“Is there an actual plan to address and solve the homeless problem? If so, where is it? To those Burien residents campaigning for public office: what say you?” – Dr. Gould
The following Letter to the Editor was submitted by Dr. David Gould, a verified Burien resident.
[NOTE FROM EDITOR: Letters to the Editor do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Burien.News or Daniel Media. If you wish to submit a story, photo, article or letter, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.]
How about some pragmatism? Start with actual data, analyze it, and see where it goes. Stop with the ideologies and emotional arguments.
How much does it cost taxpayers for each homeless person per year? Some estimates found online vary from about $12,000 to about $40,000 per year. Maybe more. What does it cost in Burien? How much per person in DESC? On the street? Can we afford it? Could that money be put to better use?
What percentage of DESC “residents” are in treatment?
What percentage of DESC “residents” are “released” each year, month? How many DESC “residents” become contributing members of society each year, month? How many come back to DESC each year, month? How many die in DESC custody each year, month? How many police and fire department responses to DESC are made each year, month? What do these responses cost to Burien taxpayers? Are the taxpayers going to have to pay for some of the homeless for their expenses the rest of their life? And how much might this cost?
What about the homeless outside of DESC? Costs, numbers of homeless, where are they, …?
What are the direct and indirect costs to Burien businesses and residents? How much money, time, and effort is lost to theft? How much money, time, and effort is lost as residents avoid going to government agencies, libraries, grocery stores, bakeries, cafes, …. because they feel unsafe about walking by the homeless?
How much does it cost to pick up the trash, human waste, … on our city sidewalks and streets?
What are the near-term, mid-term, and long-term forecasts for reducing the homeless populations? How much money will this require?
Could monetary costs be reduced if the homeless were relocated elsewhere such as a rural or sparely populated area? If so, why not move them? Services are mobile.
Are all homeless people the same or could they be triaged and managed accordingly? Would some be ok in temporary housing? Some in treatment programs? Some in civil commitment?
Is there an actual plan to address and solve the homeless problem? If so, where is it?
Lots of questions, lots of emotions, lots of generalities, lots of claims, lots of whatever, but very little data is public and actionable.
To those Burien residents campaigning for public office: what say you?
To close these questions with this quote “To be an informed citizen means actively seeking reliable information, understanding the core functions of one’s government and civic processes, and using that knowledge to make reasoned decisions, participate in public discourse, and hold elected officials accountable.”
[NOTE FROM EDITOR: If you wish to submit a story, photo, article or letter, please contact us or email info@Burien.News. Even if you wish to remain anonymous, please include your name and phone number so we may contact you privately. We look forward to hearing from you.]
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