What would you like the power
to do?
>> THE SEATTLE MAYOR CAUGHT
OFFGUARD WHEN ASKED IF HIS CITY
IS SAFE.
>> THAT’S A TOUGH QUESTION.
SEATTLE IS ON A TRAJECTORY TO
BE ONE OF THE SAFEST CITIES IN
THIS COUNTRY AND I WILL MAKE
SURE OF THAT AND WHY I GOT
ELECTED.
>> Gillian: MANY SEATTLE SAYS
THEY’RE SO TIRED OF THE
HOMELESS POPULATION AND RISING
CRIME THEY’RE CONSIDERING
MOVING OUT ALL TOGETHER.
OUR NEXT GUEST HAS MADE THAT
LEAP.
LYLE GOODRICH JOINS US.
YOU WERE WITH US LAST YEAR AND
TALKED ABOUT THE PROBLEMS YOU
WERE SEEING FIRSTHAND INSIDE
SEATTLE.
REMIND US QUICKLY ABOUT THAT
AND THEN TAKE A LOOK BACK AND
TELL US ARE YOU HAPPY NOW WITH
THE DECISION YOU MADE TO LEAVE?
>> RIGHT.
AT OUR LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
IN SEATTLE IT CAME OVERRUN WITH
A HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT.
A LOT OF DRUG USE, WEAPONS,
VIOLENCE, GUNFIRE AND THEN IT
TURNED OUT THAT THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT WAS ACTUALLY FUNDING
AN ORGANIZATION THAT WAS PAYING
FOR METH FOR THE PEOPLE LIVING
AT OUR SCHOOL.
BEFORE THAT HAPPENED, I HAD TO
GET OUT OF THERE AND GET MY
KIDS OUT OF THAT SITUATION.
DEFINITELY ONE OF THE BEST
THINGS I’VE EVER DONE FOR MY
FAMILY.
GETTING OUT OF SEATTLE.
IT IS NOT A NORMAL PLACE TO BE.
IT IS NOT NORMAL TO HAVE TO
SCAN FOR NEEDLES WHEN YOU WALK
DOWN THE STREET OR TAKE YOUR
KIDS TO A PLAYGROUND.
NOT NORMAL TO BE ACCOSTED BY
PEOPLE IN CRISIS WALKING YOUR
KIDS DOWN THE STREET.
CONSIDER LEAVING SEATTLE.
IT HAS GOTTEN OUT OF CONTROL
OVER THERE.
COMPLETELY OUT OF HAND.
>> Gillian: TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.
SEATTLE CRIME RATE RIGHT NOW AS
WE STAND TODAY AGGRAVATED
ASSAULT IS UP 24%, HOMICIDE
DOWN 25%.
RAPE ACTUALLY SOME GOOD NEWS,
DOWN 1%.
ROBBERY IS UP 18%.
ANY OF THOSE NUMBERS SURPRISE
YOU?
>> YEAH, I THINK THEY ARE DATED.
WE’RE AT 17 HOMICIDES RIGHT NOW.
SO THAT’S ON TRACK TO BE
PROBABLY AN ALL-TIME RECORD BY
THE TIME THE YEAR IS OUT.
THESE ARE FROM ELEVATED LEVELS
OF 2020 WAS PRETTY BAD.
2021 WAS A LITTLE BIT BETTER
AND THINGS ARE BAD IN 2022 NOW.
ANOTHER THING --
>> Gillian: GO AHEAD, RYLE.
>> ANOTHER THING TO POINT OUT
OUR POLICE HAVE BEEN SO UNDER
FUNDED THEY ARE NO LONGER
LOOKING INTO SEXUAL ASSAULT
CRIMES AGAINST ADULTS.
THEY ONLY HAVE ENOUGH POLICE
OFFICERS TO INVESTIGATE CRIMES
AGAINST CHILDREN.
SO THINGS ARE COMPLETELY OUT OF
CONTROL IN SEATTLE STILL.
THE NEW MAYOR IS TRYING TO DO
BETTER AND I WISH HIM ALL THE
BEST.
>> Gillian: SO IT TURNS OUT
THERE IS ABOUT 11,000 HOMELESS
PEOPLE ACCORDING TO THE CITY
INSIDE LIVING IN THE CITY TODAY.
HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT
EFFORTS TO TRY AND MOVE THEM
INTO EITHER TEMPORARY OR
PERMANENT HOUSING?
11,000 FRANKLY DOESN’T SEEM
LIKE AN INSURMOUNTABLE NUMBERS
COMPARED TO CITIES LIKE NEW
YORK AND SAN FRANCISCO.
WHAT ARE YOU HEARING?
>> WELL PER CAPITA THAT’S
PRETTY HIGH.
SEATTLE HAS COME UP WITH A PLAN.
WE CREATED THE KING COUNTY
HOMELESS AUTHORITY BUYING UP
HOTELS IN THE REGION.
THE IDEA IS THAT THE HOMELESS
POPULATION WILL NOW BE HOUSED
SOMEWHAT IN SEATTLE AND
SOMEWHAT IN THE NEARBY TOWNS
LIKE KIRK LAND AND BELLEVUE.
THAT’S WHAT THE PLAN IS NOW.
BUYING UP HOTELS IN NEARBY
CITIES TRYING TO HELP THE
HOMELESS THERE.
>> Gillian: THANKS AGAIN FOR
SHARING YOUR STORY, YOUR
FAMILY’S STORY WITH US.