Drugs and homelessness are a losing combination for Seattle

05/11/2023

With late payments and unsigned contracts to non-profit social service organizations piling up, The King County Regional Homelessness Authority is making it even harder for local organizations to serve the populations they were created to help. An article in The Seattle Times says these organizations are being forced to take on credit card debt or...

TAGS: homelessness, King County, public safety

KCRHA’s tragic incompetence in addressing homelessness

05/04/2023

The King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) shocked nearly everyone earlier this year when its leaders demanded $11.8 billion to address the county’s homelessness crisis and budgeted very little of the funds to help those suffering from addiction or mental illness. This outlandish request has been criticized by people across the political spectrum, has led...

TAGS: homelessness, King County, King County Prosecutor

Don’t be fooled by homeless spending proposals

04/12/2023

Seattle is considering a major spending package to combat homelessness. What’s unclear is if this package is in addition to the $12 billion spending proposal made by the King County Regional Homelessness Authority – which does little to address the underlying causes of homelessness. KCRHA’s proposal would cost $12 billion over the next five years on...

TAGS: crime, homelessness, King County, King County Prosecutor, public safety

Refusing to treat homelessness as a drug addiction crisis is killing people

01/11/2023

Mayor Bruce Harrell, the Seattle City Council, and regional leaders continue to treat the homelessness crisis as a housing issue despite the glaringly obvious fact that it’s driven by drug addiction. The evidence isn’t hard to find, and denying reality is causing unnecessary deaths. As reported recently by The Center Square, King County experienced a...

TAGS: drug overdose, homelessness, King County

Our opportunity for Change starts now – and here’s how you can help

01/05/2023

We hope you enjoyed the holiday season and want to welcome you all into 2023. If there is a theme this year for us at Change Washington, it’s “change things for the better.” The opportunity is there. Polling repeatedly demonstrates Seattle voters are tired of the status quo, and their numbers wanting change continues to...

TAGS: crime, homelessness, King County, public safety, Seattle, Seattle Police Department

King County plays the Grinch

12/21/2022

With the systematic homelessness and public safety crisis in our region, you’d think King County would be primarily focused on addressing those issues. But apparently, the county government was taken over by the Grinch. Recently it was revealed that King County sent out a memo to its employees instructing them not to have any holiday-related...

TAGS: Christmas, holiday season, homelessness, King County, public safety

Why we are thankful

11/23/2022

With Thanksgiving this week it’s a good opportunity to take time to discuss what we at Change Washington are thankful for. Our heartfelt thanks go to those who financially support Change Washington. Your contributions allow us to continue tracking and monitoring public policies in Seattle and King County that affect you and others throughout our...

TAGS: Change Washington, homelessness, King County, public safety, Seattle

Now that Halloween is over, here’s something scarier

11/02/2022

Now that Halloween is over and trick-or-treaters aren’t knocking on your door, here’s something scarier. Criminals could come breaking down your door instead, and get a slap on the wrist for robbing you. The King County Prosecutor’s Office recently started up a “diversion” program for juveniles that keep them out of the courtroom and a jail sentence...

TAGS: crime, King County, King County Prosecutor, public safety

Jim Ferrell answers Change Washington’s public safety questions

10/21/2022

Earlier this month we emailed both King County Prosecutor Candidates, Jim Ferrell and Leesa Manion, inviting them to participate in a questionnaire about public safety and crime in the region. Below are the questions and responses from Jim Ferrell. Leesa Manion did not respond after several emails were sent. Question 1: Describe your background and...

TAGS: crime, King County, public safety

Victory! County nixes plans for Chinatown homeless megaplex (for now)

10/19/2022

When tasked with a long, difficult undertaking it’s important to celebrate the victories when they happen. King County’s decision to nix a planned homeless megaplex in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District (CID) represents an unexpected and important success for sound homelessness policy, public safety, and common-sense governance. As we’ve written on repeatedly, this entire project was thoroughly...

TAGS: Chinatown, CID, homelessness, King County, Seattle