I have so much to say to this strip. Positive at heart, but....... not fair to say mayor is killing. Previous admin, with a “hands off” policy on the many many encampments that spread throughout the city, saw street deaths go from 138 to 200+ between’20 and ‘21. Correlation is not causation. Fentanyl played a role in recent issue, for instance. Covid? Climate change (heat and cold)? Also, i personally know chronic Homeless that were housed into apartments under current admin. I am not saying things are good or even close. I worked directly in encampments in Seattle and Tacoma 18 months during Covid. It was a humanitarian crisis that the cities did nothing to cure. The chronic addiction and mental health were beyond the pale. And from a neighborhood POV, in my Pioneer Square, small, funky, community oriented businesses, going month to month, lost huge revenue because of fear of homeless who took over Post Alley, the Square, waterfront, SoDo areas. I am advocate for massive govt intervention A-Z on Homeless issue. It’s a crime against our humanity. I do not support sweeps that do not drive the unhoused into wrap around services and housing. I am not coming from a “Fuck the homeless” POV. I love that you took this on but don’t think over-simplifying and blaming mayor for what is a complex, local and National economic-societal shit show is the way to go. I hope you keep at it and look at the nuances.
Hello again. In the spirit of your work, here's my post on my interaction with a sweep the day after the Neely killing. Keep yours coming....
https://open.substack.com/pub/mjwhite/p/photography-as-witness-there-are?r=1rk0p5&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I have so much to say to this strip. Positive at heart, but....... not fair to say mayor is killing. Previous admin, with a “hands off” policy on the many many encampments that spread throughout the city, saw street deaths go from 138 to 200+ between’20 and ‘21. Correlation is not causation. Fentanyl played a role in recent issue, for instance. Covid? Climate change (heat and cold)? Also, i personally know chronic Homeless that were housed into apartments under current admin. I am not saying things are good or even close. I worked directly in encampments in Seattle and Tacoma 18 months during Covid. It was a humanitarian crisis that the cities did nothing to cure. The chronic addiction and mental health were beyond the pale. And from a neighborhood POV, in my Pioneer Square, small, funky, community oriented businesses, going month to month, lost huge revenue because of fear of homeless who took over Post Alley, the Square, waterfront, SoDo areas. I am advocate for massive govt intervention A-Z on Homeless issue. It’s a crime against our humanity. I do not support sweeps that do not drive the unhoused into wrap around services and housing. I am not coming from a “Fuck the homeless” POV. I love that you took this on but don’t think over-simplifying and blaming mayor for what is a complex, local and National economic-societal shit show is the way to go. I hope you keep at it and look at the nuances.