1
0

Seattle Times: After 14 years, I've had it. I'm leaving Seattle.


 invite response                
2018 May 10, 8:43am   3,468 views  9 comments

by cmdrda2leak   ➕follow (1)   💰tip   ignore  

Substitute 'Seattle' for 'San Francisco', and this is exactly my experience.

«...the conditions in such camps are often atrocious — not only are the homeless more likely to be victims of violent crime, they are susceptible to infectious disease, such as the hepatitis A outbreak in San Diego that sickened nearly 500 people and has killed 20.

I believe strongly that it is not compassionate to leave people who are unable or unwilling to care for themselves to suffer and die on the street. Because many (but certainly not all) homeless people struggle with mental illness or drug addiction, I suggested that Seattle find a way to make it easier to provide treatment to these troubled souls — involuntarily, if need be. It could literally save their lives.

Juarez exclaimed, “What is this? Nazi Germany?”

Appalled — in part because my grandparents survived Nazi Germany — I got up and walked out.

As a professional science writer, I’ve certainly grown accustomed to the crass insults that have become routine in our toxic political environment. I just didn’t expect it from a person for whom I voted. But perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised.

Slowly but surely, Seattle has become an angry place. Councilmember Kshama Sawant called a police shooting a “brutal murder.” She also tweeted that it was “terrible” for a feminist organization to wish that Barbara Bush, on her death, rest in peace. As a congressional candidate, Pramila Jayapal supporters implied that her respectable opponent, Brady Walkinshaw, was a misogynist and racist. And former Mayor Ed Murray, whose pattern of alleged sexual behavior finally caught up with him, remained defiant until the bitter end.»

«But stubborn facts and a hurting middle class don’t seem to faze the City Council, which seems far more concerned about issues over which it has zero control — such as climate change and foreign policy — than it does about issues over which it has at least a modicum of control, such as the cost of living, homelessness, crime, traffic and potholes. For our City Council, virtue signaling is more important than governing.»

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/after-14-years-ive-had-it-im-leaving-seattle/

These experiences mirror my experiences as a 19-year resident of Berkeley and San Francisco. The conversation the author had with his council member Juarez almost exactly matches a one-on-one conversation I recently had with District 6 Supervisor candidate Sonja Trauss. The emphasis on virtue signalling was especially pronounced in the Berkeley city council, but San Francisco is nearly as bad.

On the bright side, I think there are many more people like myself and the author of this piece in potentially beautiful cities around the country that are finding their voice and talking to their friends and neighbors about their experiences and perspectives.

"Pull up your britches, San Francisco" would be my mayoral slogan.

Comments 1 - 9 of 9        Search these comments

1   Tenpoundbass   2018 May 10, 9:09am  

Liberals are trying to slink into Red districts incognito.
But watch their stupid ass! They gonna fuck around and end up allowing their Big Number Blue Coastal strongholds back to Red or strong Red Purple.
Mark my word LOL.

For the first time since Reagan California GOP is running Conservative campaigns. Not this RINO pseudo Liberal horse shit they've done for the last 30 years.

Those Libtards fleeing to the Red house, with the intent to flip it. Wont last 6 months in Conservative towns. There's not enough vice and deviant freaks for them. And in those towns the Police haul riffraff and scumbags off to jail with impunity. No Baltimore Mayors demanding room for Thugs to pillage rob and burn.
And no Broward Cowards escorting the thugs, out the back door of jail and ignoring the pleas of people to stop the bad people with murderous ways.
The cops in those towns plays for realsies. You'll see Kids you'll See.
2   Ceffer   2018 May 10, 9:14am  

Left Seattle for Portland, and was crushed to death by an IHL wobbling around on a bicycle the first day. Karma's a bitch.
3   MisterLefty   2018 May 10, 9:40am  

The Eastside is an escape. Upper income whities, Asians and East Indians, the latter two especially multi-generational families. Lots of programmers. Also average folk who bought early, or who inherited the domicile. Big lakes to dump the homeless. But expect to pay over $1 million for a new 2,500-3,000 sq. ft. Craftsman style house on 1/8 an acre with increasing congestion. Closer to the mountains, good hiking and skiing. But God help you if you have to commute into Seattle.
4   FortWayne   2018 May 10, 12:00pm  

They are proposing new taxes now on businesses 25c per employee hour to pay for homeless housing. Talk about bad decision making.
5   RC2006   2018 May 10, 12:04pm  

FortWayne says
They are proposing new taxes now on businesses 25c per employee hour to pay for homeless housing. Talk about bad decision making.


Other peoples money, have to make more slaves.
6   monkframe   2018 May 10, 9:49pm  

" The emphasis on virtue signalling was especially pronounced in the Berkeley city council, but San Francisco is nearly as bad. "

What does "virtue signalling" mean? Why does English become a puzzle when one is trying to express oneself?

Help us out here, us dumb English-speakers, what do you mean?
7   MisdemeanorRebel   2018 May 10, 9:58pm  

monkframe says
Help us out here, us dumb English-speakers, what do you mean?



When people are comfortable, they then gain the desire to set themselves up a moral paragons, to be regarded as moral authorities on a subject, and want others to recognize this.

It's particularly powerful when they're not in a profession where they can't point to concrete accomplishments or evidence thereof, but want you to acknowledge their superior knowledge, education, and deep-minded moral supremacy.

The Pastor's wife wants you to acknowledge her daughter is a 17-year old virgin thanks to mom's churching her up, just as the Urban Coastie wants to to know they only buy Fair Trade Coffee and only wants to respect Women.
8   Strategist   2018 May 10, 10:01pm  

HEYYOU says
This is Trump's MAGA America!
Ask big city, opioid addicted,Rustbelters,Appalachians,& the flyover states how well they are doing.


No worries. Trump will fix everything that Obama failed to fix. Just putt it on the list. 7 years to go.
9   komputodo   2018 May 11, 9:57am  

HEYYOU says
The only problem I have with Trump/Right is they steal my profit,calling it taxes.


That's correct..When Clinton and Obama were in office, they didn't collect taxes from the working stiffs. Damn repubs.

Please register to comment:

api   best comments   contact   latest images   memes   one year ago   random   suggestions