Street Report

Social Services Row Crime, chaos, and death sums up what’s happening in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood. The cross streets near social service providers like Plymouth Housing and REACH continue to be the root of all drug-related problems. They are both notorious pushers of the failed “harm reduction” and Housing First policies that have led to even higher rates of homelessness and drug overdose deaths in the region. Making matters worse, the Stay Out of Drug Areas (SODA) ordinance has been a total flop since it’s barely being enforced.

Lost to Drugs The street crisis in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood is being fueled by drugs and mental illness. Some of the city funded non-profits like REACH and Plymouth Housing also have a presence in this neighborhood. Critics say their clients are the ones running wild on the streets and causing most of the problems. Late Tuesday evening, Andrea Suarez of We Heart Seattle tried to help a woman undressing on the sidewalk. But she was lost in her drug-induced mania.

No Permanent Solution More taxpayer dollars being wasted on another RV encampment sweep Wednesday morning in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood. This is the same spot that’s been cleared dozens of times under Mayor Bruce Harrell’s watch. Instead of finding a permanent solution, Harrell will likely allow them to come right back in a few hours. During the past five years, I have personally covered at least 20 sweeps in this very same spot. This is the craziest cycle I have ever witnessed in my career. I’m not saying the RVs should be allowed to stay. As usual, there have been reports of drug dealing, sex trafficking, and assaults at this encampment. But the current plan is not working.

Horror Show Parts of Seattle remain a horror show. From sex trafficking out of tents to overdose deaths on the streets, the human suffering in neighborhoods like Chinatown-ID remain off the charts. Late Tuesday evening, I followed Andrea Suarez as she tried to get multiple people into detox and treatment. But they all refused. Law enforcement shows up on occasion and moves people along. But the addicts and dealers return once officers leave. Meanwhile, Mayor Bruce Harrell and city agencies remain paralyzed. It’s now been nearly four years of failure under his watch as the drug crisis spirals out of control. Until you see the city’s elected officials walking these dangerous streets, don’t believe anything they say on this matter. Read More ›

Breaking Addicts say a new batch of fentanyl laced with meth, insect repellant, and rat poison is hitting the streets of Seattle. Late Tuesday evening, I was reporting in Chinatown-ID and saw a group of people struggling to revive a man laid out on the sidewalk. Even after multiple hits of Narcan, the guy was barely breathing. So I assisted with a sternum rub which helped bring him back to his senses. Mayor Bruce Harrell and every politician in the city must acknowledge the drug crisis is out of control. This has nothing to do with a lack of affordable housing. Everyone I talked to this evening had a place to go. Stop conflating the two issues. An entire generation Read More ›

Seattle Overwhelmed As Seattle prepares for 4th of July festivities, an American tragedy is unfolding on its streets. From downtown to Chinatown-ID, Mayor Bruce Harrell’s administration is overwhelmed by the drug crisis ravaging his city. No Coordination Among Agencies City Hall insiders say the current plan to address the human suffering is failing. Leadership and the agencies responsible for coming up with solutions are barely talking to each other. The bureaucracy is thick. Election Year But during an election year, insiders say Harrell has created a culture of fear in his office so no one wants to bring it up for debate or challenge the status quo. It could damage his campaign and hurt public relations. Housing First Leads to Read More ›

Happening Now Summer tourism season is underway in downtown Seattle and visitors are being greeted by brand new tents and open-air drug use. What an absolute embarrassment and disgrace for the city right before July 4th festivities. Even the elderly with walkers are struggling to navigate through this urban decay. Seriously, how can Mayor Bruce Harrell and D7 Councilmember Bob Kettle abdicate their responsibilities during one of the most important times of the year? Meanwhile, the drug den in front of controversial housing provider REACH is worse than ever. The only ones trying to save lives right now are outreach workers with We Heart Seattle. And they don’t even have a taxpayer funded city contract. Wild.

Money Gone to Waste Seattle spent more than $800 million on its waterfront revitalization project. Mayor Bruce Harrell said it would create a vibrant, accessible, and engaging public space. Today, new water fountains are being used as bubble baths for homeless drug addicts.

Political Theater WA Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal just introduced a bill that allows homeless people to camp on federal land if they have no other options. This was simply political theater and won’t go anywhere. Here’s the real problem for Jayapal. Washington’s Homelessness Crisis Despite billions of dollars spent over the years, Washington state has the third largest homeless population in America with more than 31K people living on the streets. That’s likely an undercount. This is all happening under Jayapal’s watch. Jayapal’s Ideology Part of the problem is her far-left progressive ideology. Here’s what she recently told the Seattle Times: “Because I don’t think that homelessness is a failure of the individual,” she said. “I think it’s a failure of Read More ›

Downtown Chaos Hurts Business Owners The owner of a limousine service says he might be exiting Seattle after a homeless drug addict went on a rampage and trashed one of his vehicles. This happened right after clients were dropped off at the Post Malone and Jelly Roll concert in T-Mobile Park. Even though the suspect was arrested, the limo owner is now blasting Mayor Bruce Harrell for enabling chaos on the streets which continues to hurt small business owners. Lake Tapps Limousine The trashed limo will be out of commission for several weeks, which also takes away work from several drivers. Otherwise, Lake Tapps still serves the Seattle area and has high ratings. To support them during this time, hire Read More ›