enforcement presence all week in Seattle’s Chinatown-ID. Officers from SPD and King County Sheriff’s Office are targeting the notorious 12th Ave & Jackson St. drug dens in Little Saigon. They’re even going after people on side streets. Authorities say they have made dozens of arrests for open-air drug use. In many cases, the men and women are repeat offenders with warrants. It’s not perfect by any means, but there is no doubt it is looking better. For how long, only time will tell. It’s amazing what a public shaming campaign can do to motivate city leaders. Community Activists Demand Action A brand new coalition is forming to defend Seattle’s Chinatown-ID. These community activists say politicians at the Read More ›
New Surveillance footage shows King County Metro bus driver Shawn Yim fighting for his life before being stabbed to death in Seattle last month. Homeless man Richard Sitzlack is now facing murder charges. The video is a little grainy. Sitzlack boards the bus in a plastic poncho and Yim is wearing a reflective vest. Authorities say an argument about an open window on the bus triggered this deadly altercation. Sitzlack tries to close it because of the cold draft, but Yim keeps it open to prevent the bus from fogging up. You can see words were exchanged, Sitzlack pepper sprays Yim, and the altercation ensues outside. We have not yet seen any video showing the alleged stabbing incident off the Read More ›