Jonathan Choe

Journalist and Senior Fellow, Center on Wealth and Poverty

Archives

Conditions at Seattle Apartment Complex for Homeless Continue to Cause Concern

Jonathan Choe
December 19, 2024
Exclusive Animal abuse, sex trafficking, and open-air drug use are overwhelming a Seattle apartment complex for the homeless. After months of mounting complaints, the King County Regional Homelessness Authority is being blamed for creating this chaotic situation. Homeless Resident Punched Dog This is the same Capitol Hill apartment complex that made news last month after a homeless resident was caught on camera punching a dog. Residents Moved from Burien Encampment Back in October, I first told you about this problematic drug encampment being moved from Burien into this Seattle apartment complex. Seattle councilmember Joy Hollingsworth says KCRHA failed to notify the community. Housing First is Failing Discovery Institute’s data shows “Housing …

Jonathan Choe Addresses Seattle’s Drug Addiction Crisis with Laura Ingraham

Jonathan Choe
December 18, 2024
Epic Failure Neighbors and biz owners in Seattle’s Chinatown-ID say Mayor Harrell is ignoring their pleas for help as crime and open-air drug use surge in this predominantly Asian-American community. So they’re mobilizing for a potential class action lawsuit against the city. After I put the city on blast, the Mayor’s office is also ignoring my requests for comment on this unending disaster. TIPPING POINT: Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell(@MayorofSeattle) is losing Chinatown-ID. Numerous business owners say Harrell has prioritized the downtown shopping core over this predominantly Asian American neighborhood. Despite warnings from community advocates, most of the… https://t.co/lwZfvvkMGd pic.twitter.com/ZwbWZa1iXK— Jonathan Choe (@choeshow) December …

The 2024 King County Regional Homelessness Authority Salary Report

Jonathan Choe
December 18, 2024
New It’s that time of year again where we look at the performance and salaries at the King County Regional Homelessness Authority. With the street crisis worse than ever in the Seattle area, is any of this compensation justified? Hey @elonmusk, take a look. King County homelessness authority CEO's salary is $290,000 – that's more than the Seattle median income and avg tech salary COMBINED. Taxpayer funded. Meanwhile, Seattle's homelessness crisis is third-worst in the nation. Let's take a look 👇🧵 pic.twitter.com/Nb7s2aA8dX— Caitlyn McKenney (@CaitlynMcKenney) December 18, 2024 Join Us If you believe our journalism and research made a difference this year, please consider a donation and join our team. Donate | Fix Homelessness Last …

50 Seattle Business Owners ask Mayor to Respond to Crime

Jonathan Choe
December 17, 2024
Crime is down in Seattle? Try telling that to these SMALL biz owners who just went off on Mayor Bruce Harrell. Read the horror stories on this thread that are barely being reported by local media. How do entrepreneurs make a living in this city? A lot of these small biz owners are dealing with repeat offenders and drug addicts. Everyone is now acknowledging the downtown shopping core has fewer hoards of drug addicts and crime due to intentional enforcement of laws. But when will the rest of the city like Chinatown-ID get attention? Bottom line, you get what you vote for. …

Drugs, Crime Pushed Into Chinatown

Jonathan Choe
December 17, 2024
Tipping Point Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell is losing Chinatown-ID. Numerous business owners say Harrell has prioritized the downtown shopping core over this predominantly Asian American neighborhood. Despite warnings from community advocates, most of the open-air drug use, crime, and chaos from 3rd Ave & Pike St has been allowed to move into Little Saigon. Numerous CID biz owners are planning to leave the neighborhood by the end of the year or possibly file a class action lawsuit against the city. Sad state of affairs in Seattle's Little Saigon. Puzzi Salon owner Zazl Wu is trying to open his business next month at the corner of 12th Ave & Jackson St. But he's constantly fending off drug addicts who disrespect the neighborhood. Wu says he's planning to sue …

Summit Sierra High School May Leave Due to Crime

Jonathan Choe
December 17, 2024
Breaking Multiple sources say Summit Sierra High School is trying to leave Seattle’s Chinatown-ID neighborhood due to high crime and open-air drug use. Enrollment has plummeted. I first reported on this last year. Nothing has changed. …

Seattle Hoses Down Little Saigon Streets

Jonathan Choe
December 17, 2024
Drive By The current plan to address the mayhem and crime in Seattle’s Little Saigon neighborhood appears to be regular hose downs of the streets. But it’s not a permanent solution. One neighbor sent me video showing the hoard of drug users who come back after sunset. Mayor Bruce Harrell, what’s the plan for the evening hours? …

Driver Safety Sparks Chinatown Bustop Closure

Jonathan Choe
December 17, 2024
Disastrous Commute Due to crime and open air drug use, King County Metro abruptly shut down two critical bus stops near 12th Ave & Jackson in Seattle’s Little Saigon. Instead of enforcing the law and making arrests, it appears officials are just going for the temporary band-aid approach and inconveniencing Asian American seniors. BTW, the drug dealing and black market of stolen goods just moved down a block. …

Chinatown Small Business Owner Impacted by Open Air Drug Use

Jonathan Choe
December 16, 2024
Sad State of Affairs Sad state of affairs in Seattle’s Little Saigon. Puzzi Salon owner Zazl Wu is trying to open his business next month at the corner of 12th Ave & Jackson St. But he’s constantly fending off drug addicts who disrespect the neighborhood. Wu says he’s planning to sue the city. NEW: Parts of downtown Seattle and Chinatown-ID are on life support. Drug addicts and criminals have taken over entire street corners. Look at the situation on the ground right now in Little Saigon. It's devastating this Asian American community.That's why today, the Stay Out… pic.twitter.com/wvCaNcrA4t— Jonathan Choe (@choeshow) September 17, 2024 …

Seattle Times Finally Reports on Movement of Drug Addiction from Downtown to Chinatown

Jonathan Choe
December 9, 2024
Seattle Times Finally Picks Up Story For months now I’ve been reporting on the movement of drug addicts from downtown Seattle to Chinatown-ID. The Seattle Times is finally jumping on this story. The squeeze is now on Mayor Bruce Harrell to do something about it. The city has tried to clear Third and Pine of drug use and homelessness for years. For the last few months, it worked. But the problem didn't disappear, it moved.https://t.co/pDPkrfEbAw— The Seattle Times (@seattletimes) December 9, 2024 Councilmember Morales Quits Former Seattle Councilmember Tammy Morales left her district a mess. But she quit her post this month. So now sources say this Asian American community is getting ready to mobilize against Mayor Harrell if the crime and …

Emergency Services Respond to Mental Health Emergency at Encampment Next to Seattle High School

Jonathan Choe
December 9, 2024
Nothing Has Changed Monday afternoon, first responders raced to Seattle’s Chinatown-ID for another drug induced mental health freak out. Last week, I warned city leaders about this encampment across the street from Summit Sierra High. It’s littered with drug supplies, feces, and abandoned tents. Nothing has changed. HAPPENING NOW: Homeless drug addicts have ripped through a fence and are now setting up an encampment right across the street from Summit Sierra High School in Chinatown-ID. Last year, I first told you about all the open-air drug use and crime disrupting student life in the… https://t.co/LRKCBeNJe2 pic.twitter.com/I2YCCAf1h3— Jonathan Choe (@choeshow) December 1, 2024 …

Social Media Influencer Nick Shirley Chased While Touring Seattle’s Chinatown

Jonathan Choe
December 1, 2024
Chased Sunday evening, social media influencer Nick Shirley was chased by a broomstick wielding maniac in Seattle’s Chinatown-ID during a YouTube livestream. Then a fentanyl addict cracked my phone at the notorious 12th Ave & Jackson St drug den. We got more coverage on the way. This part of the city is dying. Here’s a preview. As holiday shoppers pack downtown Seattle's retail core, Little Saigon is dying. The only thing thriving here is the black market of stolen goods and the drug deals. Councilmember Tammy Morales(@CMTammyMorales) virtue signals from the council dias and says she stands for BIPOC… pic.twitter.com/60f257WBK4— Jonathan Choe (@choeshow) December 1, 2024 Open-Air Drug Use Mentally ill tweakers were also running wild …

Elected Officials Ignore Worsening Drug Scene in Seattle’s Little Saigon

Jonathan Choe
November 30, 2024
Little Saigon in Chinatown-ID is absolutely broken. It remains Seattle’s worst drug scene. Making matters worse, all the insanity of 3rd Ave & Pike St. has been pushed into this Asian American neighborhood. Seattle Fire crews are constantly responding to fentanyl OD’s and mental health disasters continue to play out in the streets. Mayor Bruce Harrell’s Downtown Activation Plan is not working here. Councilmember Tammy Morales remains MIA. Mom & pop businesses continue to flee. Social media influencer Nick Shirley is in the city this weekend to document it all. …

Drug Addicts Set Up Encampment Across from Seattle High School

Jonathan Choe
November 30, 2024
Happening Now Homeless drug addicts have ripped through a fence and are now setting up an encampment right across the street from Summit Sierra High School in Chinatown-ID. Last year, I first told you about all the open-air drug use and crime disrupting student life in the area. Sadly, nothing has changed. Councilmember Tammy Morales was MIA then. She remains MIA today. Her District-2 is a disaster. She voted against all the CID public safety amendments this year. It’s almost like she wants this neighborhood to fail. #EXCLUSIVE: Summit Sierra High School is caught in the middle of open air drug deals, homeless encampment infernos, and a black market that's thriving in #Chinatown-ID. This is just the latest crisis threatening the safety of students in …

Drug Use, Mental Illness, and Homelessness in Seattle’s Chinatown

Jonathan Choe
November 30, 2024
Saturday evening, Hing Hay Park looks like a human dumping ground. The crown jewel of Seattle’s Chinatown-ID has been hijacked by drug addicts, the mentally ill, and homeless. The dude tweaking earlier in the day is now causing a stir at night. Since Councilmember Tammy Morales has abdicated all responsibility in her district, it’s now on Mayor Bruce Harrell to restore this Asian American neighborhood before it’s completely lost. …

Black Market Thrives in Seattle’s Little Saigon

Jonathan Choe
November 30, 2024
As holiday shoppers pack downtown Seattle’s retail core, Little Saigon is dying. The only thing thriving here is the black market of stolen goods and the drug deals. Councilmember Tammy Morales virtue signals from the council dais and says she stands for BIPOC communities. But apparently Asian Americans are the wrong minority and are not deserving of her help. Morales’ CID district is on life support but she is nowhere to be found. I think it’s time for Mayor Bruce Harrell to finally follow through and clean up this neighborhood for good. The rest of downtown is getting activated, but part of that equation apparently means dump all the drug addicts and homeless in one of the most vulnerable minority communities in the city. BTW, no sign of local legacy media …

Squatter Steve Hickey Facing Eviction and Corruption Investigation

Jonathan Choe
November 23, 2024
Earlier this year, social media influencer Steve Hickey tried to portray himself as a victim after Tyler Oliveira and I exposed his egregious squatting and construction hustles. Even though we brought receipts, Hickey denied the allegations and also tried to discredit us along the way. This month, a King County judge determined the evidence shows he has no right to the Ravensdale house and must now vacate the property.

Squatter Steve Hickey Files Appeal in Attempt to Stay in Million-Dollar Home

Jonathan Choe
November 22, 2024
As expected, criminal squatter Steve Hickey has filed an appeal and still believes Katrina Freitag’s Ravensdale house belongs to him. A judge ruled this week that Hickey must vacate the property. But instead of leaving with dignity and class, he’s digging in his heels and trying to make a mockery of Washington’s judicial system.

Squatter Steve Hickey Ordered to Vacate Million-Dollar Home

Jonathan Choe
November 21, 2024
Alleged conman, social media personality, and KIRO Newsradio contributor Steve Hickey just took a massive loss. A King County judge ruled Hickey must vacate a million-dollar Ravensdale property and it could happen this month. He's been squatting in this house for months after claiming it belonged to him. I confronted Hickey a few months ago knowing a decision was looming.