KOMO’s Eric Johnson explores the impact the drug and homelessness problem is having on our city and possible solutions in “Seattle is Dying.”
Seattle TV news station KOMO (ABC-Affiliate) investigated the streets and reported what they found: homeless people, mental illness, desecrated cemeteries, illegal drugs, needles, feces, tents, rats, shoplifters, and plastic bags.
KOMO reporters recently have had a problem getting police officers to speak for interviews. The police officers fear retaliation from above, getting fired and losing their pensions. So KOMO sent out surveys to be answered anonymously.
Police responses to a KOMO-generated survey asking about the problems that face Seattle …
“It’s simple, start keeping criminals in jail. Judges need to stop giving them ridiculously low sentences and prosecutors need to stop excepting cheesy plea deals and actually lock people up when they commit a crime. That’s all it would take to drastically lower Seattle’s crime rate.”
— Police Officer
“People come here because it’s called Free-attle and they believe if they come here they will get free food, free medical treatment, free mental health treatment, a free tent, free clothes and will be free of prosecution for just about everything; and they’re right. It didn’t used to be that way. Law-enforcement officers used to be able to enforce the laws. In the last five years there has been a culture shift and it started with the legislature decriminalizing felonies and dumping convicts into the streets.”
— Police Officer
“Even if quality warrant arrest are made, the judicial system sees fit to let them out of jail within a couple of days – often the next day. Why are we risking our lives to take felony-level fugitives into custody if they are just going to be released? Prosecutors office and judges a like seem to be drinking all the Kool-Aid causing a huge disconnect and a broken system with absolutely no teeth.”
— Police Officer
In 2015, Seattle declared its homelessness a state of emergency. Soaring costs of living and an overburden on public services were considered the top catalysts causing the rising homeless rate.
In May 2018, the Seattle City Council approved a version of the “head tax” plan -— a progressive tax on big businesses to combat homelessness in the city. Taxes were earmarked for affordable housing units and homeless services.
In June 2018, Seattle’s city council voted to repeal the so-called “head tax” after protest of the tax proposed on companies like Amazon and Starbucks. People opposing the “head tax” legislation claim the tax is aimed at jobs, or hiring in general. Technically, “head tax” is a tax on time: calculated by multiplying working hours by about 26 cents for full-time employees.
“Head Tax” activists oppose Amazon, claiming it is the primary driver of the cost of living increase in Seattle, while Amazon pays no state income tax, and “paid effectively nothing in federal taxes” but made billions in profits in 2017.
See also …
KOMO News Special: Seattle is Dying
Gizmodo | Seattle Repeals ‘Head Tax’ Amid Pressure From Amazon
Gizmodo | Against Amazon’s Wishes, Seattle Passes ‘Head Tax’ on Big Businesses
^^ MOBILE? USE VOICE MIC ^^
facebook …
GET ALERTS on Facebook.com/ArlingtonCardinal
GET ALERTS on Facebook.com/CardinalEmergencies
GET ALERTS on Facebook.com/ArlingtonHeightsCrime
Get updates from The Cardinal ALL NEWS FEEDS on Facebook. Just ‘LIKE’ the ‘Arlington Cardinal Page (become a fan of our page). The updates cover all posts and sub-category posts from The Cardinal — Arlingtoncardinal.com. You can also limit feeds to specific categories. See all of The Cardinal Facebook fan pages at Arlingtoncardinal.com/about/facebook …
Help fund The Cardinal Arlingtoncardinal.com/sponsor
20240105-1435future
KOMO-TV is an ABC-affiliated television station licensed to Seattle, Washington. KOMO serves Seattle and Tacoma. The station is owned by the Sinclair Broadcast Group as part of a duopoly with Bellevue-licensed Univision affiliate KUNS-TV.
SELECT YOUTUBE COMMENTS …
From March 19,2019 to March 28, 2019 12,748 comments were generated in response to the video “Seattle is Dying. Here is a sample …
Seattle’s not dying, it’s being killed by political correctness. Liberalism is the greatest threat to our nation.
Plastic straws and plastic bags are highly illegal…but metamphetamine use is allowed. Sanctuary of the crazies.
You want change? Put people in charge that will enforce the laws. I live south of Seattle and just plain stopped going to Seattle for anything. the city is a complete dump now.
Just like SF it’s a hellhole. Welcome to sodom and Gomorrah like CA
Seattle’s government response to this crisis? “Lets ban straws and plastic bags and guns”
It’s called enabling!!! That’s exactly what Seattle is doing. The first thing we were taught (when dealing with a family member using drugs) was not to enable them.
This is what happens when a city is directed and becomes a safe haven for SJW’s [Social Justice Warriors] and Leftists.
I avoid Seattle… zip through on I5 at odd hours to get to work. I used to stop for a game, meal or a show but not anymore. Not worth the hassle or the worry. You reap what you sow.
Somebody at the top is making money from all the drugs.
Liberalism is the disease here, this is what happens when the left and socialist policies take over a city.
The Utopian world of liberalism. Coming to a state near you!
Democrats, Liberals, Marxists, Feminists, SJW’s and general idiots.
This is what happens when cities/states go “progressive”.
The Lunatics are running the Asylum.
Going beyond the addiction problem, society is dying. It about the assault on the working class, shifting of jobs overseas, and extreme liberalism.
You reap what you sow. If Seattle IS dying, it is by choice. Yes, Seattle there is a price to pay for over the top P.C. lunacy!
The whole West Coast is dying from the same disease, socialist liberalism. The politicians can exercise more control if those being controlled can not or will not think for themselves. When the people of Seattle stop electing democrats things will get better. It really is up to the people of Seattle!
Seattle is dying, but Vancouver IS dead! Folks in Seattle, you are 3 to 5 years away from where Vancouver is now. Vancouver is the City of the Walking Dead! Thank you Liberal/Progressives.
Seattle needs a whole new city council. One not tied to socialism.
This should be a must watch for anyone holding public office in a major city. Great work.