成人X站

KTTH OPINION

Rantz: Seattle crime, homelessness crises just claimed two Goodwill stores

Aug 26, 2024, 2:15 PM | Updated: 2:27 pm

Image: A Goodwill store sign can be seen in Berkeley, California, on March 9, 2021....

A Goodwill store sign can be seen in Berkeley, California, on March 9, 2021. (File photo: Jeff Chiu, AP)

(File photo: Jeff Chiu, AP)

Two Goodwill locations in Seattle will close next month because of the city’s crime, homeless, and drug crises. This decision should surprise no one.

Derieontay Sparks, senior vice president at Evergreen Goodwill, announced the closures in a . She blames the “troubling rise in property damage, break-ins, and safety concerns for our employees” for the decision. She said that these “challenges,” combined with the rental costs, isn’t worth keeping them open.

Employees at the impacted locations in South Lake Union and University Place will be offered positions at other stores. That is, until they’re closed for the same reason.

More from Jason Rantz: After brutal dogwalker murder, will Seattle wake up to crime reality?

Who could have seen Seattle Goodwill stores closing? Literally anyone

The closures of the Seattle Goodwill stores is precisely what happens when a city allows itself to be overtaken by unchecked crime, homelessness, and the kind of progressive policies that barely sound good on paper but fail inevitably and catastrophically in reality.

Seattle has become a city where lawlessness thrives and businesses are taking the hit. Theft, vandalism and drug use are rampant. And who can forget the aggressive panhandlers and their potential for violence?

It’s precisely why stores like Nike, Lululemon, Fox’s Jewelry, and others have closed in recent months. It’s why a massive residential project in downtown Seattle has been put on indefinite pause. Is anyone here paying attention?

More from Jason Rantz: Developer pauses massive residential project over Seattle crime crisis

The community will suffer as a result

Goodwill is a nonprofit that’s done a lot of good, especially for those trying to get back on their feet. They provide jobs, training, and affordable goods to the community.

Yet, even this kind of organization can’t operate in an environment where safety is a luxury rather than a guarantee. When even Goodwill 鈥 a company known for its resilience 鈥 decides it can鈥檛 handle the chaos anymore, that’s a big, flashing warning sign that the city’s in deep trouble.

What’s particularly infuriating is that city leaders will certainly shrug this off. They’ll read their usual talking points about “addressing root causes” and pretend their plans (what plans?) are working, while ignoring the fact that their soft-on-crime policies are directly leading to these closures. How many businesses need to shut their doors before Seattle鈥檚 politicians wake up? Apparently, the threshold hasn’t been met yet.

These closures are not just a loss for those who depend on Goodwill for affordable shopping options (ironically, it’s the people who steal from them that could benefit the most from the organization) or job opportunities. They’re a loss for the entire community. Every shuttered store is a reminder that Seattle is failing to protect us.

Seattle’s doom loop

Goodwill’s departure from these Seattle neighborhoods will likely lead to more boarded-up windows, less vibrant streets, and even more crime connected to homelessness.

This Seattle doom loop will continue until Democrats in power have the guts to make real, bold changes. They must tackle this issue in a big way and with a sense of urgency. We shouldn’t hold our collective breath. While the Seattle City Council has become sane again, the mayor’s office is still too scared to make the necessary changes for fear it’ll upset the progressive base that fights to keep things as they are.

Until we get big action, the people of Seattle will continue to suffer the consequences of their leaders’ ineptitude.

So, here we are, watching as a nonprofit with a mission to help the community is forced out by the very problems it鈥檚 trying to alleviate. It’s tragic. The question is, how much more of this can Seattle take before it鈥檚 too late?

Listen to The Jason Rantz Show on weekday afternoons from 3-7 p.m. on KTTH 770 AM (HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3). Subscribe to the听podcast here. Follow Jason on 听听and听.

Jason Rantz on AM 770 KTTH
  • listen to jason rantzTune in to AM 770 KTTH weekdays at 3-7pm to The Jason Rantz Show.

Jason Rantz Show

KTTH Opinion

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: What is the right type of deodorant?

If the 鈥渉ealthy鈥 deodorant doesn鈥檛 work鈥 at all鈥 maybe we shouldn鈥檛 wear any at all? It鈥檚 a sweaty Double Shot. Listen to The Jason Rantz Show weekdays from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. on AM 770 KTTH or on-demand wherever you listen to podcast Listen to the Jake and Spike Show every weekday from 12pm […]

16 hours ago

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: Is the Seattle Police Department using AI?

A suspicious complaint against an SPD cop has people wondering if the city is using AI to find policy violations. Listen to The Jason Rantz Show weekdays from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. on AM 770 KTTH or on-demand wherever you listen to podcast

18 hours ago

This undated photo provided by Murray Osorio PLLC shows Kilmar Abrego Garcia. (Photo: Murray Osorio...

Jason Rantz

Rantz: Isn鈥檛 it weird how quickly Democrats abandoned Kilmar Abrego Garcia?

Suddenly, Democrats have stopped obsessing over Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Why? They told us democracy and due process are on the line!

19 hours ago

Washington Democrats expanded a racist housing reparations program that explicitly hands out zero-i...

Jason Rantz

Rantz: Washington Democrats expand racist housing reparations program based on skin color

Washington's expanded housing program offers loans based on skin color, raising concerns about fairness and discrimination.

1 day ago

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: Amazon with a not so Prime move

Amazon… had a bad day. And their idea to put a tariff tag on items? Beyond foolish. Enjoy a Double Shot鈽曗槙 Listen to The Jason Rantz Show weekdays from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. on AM 770 KTTH or on-demand wherever you listen to podcast Listen to the Jake and Spike Show every weekday from […]

2 days ago

Anecdotally, it seems there's more needle use as, perhaps, the fentanyl flow has slowed down. (Phot...

Jason Rantz

Rantz: First 100 days of Donald Trump has meant fewer drug overdoses in Seattle

Explore how Trump's policies impacted drug overdoses in Seattle amidst Biden's border challenges and fentanyl crisis.

3 days ago

Rantz: Seattle crime, homelessness crises just claimed two Goodwill stores