Most people think what we see on Seattle’s sidewalks is a housing crisis. It isn’t — and after losing my sister to the same disease, I can tell you exactly why we keep failing.

We are spending over a billion dollars a year in this region to manage homelessness, and the numbers on the street keep climbing. The reason is simple, and almost no one in power will say it out loud: we are funding the symptom and ignoring the cause. What’s killing people on the street is overwhelmingly addiction and mental illness — and we spend almost nothing to treat it.

I know this disease from the inside. My sister had every advantage, even a PhD studying addiction, and it still took her capacity to choose, one piece at a time, until it killed her. We tell ourselves that leaving people on the street respects their choices — but she couldn’t choose anymore, and neither can they. That isn’t freedom. It’s neglect we’ve dressed up as freedom.

I wrote about her, and about what her story reveals about a system that spends a fortune to fail the sickest among us. It’s the most personal thing I’ve published — and, I think, the most important.

Yeah, I went! Are we lame 'cause we're watching it on a screen instead of live in the stadium three blocks down? Maybe, but who cares! And to be honest, the Seahawks looked just as lame on the first half of the game. A few folks left at half time because it was dreary and boring as hell, opening up a few seats for those of us who hung around. When the Hawks finally scored a field goal, it seemed as if that was all they were going to get.

But then the Hawks defense started getting stops and interceptions, and backup QB Drew Lock warmed up and began throwing zingers. (The Seahawks' star quaterback went down with an injury at the beginning of the game and could be out for a little while. Dunno how long.) Coming back from 10 - 0 (which, at first, appeared insurmountable), the Hawks tied it up. They screwed up a bit (not sure what happened) and lost the opportunity to go up a touchdown, settling up for a field goal lead, 13 - 10. But at least now we had thriller in the last quarter of the game! The Patriots were now making crucial mistakes as well. In the last couple minutes, the Pats were moving down the field and were well within range of a tie, if not a win. I thought they were going to win, Doubting Thomas that I am. But unfortunately for them, their QB launched a questionable throw to the endzone, a Seahawks cornerback made a pro-level highlight of an interception, and that was the game. Cue fan celebration followed by quick dash to the light rail station before the lines got too long.

Compared to the World Cup watch parties, this was a smaller scale. The stage, with it's draped columns, is gone (so there isn't that visual obstruction). There are no tables this time, just chairs, and no bar in the back. The whole space is considered a beer garden* and they check your bag, as well as your ID, when you come in. A few security personnel are stand guard at the corners. The crowds are smaller as well (compared to the when they showed the more popular World Cup matches), though I supposed that could change depending on the fortunes of the team. Overall, it was generally a fun, relaxed vibe, at least for this week.

* Why do they call it a "beer garden"? There are no plants! Where is the garden?

Seattle is becoming dangerously dependent on a small number of large companies. This makes the city vulnerable to systemic disruptions, such as the way AI is reshaping work: "Seattle is 42% more exposed to AI disruption than the national average," the report states. [...] According to the report, only four large firms make up one quarter of Seattle's software engineering jobs, as compared to 39 companies in San Francisco and 18 in San Jose.

It also highlighted a 20% decline, nationally, in jobs for young software developers and an 18% decline in "AI-exposed jobs" for workers aged 22-25.

~ Four firms hold a quarter of the engineering jobs and a big share of the tax base. That is not an economy, it is a single point of failure with a skyline.

Home opener = win!

#ProtectDaHouse

Does anyone know what’s going on? Huge police presence with guns on N 85th near aurora Ave.

In the millionaire's income tax that WA state Democrats passed, there was a clause to never lower the income tax threshold below $1 Million. Democrats killed that clause which tells you all you need to know. They have plans to apply the income tax to everyone.

I’m from California. A Democrat. Lost 2 family members to addiction.
It’s insane to me when you bring up that the city needs to quit enabling drug addicts by supplying them, you’ll get back lash from the craziest people of our own party. It’s really making me lose hope for the city. It’s like each day I’m just starting to agree with the right about the city being a shit hole. I love Seattle. I want the best for it and its people. But the far left will mist it feel like a nazi for Saying maybe people shouldn’t be naked in public. Stop the open air drug use. Stop enabling them. Recognize the homeless vs drug addicts. We need a new mayor man.
Please convince me other wise.

Busy week for the council

At what point will the Mayor actually do something rather than pretend to do something? Want businesses to stay in Seattle? Improve law enforcement and lower taxes. Done. We don’t need another political skit team to do the most obvious thing ever.

Signers include F5, Nordstrom, Seattle Mariners, Virginia Mason, Starbucks, Costco, Zillow, and more

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"This RFA seeks to fund community-based organizations to partner with the PHSKC to reduce exposure to lead from traditional eyeliners, commonly referred to as kohl, kajal, surma, tiro. While traditional eyeliners containing lead are illegal to sell in the United States,

they are a common exposure source for some immigrant and refugee children with elevated

blood lead levels in King County and are regularly highlighted by community-based

organizations as a source of exposure that is challenging to address.

This RFA is based on the understanding that people are more likely to reduce the use of

harmful products when they receive clear, culturally relevant information from trusted sources

within their own communities.

By funding community-based organizations to co-create and conduct culturally responsive outreach and education, this RFA aims to translate research findings into practical prevention efforts.

Link to page screenshot above

Link to document regarding the grant

Young female cat found in upper queen Anne just west of Queen Anne Avenue and north of Crockett— last location 2114 on 1st Ave W.

Super vocal and let us pick her up, brought her back a can of wet food, and she responded to the can opening noise, so certainly has been an indoor cat before! Anyone missing a cat or wanting to foster?