New study provides common sense plan to reduce Seattle’s homelessness
New study provides common sense plan to reduce Seattle’s homelessness
The Seattle-based Discovery Institute released an important study on the King County homelessness crisis which asserts that current government “Housing First” policies are causing homeless numbers to double every three years. The report’s authors proposed commonsense solutions that go to the root cause of why half of the homeless individuals say they are living on...
More work needed to inform voters from making bad choices
More work needed to inform voters from making bad choices
County election offices across Washington are busy counting ballots and a few races won’t be determined until next week. Yet, with roughly 80% of the statewide vote counted, there is enough election data to make a couple of general observations. SEATTLE Seattle voters took a step back to the failed progressive policies of its recent...
State politicians keep same homelessness plan that has brought suffering to many
State politicians keep same homelessness plan that has brought suffering to many
Those seeking to decrease the number of homeless individuals in Washington received heartbreaking news last week. Despite overwhelming evidence that the current homeless strategy (i.e. “Housing First”) is one of the worst and most expensive policy failures in modern history, state government officials released a five-year plan saying they will continue to waste even more...
Poll shows Seattle voters seek bolder remedies from failed extreme policies
Poll shows Seattle voters seek bolder remedies from failed extreme policies
A new survey of Seattle residents reveals the public is becoming more optimistic about Seattle’s future after voters in 2023 replaced extremist city councilmembers with practical moderates, who thus far are keeping their campaign promises on public safety and not raising taxes. The numbers have improved enough for one to wonder whether the public would...
Burien (again) prevails over Dow Constantine’s hopeless homeless strategy
Burien (again) prevails over Dow Constantine’s hopeless homeless strategy
King County Executive Dow Constantine’s homeless strategy suffered yet another blow as a federal court threw out the county’s lawsuit against the City of Burien over enforcement of the city’s no camping laws. U.S. District Judge Richard Jones ruled on September 25 that the county’s legal claims were “nebulous,” and Burien’s public-area camping ban is...
New documentary reveals why “Housing First” is a failed policy
New documentary reveals why “Housing First” is a failed policy
ChangeWA has teamed with filmmaker V Ginny Burton to produce "Behind Closed Doors," a shocking 30-minute documentary which exposes the unsafe and drug-filled conditions within King County's low-barrier housing.
Constantine places vulnerable people into unsafe living conditions
Constantine places vulnerable people into unsafe living conditions
“I’m shook up. I want to get out of here. I don’t feel safe.” This statement, from a resident of the public supportive housing complex at 1811 Eastlake (on the edge of Downtown Seattle), was stated hours after the latest murder at the 75-unit low-barrier facility. 42-year-old Steve Eden was stabbed more than 20 times...
The Tale of Two Counties – King and Pierce
The Tale of Two Counties – King and Pierce
In Washington State’s two most populous counties there are two differing approaches to combatting the homelessness crisis. If past results are any indication, one county will continue to break records for the number of people who are homeless and for the number of homeless deaths, while the other will see significant positive results helping those...
Pierce Co. Executive Dammeier, “housing will never solve homelessness, community will.”
Pierce Co. Executive Dammeier, “housing will never solve homelessness, community will.”
We interviewed Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier on the innovative program (based on success elsewhere) his administration is using to reduce long-term homelessness. The “community first” method differs from the failed “housing first” philosophy in that it doesn’t ignore the fact that addiction and mental health are major contributors to the crisis. Executive Dammeier also...
What is Seattle getting for its ‘highest in nation’ sales tax?
What is Seattle getting for its ‘highest in nation’ sales tax?
Seattle has claimed the top spot in the nation as the city with the highest sales tax. Even with this incredible revenue stream, Seattle is now less safe. It has been misguided politicians and policies, not the lack of funds, that have made it a city where criminals feel comfortable while charities flee. Earlier this...
Time to close the ineffective and wasteful KCRHA
Time to close the ineffective and wasteful KCRHA
Last week King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell announced a proposal to scrap the King County Regional Homelessness Authority’s (KCRHA) Implementation Board, the 13-person committee of “experience in the housing and homelessness fields” which shares responsibility for managing the much-maligned authority. According to the proposal, nearly all of the board’s responsibilities...
Seattle City Council takes a steady approach to correct past mistakes
Seattle City Council takes a steady approach to correct past mistakes
A recently released midyear crime report from the Council on Criminal Justice revealed that while murder is down across the U.S. when compared to 2019, Seattle’s homicide rate is 50% higher than it was five years ago. Frustrated Seattle voters, fed up with the mass exodus of police officers (Seattle currently has fewer police officers...
Executive Constantine stuck in the past
Executive Constantine stuck in the past
King County Executive Dow Constantine recent battle with Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison over incarceration of criminals is the latest proof that the 15-year incumbent is stubbornly holding onto failed progressive public safety and homelessness policies, which many now blame for making conditions worse. Constantine appears stuck in 2020 as he continues to advocate combatting...
Are we witnessing the “beginning of the end” for KCRHA?
Are we witnessing the “beginning of the end” for KCRHA?
A Seattle Times report reveals that political support for the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) continues to erode as such former advocates as King County Executive Dow Constantine, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, and King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci, are being very cautious about its future. But before we get to that, let’s recap the...