STUNNING REBUKE: WA state lawmakers like @AKB1968 picking apart @KC_RHA CEO Marc Dones and his "wrong" interpretation of @GovInslee's Right of Way Initiative. Dones' insistence on "permanent housing" delayed King County encampment sweeps. #Seattle@kcexec@MayorofSeattle
SUSPECTED METH LAB: Explosion on @wsdot property in #Chinatown-ID. Once again @CMTammyMorales MIA. Auto body shop owner nearby is shocked @KC_RHA 's Marc Dones says homeless will only be moved if "permanent housing solution" is available. #Seattle
MASSIVE INFERNO: Feb 3 another camp on @wsdot property up in smoke in #Chinatown-ID. Notice a theme here? State ignores problems in this minority community. @CMTammyMorales MIA. Where is the equity lens for Asian Americans? #Seattle @GovInslee@KC_RHA
FULL EXCHANGE: After parents RAGED on @KC_RHA'S Dones about failed outreach at Ship Canal encampment, he went on to say WA state law makers put in a funding requirement that says homeless can only be moved if there is a "permanent housing solution."
5 YEAR PLAN IN JEOPARDY? @KC_RHA recently released strategy to “Dramatically Reduce Unsheltered Homelessness.” But it’s based on failed “HOUSING FIRST” policy. No requirements for drug addiction+ mental health treatment. #Seattle@GovInslee@MayorofSeattle
MARC DONES’ BABY: It's becoming more evident, Dones is an academic. Critics say he needs to be out there more often on the front lines, seeing what's actually happening. @KC_RHA Here is Executive Summary. #Seattle#KingCounty
👇🏽 kcrha.org/wp-content/upl…
QUITE A READ: @KC_RHA and Marc Dones’ game plan. Notice the agency is careful not to say this will end homelessness. Ultimately, what does success or failure look like after 5 years? #Seattle#KingCounty
@KC_RHA SO DONE: #Seattle Councilmember Alex Pedersen slamming King County Regional Homelessness Authority saying, “@KC_RHA appears relatively slow,” in email sent to frustrated neighbor complaining about @wsdot Ship Canal encampment. @MayorofSeattle@GovInslee
MAYOR'S HOT TAKE: I asked @MayorofSeattle about @wsdot problems spilling into #Seattle neighborhoods and Councilmember Pedersen's statement on @KC_RHA performance. Mayor tried to be diplomatic, but city sources say he's frustrated by slow progress as well.
NOVEMBER 2022: @wsdot's Ship Canal Bridge encampment being blamed for shootings, fires, and squatters. @weheartseattle is trying to help. But when will @KC_RHA finish this outreach so it can be cleared? Been there more than a year. @GovInslee #Seattle
HOUSE OF HORRORS: Look inside this house right next Ship Canal encampment and across the street from John Stanford Elementary. It's currently boarded up by the landlord. But campers have broken in numerous times. #Seattle@KC_RHA@wsdot@WAStateCommerce
THE OTHER SIDE: The Ship Canal Bridge encampment has two sides. The one in Wallingford and this one in the University District. Some campers who lost tents in the overnight fire simply moved here. #Seattle
MOUNTING PROBLEMS: Nearly 40 homeless kicked out of #Seattle's Hotel Nexus for alleged violations such as drug use in rooms+assault on staff. They've now been moved to Renton+Federal Way motels. Voucher program under scrutiny. @KC_RHA@MayorofSeattle
BROKEN SYSTEM: Found "Tarantula" in interview w/KIRO 7 back in 2019! He's been running streets for years. Who's keeping track of cases like this? @MayorofSeattle@KC_RHA@kcexec@GovInslee
👇🏽
WHERE IS ACCOUNTABILITY? Glad to know homeless who did nothing wrong are getting in new hotels. But what is @KC_RHA and groups like Lived Experience Coalition doing about the trouble makers who drag everyone else down? Why give more vouchers? #Seattle
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BREAKING: Controversial homeless housing provider Plymouth Housing will now be running operations at the former Kirkland La Quinta Inn on 10530 Northup Way. Despite major opposition, the city council voted unanimously to allow it into the community. 🧵👇
Under King County's "Health Through Housing," neighbors expressed concerns about hardcore drug use and other problems spilling into the community. That's because Plymouth subscribes to the low barrier "housing first" model where addicts are not required to get treatment.
King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci is applauding this move in her district.
Today's press release did not indicate when the Kirkland location would open.
I just confronted a homeless fentanyl addict ransacking the Target store inside the Bellevue Marketplace at Factoria. I watched him fill his cart with stolen items and walk out. Workers say this happens daily. Mall security eventually stopped him but did not call cops to arrest him. Now you know why everyday household items are locked up. All part of doing business in lawless King County.
Mr. sticky fingers says he's homeless and lives on the streets of Seattle. Mall workers say he's been spotted in Bellevue before and likely uses public transportation to go back and forth. Aside from the braided hair, he's missing a few teeth and has a tattoo on his right hand.
Dude is sporting a jacket with a red pentagram drawn with a marker.
Alleged con man Steve Hickey could be facing disciplinary action or even stripped of his role as King County Fire Commissioner. The District #47 board will meet Tuesday at 7pm in Ravensdale to decide his fate. Hickey has been under investigation and on leave after multiple first responders accused him of abusing his power on the job. Some say Hickey demonstrated bad judgement when he prioritized live streaming on his social media platforms over the safety of patients in need.
Tuesday's Board Meeting will be held at Station 88 in Ravensdale from 7pm-9pm. More details below. The public is welcome and the room is expected to be packed with Hickey's critics.
Squatters and deadbeat tenants beware! The public shaming rallies continue this Saturday at the Maple Valley Farmer's Market. Homeowner Katrina Freitag is leading the charge and will be joined by other mom & pop landlords struggling to remove these alleged con men and women.🧵👇
Freitag is in a ferocious fight with Hickey who refuses to leave her house in nearby Ravensdale.
After our expose, Hickey's entire reputation as a King County Fire Commissioner and independent journalist is now on the line.
Standing by Freitag on Saturday will be Bellevue mom & pop landlord Jaskaran Singh, who made global headlines for his battle against Sang and Youjin Kim. They're now facing eviction for the fourth time after failing to pay rent on a $2M house in Bellevue.
Depending who you ask, King County Fire Commissioner Steve Hickey is a serial con artist or a faithful public servant moonlighting as an independent journalist. Either way, he's now facing numerous legal challenges and his entire reputation is on the line.
In part two of our series, YouTube journalist Tyler Oliveira(@tyleraloevera) and I take a closer look at fresh allegations and Hickey's troubled past.
In part one, Oliveira and I confronted Hickey with squatting claims. He's refusing to leave a house belonging to another woman, claiming it should be his. Hickey has already been sanctioned in court for not providing all documents during discovery.
Hickey files are now open. More Seattle media digging. The current controversy revolves around his role as a King County Fire Commissioner. He's on leave from duties as the investigation into his alleged abuse of power continues.
BREAKING: Embattled King County Fire District 47 Commissioner Steve Hickey announced Friday evening that he's taking a leave of absence. Multiple sources tell me Hickey is accused of abusing his power on the job and using station equipment to grow his social media profile.
A first responder says after showing up to an emergency scene, Hickey "does a triage, requests a motor vehicle accident response, and then goes back to his car and live streams on TikTok before fire even arrives, leaving his patient with PD that he just triaged."
All of this comes to light after YouTube journalist Tyler Oliveira(@tyleraloevera) and I launched an investigation into Hickey's alleged "squatting" in a Ravensdale house. He's also accused of construction hustles claiming dozens of victims.