My entire family died and had no where to turn. I found myself homeless, but it was in Seattle where I pulled myself back up to a loving respectful life. I was told when I got off public assistance, not many people come back from where I was, but it was working two and three jobs diligently and focusing only on rising out of it that gave me back my autonomy as a human being.
I don’t understand. Not downplaying how tough your situation was, but why are people entitled to live in this rich areas? If you don’t have the means, go somewhere where you can live ok working any retail job. I dont know, i just dont see how someone can be homeless as a sober/non drug using citizen. Doordash, uber, mcdonalds, most of these jobs can at least make you enough to rent a roof
If someone falls low but doesn't treat it with cheap drugs, there is always a chance for them to get back up. The problem is that the current homelessness crisis is happening along side a fentanyl crisis, a deadly combination. Most of those people aren't getting back up.
Thank you for sharing you experience. My whole family is dead as well. People not in that position don't understand how precarious it is without human connections. You're a real miracle and courageous to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Kudos! Wishing you blessings and abundance from here on out! x
That is awesome brotha. I also lost everything 3 times due to a drug addiction. I am clean and sober for 14 years now. And my life is so much better. I am a proud father and husband. I own 2 businesses. And life is good.
There are peeing problems I live in a smaller area than Seattle about 2 hours away from Seattle and our homeless problem is so bad that our Walmart is slowly turning into a homeless shelter there also is a homeless shelter in the abandoned field right next to the Walmart they're still sleeping in the plazas connected to the Walmart and the Walmart parking lot I can't can't walk my son up to Walmart anymore cuz of the pee smell and the fact that I just genuinely don't feel safe walking him through that type of environment but from the documentaries I've watched to try and sympathize with them so i know much you mean by saying Seattle looks great lol but all I learned really is there are two types of homeless people the ones doing everything they can to get out of the situation and those who distract their problems with drugs and tbh it made my worry worse
LOL, it only looks good compared to LA. I left Seattle in 2019 after 14 years. The city had become a garbage can. People living in tents in Queen Anne, one of the nicest areas! Police officers at all stores, including grocery stores. I moved to Portugal and this place is paradise compared to Seattle, lol.
3:34 Just to clarify - the new mayor of Seattle, Bruce Harrell, is not a Republican like you said. He identifies as Democrat - however, policy-wise he is very moderate, which is at least a huge step in the right direction for Seattle. What they DID do is elect a Republican City Attorney, Ann Davison, which is huge for the simple fact she's not a Democrat as Seattle is one of the most progressive cities in the nation (though, interestingly, she did identify with the Democrat party until she switched ranks in 2020). I live just a bit over an hour from Seattle, so the results of this election was still big talk over here when it happened
he is also a pos, typical libtard demorat, I had a run in with him 6 years ago at the Wa state Convention Center and I didn't know who he was at that time, but let's just say he came close to hit the floor
I can't believe they have allowed Pioneer Square become a tent city. This is the heart of historical Seattle, with architectural gems, the Underground Tour, great bars and restaurants. When I lived in Seattle in the '80's, I often played in the many bars in the square and along 1st avenue. I hope they have cleaned this up since. Very sad to see.
Just a few weeks ago I was walking in downtown (of course on the street side because the piss is next to the buildings) and on top of a car there was a rag covered in shit. Human shit. How can you think everything is fine when downtown is covered in literal shit?
I was just there about a week ago and there were no tents anywhere in sight in that area. It was my first time in Seattle and I actually told my local friend that I really enjoyed that area
I was in Seattle for the first time in 2019 just before covid hit! Such a beautiful place!!! I've been all around the states and Seattle by far is hands down my absolute favorite!!! I hope to return there someday soon and I hope to find it the same ✌️
The Seattle of the 1980s was the best place I ever lived in. Even for a low-income person like me, you could be totally engaged with the swirling life around you. I left for career reasons in 1996. What the city has become makes me cry.
I wish I had listened to my heart when I graduated from high school. I seriously considered moving to Seattle in 1988, but life took a different turn. I got here in '98, and it was still a fun place to live, but I definately missed the heyday.
So sad. Seattle played a HUGE role in my teen yrs musically & culturally. Bad policy actions equal bad REactions. Heartbreaking. People NEED purpose. Great interview.
Big cities have Big problems....There are NOt any big cities that are not struggling with the homeless. And if you are a big city with high unemployment you will have crime. Folks with jobs are not out stealing.
Nick, I used to be part of a grassroots group in California and we asked the same question from cities such as San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles and they gave us the same answer they don't have any form of bookkeeping for taxpayers money. San Francisco alone in 2019 had an annual budget of $12 billion that's with a "B" dollars a year. They cannot give us an answer on where the money is being allocated. They can't find $500 to help human beings out in the streets nor can they find $2,000 to fix the streets. We all know the money, the majority of the budget on these blue states and cities are going to the corrupt, vile politicians pockets. The lack of action and participation of every American who is supposed to be sick and tired of this is what's keeping these corrupt politicians in office and continually launder our money directly into their pockets. I blame the American people who aren't governing. Our small grassroots of 40 people it's not enough to help over 30 million people. But Americans are still complacent and refuse to get away from your keyboards and these vile politicians know that.
Corrupt elections. You can't vote anyone in. Budget? All the money goes to the retirement fund of government employees. Little is left to actually run the city.
San Francisco has been spending over $75,000 on each homeless person each year. We spend about $20,000 on each student. The homeless budget is over $1 billion dollars each year. There are no consequences to chronic substance abuse, no serious requirement to help clear mentally ill people so they could make better choices. It’s really sad.
@@jtf267 With that 75,000 they could pay the rent of most of the homeless. They want people to be homeless. This is slavery. The Democratic Party are slave holders.
It amuses me how people from every city and state want to constantly bash the “Blue” states and the cities of those states who are the main drivers and financial contributors to those complaining. We used to all be Americans. People in “Red” states suck off the tit of those economic powerhouse states, while constantly complaining and denigrating those who live there. They complain about how they don’t want their taxes being spent on “liberal” policies, when the actual fact is that NONE of the taxes they pay are enough to even support their own states. The Blue states they criticize so heavily, send more money to help out the rest of the country than they ever get back. It’s so hypocritical to take their money to subsidize your backward politics, then complain about how they produce the revenue they give you.
@@lydiaedwards8100 fr people like to act like this is a partisan issue when the mistakes of people on both sides of the political spectrum have lead us to where we are today.
Seattle was a magical place to live when I first moved there in 1990. I loved it. But by 2017 it was so bad I am one who left the state. I still miss what it used to be.
@@Smorss2011 I agree. I moved to Europe. Rising inequality and serious climate events are a very bad combination for the US. I can't think of a single major city that doesn't have a major issue. It's either homelessness, pollution, crime, extreme heat, HCL, or something else.
Yeap same here . My wife and I were lucky to escape with our lives. Its not just the addicts or drug dealers, there are corrupt cops who I know are trouble makers.
There is, just as there is many jobs that are available, it's just people aren't interested in that and just want to coast on Democrat social programs. We are a country of enablers and people don't want to work. I work for the federal government and in just 4 years I've advanced to twice my grade level and make almost twice as much money. My family is lower class too. The opportunities are literally there as I'm living in it, people just don't want to do it and make excuses that it's everyone else's fault but theirs. It's pathetic.@@thealternative9580
A friend of mine has a cardiology practice in Seattle and has decided to move his practice elsewhere as well as many of his employees and associates. It's not a safe city for raising families or live in anymore. City leaders there are completely out of touch with private corporations that aim to improve the current state of affairs in Seattle. He mentioned many businesses are also moving elsewhere as well as a lot of their employees. He stated that the general consensus of these businesses, and their associated employees are of the opinion that the city (under its current over paid democrat "progressive" leadership) is blatently irresponsible, deserves to go broke, and allow Seattle to become a complete slum. Can we blame them.
I drove Uber for two years in Seattle and had a great time, but I had to constantly steer people away from the southern parts of downtown. That was 2018 and 19, and just since then it's become notably worse. I live in Tacoma which now has rapidly growing serious problems, too, just within the past year, and it pisses me off. Tacoma was always problematic, but now it's truly awful in some areas. Where I live the crime is nearly zero, but if you are in any one of several areas, you are seeing shootings, muggings, burglaries etc., shoot through the roof. We moved here to put our kid in a great private school in 2012; that was a great choice and we love where we live, but when we retire in a couple of years we are so gone... No way they will turn this around in that time.
The mayor of Tacoma needs to held accountable. I live in Gig Harbor and anytime I come over I see new graffiti and tents. I don't think this was the beautification project they were implementing a couple of years ago. Something needs to change and soon...
@@nokateno Duluth, Minnesota is like a mini Seattle. Very cute and clean, affordable military town. Since it's on lake superior it doesn't feel so landlocked in to the country. Minneapolis isn't too far of a drive if you need access to a big city. If you can deal with the winter here it's a great place! We also lived in Fort Collins, CO for a bit and it was a great place.
It's really hard to live in Seattle. I was there a couple of months and the only thing I saw was homeless, junkies and rain. It's a very strange place and the Seattle Freeze is real, the people there are cold AF. It's a really cool place to visit but to live there hell no.
Actually, the sane people are really nice, you just won’t find any sane people living inside Seattle. A lot of techie types are introverted and may come off as unfriendly at first.
As long as people will vote for those who are responsible for this mess, nothing will change. It will even worsen. This city will eventually be known as San Franseattle.
@Big Dick Black @Big Dick Black We let them live their life and if they're abusing illegal drugs, they get thrown in jail. These people could choose to seek medical assistance, or they can just sit down and do nothing.
I used to make the hour drive to Seattle 2-3 times a week to see music. 3 years ago I stopped going because it is such a threat there. Can't enjoy it anymore. Seattle caters to the homeless and this is a major part of the problem. The place stinks and is totally dying. I have zero reason to ever go into Seattle. Disgusting is putting it lightly
I am moved from Eastern Washington September of 21 to east Tennessee I cannot take the poor leadership of the state of Washington the crime was beyond out of control and no one was doing anything about it I'm very happy to be in Tennessee now and feel a lot less stressed the problem does not lie into Seattle it's the whole state
3rd generation Seattle and great granddaughter of Pike Place Mrk founder, just said my final farewell to what once was a beautiful city and state, now living in and loving Tennessee.
This deeply hurts. When I first visited Seattle it completely dazzled me. I fell in love and adored the city. I have often thought of moving there and it makes me sad to see it in this state. I’m also deeply bothered because I see this happening to my own city as well. :(
It's really not that bad. Pretty much everything this video shows is most major metro areas these days. All the areas he shows in this video, I'd feel fine walking around at with my head on a swivel. I wouldn't dare do it in cities I've lived in because of specifically violent crime.
I remember Elliott Bookstore on the southeast corner of South 2nd Avenue and South Jackson Street in Downtown Seattle when I used to live in Bremerton Washington from 1985 to 1988, and it was a popular store when people are browsing and purchasing books. It like Barnes & Nobles Bookstore, but today, Elliott Bookstore is no more in Downtown Seattle. 😢
at this point, Republican control is what needed. If the Democrats can turn it around, fine. But it seems the Democrats are enjoying the fruits of their labor.
@@stephenc2481 Republican leadership can turn it around if we elect the right ones. It is going to take a very long time so we might as well get started.
Leadership can't fix this problem. Just like trying to control other people. You can't!! They won't build more jails, lock them up, force detox, rehab. Get drug dealers gone. Impossible!
@@dawnbylinsky2185 Leadership can indeed fix the problems it created but it will take new leadership and people voting across the isles. It's why we have leaders. The rules need changed. Making it more equitable for companies to do business here not taxing them to death instead taxiing the competition, NAFTA is gone and that was a huge step in the right direction, regulated immigration, lower fuel prices, higher wages, school choice, taking the big donors out of the game, changing laws to make a person's record private except to a judge so they can get a job and food and housing, after they have completed their sentence. And other solutions not yet thought of by me. We need to all chime in to help our leaders who want to fix it. We the people. Give them some ideas. Jails and detox won't work until the underlying problems are addressed. it's not about controlling other people. We've had enough of that already. "The land of the free" and we need to get back to that.
Detroit has turned around...restored historical buildings, demolition of vacant properties....and you don't walk by piles of human shit on the sidewalks.
Thank you so much for this Video! As a Seattle native, I’m so sick of the homeless tents, lack of assistance with mental health and substance use. I’m planning on leaving the state entirely within the next year.
I have been homeless before. I was homeless for about two years and part of that was in downtown Seattle. Policies and attitudes that I see now remind me of what it’s like to enable drug addicts. I have people in my life that are in recovery and as I have learned about 12 step programs then I have learned in what ways I can either enable their active drug addiction or support their recovery. Kind, empathetic actions that I could do might actually be more harmful than good to enable someone. In my experience among the homelessness that I lived in then I found that to be the same. I found myself to be the minority among the homeless population. I actually wanted to get out of it and I had goals and dreams that I wanted to fight for to make it matter. Nowadays I am growing and developing my life experience to peer mentor/accountability coaching with others. I have a person that recently reconnected with me. I’m so excited for her but concerned that she’s not ready to make the changes that are necessary to be successful. She is still wishy-washy in her direction and actions. I can’t force her and despite how much my heart is there then my wisdom tells me that I know I can’t make her do better. I can only provide the opportunity, my flicker of light and hopefully she will catch on before I have to decide to move on. I was blessed in my journey to have good people step in and out of my life, tried to offer help to me but I failed to understand the opportunity that was being handed to me. There needs to be rules and CONSEQUENCES. There were times I failed those rules and paid the consequences. I needed that. I needed that to happen repeatedly until I finally started to realize what it took to pull myself out. That if I was too comfortable then it made no motivation or reason to try to reach for something better. I find it interesting that with my 2 young children today… there are situations that they know they are more likely to get away with because the consequence might be inconsistent or laxed. Once I finally got into therapy consistently enough while recovering from homelessness then some of my process happened to basically be reparenting myself for certain things. There are more complex issues that need a different therapy or medication but I find it interesting that the parenting skills and philosophies that I have to use with my children are little to no different than what I feel is needed with adults. In a way then what I have learned to do with my children was my experience when I was a homeless adult and I’m grateful that my homeless experience was met with some consequences severe and uncomfortable enough for me to decide that I did not want to live my life that way. But I had to decide that, I had to realize that opportunity that was being offered was valuable because the consequence was that it could be taken away and I might have missed out or at least have to wait for a good long while to maybe have the opportunity again. Ultimately accountability matters. Whether it is with the homeless person and their choices and actions, with the political leaders and/or your public citizens. Tolerance is not always kindness. Making life too comfortable can easily make it too easy to enable the behavior. It took work, therapy, opportunity and consequences for me to pull myself out. I now see the offerings of help and light that came in and out of my life… and they wouldn’t have been valuable if I thought that they would always be there and there was no motivation or reason why they might not be. That is the point of opportunity. I think it is a good intending but dangerous message to try to go and fix and save people. The wrong approach only enables them and I just do not find that kind. The intentions are true but unfortunately the results do not match. This was my experience and I hope it helps. Thank you!
One of the reasons why Macy's have closed their huge downtown department store. You cannot have decreasing sales over the years, customers feeling unsafe and uncomfortable and drug addicts bothering you every time you go to downtown. Such a shame they had to close because city authorities could not manage their own sh*t.
I'm from far away from the US, South America, but let me tell you, this channel is great, very informative and inspiring. I think the sense of awareness of these issues applies to almost every city in the world. Cheers
Sad... Seattle, San Fran, and all the major west coast cities used to be seen as beacons of progress, but increasingly you see pockets of filth and decay that resemble 3rd world countries.
A story done about a violent repeat offender who randomly attacks people in Seattle threw coffee in a toddlers face in a stroller. It’s a revolving door for these criminals might spend a few days locked up and back on the street. This individual was out just 2 days when this happened. I lived in Washington State 30 plus years and recently moved to the Midwest. Best decision we could have made for many reasons. Homelessness due to drugs is real problem, needles left , trash, property crime. What about the homeless using propane tanks to burn part of Olympia down in December. Poor leadership in Wa state. I kept looking out for homeless camps on the drive out to the Midwest some form of anxiety I think. No graffiti, homeless camps, panhandling where I live now. It’s not perfect but I feel safer. God Bless.
There was a guy terrorizing my building in south lake union for two years that showed his junk to kids would spend his nights picking the manhole cover up and throwing it and breaking glass etc well anyways he eventually light a cop in his car on fire and they released him.......THREE DAYS LATER.....yep this city is doomed.
I walk through downtown Seattle and live in Seattles Central district and with our new mayor I've seen a huge change, for the better. The cops have taken back 3rd and Pike.
I moved to Seattle in 2018. Moved back out in 2021. I loved that city, but Nick was exactly right when he said people don't want to grow older in a place that's going to keep getting worse. After CHAZ/CHOP and COVID, the city was changed forever. I feel like any charm remaining was tainted. I moved my family to the Southeast and I'm very glad I did. Sometimes I miss Washington, but in the end I know I can't raise my kids there.
Things got bad way before chaz/chop. You just got to this town a couple years ago, I've lived here since 2003. The city was grungy, but had a lot of character. The old timers will tell you that there were no homeless in Seattle before Ronald Reagan, but from my own observation, things went totally sideways after the recession in 2008 and the Amazon boom in South Lake Union (former industrial area of Seattle). Amazon brought jobs and over 30,000 "tech bros," but it also meant that the real estate and rents skyrocketed and many living paycheck to paycheck lost out. All covid did was put in the last nail in the coffin for struggling businesses that were barely hanging on from skyrocketing real estate trends. Pioneer Square, ID, and Pine St. have always been "bad" parts of downtown, but still not that bad compared to cities in LA or NYC or DC.
@@arthuresparza2617 Yeah the homeless problem was already really bad when I got there and got worse even before COVID. There were always homeless tents set up along the walk way from the ferry terminal which was part of my commute. Lot's of people with mental disabilities living on the streets, open drug use, we'd find needles at the playground my kids would play at, etc.
Seattle actually has the 3rd worst homeless problem in the U.S, just behind LA which is in 2nd place. Seattle is smaller so the homeless population looks smaller but believe me it's not actually much better
I'm a Seattle native and I left because I can't handle it anymore. They were supposed to clean up 3rd and Pine (the intersection where people get shot and stabbed). Was out walking today and noticed all those sketchy creeps just moved down one block to 3rd and Pike now. SEATTLE DOES NOT CARE. No one will clean it up. I had hopes for the new mayor, but I lost that hope pretty quickly.
You have to remember that you cannot blame the cities when the social safety net and possibility for upwards movement has been thoroughly decimated year by year since Reagan took office and when people lose their cars, where else can the destitute go but the urban areas?
I think this is just natural for Seattle. I have lived here for well over 25 years. I was also homeless at one time and lived in my truck while I sold in the market. Had three jobs and finally got an apartment in Capital Hill for a time. The entire West Coast is very expensive, and Seattle like LA and the Bay area is just so darn expensive. There are no affordable homes. I don't think it is poor management as much as a supply and demand problem. PS. Not a lot of freebies like you think...when I was homeless, I had to pay 4 thousand dollars to have my child, which I did. There was no money (freebies) for my healthcare in Seattle. My kid is on dialysis now with 6 live doners and we can't get the surgery because the pandemic made everything get a back seat to folks that got very sick through their own choices or the luck of the draw, so no sweet-sweet government magic money like you think. I see the city today like the city has looked so very many times. You should have been here in the 80's and after the dot com bust and again in 2008. Today Seattle is just a reflection of many of the evils of our country right now. No affordable health care, no affordable homes, jobs on the west coast can't pay enough for even the hardest working people to keep up. When I was a kid we used to play this game called crack the whip on the Ice Rink...you would be going really fast and if you were on the end they would release you and you had to try and stay up while you were absorbing all of the centrifugal force. That is Seattle. It is just at the end of the whip. Don't give up on Seattle because I still love my city and this too will pass.
Good reporting, Mr. Johnson. I used to love going to Seattle when I lived in Portland. I think Portland us worse. When I lived in Portland during the 80s, both Portland and Seattle were always in the top 5 best cities to live in the USA. Not anymore and it's a shame. Eugene is not far behind as being foul place. It's so sad to see this.
You are right about most of that! It’s not just Portland or Eugene! It’s ALL of Oregon. They all are bad. I live in Oregon. UNFORTUNATELY! I’ve lived there all my life. That’s how I know it’s bad. And don’t get me wrong! I’m proud to be a US Citizen. But I’m ASHAMED to be an Oregonian. And my friends & family living there should be ashamed of it too because of how that state is selfish, careless, clueless & dishonest. Thanks for that comment to Nick Johnson! Glad to see someone besides me has the right idea about Oregon!
@@k7j6 Hey guy. I now live in Medford. There is somewhat of a homeless problem here, it seems that Medford is actually trying to at least to do something about it. And yes, our beloved state has become a disgusting hell hole especially in PDX and Eugene. But I think the may be changes on the horizon
As a one who grew up in Seattle, it breaks my heart. Grunge music, Starbucks coffee, Space Needle, Aquarium and many brick and mortar stores bring back childhood memories. Sadly it's so badly mismanaged that it's starting to rot. So for anybody who wants to go see it, do it now before it's too late and becomes Detroit 2.0
Seattle is my favorite place in the states. When it comes to architecture, geographical location, botany, outdoor activities, such a beautiful place. Such a damn shame to see people abuse and disrespect this city. I still go at least once a year, somebody has gotta keep the tourism industry alive lol. I really do pray for this city and its citizens.
To those who hope the current mayor will clean up Seattle: it's gonna take more than 4 years to fix a city that's been deteriorating for several decades.
The worst places in the U.S are ran by Democrats . It will only get worse . Not saying republicans don't have bad areas but nothing compared to Democrats. There policies are horrible.
Things have improved a lot since October. Just posted a video driving around downtown from 2 weeks ago. Most of the tents have been cleaned up and the crime has gotten so bad that it has forced the hand of the city mayor to finally respond. Downtown and Pioneer are just not what they used to be. I don’t know if it will ever recover fully….
@@Djay_B I wish. Been covering Seattle and the PNW on my channel since March now. It’s like a wave of wack a mole. One area gets cleaned and another pops up. Very disappointed on the new Mayors approach to encampments. Drugs and use are rampant in the downtown core of the city and violence is increasing. I try and keep my content as honest as I can showing the good and bad but it’s hard to see a city you love… have leadership like we do.
I was born and raised in Seattle. My kids were born and raised in Seattle. They are in their 30s now and live in Spokane. I was priced out 20 yrs ago and haven't been back (btw, I worked in IT b4 retiring). I appreciate ur views. I wish you would've gone through Ballard and also down to the waterfront. I didn't recognize anything much dt. Wheres Belltown? What happened to Seattle Center? I see the monorail still obscolete. Overall, It's ugly and I do not miss it. Thanks Nick.
Wow! Lived in Redmond in early 90's and commuted to Seattle a few days a week as a nurse. I loved everything about the city. Every weekend, my two kids and I would go to Pike Place to get fresh seafood. Oysters, Dungeness crab, maybe a bit of salmon. As a single parent, I felt we were all safe. I left in 2001 to go to Michigan. (Don't ask me why. Lol!) What on God's green earth has happened to my city? Watching this video, I see places I often frequented and so much is different and not in a good way. So sad. The Emerald City is now an unpolished turd!
wOw, Richard Hadden is well spoken! Thank You Nick for your diligent work and inviting guests who know what they're talking about. I would rather vote for someone like him, who understands the dynamics and seems to have genuine concern for a major problem, rather than a hardened politician who has learned how to lie and extract big funds from lobbyists, the system and 'we the people'... You have to wonder if there's there's not a sinister agenda at work ?...
The thing about Seattle is that it's a great place to live if you're filthy rich or dirt poor. Anything in between, you're out of luck. The middle class hasn't thrived in Seattle in over 20 years.
I drove a garbage truck in downtown about 2 years ago. Part of clearing out the alleys at night. It was an absolute nightmare! Needles EVERYWHERE! I quit when I realized I would get pricked eventually. Every driver told me they had been pricked several times. I have a fear of needles. Nope. Police used to be tough in Seattle. Now, they are not allowed to be. Unfortunately, a major downtown needs rough cops on the beat. The last 10 years have dramatically worsened in Seattle.
Shock factor! Awareness!..Relatability. I have lived in many states and have taken notice to differences of atmosphere, lifestyles, physical layout and other factors in the same way that you describe the city here. I just discovered your channel and must say, I am impressed at how spot-on your description is of current Seattle, including some of the more difficult-to-hear-but-true-to-life statements. I found it rather amusing in a wholesome way. I look forward to watching your other videos on other places and comparisons of living in them. I am a fan of traveling and living in different cities in America because they all have unique ups and downs and its awesome to get to experience that first hand. Heres to your success in your endeavors with making and posting these such videos!
@TC Thats a hard question to answer being that the cities are different now than they used to be even 5 years ago. I loved the sunshine in Atlanta, found a lot to do in Dallas, and while living in Phoenix I got in great shape from the dry heat. I thought los Angeles was a bit much, as in there was so much city it was hard to find the hidden beauty. Ive always wanted to live in Portland. That city is drenched in underground culture and quite beautifuly green too. I cant decide on one favorite city but I can say I've always been a fan of seeing a sprawling metropolis on the horizon after much driving.
Ffs quit wasting your energy being so negative. Be grateful for what you do have. Billions around the world ache to have what you have. Focus on the full part of the glass, and you'll be much happier
I was downtown a few days ago walking around most the day and this video pretty much sums it up. It was for the most part the decent Seattle I know, but it was also apparent that there are major problems. Westlake Park is quite the place to go if you need a reminder why not to do crack.
Funny it looks pretty tame and clean compared to most of LA, San Fran, NYC and several other cities now. I lived in Seattle in the 90's and it was really pretty nice then, kinda boring, You have to be bred there to handle the lack of sunlight though ;-)
What did they expect to happen after years and years of people paying 4k-6k monthly for rent, that was un-sustainable even if the pandemic had never occurred. Putting people out of their homes for greed can never be a sustainable situation
A majority of the homeless aren’t even from here, so that trope that it’s the rent and affordable housing thing is mostly BS. I’ve volunteered at shelters for the last couple years and most I talk to are from other cities and came to the area because it’s a damn good place to be homeless. There is no one reason why the homeless issues are what they are. Read Sanfran Sicko by Michael Shellenberger
This video made Seattle look pretty amazing. Lol. I was there a few days ago traveling all over the area and it really wasn't too bad. And I wouldn't say to visit Vashon over Seattle. That's just ridiculous. But I would agree that some cleanup is definitely in order.
Richard has great ideas! These people should be taken care of even if it is a mandatory placement. Use something like Job Corp as a model. They can learn the skills and have the support to relaunch their lives by the time they are done with the program.
What are you going to do with the people who do not want to get cleaned up? People who basically want to stay high or "live free" and don't care much about anything else?
Hard truth: most of these peeps are druggies/alcholics who dont’ wish to change their lifestyle. No cheaper housing, assistance, or job skills can help them. Hard truth
You are right there are those that don’t want help. They get an option, jail time or treatment. The ones who suffer from severe mental illness will have no choice but to go into treatment because they are not capable of making a choice.
With the pandemic, my brother was told he could work remotely. He and his wife moved away, and he cancelled the Seattle Times as he doesn't even want to follow Seattle anymore. I'm nearing retirement, and I also will be out of here. I don't see Seattle fixing this mess, and I don't want to live with it around me.
Nick, love your channel. I'm from Seattle & agree with most of your commentary except 3:31 where you say "mentally people wandering around" as though it is these people's fault that they're mentally unwell. To a varying degree, each and every one of us struggles with one mental illness or another. Unfortunately, those on the streets aren't addressing or have the knowhow to address these issues. With awareness and a platform like yours, it's important to destigmatize mental illness and not portray is as a shameful disease. This will encourage those suffering from it to feel ok to seek treatment subsequently becoming self sufficient and off the streets. I truly believe mental illness is the root of this situation, predominantly, of course, there are freeloaders regardless and enablers around. But let's get people addressing mental health especially policy makers, in order topurge a lot of the misfortunes on our streets. Also I believe the mayor is a Democrat. I truly feel sad what Seattle has become, it is scary out there especially for a mom with kids.
Agreed. Mental illness needs to be seen as a human problem as it can affect anyone. No one was born terrible, they experienced terrible and is a projection of their lives like how Richard said
I visited Seattle 10 years ago. It was great. I moved to Seattle 3 1/2 years ago. It was still great, aside from a few homeless people here and there. It seems to have REALLY gone to crap during Covid. I live in Kent now, hoping that doesn't completely go to crap too. Talk about becoming a gentrified hellscape...
Someone should start paying attention to quality of life in PNW...This part of the country is so beautiful but it is becoming impossible to feel safe and enjoy life there...so sad :( (Portland, Seattle, Vancouver - same thing)
i used to visit Seattle quite often being that I live 3 hours away, and in 2017 or 18 I did the underground tour which was cool but fast forward to 2021 I went up there again and that whole area where you do the underground tour was filled with tents. Then you got Auroa Ave, OMG hookers everywhere. Its crazy how fast the tents went up in downtown
Visited Seattle for the first time last month and I thought it was a beautiful city. It definitely had some problems but I feel as if they've been way overexaggerated - I was expecting much worse. Maybe it's because I came from southern california so I'm used to some of the problems already but for the most part downtown was not bad (except at night where it did not feel safe walking alone)
I live downtown currently, and grew up in the area. It's a beautiful city full of bright people, even to this day with our problems. Yes the issues are frustrating, but when people see videos like this, they think the absolute worst. "Seattle is dying" documentary and Fox New's fake dramatization of CHAZ certainly didn't help.
Over exaggerated? Businesses are closing up because it's too dangerous to do business in downtown Seattle and they don't want the liability for their employees, it's not an exaggeration it's an armpit.
Not overexagerated, I have family living near downtown and they don’t go there at all anymore. We used to go downtown for lunch 6-7 years ago but not anymore. Many places shuttered down now.
Nick, I enjoy your podcast and your guest today was great. He talked about the problems without judgement but is yearning for solutions. I did something similar here in Austin on my lunch break 3 years ago. I video taped zombies 🧟♀️ walking in the streets and people splayed out fully clothed in the middle of the day on our sidewalks. Obviously hung over or dying from drug use, but if when I pointed it out some people called me a Nazi. They would rather ignore the problems and bury their heads in the sand until they are on the streets themselves. I don’t believe it has anything to do with political parties and voting for any of the swamp creatures that occupy Washington. They are all corrupt and all culpable. We need a completely new government with term limits.
I lived in Seattle from 1986 to 2007. I once loved the city and thought I would never leave. It breaks my heart to see the corruption and darkness that has engulfed the city. I'm not surprised though. It's karmic for how the Seattle founders treated the Indigenous people. The vibe in Seattle is GREED.
Patricia, historically of all the negative impulses in the structure of humanity, gross selfishness and greed are said to be the worst, the most harmful and most injurious. I did a study on that subject. That was what it concluded. Indifference is another harmful impulse.
Okay one has nothing to do with the other native Americans on this side of America were desendants or smaller tribes of the Aztec empire which was a very violent civilization they participated in human sacrifice and canabalizm so even if the British army and the Spanish conquers were peaceful it probably still would of ended in blood she'd and homelessness isn't karma it has to do with how expensive the community is like housing prices and living expenses like food electric and water prices just keep going up affecting the third class population the poorest class and putting a bigger gap between the second class and first class the drugs are just a distraction from the fact that it's aiding in the homelessness problem America is having a huge drug problem due to Mexican cartels selling pure Crack again making the rise in drugs increases at a steep level
All this has leaked down to Everett also. I moved to Seattle area in 08 and both Seattle and Everett are now unrecognizable and seriously dangerous. Drugs, crime & homelessness are terrible. It's like Zombie land here. My family and I are moving back to WI in September. We've had enough.
I saw Washington State and Seattle for the first time in 2008. I have traveled this country extensively and It was the most beautiful place, and specifically, the CLEANEST major city I’ve ever seen. I was obsessed with moving there & did…cross-country…in 2010. In May 2021, I felt “forced” to leave this place that I felt is my “heart home”. I am a political centrist, and a medical professional…I felt politically persecuted & unable to work due to overwhelming lockdown regulations that, ironically, kept me from working. I wasn’t aware that a Republican had won the city back. He will have a LOT of work to do and a lot of crazy Marxist/Anarchist values to overcome. I hope they are successful because I would move back in a heartbeat.
@@protonneutron9046 thanks….just going by what was said in the video. Seems the new mayor is, indeed, a democrat. Let’s hope he’s a Kennedy Democrat and not a Hugo Chavez one.
@@garyjones3142 I don't think so. Many decades ago I could have described Portland in a similar good light. Back then (before Kalifornian's invaded it) it was mostly Repub. Leftists destroy what they touch.
About Seattle being a pretty City...To be honest my personal opinion is that I don't see anything pretty in a place that is dark grey and rainy most of the year. Sorry but that is my take after living in Seattle for more than 10 years.
I'm so tired of people over exaggerating what Seattle looks like, whether for political talking points or other. I live in Dallas and have travelled to the majority of major cities in the US and Seattle is on the nicer side. Every southern major city is worse, and when I was consulting in the midwest it is frequent to have "tweekers" walking around in the rural and suburban areas especially at night. In the south and midwest the drug issue is so bad you can't buy over-the-counter allergy medicine without a doctors note. The only difference is the drug people live in the woods more often in the south and midwest.
Worse since this video. Three days ago I drove down from north on I-5 into Seattle. Even one month ago the tents along the freeway were increasing. The jay-walkers, crazy tweakers jumping out from sidewalks, the crazies all around the hospitals, and the huge presence of encampments was really overwhelming. Arrived in the mid-60's, and bailed out in 2013. Loved this city, saddened and full of despair now.
I used to live in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Used to be a very nice and fairly safe city with a nice/growing arts scene. Well before the George Floyd incident (RIP) it was deteriorating. After the riots, deterioration truly set in. No rebuilding to speak of ... carjackings and random assaults all the time. Now it's called Murderapolis. Sad to see the deterioration of the US and our cities. The buck stops nowhere.
sadly i still live here and understand where you’re coming from, it’s really sad to see. i don’t feel safe at all whenever i’m headed to concert venues and i definitely do not feel safe walking at night. 😪 i’ve been looking up places in washington to live but it seems it’s not any better 🥲
This is what "downtown everywhere" looks like these days. Conservative and liberal States. You seem to lean on liberal urban areas in a politically charged criticism, but this is going on everywhere. The wealth gap between the rich and the rest of us is huge and disgusting. This video should be titled 'can everywhere be saved?"
This guy is such a hypocrite. He will say whatever to push is agenda. The fact is cities in red and blue states have the same issues and no clear solutions.
Seattle has lost dozens of retail outlets because of the theft and crime. Macy’s, H&M, GameStop, FOASwartz and more. There are numerous empty spots now as well. These last three years it’s degrading more and more. I live in downtown Seattle
gamestop is going out everywhere, and retailers are hard pressed with online shopping being so common now. That being said, the mom n' pops are having an even harder time. Go to Chinatown, the BLM and CHAZ assholes ransacked the place lie the Goths and Vandals of old - all the windows are smashed and once beautiful buildings covered in graffiti. Even a few years later and it hasn't recovered.
I went to Seattle in 2001 for my 21st birthday. I loved the Seattle scene music. I think I met Mark Arm in the Crocodile Cafe. Was a cool place (am from London). I like to check in on Seattle now and again. Would have loved to have experienced 89 - 94 years. Thanks for the vid.
it's an unrecognizable techie playground with absolutely zero soul anymore. they literally tried to tear down the showbox market (legendary venue) for apartments. nothing is sacred here.
I just moved here cant say I love Seattle its a bit scary, no eye contact except for men, ppl are always on edge and they are quiet unless they are upset and they have loud outbursts in stores. I'm from Atlanta I love ATL and the ppl arent uptight so this is a culture shock for me.
@@rsohlich1 I lived in Woodhaven, MI for a travel job and I was impressed with the Detriot area. The ppl are a bit boisterous but funny and smart. For the midwest being so cold and dark in winter, the ppl were normal.
Wow, im in Australia & have been waiting for travel to be safe again (covid) as ive been putting my dream holiday together which is Washington state & especially Seattle. Ive always wanted to go there since the 90s. Now im kinda freaking out after watching this & reading some of the comments
@@nokateno Thanx for that, I definitely have a fascination with the 90s and Seattle. Is it still worth having a look at places like Moore Theatre, Crocodile Cafe etc..?
A couple decades ago, I was presented with a job offer at Boeing in Seattle. I thank my lucky stars I found a better opportunity in a better place before accepting the Boeing offer. The whole left coast is dying. It's a self-inflicted injury. Elections have consequences.
@@NickJohnson The job looked good, but I just couldn't take the persistent gloomy weather. I grew up in northern Europe, where in the dead of winter the sunrise was at 8:15AM and sunset at 3PM. Not a ray of sunshine from November until March. No, thank you. I've had my fill of gray days, and then some! 😅
Grew up in Seattle for the first 11 years of my life. Still have family live there. Would never go back and live there because of how bad things have got
Born and raised 65 years. Worked in the heart of downtown for 38 years. People shooting up at my bus stop at 3pm. We keep re-electing our liberal city council. Think it will get better? Used to be proud. Now I'm ashamed.. and scared to go out. Nicely done, thanks!
I have lived in Seattle the majority of my life. Aside from Living in SF for 5 years, the SE US for a year and my college years I have called Seattle my home. First of all, I want to commend you for visiting the city. Listening to your video it seems as if the majority of news you consume is probably right leaning? I have friends from other parts of the country who are Fox News regulars that also think Seattle is turning into a hellhole with no law and that the lunatics are running the streets, which I always found entertaining in that they were more willing to trust their news source than a person who actually lives in the city. I hope that your visit was a bit of an eye opener as to how the media does it's best to manipulate their viewers and further embolden their agenda and in turn create a larger divide between the political parties? As you stated many times in the video, it wasn't nearly as bad as you expected. As far as your content goes, I definitely agree that the homeless issue has gotten much worse in the past 10 years and was exacerbated further with the pandemic. You stated at one point in your video that you attributed the issue to mental illness and drug abuse and didn't believe it was due to housing, that is very much incorrect. Seattle is built on an isthmus which means there is very little available land and most of it's neighborhoods are zoned as residential which means you cannot tear down homes to build multi family residential units. On top of that Seattle has been the fastest growing major city in the US for the past decade and a lot of that growth comes from people moving here to take well paying tech jobs and in turn have a lot of expendable income for housing. Economics 101, what happens when you have limited supply of something and many people with the means to purchase that supply? Housing has been driven to unsustainable levels, we bought our home in 2015 and we have seen it's value increase 2.5 fold in the seven years we have owned it! My friends who rent have seen 30% increases in some cases in their rent in a single year! So what do you think that does to a person working a blue collar job or for the people who don't have good paying jobs? You guessed it, they either have to move or their out on the streets. The solution is not a simple one because there is so many factors at play but some of the issues with affordable housing can be pointed at its liberal citizens. Everyone wants to fix the homelessness issue in the city until it impacts the area they live in. People who spend millions on homes don't want their neighborhoods rezoned for multi family residences because it takes away from the neighborhood feel and lowers their houses market value. Some local companies have stepped up to build low income housing but it's a drop in the bucket compared to what is needed. The drug use in more of a by product of the increase in homelessness. Think about it, you get out on the streets, you are feeling down on yourself so you look to drugs as an escape. lt's not a surprise that Fentanyl use has taken off in the area with the skyrocketing homelessness that has occurred in the past two years with the pandemic. Unfortunately, that drug dependence is only going to further cement the issues going on with my city. With all due respect, a Republican Mayor isn't going to do anything to correct the underlying problem. If the city of Seattle wants to correct the issue they are going to have to put more weight into their ideals than they do in their personal comfort and their own financial security which is unlikely to happen. The issue isn't a liberal problem, it's a wealth divide problem. Most people want to be contributing members of society, but when they feel as if all hope has been lost, they give up on themselves.
I am a liberal goth and Seattle is turning into a lawless hellhole please don't delude yourself otherwise. I don't need fox news to tell me what I can see with my eyeballs lol
Didn't Capitol Hill, one of my favorite places in my youth and I worked there for 16 years become the "chop zone"? We have cleaned up Seattle before and not putting up with homelessness and lawlessness is the answer period. The police need not to be defunded, the RVs etc need to be towed. And people need to go to shelters. They are available! They just don't want to go into them. Because you can't use drugs in them. It's unacceptable. The wonderful culture in Seattle has been ruined because of the shitty leadership in Seattle and in Washington. You can't continue to allow these people to ruin the city. No excuses anymore.
i live just north of Seattle and work for a major employer in Washington, i am going to be leaving. Homeless camps, shootings, drugs, and outpriced living is making it impossible.
Im going to put my 2 cents here. I moved from a small town about an hours drive from pittsburgh, to Monroe WA in hope of getting a mechanic job. I often frequently visit Seattle, or used to as when I moved it was in 2014. That all turned about at the start of the Pandemic. I started to feel uneasy parking my truck downtown, and walking downtown. I often do not carry a pistol. I keep it in the truck. However, with how bad Seattle has gotten, especially with the camps. I feel the need to carry a gun. Now I understand, not every homeless person is dangreous. As I was homeless in Denver, that was due to low credit. However, with all the camps it just makes me feel unsafe, as thats where the drugs and most of the violence happen. Seattle could change, but Ill doubt it, seeing it in my life time. On a final note. Seattle subtly changes when you revist, it never feels like it did last time. Something is new for better or worse.
The problem is that some of the homeless in Seattle have genuine mental issues like schizophrenia. Seattle does not make any attempt to process these individuals, so even when they attack somebody, they are often just turned right back on the street in 12 hours. The libtards call this “restorative justice”. Aka if they aren’t white, they don’t get prosecuted. If you ask me, the entire city council should be committed to an institution.
@@themidnightracer9937 thanks for answering I hope its not that bad I live in northern Pakistan.. And my wife moved from LA to seattle so I'll be moving to seattle in near future.
Tell me you don't live in Seattle without telling me you don't live in Seattle. I took an awful lot of driving to find those tents eh? I loved the part where you talked about how dangerous downtown is but how you weren't scared. Thanks for the attempt at journalism.
Yeah because it’s only the tents that make it shitty. Was just there last week. Used to live there a decade ago. Stop kidding yourself, the city sucks now
My 63 yr old brother has completely changed after living in Seattle for 30 years. He is so angry inside and will not talk to family anymore!! I don’t recognize him!!
My entire family died and had no where to turn. I found myself homeless, but it was in Seattle where I pulled myself back up to a loving respectful life. I was told when I got off public assistance, not many people come back from where I was, but it was working two and three jobs diligently and focusing only on rising out of it that gave me back my autonomy as a human being.
There is a catch. you have to work hard. But working hard is like an unreasonable request of someone nowadays.
I don’t understand. Not downplaying how tough your situation was, but why are people entitled to live in this rich areas? If you don’t have the means, go somewhere where you can live ok working any retail job. I dont know, i just dont see how someone can be homeless as a sober/non drug using citizen. Doordash, uber, mcdonalds, most of these jobs can at least make you enough to rent a roof
If someone falls low but doesn't treat it with cheap drugs, there is always a chance for them to get back up. The problem is that the current homelessness crisis is happening along side a fentanyl crisis, a deadly combination. Most of those people aren't getting back up.
Thank you for sharing you experience. My whole family is dead as well. People not in that position don't understand how precarious it is without human connections. You're a real miracle and courageous to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Kudos! Wishing you blessings and abundance from here on out! x
That is awesome brotha. I also lost everything 3 times due to a drug addiction. I am clean and sober for 14 years now. And my life is so much better. I am a proud father and husband. I own 2 businesses. And life is good.
As someone who is from LA and have traveled to Seattle, you guys don’t understand how good it looks over there
dude seriously this city is BEAUTIFUL compared to LA. gorgeous
Seattle and Los Angeles are both shitholes.
Oh we know LA is a POS. No one would argue that
There are peeing problems I live in a smaller area than Seattle about 2 hours away from Seattle and our homeless problem is so bad that our Walmart is slowly turning into a homeless shelter there also is a homeless shelter in the abandoned field right next to the Walmart they're still sleeping in the plazas connected to the Walmart and the Walmart parking lot I can't can't walk my son up to Walmart anymore cuz of the pee smell and the fact that I just genuinely don't feel safe walking him through that type of environment but from the documentaries I've watched to try and sympathize with them so i know much you mean by saying Seattle looks great lol but all I learned really is there are two types of homeless people the ones doing everything they can to get out of the situation and those who distract their problems with drugs and tbh it made my worry worse
LOL, it only looks good compared to LA. I left Seattle in 2019 after 14 years. The city had become a garbage can. People living in tents in Queen Anne, one of the nicest areas! Police officers at all stores, including grocery stores. I moved to Portugal and this place is paradise compared to Seattle, lol.
3:34 Just to clarify - the new mayor of Seattle, Bruce Harrell, is not a Republican like you said. He identifies as Democrat - however, policy-wise he is very moderate, which is at least a huge step in the right direction for Seattle. What they DID do is elect a Republican City Attorney, Ann Davison, which is huge for the simple fact she's not a Democrat as Seattle is one of the most progressive cities in the nation (though, interestingly, she did identify with the Democrat party until she switched ranks in 2020). I live just a bit over an hour from Seattle, so the results of this election was still big talk over here when it happened
he is also a pos, typical libtard demorat, I had a run in with him 6 years ago at the Wa state Convention Center and I didn't know who he was at that time, but let's just say he came close to hit the floor
@@DavidPol1973 Gonna need some more context lol
@@SevenBliss you mean you aren’t going to just take someone with a fake name posting on social media as gospel? 😂
@@NSgeg765 I suppose I'm just a maverick in that way ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
What does you living an hour away from Bellevue have to do with this? Are you a realtor?
I can't believe they have allowed Pioneer Square become a tent city. This is the heart of historical Seattle, with architectural gems, the Underground Tour, great bars and restaurants. When I lived in Seattle in the '80's, I often played in the many bars in the square and along 1st avenue. I hope they have cleaned this up since. Very sad to see.
Just a few weeks ago I was walking in downtown (of course on the street side because the piss is next to the buildings) and on top of a car there was a rag covered in shit. Human shit. How can you think everything is fine when downtown is covered in literal shit?
I was just there about a week ago and there were no tents anywhere in sight in that area. It was my first time in Seattle and I actually told my local friend that I really enjoyed that area
I was in Seattle for the first time in 2019 just before covid hit! Such a beautiful place!!! I've been all around the states and Seattle by far is hands down my absolute favorite!!! I hope to return there someday soon and I hope to find it the same ✌️
I remember the 7 bars for 7 bucks cover charge with some awesome music of all genres
They're gone. It's actually really enjoyable downtown now. (I know the homeless didn't just disappear either)
The Seattle of the 1980s was the best place I ever lived in. Even for a low-income person like me, you could be totally engaged with the swirling life around you. I left for career reasons in 1996. What the city has become makes me cry.
I wish I had listened to my heart when I graduated from high school. I seriously considered moving to Seattle in 1988, but life took a different turn. I got here in '98, and it was still a fun place to live, but I definately missed the heyday.
So sad. Seattle played a HUGE role in my teen yrs musically & culturally. Bad policy actions equal bad REactions. Heartbreaking. People NEED purpose. Great interview.
Big cities have Big problems....There are NOt any big cities that are not struggling with the homeless. And if you are a big city with high unemployment you will have crime. Folks with jobs are not out stealing.
Dems ruin cities ..they let rioters burn you up ...they didn't play that here but a couple days ...I live in a red state
@@vsedai amen
Did you live in Seattle before it became so gentrified? I bet it was awesome to be here during the 90's when Nirvana and Pearl Jam were the thing.
Nick, I used to be part of a grassroots group in California and we asked the same question from cities such as San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles and they gave us the same answer they don't have any form of bookkeeping for taxpayers money.
San Francisco alone in 2019 had an annual budget of $12 billion that's with a "B" dollars a year. They cannot give us an answer on where the money is being allocated.
They can't find $500 to help human beings out in the streets nor can they find $2,000 to fix the streets.
We all know the money, the majority of the budget on these blue states and cities are going to the corrupt, vile politicians pockets.
The lack of action and participation of every American who is supposed to be sick and tired of this is what's keeping these corrupt politicians in office and continually launder our money directly into their pockets.
I blame the American people who aren't governing. Our small grassroots of 40 people it's not enough to help over 30 million people.
But Americans are still complacent and refuse to get away from your keyboards and these vile politicians know that.
Corrupt elections. You can't vote anyone in. Budget? All the money goes to the retirement fund of government employees. Little is left to actually run the city.
San Francisco has been spending over $75,000 on each homeless person each year. We spend about $20,000 on each student. The homeless budget is over $1 billion dollars each year. There are no consequences to chronic substance abuse, no serious requirement to help clear mentally ill people so they could make better choices. It’s really sad.
And those donations to Ukraine are going into the pockets of these crooks.
@@jtf267 With that 75,000 they could pay the rent of most of the homeless. They want people to be homeless. This is slavery. The Democratic Party are slave holders.
It amuses me how people from every city and state want to constantly bash the “Blue” states and the cities of those states who are the main drivers and financial contributors to those complaining. We used to all be Americans. People in “Red” states suck off the tit of those economic powerhouse states, while constantly complaining and denigrating those who live there. They complain about how they don’t want their taxes being spent on “liberal” policies, when the actual fact is that NONE of the taxes they pay are enough to even support their own states. The Blue states they criticize so heavily, send more money to help out the rest of the country than they ever get back. It’s so hypocritical to take their money to subsidize your backward politics, then complain about how they produce the revenue they give you.
Seattle doesn’t have a Republican mayor 😂 Bruce Harrell is a lifelong Democrat.
And also a sex offender but nevermind that
Who was in office when the laws and budgets were developed that eliminated the systems that were addressing health and housing issues?
@@lydiaedwards8100 fr people like to act like this is a partisan issue when the mistakes of people on both sides of the political spectrum have lead us to where we are today.
Single party leftist rule is usually trouble
We do and he was a sex offender.
Seattle was a magical place to live when I first moved there in 1990. I loved it. But by 2017 it was so bad I am one who left the state. I still miss what it used to be.
I moved here in 1990 too. Getting ready to leave next Month, very sad to see The Emerald City is now a shit hole.
I moved in 1990 too! Left in 2021. Going back though, the rest of the USA is just as bad.
@@Smorss2011 No it isn't... most of the US would not put up with it
@@Smorss2011 I agree. I moved to Europe. Rising inequality and serious climate events are a very bad combination for the US. I can't think of a single major city that doesn't have a major issue. It's either homelessness, pollution, crime, extreme heat, HCL, or something else.
Yeap same here . My wife and I were lucky to escape with our lives. Its not just the addicts or drug dealers, there are corrupt cops who I know are trouble makers.
It's not just Seattle, it's the whole state. I lived an hour from Seattle my whole life and left a year ago. The crime in Tacoma is out of control
It’s the entire country. There’s not enough jobs or housing for the lower classes.
There is, just as there is many jobs that are available, it's just people aren't interested in that and just want to coast on Democrat social programs. We are a country of enablers and people don't want to work. I work for the federal government and in just 4 years I've advanced to twice my grade level and make almost twice as much money. My family is lower class too. The opportunities are literally there as I'm living in it, people just don't want to do it and make excuses that it's everyone else's fault but theirs. It's pathetic.@@thealternative9580
What city?
A friend of mine has a cardiology practice in Seattle and has decided to move his practice elsewhere as well as many of his employees and associates. It's not a safe city for raising families or live in anymore. City leaders there are completely out of touch with private corporations that aim to improve the current state of affairs in Seattle. He mentioned many businesses are also moving elsewhere as well as a lot of their employees.
He stated that the general consensus of these businesses, and their associated employees are of the opinion that the city (under its current over paid democrat "progressive" leadership) is blatently irresponsible, deserves to go broke, and allow Seattle to become a complete slum.
Can we blame them.
I drove Uber for two years in Seattle and had a great time, but I had to constantly steer people away from the southern parts of downtown. That was 2018 and 19, and just since then it's become notably worse. I live in Tacoma which now has rapidly growing serious problems, too, just within the past year, and it pisses me off. Tacoma was always problematic, but now it's truly awful in some areas. Where I live the crime is nearly zero, but if you are in any one of several areas, you are seeing shootings, muggings, burglaries etc., shoot through the roof. We moved here to put our kid in a great private school in 2012; that was a great choice and we love where we live, but when we retire in a couple of years we are so gone... No way they will turn this around in that time.
The mayor of Tacoma needs to held accountable. I live in Gig Harbor and anytime I come over I see new graffiti and tents. I don't think this was the beautification project they were implementing a couple of years ago. Something needs to change and soon...
@@nokateno Duluth, Minnesota is like a mini Seattle. Very cute and clean, affordable military town. Since it's on lake superior it doesn't feel so landlocked in to the country. Minneapolis isn't too far of a drive if you need access to a big city. If you can deal with the winter here it's a great place! We also lived in Fort Collins, CO for a bit and it was a great place.
Alright just when you decide to move to a conservative state to retire, please don't bring with you any liberal or democrat ideas
How much ya wanna bet that Seattle’s political leadership has increased their wealth since taking office?
they should all be imprisoned.
No doubt. Democrats has the carrot stick. Just give them some monthly benefit of some kind, and few will fight back, on whatever they are doing.
Seattle was once known as the nation's most livable city - primarily due to a brief period of cheap housing and adequate wages at the low end.
What decade was that?
@@edbunkers4516 Recovering from the Boeing Bust, beginning in 1975.
It's really hard to live in Seattle. I was there a couple of months and the only thing I saw was homeless, junkies and rain. It's a very strange place and the Seattle Freeze is real, the people there are cold AF. It's a really cool place to visit but to live there hell no.
Actually, the sane people are really nice, you just won’t find any sane people living inside Seattle. A lot of techie types are introverted and may come off as unfriendly at first.
As long as people will vote for those who are responsible for this mess, nothing will change. It will even worsen.
This city will eventually be known as San Franseattle.
@Big Dick Black - That's a weird diagnosis. Can you give an example of a state where you think they get it right?
@Big Dick Black in the states where blue resides while being against captilism
@Big Dick Black @Big Dick Black
Poor decision making can't be blamed on capitalism. Blame it on the individual.
@Big Dick Black @Big Dick Black
We let them live their life and if they're abusing illegal drugs, they get thrown in jail. These people could choose to seek medical assistance, or they can just sit down and do nothing.
@Big Dick Black your way of thinking is what happens when the little head becomes the big head
I used to make the hour drive to Seattle 2-3 times a week to see music. 3 years ago I stopped going because it is such a threat there. Can't enjoy it anymore. Seattle caters to the homeless and this is a major part of the problem. The place stinks and is totally dying. I have zero reason to ever go into Seattle. Disgusting is putting it lightly
I am moved from Eastern Washington September of 21 to east Tennessee I cannot take the poor leadership of the state of Washington the crime was beyond out of control and no one was doing anything about it I'm very happy to be in Tennessee now and feel a lot less stressed the problem does not lie into Seattle it's the whole state
Speed freaks and pill junkies that watch Newsmax all day are superior.
3rd generation Seattle and great granddaughter of Pike Place Mrk founder, just said my final farewell to what once was a beautiful city and state, now living in and loving Tennessee.
@@markpreston6930 - Do you think that was a fair, informed, and intelligentent post? Or were you just lashing out in anger?
As a life longer Tennessean y’all have to start saying what part of the state you’re in😅 East TN FTW
@@TheKingweston89 I will give you that one noted and corrected East Tennessee
This deeply hurts. When I first visited Seattle it completely dazzled me. I fell in love and adored the city. I have often thought of moving there and it makes me sad to see it in this state.
I’m also deeply bothered because I see this happening to my own city as well. :(
where you from originally what city
@@lucky-hb4mw I’m from SLC originally. 🙂
@@RedCanyonWolf sal lake city
It's really not that bad. Pretty much everything this video shows is most major metro areas these days. All the areas he shows in this video, I'd feel fine walking around at with my head on a swivel. I wouldn't dare do it in cities I've lived in because of specifically violent crime.
Hello
I remember Elliott Bookstore on the southeast corner of South 2nd Avenue and South Jackson Street in Downtown Seattle when I used to live in Bremerton Washington from 1985 to 1988, and it was a popular store when people are browsing and purchasing books. It like Barnes & Nobles Bookstore, but today, Elliott Bookstore is no more in Downtown Seattle. 😢
Sad that such a beautiful state is getting ruined by poor leadership and homelessness and drug problems
at this point, Republican control is what needed. If the Democrats can turn it around, fine. But it seems the Democrats are enjoying the fruits of their labor.
@@stephenc2481 Republican leadership can turn it around if we elect the right ones. It is going to take a very long time so we might as well get started.
@@bobbybooker2123 Good leadership
Leadership can't fix this problem. Just like trying to control other people. You can't!! They won't build more jails, lock them up, force detox, rehab. Get drug dealers gone. Impossible!
@@dawnbylinsky2185 Leadership can indeed fix the problems it created but it will take new leadership and people voting across the isles. It's why we have leaders. The rules need changed. Making it more equitable for companies to do business here not taxing them to death instead taxiing the competition, NAFTA is gone and that was a huge step in the right direction, regulated immigration, lower fuel prices, higher wages, school choice, taking the big donors out of the game, changing laws to make a person's record private except to a judge so they can get a job and food and housing, after they have completed their sentence. And other solutions not yet thought of by me. We need to all chime in to help our leaders who want to fix it. We the people. Give them some ideas. Jails and detox won't work until the underlying problems are addressed. it's not about controlling other people. We've had enough of that already. "The land of the free" and we need to get back to that.
Sounds like Seattle is turning into SF, what a shame. Hope things will turn around for these cities before they become Detroit!
Actually detroit has been coming back together since about 2013.
@@gothguy6049 Good to hear, hope to one day see Detroit on the list of "best cities to move to."
If you ever been to both city's you would know San Francisco you would know which is the lesser of two evils
it wont the people of freeattle are still electing the same types of people who got the city to the place that it is in now
Detroit has turned around...restored historical buildings, demolition of vacant properties....and you don't walk by piles of human shit on the sidewalks.
Great work on this one, Nick. :) The guest was on point about the situation too. :)
Thank you so much for this Video! As a Seattle native, I’m so sick of the homeless tents, lack of assistance with mental health and substance use. I’m planning on leaving the state entirely within the next year.
Its all by design friend. Vote R.
@@zeropride1133 no. Stop with conspiracy theory
@@Bekind94Sorry you feel that way so many cities are being run down with dem policy. Its by design by the American hating democrat party.
@@Lianne459 with all my heart and soul.
@@Bekind94 why does the truth hurt you?
Glad I saw this before considering relocation! I was going to do a solo vacation but I’m not sure if that’s a good idea
Sadly I seriously doubt Seattle will change or get back to what a great city it used to be
It could.. but changes won't come if you keep voting for the same people.
I have been homeless before. I was homeless for about two years and part of that was in downtown Seattle. Policies and attitudes that I see now remind me of what it’s like to enable drug addicts. I have people in my life that are in recovery and as I have learned about 12 step programs then I have learned in what ways I can either enable their active drug addiction or support their recovery. Kind, empathetic actions that I could do might actually be more harmful than good to enable someone.
In my experience among the homelessness that I lived in then I found that to be the same. I found myself to be the minority among the homeless population. I actually wanted to get out of it and I had goals and dreams that I wanted to fight for to make it matter. Nowadays I am growing and developing my life experience to peer mentor/accountability coaching with others. I have a person that recently reconnected with me. I’m so excited for her but concerned that she’s not ready to make the changes that are necessary to be successful. She is still wishy-washy in her direction and actions. I can’t force her and despite how much my heart is there then my wisdom tells me that I know I can’t make her do better. I can only provide the opportunity, my flicker of light and hopefully she will catch on before I have to decide to move on.
I was blessed in my journey to have good people step in and out of my life, tried to offer help to me but I failed to understand the opportunity that was being handed to me. There needs to be rules and CONSEQUENCES. There were times I failed those rules and paid the consequences. I needed that. I needed that to happen repeatedly until I finally started to realize what it took to pull myself out. That if I was too comfortable then it made no motivation or reason to try to reach for something better.
I find it interesting that with my 2 young children today… there are situations that they know they are more likely to get away with because the consequence might be inconsistent or laxed. Once I finally got into therapy consistently enough while recovering from homelessness then some of my process happened to basically be reparenting myself for certain things. There are more complex issues that need a different therapy or medication but I find it interesting that the parenting skills and philosophies that I have to use with my children are little to no different than what I feel is needed with adults.
In a way then what I have learned to do with my children was my experience when I was a homeless adult and I’m grateful that my homeless experience was met with some consequences severe and uncomfortable enough for me to decide that I did not want to live my life that way. But I had to decide that, I had to realize that opportunity that was being offered was valuable because the consequence was that it could be taken away and I might have missed out or at least have to wait for a good long while to maybe have the opportunity again. Ultimately accountability matters. Whether it is with the homeless person and their choices and actions, with the political leaders and/or your public citizens. Tolerance is not always kindness. Making life too comfortable can easily make it too easy to enable the behavior.
It took work, therapy, opportunity and consequences for me to pull myself out. I now see the offerings of help and light that came in and out of my life… and they wouldn’t have been valuable if I thought that they would always be there and there was no motivation or reason why they might not be. That is the point of opportunity. I think it is a good intending but dangerous message to try to go and fix and save people. The wrong approach only enables them and I just do not find that kind. The intentions are true but unfortunately the results do not match. This was my experience and I hope it helps. Thank you!
L
I went to Seattle for vacation back in April and boy I was little shocked 😲 and disappointed
It used to be amazing. I visited in 2004 and it was the land of milk and honey compared to what we are seeing in more recent times.
Ditto but like 2017
One of the reasons why Macy's have closed their huge downtown department store. You cannot have decreasing sales over the years, customers feeling unsafe and uncomfortable and drug addicts bothering you every time you go to downtown. Such a shame they had to close because city authorities could not manage their own sh*t.
Don’t forget people constantly coming in the stores there and robbing it.
I'm from far away from the US, South America, but let me tell you, this channel is great, very informative and inspiring. I think the sense of awareness of these issues applies to almost every city in the world. Cheers
Your videos make me laugh even though it’s a serious subject. Thanks for the information and covering it so well.
I mean this in a Good Way, Nick that your videos make me laugh. And Life is sometimes so serious it’s good to laugh for a change.
Sad... Seattle, San Fran, and all the major west coast cities used to be seen as beacons of progress, but increasingly you see pockets of filth and decay that resemble 3rd world countries.
What is San Fran?
Some "third world countries" look much nicer @ Evan Moore
@@markpreston6930 San Francisco
Same in Vancouver Canada 🇨🇦
@@treninapreston3128 'San Fran' is not San Francisco. I lived in Bay Area 30 years and never heard anyone there call San Francisco that.
A story done about a violent repeat offender who randomly attacks people in Seattle threw coffee in a toddlers face in a stroller. It’s a revolving door for these criminals might spend a few days locked up and back on the street. This individual was out just 2 days when this happened. I lived in Washington State 30 plus years and recently moved to the Midwest. Best decision we could have made for many reasons. Homelessness due to drugs is real problem, needles left , trash, property crime. What about the homeless using propane tanks to burn part of Olympia down in December. Poor leadership in Wa state. I kept looking out for homeless camps on the drive out to the Midwest some form of anxiety I think. No graffiti, homeless camps, panhandling where I live now. It’s not perfect but I feel safer. God Bless.
That's terrible hope the toddler is ok. I live in LA. Not any better here. Where did you move? We're looking to move just don't know where yet
There was a guy terrorizing my building in south lake union for two years that showed his junk to kids would spend his nights picking the manhole cover up and throwing it and breaking glass etc well anyways he eventually light a cop in his car on fire and they released him.......THREE DAYS LATER.....yep this city is doomed.
Kitty that’s unbelievably!!! If he was in Florida he would not be out for a long time!!
Republican mayor? He is not Republican, but your areas of emphasis for him is correct. We did elect a Republican city attorney.
I walk through downtown Seattle and live in Seattles Central district and with our new mayor I've seen a huge change, for the better. The cops have taken back 3rd and Pike.
I live there and I can confirm
Delusional....they can't even employee officers today!
This guy says we just elected our first republican mayor since 1960. Not true. Bruce Harrell is a very liberal democratic former councilman.
I moved to Seattle in 2018. Moved back out in 2021. I loved that city, but Nick was exactly right when he said people don't want to grow older in a place that's going to keep getting worse. After CHAZ/CHOP and COVID, the city was changed forever. I feel like any charm remaining was tainted. I moved my family to the Southeast and I'm very glad I did. Sometimes I miss Washington, but in the end I know I can't raise my kids there.
Things got bad way before chaz/chop. You just got to this town a couple years ago, I've lived here since 2003. The city was grungy, but had a lot of character. The old timers will tell you that there were no homeless in Seattle before Ronald Reagan, but from my own observation, things went totally sideways after the recession in 2008 and the Amazon boom in South Lake Union (former industrial area of Seattle). Amazon brought jobs and over 30,000 "tech bros," but it also meant that the real estate and rents skyrocketed and many living paycheck to paycheck lost out. All covid did was put in the last nail in the coffin for struggling businesses that were barely hanging on from skyrocketing real estate trends. Pioneer Square, ID, and Pine St. have always been "bad" parts of downtown, but still not that bad compared to cities in LA or NYC or DC.
@@arthuresparza2617 Yeah the homeless problem was already really bad when I got there and got worse even before COVID. There were always homeless tents set up along the walk way from the ferry terminal which was part of my commute. Lot's of people with mental disabilities living on the streets, open drug use, we'd find needles at the playground my kids would play at, etc.
Seattle actually has the 3rd worst homeless problem in the U.S, just behind LA which is in 2nd place. Seattle is smaller so the homeless population looks smaller but believe me it's not actually much better
*Thanks for sharing scenic dash board tour with an intelligent interview, Cornerhouse Nick n Sage* 🍀💚🇺🇲
I'm a Seattle native and I left because I can't handle it anymore. They were supposed to clean up 3rd and Pine (the intersection where people get shot and stabbed). Was out walking today and noticed all those sketchy creeps just moved down one block to 3rd and Pike now. SEATTLE DOES NOT CARE. No one will clean it up. I had hopes for the new mayor, but I lost that hope pretty quickly.
Give him time. It's going to take a minute to clean of the mess the last some politicians had caused
You have to remember that you cannot blame the cities when the social safety net and possibility for upwards movement has been thoroughly decimated year by year since Reagan took office and when people lose their cars, where else can the destitute go but the urban areas?
There's also a Portland Looks Like Shit facebook page as well. Not nearly as entertaining or populated as the Seattle version, but it's there.
There's one for Hawaii as well
Yeah, I live in Portland also and it do look like shit!
I think this is just natural for Seattle. I have lived here for well over 25 years. I was also homeless at one time and lived in my truck while I sold in the market. Had three jobs and finally got an apartment in Capital Hill for a time. The entire West Coast is very expensive, and Seattle like LA and the Bay area is just so darn expensive. There are no affordable homes. I don't think it is poor management as much as a supply and demand problem. PS. Not a lot of freebies like you think...when I was homeless, I had to pay 4 thousand dollars to have my child, which I did. There was no money (freebies) for my healthcare in Seattle.
My kid is on dialysis now with 6 live doners and we can't get the surgery because the pandemic made everything get a back seat to folks that got very sick through their own choices or the luck of the draw, so no sweet-sweet government magic money like you think. I see the city today like the city has looked so very many times. You should have been here in the 80's and after the dot com bust and again in 2008. Today Seattle is just a reflection of many of the evils of our country right now. No affordable health care, no affordable homes, jobs on the west coast can't pay enough for even the hardest working people to keep up. When I was a kid we used to play this game called crack the whip on the Ice Rink...you would be going really fast and if you were on the end they would release you and you had to try and stay up while you were absorbing all of the centrifugal force. That is Seattle. It is just at the end of the whip. Don't give up on Seattle because I still love my city and this too will pass.
Good reporting, Mr. Johnson. I used to love going to Seattle when I lived in Portland. I think Portland us worse. When I lived in Portland during the 80s, both Portland and Seattle were always in the top 5 best cities to live in the USA. Not anymore and it's a shame. Eugene is not far behind as being foul place. It's so sad to see this.
You are right about most of that! It’s not just Portland or Eugene! It’s ALL of Oregon. They all are bad. I live in Oregon. UNFORTUNATELY! I’ve lived there all my life. That’s how I know it’s bad. And don’t get me wrong! I’m proud to be a US Citizen. But I’m ASHAMED to be an Oregonian. And my friends & family living there should be ashamed of it too because of how that state is selfish, careless, clueless & dishonest. Thanks for that comment to Nick Johnson! Glad to see someone besides me has the right idea about Oregon!
@@k7j6 Hey guy. I now live in Medford. There is somewhat of a homeless problem here, it seems that Medford is actually trying to at least to do something about it. And yes, our beloved state has become a disgusting hell hole especially in PDX and Eugene. But I think the may be changes on the horizon
Eugene has a bigger homeless population than either Seattle or Portland. Yes, it is true.
As a one who grew up in Seattle, it breaks my heart. Grunge music, Starbucks coffee, Space Needle, Aquarium and many brick and mortar stores bring back childhood memories. Sadly it's so badly mismanaged that it's starting to rot. So for anybody who wants to go see it, do it now before it's too late and becomes Detroit 2.0
Leave Detroit alone
Seattle is my favorite place in the states. When it comes to architecture, geographical location, botany, outdoor activities, such a beautiful place. Such a damn shame to see people abuse and disrespect this city. I still go at least once a year, somebody has gotta keep the tourism industry alive lol. I really do pray for this city and its citizens.
@@svetlanaahnna3103 thanks for that comment, glad you enjoyed, Seattle is cool but it def is mismanaged and needs to be fixed.
detroit failed because the car companies left
To those who hope the current mayor will clean up Seattle: it's gonna take more than 4 years to fix a city that's been deteriorating for several decades.
The worst places in the U.S are ran by Democrats . It will only get worse . Not saying republicans don't have bad areas but nothing compared to Democrats. There policies are horrible.
Absolutely, this has been do 10 year run . Will take longer to fix
Good luck with that take a check and move
Not like most of the city thinks it is on the wrong track. They think homeless and drugs are a step in the right direction.
Things have improved a lot since October. Just posted a video driving around downtown from 2 weeks ago. Most of the tents have been cleaned up and the crime has gotten so bad that it has forced the hand of the city mayor to finally respond. Downtown and Pioneer are just not what they used to be. I don’t know if it will ever recover fully….
It may take a while, but we will find a way.
@@Djay_B I wish. Been covering Seattle and the PNW on my channel since March now. It’s like a wave of wack a mole. One area gets cleaned and another pops up. Very disappointed on the new Mayors approach to encampments. Drugs and use are rampant in the downtown core of the city and violence is increasing. I try and keep my content as honest as I can showing the good and bad but it’s hard to see a city you love… have leadership like we do.
You haven’t even scratched the surface on the actual worst parts of Seattle.
where are the worst parts of seattle?
Love Nick’s sarcastic sense of humor 😂🤣
I love watching your videos, they are so entertaining!
I was born and raised in Seattle. My kids were born and raised in Seattle. They are in their 30s now and live in Spokane. I was priced out 20 yrs ago and haven't been back (btw, I worked in IT b4 retiring). I appreciate ur views. I wish you would've gone through Ballard and also down to the waterfront. I didn't recognize anything much dt. Wheres Belltown? What happened to Seattle Center? I see the monorail still obscolete. Overall, It's ugly and I do not miss it. Thanks Nick.
Wow! Lived in Redmond in early 90's and commuted to Seattle a few days a week as a nurse. I loved everything about the city. Every weekend, my two kids and I would go to Pike Place to get fresh seafood. Oysters, Dungeness crab, maybe a bit of salmon. As a single parent, I felt we were all safe. I left in 2001 to go to Michigan. (Don't ask me why. Lol!) What on God's green earth has happened to my city? Watching this video, I see places I often frequented and so much is different and not in a good way. So sad. The Emerald City is now an unpolished turd!
seattle's still a great city
@@raiders10003No it's not quit lying to yourself.
@@ralphjohnson3202 seattle metropolitan area is top 20 in world gdp
@@ralphjohnson3202 seattle is top 20 in world gdp
So very sad! What’s going on in America? Great videos, really informative for those of us in other cities.
wOw, Richard Hadden is well spoken! Thank You Nick for your diligent work and inviting guests who know what they're talking about.
I would rather vote for someone like him, who understands the dynamics and seems to have genuine concern for a major problem, rather than a hardened politician who has learned how to lie and extract big funds from lobbyists, the system and 'we the people'...
You have to wonder if there's there's not a sinister agenda at work ?...
Richard is an awesome guy he's a buddy of mine
The thing about Seattle is that it's a great place to live if you're filthy rich or dirt poor. Anything in between, you're out of luck. The middle class hasn't thrived in Seattle in over 20 years.
Same story in California as well.
10000000% true and will continue to stay true. Even worse now
I drove a garbage truck in downtown about 2 years ago. Part of clearing out the alleys at night. It was an absolute nightmare! Needles EVERYWHERE! I quit when I realized I would get pricked eventually. Every driver told me they had been pricked several times. I have a fear of needles. Nope.
Police used to be tough in Seattle. Now, they are not allowed to be. Unfortunately, a major downtown needs rough cops on the beat. The last 10 years have dramatically worsened in Seattle.
Bruce Harrell Political party: Democratic. Get your facts and research straight. And yes Seattle is still screwed make no mistake.
Shock factor! Awareness!..Relatability. I have lived in many states and have taken notice to differences of atmosphere, lifestyles, physical layout and other factors in the same way that you describe the city here. I just discovered your channel and must say, I am impressed at how spot-on your description is of current Seattle, including some of the more difficult-to-hear-but-true-to-life statements. I found it rather amusing in a wholesome way. I look forward to watching your other videos on other places and comparisons of living in them. I am a fan of traveling and living in different cities in America because they all have unique ups and downs and its awesome to get to experience that first hand. Heres to your success in your endeavors with making and posting these such videos!
@TC Thats a hard question to answer being that the cities are different now than they used to be even 5 years ago. I loved the sunshine in Atlanta, found a lot to do in Dallas, and while living in Phoenix I got in great shape from the dry heat. I thought los Angeles was a bit much, as in there was so much city it was hard to find the hidden beauty. Ive always wanted to live in Portland. That city is drenched in underground culture and quite beautifuly green too. I cant decide on one favorite city but I can say I've always been a fan of seeing a sprawling metropolis on the horizon after much driving.
How many states have you lived in??
Ffs quit wasting your energy being so negative. Be grateful for what you do have. Billions around the world ache to have what you have. Focus on the full part of the glass, and you'll be much happier
I was downtown a few days ago walking around most the day and this video pretty much sums it up. It was for the most part the decent Seattle I know, but it was also apparent that there are major problems. Westlake Park is quite the place to go if you need a reminder why not to do crack.
Funny it looks pretty tame and clean compared to most of LA, San Fran, NYC and several other cities now. I lived in Seattle in the 90's and it was really pretty nice then, kinda boring, You have to be bred there to handle the lack of sunlight though ;-)
What did they expect to happen after years and years of people paying 4k-6k monthly for rent, that was un-sustainable even if the pandemic had never occurred.
Putting people out of their homes for greed can never be a sustainable situation
A majority of the homeless aren’t even from here, so that trope that it’s the rent and affordable housing thing is mostly BS. I’ve volunteered at shelters for the last couple years and most I talk to are from other cities and came to the area because it’s a damn good place to be homeless. There is no one reason why the homeless issues are what they are. Read Sanfran Sicko by Michael Shellenberger
This video made Seattle look pretty amazing. Lol. I was there a few days ago traveling all over the area and it really wasn't too bad. And I wouldn't say to visit Vashon over Seattle. That's just ridiculous. But I would agree that some cleanup is definitely in order.
Richard has great ideas! These people should be taken care of even if it is a mandatory placement. Use something like Job Corp as a model. They can learn the skills and have the support to relaunch their lives by the time they are done with the program.
What are you going to do with the people who do not want to get cleaned up? People who basically want to stay high or "live free" and don't care much about anything else?
@@dodieodie498 jail
Hard truth: most of these peeps are druggies/alcholics who dont’ wish to change their lifestyle. No cheaper housing, assistance, or job skills can help them. Hard truth
so simple except a: some cant b: the other ones have no desire to get sober or work
You are right there are those that don’t want help. They get an option, jail time or treatment. The ones who suffer from severe mental illness will have no choice but to go into treatment because they are not capable of making a choice.
I've lived here quite a few times, never for longer than 18 months. It began for me and a kid in 1955, so seen much change over the decades.
With the pandemic, my brother was told he could work remotely. He and his wife moved away, and he cancelled the Seattle Times as he doesn't even want to follow Seattle anymore. I'm nearing retirement, and I also will be out of here. I don't see Seattle fixing this mess, and I don't want to live with it around me.
“Wealth should be created by investing to create more wealth. Income is the fruit of wealth. If you do not do that, you will not have more income.”
@Casino Şimşek Sounds like plan, how do you put money to work?
Am hoping on you can explain more on how you make extra income from investments
Anyone who is not investing now is missing a tremendous opportunity.
I think you should consider being a UA-camr and have your own channel. You share some good tips for strategic investments.
I'm keen on trying this out. Thank you all for the information
Nick, love your channel. I'm from Seattle & agree with most of your commentary except 3:31 where you say "mentally people wandering around" as though it is these people's fault that they're mentally unwell.
To a varying degree, each and every one of us struggles with one mental illness or another. Unfortunately, those on the streets aren't addressing or have the knowhow to address these issues. With awareness and a platform like yours, it's important to destigmatize mental illness and not portray is as a shameful disease. This will encourage those suffering from it to feel ok to seek treatment subsequently becoming self sufficient and off the streets.
I truly believe mental illness is the root of this situation, predominantly, of course, there are freeloaders regardless and enablers around. But let's get people addressing mental health especially policy makers, in order topurge a lot of the misfortunes on our streets.
Also I believe the mayor is a Democrat. I truly feel sad what Seattle has become, it is scary out there especially for a mom with kids.
that's fair i guess.
Agreed. Mental illness needs to be seen as a human problem as it can affect anyone. No one was born terrible, they experienced terrible and is a projection of their lives like how Richard said
This gives "Sleepless in Seattle" a whole new meaning...
Pretty good 😅
"Touché"
My husband is currently in Seattle. It's his first time there. His first observation was all the homeless.
I visited Seattle 10 years ago. It was great. I moved to Seattle 3 1/2 years ago. It was still great, aside from a few homeless people here and there. It seems to have REALLY gone to crap during Covid. I live in Kent now, hoping that doesn't completely go to crap too. Talk about becoming a gentrified hellscape...
Someone should start paying attention to quality of life in PNW...This part of the country is so beautiful but it is becoming impossible to feel safe and enjoy life there...so sad :( (Portland, Seattle, Vancouver - same thing)
Seattle was awesome when they filmed War Games there. It was still being mismanaged even back then. It just wasn’t as bad as it is now. 😎
Hundreds of millions for homeless but no money for lifeguards at the public beaches so they are closed in the summer
i used to visit Seattle quite often being that I live 3 hours away, and in 2017 or 18 I did the underground tour which was cool but fast forward to 2021 I went up there again and that whole area where you do the underground tour was filled with tents. Then you got Auroa Ave, OMG hookers everywhere. Its crazy how fast the tents went up in downtown
When the righteous increase, the people rejoice,
But when a wicked man rules, people groan.
Proverbs 29:2
Visited Seattle for the first time last month and I thought it was a beautiful city. It definitely had some problems but I feel as if they've been way overexaggerated - I was expecting much worse. Maybe it's because I came from southern california so I'm used to some of the problems already but for the most part downtown was not bad (except at night where it did not feel safe walking alone)
I live downtown currently, and grew up in the area. It's a beautiful city full of bright people, even to this day with our problems. Yes the issues are frustrating, but when people see videos like this, they think the absolute worst. "Seattle is dying" documentary and Fox New's fake dramatization of CHAZ certainly didn't help.
Over exaggerated? Businesses are closing up because it's too dangerous to do business in downtown Seattle and they don't want the liability for their employees, it's not an exaggeration it's an armpit.
Yeah after living in LA and the Valley, I’m like “where’s the problem “?
Not overexagerated, I have family living near downtown and they don’t go there at all anymore. We used to go downtown for lunch 6-7 years ago but not anymore. Many places shuttered down now.
Nick, I enjoy your podcast and your guest today was great. He talked about the problems without judgement but is yearning for solutions. I did something similar here in Austin on my lunch break 3 years ago. I video taped zombies 🧟♀️ walking in the streets and people splayed out fully clothed in the middle of the day on our sidewalks. Obviously hung over or dying from drug use, but if when I pointed it out some people called me a Nazi. They would rather ignore the problems and bury their heads in the sand until they are on the streets themselves. I don’t believe it has anything to do with political parties and voting for any of the swamp creatures that occupy Washington. They are all corrupt and all culpable. We need a completely new government with term limits.
I lived in Seattle from 1986 to 2007. I once loved the city and thought I would never leave. It breaks my heart to see the corruption and darkness that has engulfed the city. I'm not surprised though. It's karmic for how the Seattle founders treated the Indigenous people. The vibe in Seattle is GREED.
Patricia, historically of all the negative impulses in the structure of humanity, gross selfishness and greed are said to be the worst, the most harmful and most injurious. I did a study on that subject. That was what it concluded. Indifference is another harmful impulse.
Okay one has nothing to do with the other native Americans on this side of America were desendants or smaller tribes of the Aztec empire which was a very violent civilization they participated in human sacrifice and canabalizm so even if the British army and the Spanish conquers were peaceful it probably still would of ended in blood she'd and homelessness isn't karma it has to do with how expensive the community is like housing prices and living expenses like food electric and water prices just keep going up affecting the third class population the poorest class and putting a bigger gap between the second class and first class the drugs are just a distraction from the fact that it's aiding in the homelessness problem America is having a huge drug problem due to Mexican cartels selling pure Crack again making the rise in drugs increases at a steep level
WOW!!! Looks like paradise, thanks for the info. I'm packing my tent up and go to Seattle. WAY TO GO BOYS !!!
All this has leaked down to Everett also.
I moved to Seattle area in 08 and both Seattle and Everett are now unrecognizable and seriously dangerous. Drugs, crime & homelessness are terrible.
It's like Zombie land here.
My family and I are moving back to WI in September. We've had enough.
Leaked *up to Everett, I think you mean ;)
Up to Everett, and Everett has been a cesspool for as long as I can remember, and I was born in the Reagan era
I saw Washington State and Seattle for the first time in 2008. I have traveled this country extensively and It was the most beautiful place, and specifically, the CLEANEST major city I’ve ever seen. I was obsessed with moving there & did…cross-country…in 2010. In May 2021, I felt “forced” to leave this place that I felt is my “heart home”. I am a political centrist, and a medical professional…I felt politically persecuted & unable to work due to overwhelming lockdown regulations that, ironically, kept me from working.
I wasn’t aware that a Republican had won the city back. He will have a LOT of work to do and a lot of crazy Marxist/Anarchist values to overcome. I hope they are successful because I would move back in a heartbeat.
Nope, no conservative won as mayor.
@@protonneutron9046 thanks….just going by what was said in the video. Seems the new mayor is, indeed, a democrat. Let’s hope he’s a Kennedy Democrat and not a Hugo Chavez one.
@@KarynLTapleyMDMBA There are no more Kennedy Dems. They all run on the Repub ticket now. If Kennedy were a pol today the Dem party would hang him.
@@garyjones3142 you are incorrect.
@@garyjones3142 I don't think so. Many decades ago I could have described Portland in a similar good light. Back then (before Kalifornian's invaded it) it was mostly Repub. Leftists destroy what they touch.
I'm here now. I just wish there were more benches so my legs won't hurt walking to Target. Downtown Seattle isn't ADA easy.
More to the point, can Nick Johnson's channel be saved? Its been garbage for a long time now.
Where is your youtube channel? That's what I thought
About Seattle being a pretty City...To be honest my personal opinion is that I don't see anything pretty in a place that is dark grey and rainy most of the year. Sorry but that is my take after living in Seattle for more than 10 years.
I'm so tired of people over exaggerating what Seattle looks like, whether for political talking points or other. I live in Dallas and have travelled to the majority of major cities in the US and Seattle is on the nicer side. Every southern major city is worse, and when I was consulting in the midwest it is frequent to have "tweekers" walking around in the rural and suburban areas especially at night. In the south and midwest the drug issue is so bad you can't buy over-the-counter allergy medicine without a doctors note. The only difference is the drug people live in the woods more often in the south and midwest.
Worse since this video. Three days ago I drove down from north on I-5 into Seattle. Even one month ago the tents along the freeway were increasing.
The jay-walkers, crazy tweakers jumping out from sidewalks, the crazies all around the hospitals, and the huge presence of encampments was really overwhelming. Arrived in the mid-60's, and bailed out in 2013. Loved this city, saddened and full of despair now.
I used to live in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Used to be a very nice and fairly safe city with a nice/growing arts scene.
Well before the George Floyd incident (RIP) it was deteriorating. After the riots, deterioration truly set in. No rebuilding to speak of ... carjackings and random assaults all the time. Now it's called Murderapolis. Sad to see the deterioration of the US and our cities. The buck stops nowhere.
Really? Went there around 2007 to U of M to visit my sister and was a delight walking around downtown.
sadly i still live here and understand where you’re coming from, it’s really sad to see. i don’t feel safe at all whenever i’m headed to concert venues and i definitely do not feel safe walking at night. 😪 i’ve been looking up places in washington to live but it seems it’s not any better 🥲
This is what "downtown everywhere" looks like these days. Conservative and liberal States. You seem to lean on liberal urban areas in a politically charged criticism, but this is going on everywhere. The wealth gap between the rich and the rest of us is huge and disgusting. This video should be titled 'can everywhere be saved?"
This guy is such a hypocrite. He will say whatever to push is agenda. The fact is cities in red and blue states have the same issues and no clear solutions.
Seattle has lost dozens of retail outlets because of the theft and crime. Macy’s, H&M, GameStop, FOASwartz and more. There are numerous empty spots now as well. These last three years it’s degrading more and more. I live in downtown Seattle
gamestop is going out everywhere, and retailers are hard pressed with online shopping being so common now.
That being said, the mom n' pops are having an even harder time. Go to Chinatown, the BLM and CHAZ assholes ransacked the place lie the Goths and Vandals of old - all the windows are smashed and once beautiful buildings covered in graffiti. Even a few years later and it hasn't recovered.
I went to Seattle in 2001 for my 21st birthday. I loved the Seattle scene music. I think I met Mark Arm in the Crocodile Cafe. Was a cool place (am from London). I like to check in on Seattle now and again. Would have loved to have experienced 89 - 94 years. Thanks for the vid.
it's an unrecognizable techie playground with absolutely zero soul anymore. they literally tried to tear down the showbox market (legendary venue) for apartments. nothing is sacred here.
I just moved here cant say I love Seattle its a bit scary, no eye contact except for men, ppl are always on edge and they are quiet unless they are upset and they have loud outbursts in stores. I'm from Atlanta I love ATL and the ppl arent uptight so this is a culture shock for me.
You may be experiencing the "Seattle freeze". That's a real thing.
@@crimaridia1521 🤣🤣🤣
The PNW have some of the coldest people I've ever met. Makes me proud to be from Michigan where we all tried to care for each other.
@@rsohlich1 I lived in Woodhaven, MI for a travel job and I was impressed with the Detriot area. The ppl are a bit boisterous but funny and smart. For the midwest being so cold and dark in winter, the ppl were normal.
I've noticed that in Seattle too, people are quiet, except for the visitors, happy and smiling and talkative
Wow, im in Australia & have been waiting for travel to be safe again (covid) as ive been putting my dream holiday together which is Washington state & especially Seattle. Ive always wanted to go there since the 90s. Now im kinda freaking out after watching this & reading some of the comments
Go to San Diego instead. My hometown.
@@wingedassassins San Diego does look pretty awesome
@@nokateno Thanx for that, I definitely have a fascination with the 90s and Seattle. Is it still worth having a look at places like Moore Theatre, Crocodile Cafe etc..?
Go anyways judge for yourself
A couple decades ago, I was presented with a job offer at Boeing in Seattle. I thank my lucky stars I found a better opportunity in a better place before accepting the Boeing offer.
The whole left coast is dying. It's a self-inflicted injury. Elections have consequences.
It wasn't that bad 20 years ago you would have had a good run at it
@@NickJohnson The job looked good, but I just couldn't take the persistent gloomy weather. I grew up in northern Europe, where in the dead of winter the sunrise was at 8:15AM and sunset at 3PM. Not a ray of sunshine from November until March. No, thank you. I've had my fill of gray days, and then some! 😅
@@midcenturymodern9330 That’s on another level
Grew up in Seattle for the first 11 years of my life. Still have family live there. Would never go back and live there because of how bad things have got
Born and raised 65 years. Worked in the heart of downtown for 38 years. People shooting up at my bus stop at 3pm. We keep re-electing our liberal city council. Think it will get better? Used to be proud. Now I'm ashamed.. and scared to go out. Nicely done, thanks!
I have lived in Seattle the majority of my life. Aside from Living in SF for 5 years, the SE US for a year and my college years I have called Seattle my home. First of all, I want to commend you for visiting the city. Listening to your video it seems as if the majority of news you consume is probably right leaning? I have friends from other parts of the country who are Fox News regulars that also think Seattle is turning into a hellhole with no law and that the lunatics are running the streets, which I always found entertaining in that they were more willing to trust their news source than a person who actually lives in the city. I hope that your visit was a bit of an eye opener as to how the media does it's best to manipulate their viewers and further embolden their agenda and in turn create a larger divide between the political parties? As you stated many times in the video, it wasn't nearly as bad as you expected.
As far as your content goes, I definitely agree that the homeless issue has gotten much worse in the past 10 years and was exacerbated further with the pandemic. You stated at one point in your video that you attributed the issue to mental illness and drug abuse and didn't believe it was due to housing, that is very much incorrect. Seattle is built on an isthmus which means there is very little available land and most of it's neighborhoods are zoned as residential which means you cannot tear down homes to build multi family residential units. On top of that Seattle has been the fastest growing major city in the US for the past decade and a lot of that growth comes from people moving here to take well paying tech jobs and in turn have a lot of expendable income for housing. Economics 101, what happens when you have limited supply of something and many people with the means to purchase that supply?
Housing has been driven to unsustainable levels, we bought our home in 2015 and we have seen it's value increase 2.5 fold in the seven years we have owned it! My friends who rent have seen 30% increases in some cases in their rent in a single year! So what do you think that does to a person working a blue collar job or for the people who don't have good paying jobs? You guessed it, they either have to move or their out on the streets.
The solution is not a simple one because there is so many factors at play but some of the issues with affordable housing can be pointed at its liberal citizens. Everyone wants to fix the homelessness issue in the city until it impacts the area they live in. People who spend millions on homes don't want their neighborhoods rezoned for multi family residences because it takes away from the neighborhood feel and lowers their houses market value. Some local companies have stepped up to build low income housing but it's a drop in the bucket compared to what is needed. The drug use in more of a by product of the increase in homelessness. Think about it, you get out on the streets, you are feeling down on yourself so you look to drugs as an escape. lt's not a surprise that Fentanyl use has taken off in the area with the skyrocketing homelessness that has occurred in the past two years with the pandemic. Unfortunately, that drug dependence is only going to further cement the issues going on with my city.
With all due respect, a Republican Mayor isn't going to do anything to correct the underlying problem. If the city of Seattle wants to correct the issue they are going to have to put more weight into their ideals than they do in their personal comfort and their own financial security which is unlikely to happen. The issue isn't a liberal problem, it's a wealth divide problem. Most people want to be contributing members of society, but when they feel as if all hope has been lost, they give up on themselves.
Some of what you said is not true
@@NickJohnson which parts do you think are not true?
I am a liberal goth and Seattle is turning into a lawless hellhole please don't delude yourself otherwise. I don't need fox news to tell me what I can see with my eyeballs lol
@@NickJohnson And they are clearly stating that some of what you said is also not true.
Didn't Capitol Hill, one of my favorite places in my youth and I worked there for 16 years become the "chop zone"? We have cleaned up Seattle before and not putting up with homelessness and lawlessness is the answer period. The police need not to be defunded, the RVs etc need to be towed. And people need to go to shelters.
They are available! They just don't want to go into them. Because you can't use drugs in them. It's unacceptable. The wonderful culture in Seattle has been ruined because of the shitty leadership in Seattle and in Washington. You can't continue to allow these people to ruin the city. No excuses anymore.
i live just north of Seattle and work for a major employer in Washington, i am going to be leaving. Homeless camps, shootings, drugs, and outpriced living is making it impossible.
Im going to put my 2 cents here. I moved from a small town about an hours drive from pittsburgh, to Monroe WA in hope of getting a mechanic job. I often frequently visit Seattle, or used to as when I moved it was in 2014. That all turned about at the start of the Pandemic. I started to feel uneasy parking my truck downtown, and walking downtown. I often do not carry a pistol. I keep it in the truck. However, with how bad Seattle has gotten, especially with the camps. I feel the need to carry a gun. Now I understand, not every homeless person is dangreous. As I was homeless in Denver, that was due to low credit. However, with all the camps it just makes me feel unsafe, as thats where the drugs and most of the violence happen. Seattle could change, but Ill doubt it, seeing it in my life time. On a final note. Seattle subtly changes when you revist, it never feels like it did last time. Something is new for better or worse.
The problem is that some of the homeless in Seattle have genuine mental issues like schizophrenia. Seattle does not make any attempt to process these individuals, so even when they attack somebody, they are often just turned right back on the street in 12 hours. The libtards call this “restorative justice”. Aka if they aren’t white, they don’t get prosecuted. If you ask me, the entire city council should be committed to an institution.
Can you walk around without having a gun is it safe?
@@farzandalikhan5933 You can. I just like having mine on me, just for that extra safety.
@@themidnightracer9937 thanks for answering I hope its not that bad I live in northern Pakistan.. And my wife moved from LA to seattle so I'll be moving to seattle in near future.
Tell me you don't live in Seattle without telling me you don't live in Seattle. I took an awful lot of driving to find those tents eh? I loved the part where you talked about how dangerous downtown is but how you weren't scared. Thanks for the attempt at journalism.
Yeah because it’s only the tents that make it shitty. Was just there last week. Used to live there a decade ago. Stop kidding yourself, the city sucks now
My 63 yr old brother has completely changed after living in Seattle for 30 years. He is so angry inside and will not talk to family anymore!! I don’t recognize him!!
Typical of people in Seattle...kind of a mental illness