It has not been an easy few weeks for Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson. The aftermath of the deadly Bite of Seattle shooting raised serious questions about communication and leadership at City Hall. Wilson replaced Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes in the middle of that controversy. And a recall effort has now been launched against her,...
There is something deeply backwards about what is happening to We Heart Seattle. For nearly six years, the nonprofit’s team has gone into Seattle parks, greenbelts and neighborhoods to clean up abandoned tents, garbage, drug foil and used needles that the city government has ignored. Now the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries is...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 19, 2026 Contact: contact@changewashington.org New poll: Two-thirds of Seattle voters disapprove of Mayor Katie Wilson; 60% say she should resign or be removed Majorities of Democrats and independents say Wilson should resign or be removed from office SEATTLE — A new poll of Seattle registered voters finds Mayor Katie Wilson facing widespread...
For nearly 15 years, Seattle has been experimenting with a different way to deal with people repeatedly cycling through drug use, homelessness and the criminal justice system. Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) launched in Seattle in 2011. Instead of arresting and prosecuting some people accused of low-level crimes, police can divert them to case managers...
For years, Washingtonians have been asked to trust that growing public investments, new programs, and a less punitive approach to addiction would eventually reduce the suffering visible in communities across the state. Many people wanted that approach to succeed. They still do. But as the problem worsens here (homelessness increased by 9% in the last...
Three years after Eina Kwon and her unborn daughter, Evelyn, were killed in a random shooting in downtown Seattle, her husband has filed a lawsuit alleging that the tragedy followed a series of warnings the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) failed to adequately address. The wrongful-death and personal-injury lawsuit filed by Sung Kwon raises...
For years, Seattle and King County residents have been told that homelessness would improve if government spent more money, created new programs, and built larger bureaucracies to coordinate the response. Many people wanted to believe that approach would work. Instead, public spending has continued to climb while more people are living outside, often struggling with...
As America marks its 250th birthday, many of us are reflecting on the ideals that shaped our nation. America was founded on the belief that we all have certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. The founders chose the word “liberty” deliberately—and the difference between liberty and freedom...
Seattle is welcoming the world. As World Cup visitors continue to arrive, downtown streets are busy, waterfront parks are active, and television broadcasts are showcasing the city’s mountains, waterways, neighborhoods, and skyline. For many residents, it has been a reminder of why they love living here in the first place. The natural beauty was always...
Recent headlines paint a troubling picture of King County’s regional homelessness system — one in turmoil, riddled with financial mismanagement, and lacks accountability to taxpayers. “$13M missing: Seattle leaders call attention to ‘egregious’ regional homeless audit“ — KOMO News, April 23, 2026 “Councilmember Rivera, County Councilmember Dembowski call for KCRHA to be dissolved“ — Seattle...
Findings from the recent audit of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) have led to more calls to dismantle the controversial agency. These rare demands are due to the authority’s history of fiscal mismanagement and the never-ending increases to the homeless population in King County (risen 68% in the past 10 years and 43.5%...
A recent King County audit found that millions of dollars were unaccounted for within its Community and Human Services Department (CHSD), which oversees programs intended to help those who are homeless. Recently, a Seattle city councilmember, recognizing that its Human Services Department (HSD) has many of the same vendors as CHSD, has called for a...
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is admittedly not a sports fan, yet the world’s largest soccer tournament will be her first major test. Specifically, the mayor’s evolving strategies on homelessness will be tested as 750,000 international visitors are expected in the region for the 2026 World Cup. Seattle will host six matches as the 2026 World...
New revelations regarding Seattle’s tiny home villages have raised concerns on how effective this program is in helping homeless individuals battle their addictions in order to return to a productive life. These questions arise as new Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has made tiny homes the centerpiece of her homelessness strategy. Last week We Heart Seattle’s...