Jonathan Choe

Journalist and Senior Fellow, Center on Wealth and Poverty

Jonathan Choe is a journalist and Senior Fellow with Discovery Institute's Center on Wealth and Poverty, covering homelessness issues for its Fix Homelessness initiative. Prior to joining Discovery, Choe spent several years as one of the lead reporters at KOMO-TV, consistently the top rated television station in Seattle. His in depth stories on crime and deep dive investigations into the homeless crisis led to measurable results in the community, including changes in public policy.

Choe has more than two decades of experience in television news behind the scenes and in front of the camera for ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, and Tribune. He has also been been nominated and honored with multiple industry awards including an Emmy. Choe spent several years teaching classes on emerging media and entreprenuership to under privileged youth in inner city Chicago.

As an independent journalist, Choe also contributes regularly to the Mill Creek View and Lynnwood Times and has reported on exclusive stories in the past year for Daily Wire and The Postmillennial.

Choe is a New England native and Boston University journalism school graduate.

Archives

Downtown Seattle Becomes a Massive Open-Air Drug Den by Night

Jonathan Choe
February 18, 2025
New As Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell wraps up his latest State of the City address, the drug crisis downtown remains a massive black eye with no end in sight. Want proof? Early Tuesday morning, I walked the area around 3rd Ave & Pike St. and it was zombie land. No cops, no outreach, just human suffering. While the drug dens are less visible during the day, the problem is just being moved around. So it all comes back at night. Everyone who lives and works downtown knows this. The current plan is a band-aid solution because the root causes are not being addressed. There’s gotta be interventions and better treatment options before we hand out any more free drug supplies. And what about demanding more metrics and clearer standards for success in order to hold our policy …

Vacant Seattle Home Catches Fire. Witnesses Blame Homeless

Jonathan Choe
February 12, 2025
Happening Now Massive fire inside a vacant house on Walker St in S. Seattle. Witnesses say it was likely started by the homeless. Neighbors have been complaining about more tents and RVs showing up in this area which is also near the Taco Time off Rainier Ave. Crews are responding to a report of a fire in a single-family residence at 2400 block of S Walker St. Please avoid the area.— Seattle Fire Dept. (@SeattleFire) February 12, 2025 …

Bellevue Squatter Sang Kim Kicked Out of Rental Property

Jonathan Choe
February 9, 2025
After two years of hell, Bellevue deadbeat tenants Sang and Youjin Kim have finally been kicked out of their rental property. After numerous legal rulings against them, the Kims were supposed to vacate by Saturday. But they went past the deadline and left a mess.

Homeless Building Treehouses to Evade Camping Ban, Causing Environmental Damage

Jonathan Choe
January 30, 2025
New For the past few years, all eyes have been on Seattle’s homeless drug crisis. But Kent’s street problems are being compounded by the “nomad class.” These are the people who have tapped out from society and are refusing shelter and services. They want to stay in nature and have taken over prime wetlands and greenbelts, building treehouses to evade enforcement in this South King County city. Beautiful streams are now clogged with trash and the environmental cost to clean this up is easily in the millions. I spent the past week investigating the situation which is spread out across the city. I will be launching the entire series soon. Here is a preview. …

Law Enforcement Presence Only Moves Criminal Activity to New Area of Seattle’s Chinatown

Jonathan Choe
January 29, 2025
New Late Tuesday evening, I wanted to check on Little Saigon in Chinatown-ID. There’s been a massive law enforcement push to clear the streets of drug addicts and the black market of stolen goods. 12th Ave & Jackson St remains clear. But all the action has moved to King St and Weller St. Last month, Mayor Harrell decided to give the problematic DESC Navigation Center more time to move. That means CID residents will have to put up with crime and drug dealing for a couple more months. Good deal…not. NEW: Massive law enforcement presence all week in Seattle's Chinatown-ID. Officers from SPD and King County Sheriff's Office are targeting the notorious 12th Ave & Jackson St. drug dens in Little Saigon. They're even going after people on side …

Drug Dens and Black Market Return to Downtown Seattle Streets

Jonathan Choe
January 28, 2025
New After months of positive progress, parts of downtown Seattle have regressed. Look what’s happening on a Tuesday evening! The drug dens have come roaring back and the black market of stolen goods is thriving at the corner of 3rd Ave & Pike St. But now the hoard has moved over to Walgreens and Piroshky Bakery. Councilmember Bob Kettle and Downtown Seattle must ask for consistent patrols at all hours of the day. Otherwise, this place will turn into a wasteland. Btw, no doubt this is spillover from recent crackdowns in Chinatown-ID. The lawlessness just moves from one neighborhood to another. Consistent enforcement is the only way to get ahead of this crowd. The addicts must get into treatment. More arrests are needed. No more catch and release. …

Local Law Enforcement Steps Up Presence in Seattle’s Chinatown

Jonathan Choe
January 24, 2025
New Massive law enforcement presence all week in Seattle’s Chinatown-ID. Officers from SPD and King County Sheriff’s Office are targeting the notorious 12th Ave & Jackson St. drug dens in Little Saigon. They’re even going after people on side streets. Authorities say they have made dozens of arrests for open-air drug use. In many cases, the men and women are repeat offenders with warrants. It’s not perfect by any means, but there is no doubt it is looking better. For how long, only time will tell. It’s amazing what a public shaming campaign can do to motivate city leaders. LOSING SUPPORT: Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell(@MayorofSeattle) is in the final year of his first term in office. He plans to run for re-election. But in Chinatown-ID, …

New Video Shows Moments Before King County Metro Bus Driver Was Stabbed

Jonathan Choe
January 23, 2025
New Surveillance footage shows King County Metro bus driver Shawn Yim fighting for his life before being stabbed to death in Seattle last month. Homeless man Richard Sitzlack is now facing murder charges. The video is a little grainy. Sitzlack boards the bus in a plastic poncho and Yim is wearing a reflective vest. Authorities say an argument about an open window on the bus triggered this deadly altercation. Sitzlack tries to close it because of the cold draft, but Yim keeps it open to prevent the bus from fogging up. You can see words were exchanged, Sitzlack pepper sprays Yim, and the altercation ensues outside. We have not yet seen any video showing the alleged stabbing incident off the bus. Sitzlack has pleaded not guilty and remains behind bars on $5M …

Aurora Ave Prostitution, Violence, Criminal Activity Chases Away Small Business

Jonathan Choe
January 17, 2025
Farewell After more than 50 years on Seattle’s Aurora Ave N., Empire Insurance Brokers is exiting this location today. Owner says the out-of-control pimp war is just bad for business. They are now merging with the Everett office. Another biz leaving the city due to major public safety concerns. NEW: Violent pimp wars continue unchecked in Seattle, leaving a trail of fear and destruction along Aurora Ave N. This past Friday, surveillance video shows two pimps in white vehicles recruiting and managing prostitutes near 107th St. That's when a rival pimp in a silver… pic.twitter.com/JKoPL8sT2C— Jonathan Choe (@choeshow) January 14, 2025 Useless Laws Seattle has anti-prostitution laws on the books but what’s the point if it’s not being …

Steve Hickey Finally Vacates House He Was Illegally Occupying

Jonathan Choe
January 15, 2025
Serial squatter Steve Hickey has vacated the Ravensdale house he's been illegally occupying for more than a year. It is now in the hands of homeowner Katrina Freitag, but she's now accusing him of attempted arson. Before Hickey left, she believes the disgraced former King County Fire Commissioner turned on the stove and tried to burn down the house.

Repeat Offender Destroying Seattle Public Parks Released Again

Jonathan Choe
January 14, 2025
Update After being arrested multiple times and causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to Seattle’s Dr. Jose Rizal Park, homeless man Steve Irwin is back on the streets. The legal system has failed to get Irwin the help he needs and now taxpayers are on the hook. BREAKING: Homeless man Steve Irwin was back in court Wednesday morning after being arrested again at Seattle’s Dr. Jose Rizal Park. He’s accused of violating his no trespass order by building an encampment in the woods. Cops accuse Irwin of destroying the park and says he needs… https://t.co/1jA114z5i7 pic.twitter.com/wujaBLq7HK— Jonathan Choe (@choeshow) January 8, 2025 Bail Reduced and Paid The city requested to maintain bail at the previously set amount of $5,000. But Judge …

Burien Sees Decrease in Homeless Drug Addiction Thanks to Local Outreach Efforts

Jonathan Choe
January 14, 2025
Major Breakthrough Burien leaders say more homeless drug addicts are getting into detox, treatment, and housing. And the results are visible on the streets. At this week’s council meeting, city leaders credited “Co-Response,” a collaboration between first responders and Human Services. But most of the praise is going to Kristine Moreland and her outreach group The More We Love. Critics questioned the city after Moreland received a contract from Burien to do outreach work. Now it’s looking like a brilliant move. Her team’s rapid response and personal touch to helping the lost are game changers. And other King County cities are noticing the results. The More We Love Councilmember Stephanie Mora made the initial pitch to contract with …

Community Coalition Demands Action in Seattle’s Chinatown

Jonathan Choe
January 13, 2025
“This Would Not Happen If This Were the Beautiful Waterfront” A brand new coalition is forming to defend Seattle’s Chinatown-ID. These community activists say politicians at the local and state level have failed them on public safety. They’re demanding more resources and attention to address crime, chaos, and death on the streets. Meanwhile, conditions in other parts of the city have improved. Which is why an elder went up to the podium today and torched Mayor Bruce Harrell by saying, “Mayor Harrell, he’s Asian American, does he give a sh*t? I don’t think so.” NEW: Late Saturday evening, there are way more cops patrolling the drug hot spots in Seattle’s Little Saigon neighborhood. But the addicts keep moving to nearby side …

Community Activists Organize Press Conference Outside Controversial Seattle Homeless Shelter

Jonathan Choe
January 12, 2025
New Chinatown-ID is fighting back and demanding more support and security from Seattle leaders. Monday morning, community activists will be holding a press conference at 10:00 am in front of DESC’s Navigation Center. This controversial “low barrier” homeless shelter is being blamed for attracting crime, chaos, and death to this neighborhood. That’s because drug use is allowed and supplies are freely given out without any requirements for treatment. This past weekend a hoard of addicts overwhelmed the sidewalk right outside this facility, corroborating neighbor concerns. It was supposed to finally close by the end of January. But Mayor Bruce Harrell delayed the move until March, enraging neighbors and biz owners who have already sacrificed so …

Seattle Police Play Whack-a-Mole with Open-Air Drug Use in Chinatown-ID

Jonathan Choe
January 11, 2025
New Late Saturday evening, there are way more cops patrolling the drug hot spots in Seattle’s Little Saigon neighborhood. But the addicts keep moving to nearby side streets and now it’s turning into a game of Whac-A-Mole. Here’s the play-by-play. Broken Windows Earlier, a Little Saigon neighbor had his car windows busted out. This is what happens if you leave your vehicle on these streets for an extended period of time. Lawless in Seattle. …

Homeless Man Says He Won’t Go into Supportive Housing for Fear of Overdosing Alone

Jonathan Choe
January 9, 2025
New “Housing First” is an utter failure and must be scrapped. The latest data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development proves it. Even the drug addicts say this not an affordable housing issue. In fact some people are now afraid to go into low barrier “permanent support housing” situations because they know drug use and overdose deaths are rampant behind closed doors. They don’t want to die alone in these inhumane conditions. “Housing First” and “harm reduction” policies are fueling this crisis. When will King County and Seattle leaders start course correcting? HUD released their 2024 homelessness report on the Friday between Christmas and New Year's because they're hoping you won't notice …

Senior Citizen Attempts to Trade Vape for Fentanyl

Jonathan Choe
January 9, 2025
New Even after hundreds of millions of dollars poured into “Housing First” and “harm reduction” programs, we are now encountering more senior citizens addicted to fentanyl on the streets of Seattle. How many more Patty’s are out there and falling through the cracks? …