Jonathan Choe Profile picture
Discovery Institute Senior Fellow+Journalist. NEWS TIP: jchoe@discovery.org, *Vids branded "DI" represent Discovery Institute. Other views expressed are my own.

Jan 23, 2023, 12 tweets

STUNNING DEVELOPMENT: In latest update, @KCPubHealth's Dr. Faisal Khan says, "the medical examiner's office is now struggling with the issue of STORING BODIES because the fentanyl related death toll continues to climb."
@GovInslee @kcexec @MayorofSeattle #Seattle

AMERICAN TRAGEDY: @jasonrantz first to report on this grim development impacting #Seattle, #KingCounty, and our entire region. Khan says medical examiner's offices nationwide dealing with same problems with storage of bodies related to #fentanyl deaths.

CURRENT PLAN NOT WORKING: Elected officials must now admit it’s an addiction crisis and it must be prioritized. Every homeless encampment is littered w/drug paraphernalia. Out of record 310 homeless deaths last year, majority fentanyl related. #Seattle

ACTUAL BREAKDOWN Of HOMELESS DEATHS SEATTLE 2022:

-70% fentanyl related.

-18 homeless people died by homicide.

-35 homeless people died from natural causes.

-10 homeless people died from hypothermia or exposure.

-7 homeless people died from suicide.

usnews.com/news/best-stat…

EVERY HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT: Back in October, I caught up with these fellas in SODO. Why are we allowing HOMELESS addicts to die on our streets? We are losing a GENERATION. Where is the intervention? @GovInslee @kcexec
@MayorofSeattle @KC_RHA @seattledot

DRUG CITY: The drug epidemic is so bad in #Seattle, I now carry Narcan since I encounter addicts daily. In October, guy was "tweaking" on drugs in traffic near Lams' Seafood on King St. He refused help.
@GovInslee @MayorofSeattle @kcexec @SeattleCouncil

HUMAN TRAGEDY: #Chinatown-ID continues to UNFAIRLY shoulder burden of crime, drug addiction,+ homeless crisis. This past September, I documented numerous instances of addicts injecting in front of kids. @GovInslee @kcexec @MayorofSeattle @KC_RHA #Seattle

@GovInslee @kcexec @MayorofSeattle @KC_RHA ZERO ACCOUNTABILITY: "Harm reduction" lobby is adding fuel to America's drug epidemic. Unlimited needles, foil,+supplies to get high. But little intervention or requirements for addicts to get treatment. And this industry is profiting handsomely. #Seattle

@GovInslee @kcexec @MayorofSeattle @KC_RHA IT'S THE DRUGS STUPID: Resilient small biz owners like @RohanJoseph12 huge part of 2022 narrative. Fed up with #Seattle's drug addicts disrupting biz, he's documenting every single encounter and now PERSONALLY trying to change the culture on his street.

SEATTLE'S UNENDING DRUG CRISIS : I spent months REPORTING on 3rd Ave. in downtown Seattle+Little Saigon. Despite efforts by @MayorofSeattle and @SeattlePD, open air drug dens/black markets are THRIVING. #Seattle @GovInslee @kcexec

NEW PLAN: “Housing first” is not working and is liability for politicians who subscribe to this. Just look on streets of PNW/West Coast/Vancouver BC Canada. Prioritizing solutions for drug addiction+mental illness will be key to “housing earned.” #Seattle

RESPONSIBILITY OF MEDIA:At this point, we all know mainstream media is NOT going to consistently cover these raw realities in Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Philly, etc. Independent/citizen journos now tasked to fill this huge gap.

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