Thread by @KUOW

Proposition: The homelessness crisis is killing Seattle.

Arguing Yes: @MellWhiteCusack
& @Sergio4seattle

Arguing No: @AshleyA_RC & Dr. LaMont Green

#KUOWlive

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC Our audience weighed in before the debate began.

Yes: 21%
No: 79%

We'll be polling again at the conclusion of the debate.

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC Opening remarks

@MellWhiteCusack "Seattle is dying because we have lost our moral compass.

By not acknowledging the human being on the street, we're saying it's OK."

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC Opening remarks

@AshleyA_RC: "The idea that homelessness is killing the city is giving enormous power to the person who can't keep a roof above their heads.

"'Homelessness is not a symbol of decline, it's a symbol of prosperity'" (quoting Michael Hobbes) huffpost.com/entry/homeless…

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC Opening remarks

@Sergio4seattle: I'm going through a political identity crisis. We take great pride in advocating for things.

Every day I go home heartbroken.

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC Opening remarks (final)

Dr. Lamont Green: Homelessness is a symptom of a much larger disease.

The disease that is killing us is racism and systemic oppression.

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC Debate continues...

@MellWhiteCusack: "We're not finding any solutions. Things are getting worse."

"We're not working together. Our leaders aren't even on the same page as far as what's causing the homelessness crisis."

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC Dr. Green: Seattle spends approx. $90 million on a $400 million problem.

We need to have a city that is not only business-friendly, but is humane.

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC @Sergio4seattle: "Why don't we take that $83,000 we're spending per homeless person and put them on a payroll?"

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC @AshleyA_RC: Someone from Plymouth Housing said she can house one person for a year for the price it takes to incarcerate them for 3 months.

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC @Sergio4seattle: We don't enforce anything. The people we take to jail are middle class folks caught in the crossfire.

People get upset at police for "picking on" homeless people - it's people calling us to respond to issues.

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC Dr. Green: Homelessness will remain a problem until we end racism and systemic oppression.

We need to ground our work in a racial equity framework. "Colorblindness" is not going to work.

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC Dr. Green: We need to think of those affected as gems and community assets.

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC @MellWhiteCusack: "With the exception of redlining in Seattle, I struggle to see where we have any institution that oppresses people of color today."

"I'm not seeing a correlation between people of color experiencing homelessness and rising rent."

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC Dr. Green: The thing about structural racism, homophobia, sexism is how we internalize it in order to distance ourselves from it.

It's not my job to convince anyone that it exists.

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC Should everyone be able to live in Seattle, regardless of personal circumstances?

@MellWhiteCusack: No. I want waterfront property, but I can't afford it.

@AshleyA_RC: Maybe not everyone can, but way more people should be able to

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC (continued)

Dr. Green: Diversity is important to the city.

@Sergio4seattle: We should all have a chance in this city

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC @Sergio4seattle: Everyone wants a compassionate resolution to this. My question is: What is the compromise?

I'm not going to convince you, you're not going to convince me, how do we move forward?

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC Dr. Green: I'll keep it simple: Housing is a human right. Let's start there.

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC @MellWhiteCusack: The greatest issue is our criminal justice system in regards to our equality. But I see it as a socioeconomic issue, not structural racism.

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC Closing statements

@AshleyA_RC: Seattle should be a place that people can live at all levels of socioeconomic status. That makes a healthy city, that makes a vibrant city.

How do we keep this a cultural hub if we can't help people stay?

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC Closing statements

@MellWhiteCusack: Homelessness is killing Seattle because we have allowed it to happen.

But there is still time and resources available to turn this around.

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC Closing statements

Dr. Green: "I beg us to not fall prey to narratives that attempt to frame our fellow Seattleites experiencing homelessness as mostly drug addicted and mentally ill criminals."

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC Closing statements

@Sergio4seattle: Homelessness is not a crime, period. We also need to recognize that when police are called at 3 am, at that moment we are no longer dealing with a housing crisis. We have a crime and we need to hold ourselves responsible.

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC Theres a real buzz in the audiences as they are invited to talk among themselves for several minutes about the debate before we get the final poll on the debate.

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC Decision time! How do you feel about the proposition now after the debate?

Audience:
Yes: 27%
No: 73%

Even though "yes" was the minority view, they "win" the debate because they swayed more of the audience to their position.

(Reminder: This is all in good fun)

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC Audience can now ask questions of the panelists directly.

(You can too! Tweet at us)

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC How can the community support the police in this?

@Sergio4seattle: Don't scream at me from your car when I'm just asking a homeless person how his day is going.

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC On socioeconomic issuess...

@MellWhiteCusack: When it comes to the question of housing, it's supply and demand.

There's some great policies we can implement for housing affordability. For instance, our 720-page building code - it's so expensive to build.

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC Can someone making minimum wage live in Seattle?

@AshleyA_RC: I'm sure someone has figured out a way to do it, but I don't know how.

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC Where can homeless people get a shower, treatment?

@KateWaltersKUOW: Urban rest stops, 24-hour shelters. We're looking into mobile solutions. There are programs t help with medication-assisted treatments. The scale can't meet the demand at this point

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC @KateWaltersKUOW How can neighbors help their homeless neighbors?

Dr. Green: Get to know them.

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC @KateWaltersKUOW What's the best way to get people experiencing homelessness off the streets?

@AshleyA_RC: Housing first with wraparound services. It's the most effective way to get people out of mental health and addiction issues.

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC @KateWaltersKUOW Do we need more police?

@Sergio4seattle: We can hire 10,000 more cops, but if we don't have more services it's not going to resolve any issues. Jail makes them worse than they were before.

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC @KateWaltersKUOW Is there a way to stop people on the brink of homelessness?

Dr. Green: There's people who just need first and last rent to be good to go. Help with avoiding eviction

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC @KateWaltersKUOW More tiny house villages?

@MellWhiteCusack: No
@SergioRamos: Not as they are
@AshleyA_RC: Yes
Dr. Green: ?

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC @KateWaltersKUOW @SergioRamos What nonprofits are doing good work in this issue? (courtesy of @NellePierson)

Panel had several shoutouts:
@UndoingRacism
@AWayHomeWA
@TreehouseTweets
@farestart

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC @KateWaltersKUOW @SergioRamos @NellePierson @UndoingRacism @AWayHomeWA @TreehouseTweets @farestart Thank you to our engaged audience and panelists for giving us a sprightly debate tonight!

If you missed it, in true KUOW fashion we are recording it and will have it available later.

@MellWhiteCusack @Sergio4seattle @AshleyA_RC @KateWaltersKUOW @SergioRamos @NellePierson @UndoingRacism @AWayHomeWA @TreehouseTweets @farestart A few more:

@HomelessAdvocacyProject
Village of Hope Seattle
@Mb_society