fairness and justice, LivabilityDRA Seattleseattle, livable, livabilityComment

Downtown: The Front Porch of Seattle

fairness and justice, LivabilityDRA Seattleseattle, livable, livabilityComment
Downtown: The Front Porch of Seattle

Downtown Seattle used to be a beautiful, livable area, the envy of many other cities. Not so much today. Yet, everyone in Seattle has a vested interest in a clean, beautiful, functional, and livable downtown. 

Whether you are in town on business, a tourist, a Seattleite just coming downtown to take in the sights, attractions, ballparks, restaurants, or shows, or a downtown resident, a cluttered front porch [downtown] leaves a bad first impression, no matter what is behind it. 

We have so many great things in downtown Seattle, but on the way to them you’ll see trash, tents, people passed out on the sidewalks, drug deals & injections, traffic gridlock…and on and on. As the saying goes, you don’t get a second chance at a first impression, so fix it now!

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Escalators in the Westlake Transit Tunnel

On a recent day (12/22/2018), a downtown visitor coming into downtown on light rail and exiting in the Westlake Transit Tunnel would have encountered 5 escalators out of order and no city or transit personnel on hand to offer directions. Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence.

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Our front porch?

Sampling of what needs to be changed on our front porch in Downtown Seattle.

Traffic

Heavy traffic has now become the norm in Seattle - we need to act now to turn this around!

fairness and justice, LivabilityDRA Seattleseattle, fairness, homeless, livability2 Comments

Open Letter to Mayor Durkan

I try to give people the benefit of the doubt, but you really blew it on Tuesday when you were asked about your response to the KOMO News feature, “Seattle Is Dying”; and you said that the show was not representative of Seattle, that most of the city is thriving. How can you be so out of touch with reality? And show no compassion for the people suffering and dying on the streets?

fairness and justice, LivabilityDRA Seattleseattle, fairness, homeless, livability2 Comments
Open Letter to Mayor Durkan
fairness and justice, LivabilityDRA Seattleseattle homeless, seattle city council, seattlecitycouncil, social services, seattle crisis

Civic coalition wants to make Seattle’s homeless response part of the City Charter

As Seattle’s homeless crisis enters its sixth year, civic coalition Compassion Seattle is proposing a new approach and increased accountability. The group is seeking an amendment to the City Charter that details City Hall's obligation to fund and provide for those facing chronic homelessness and take responsibility for keeping City streets and parks free of encampments. Coalition member and former Council Member Tim Burgess explains.

fairness and justice, LivabilityDRA Seattleseattle homeless, seattle city council, seattlecitycouncil, social services, seattle crisis
Civic coalition wants to make Seattle’s homeless response part of the City Charter