By Larry Coffman
P.S. I want to thank the seven who took the time to provide their thoughtful—and thought-provoking—comments on KOMO-TV’s “Soul of Seattle” documentary. But we need dozens more, preferably with some ideas about how to get the ball rolling on the Hope Haven proposal. And Bill’s suggestion of having our brilliant Seattle technocrats come up with five solutions to test is a good one. Standing by to hear from YOU! When you get to the end of the story, just post your comments in the convenient Comment block provided.
Did you watch Eric Johnson’s provocative—and painful—documentary, “Fight For the Soul of Seattle,” on Saturday night (Dec. 12) on KOMO-TV? It’s the even-scarier sequel to his award-winning “Seattle Is Dying” documentary.
If not, stop reading now, click on the video below and spend the next 90 minutes watching what’s happening to the city we love—and why—and what we can do about it. Then return to this post.
OK, now that we’re all equally educated—and outraged—read on…
Johnson, the consummate storyteller (also see Erik’s Heroes and Erik’s Little Heroes) was recognized with an Edward R. Murrow Award and a regional Emmy for “Seattle Is Dying.” But he’s taken his message to a more alarming and urgent level with this most recent effort to shine a light on our confounding civic crisis.
The clear action item is finding a government—preferably the state of Washington—to build and operate the Hope Haven facility proposed in the documentary. Besides that, the legalization of “involuntary commitment” is absolutely essential to make it work.
The most startling statistic was the fact that just several thousand homeless (virtually all of whom are addicts) are holding a city of 700,000 and millions of visitors hostage, thanks to liberal public-policies that have tied the hands of police and the courts. And Councilperson Lisa Herbold’s proposal that thieves can avoid prosecution on the grounds of addiction, mental illness and poverty is sheer lunacy in itself.
I’m sure Eric’s new documentary stirred some strong reactions in you, as well. Please share them in the Comment box below, with some suggestions on how we bring the Hope Haven facility to fruition and end the assault on lawlessness. Thanks!
Once they graduate from Hope Haven they can be given a job at the new manufacturing facilities making all the things that are being made in China.
Government solutions would never be the answer, without some Trump speed in political theatre.
I dream of the speed we could see building multiple Hope Havens and the results we’d see, imagine if could get the non sensical well-meaning liberal groups like Gates Foundation with added financial support of Bezos, Zuckerberg, Dorsey.
But doesn’t seem that they or other elites really give a hoot on trying such a logical effort.
This broadcast should get prime time weekly on fake news media across US.
Will we live long enough to see the liberal collective wake up to this reality? I only pray for that as have become beyond disillusioned by the actions of elected leaders and the voters who repeatedly place them in control.
The Gates Foundation got lotsa mosquito netting to folks in Africa.
The University of Washington puts its resources to problem solving in all of its awesome grad programs.
Hey, City Council/business leaders/young thinkers/engineers/designers/health care professionals/philosophers bursting with ideas: How get together? Y’all could make it happen. There’s got to be a web site builder out there who is inspired to instigate and connect the brains. Keep the Hope alive👍🏻
Just watched “Fight for the Soul of Seattle”, as if the “Seattle is Dying” documentary wasn’t bad enough, but the problem will never get attention or go away if ignored.
I think the Hope Haven project is a brilliant idea could be a step in right direction. For those that think the Hope Haven project wouldn’t work, well you might be right. Having said that, I’ll ask how’s the current system working? Hope Haven would be the start and maybe not be the end all be all, but you have to start somewhere.
I understand the cost to build such a facility would be enormous. The cost and failure in many ways of the current system will only escalate in the years, decades to come. Leaving the system as it is today, will produce the same results tomorrow.
Looking into the current prison system, many are private or for-profit prisons. These facilities are operated by a third party that is contracted by a government agency. Yes a pay per diem or monthly rate, either for each prisoner in the facility, or for each available space is paid.
Why couldn’t this scenario work for a Hope Haven? Not to appear incentive when looking at this from a business persons point of view, profits are usually what is considered first. If a Hope Haven could be completed as a privatized facility and show success (thinking again as a business person) this could not only be scaled within the United Staes, but worldwide. The revolving door from the courtroom or prison to back on the streets isn’t working.
The courtroom or prison to a Hope Haven potentially would better prepare someone for a transition back to a more productive life and contribution to society which I believe most would want.
Just one person’s thoughts!
OPINION: We Can’t Win the Fight for the Soul of Seattle From the Sidelines | South Seattle Emerald
https://southseattleemerald.com/2020/12/23/opinion-we-cant-win-the-fight-for-the-soul-of-seattle-from-the-sidelines/?fbclid=IwAR2g6sMWLh9w1Ek2Rg_fnL8GABPRETMdY-lAZvoNcU1X0nVtdUCBp_Y5fOA
What if the ten largest employers based in Seattle dedicated 0.5% of their annual profits for the next five years to a “Save Seattle Fund”? This would generate tens of millions of dollars for a private initiative that would directly address the three ills that the KOMO piece identified as the root causes of the city’s decline: homelessness, crime and drugs. Grants would be made to public sector organizations to more effectively deal with these problems. Some of the money would also go to a PAC to support candidates who would champion civility laws. This would be in the donor companies’ long-term interests, as it would create a safer, more livable city for their employees and customers. it would be a compassionately administered program that provides the help that dispossessed people need, while getting unrepentant criminals off the streets. Unrealistic? Maybe. But a lot of big ideas seem improbable at first.
Jim
Great plan to clean up the parks and the streets, but it does nothing to address the issues of chronic mental illness or drug addiction, or poverty or alcohol abuse, or history of physical/sexual abuse, etc. The proposed Hope Haven sounds like the best bet. Rhode Island has been incredibly successful with their program.
While the state of WA does not provide any separate categories for those inmates with mental health issues or alcohol addiction I believe it can easily be extrapolated from the data that is available to conclude a diversion of funds from prisons to a Hope Haven program could easily be done if special interests are nullified.
According to state data from 2019 the average annual cost for inmates in WA is $41,230.40. Those individuals being supervised in the community for assault or drug convictions represent 54.8% of the community monitored population. Obviously, that is not working. There needs to be a change, not more of the same.
Here are the data links.
https://www.doc.wa.gov/information/data/analytics.htm
https://www.doc.wa.gov/docs/publications/reports/100-QA001.pdf
I’m sorry that the video doesn’t address the larger issues…
Unacceptable levels of police violence against African Americans.
The share of college grads who can’t find jobs is approaching half.
The gap between rich and poor has never been greater.
Housing in Seattle has become unaffordable for low wage workers.
Drugs and alcohol reduce the feelings of despair and depression.
Support systems unable to keep up with the wave of people in need.
Police, mental health professionals stretched beyond the breaking point.
I spent a couple hours yesterday in downtown Seattle, Capital Hill and South Lake Union. Saw more construction of new buildings than any time past memory. Found concentrations of homeless tents in Cal Anderson, City Hall Park and Denny Park with police in attendance in all three locations.
I’ve lived my whole life in Seattle. Grew up on Beacon Hill. Went to Cleveland High and Burnley School. I work with the UW, Seattle Central, and Shoreline Community College. Never seen Seattle like this. The World Trade Organization Protests, and the Vietnam protests in the 60s were somewhat similar, but we didn’t have the wage gap and homeless situation then.
I believe we need a massive investment in mental health, police and housing funded by all of us as individuals and organizations to help everyone of those left out of Seattle’s prosperity get off drugs, into housing and jobs.
Was sitting with a group here, smart, well-connected Kitsap Peninsula people all bemoaning downtown
Seattle and none of us have been there for months, few could be enticed to visit; they
are fearful.
Comes now word of another homeless camp ‘re-location’ today which simply shuttles the
problems from one neighborhood to the next.
I am so perplexed, honestly looking for a solution.
The brightest, smartest, most wealthy people in the world live here and their companies
solve the world’s most complex technology, manufacturing and distribution problems.
Amazon shipped more than 400 million packages in July, 2020, 55,000 per hour.
When the pandemic is over, will tourists return to Seattle and brave walking
from hotels to the Market? We quit attending M’s games the past two years because
of the homeless encampments from ferry terminal to Soho.
There is plenty of blame to go around but, serious question: what keeps these smart, rich
and socially conscious technocrats from sitting down together to test five solutions to
homelessness and then apply solutions, from 10,000 tiny houses to enforcement of vagrancy laws?
Or is this beloved Emerald City destined to be avoided, a joke?
It is so sad to see this continued degradation of a city we loved.
Looking for answers,
Bill
Kitsap
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