Increase in King County’s homeless population in the last 10 years.
Political leaders cannot say how much money has been spent on the homeless issue in King County.
WA state has the 3rd largest homeless population in the country. And THE largest chronically homeless population.
In recent years, well-intentioned policies have often produced disappointing results in many corners of Washington. We advocate for programs that focus on truly helping those among us most in need and focus on accountabilty for actual results.
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The King County Prosecutor’s Office is in trouble. In theory, it goes after felony crimes and seeks harsh sentences for particularly severe offenses. Its focus is on protecting the public and filing charges that match the crime in an effort to reduce the number of incidents. But is that what actually happens? Unfortunately, no. Recently...
Last week we announced a multi-series investigation into the King County criminal justice system. To kick it off, we’re looking at one of the cornerstones of public safety: a competent, adequately-staffed police force with high morale and a good relationship with the community it’s expected to protect. Currently, the Seattle Police Department is severely lacking...
It should be self-evident to anyone who lives in King County that the criminal justice system is profoundly broken and needs to be fixed. In the coming weeks we’ll be highlighting the major reasons for why crime is out of control in King County, and what you can do to take action and help fix...
We’ve long argued that the type of homelessness that we are now seeing in Seattle and King County is not the result of unaffordable housing, but a combination of mental illness, substance abuse, drug addiction, and unwillingness by those in need to accept help, combined with a lack of accountability by those who receive taxpayer...
In the early hours of July 10, a 63-year-old wheelchair-bound homeless man was fatally assaulted, allegedly by a 25-year-old man at the Bellevue Transit Center, for no apparent reason. The suspect fled but was later arrested by police thanks to information provided by a witness. The homeless man eventually succumbed to his injuries this week....
Over the past few weeks we’ve taken aim at arguments made by sources quoted in a Seattle Times article claiming that removing drug camps is contributing to homeless deaths and drug abuse combined with permissive public policy are a significant cause of those deaths. With King County already on track to hit a record number...
Last week we took aim at claims made by sources in a Seattle Times story that the removal of drug camps was driving homelessness deaths. We’re now going to look at one of the actual problems. Drug overdoses. The homelessness problem in Seattle is primarily a substance addiction problem. Of the 195 homeless that died...
It’s no secret to any of you that Seattle is in bad shape, but you may not be aware of just how dysfunctional the situation is – and it may only get worse if there isn’t a change in course. The level of dysfunction was revealed in a recent Seattle Times story that we’ll be...
Earlier this year we said those responsible for King County’s high and increasing crime rate would be held accountable. This week’s presents another opportunity. Seattle Times editorial board member Alex Fryer recently penned a column highlighting the process by which violent offenders are either released or held on bail. If you don’t have high blood...
If Seattle had a Darwin Award-type honor bestowed to public servants, the winner no doubt would be Councilmember Kshama Sawant. However, Councilmembers Tammy Morales and Teresa Mosqueda are giving her a run for her money when it comes public safety. Recently Seattle Times columnists Danny Westneat accurately described what’s going on in the city: This...
Earlier this year we wrote about how King County’s previous efforts to eliminate homelessness failed because those involved incorrectly diagnosed the root problem, warning that any future attempts to address the crisis needed to attack the real causes – substance abuse and mental illness. Unfortunately, Mayor Bruce Harrell appears to be making many of...
A judge’s duty is to uphold and execute the law. When they don’t, they need to be held accountable and had it made clear they’re not doing their jobs. That’s the case with King County Superior Court Judge Michael Scott, who was slapped by a man in Seattle last month near the downtown county...
If you were among those surprised to find most Seattle voters agree with you on issues like crime and homelessness, it’s likely because you assumed that the loudest voices in public reflected public sentiment. But it’s like with the city’s petty crime, in which a handful of serial offenders are committing most of it. Likewise,...
As you all well know, Washington state is currently dealing with a homelessness crisis along with increased crime. The last thing the state should do is decriminalize drug possession (and use), which would ensure that more people become homeless and commit more petty crime, while drug addicts will come here from other parts of the...