'COMPASSION SEATTLE'
CHARTER AMENDMENT MEASURE 29 (CA 29)
EXPERT PANEL DISCUSSION
Compassion Seattle, formed by select members of the local business and non-profit community, has proposed a ballot initiative (CA 29) to amend the City Charter. If ratified by voters, this amendment will mandate specific actions and policies related to encampments in public areas, provision for emergency or permanent housing, funding for human services, criminal justice diversion programs and other items.
Moderated by award-winning Seattle Times metro columnist Danny Westneat, four subject matter expert panelists representing diverse backgrounds and experience will present arguments both supporting AND opposing the initiative. In their respective posts at the Public Defender Association and the Downtown Seattle Association, Lisa Daugaard and Jon Scholes helped bring the amendment proposal to life. Through engagement in non-profit advocacy at Real Change, Tiffani McCoy has led efforts to challenge the ballot initiative both legally and in the court of public opinion. As a former Seattle City attorney, Mark Sidran has penned precise concerns about concepts and language in the amendment.
View registered attendees' 100+ submitted questions at the bottom of this page!
Want to share your thoughts with a larger audience? Email 200 words or less to the Seattle Times with the subject “Compassion Seattle.” Please include your full name, address and telephone number for verification.
PROPOSED CA 29 LANGUAGE
04/16/21 - (CHANGES COMPARED) <<<>>> 04/16/21 - REVISED <<<>>> 04/01/21 - ORIGINAL
City of Seattle Charter Amendment Measure 29 - ARTICLE IX - Revised - PRESENTATION.pdfESSENTIAL CONTENT
REGISTERED POLITICAL COMMITTEES: COMPASSION SEATTLE (PDC) | HOUSE OUR NEIGHBORS
COMPASSION SEATTLE CONTRIBUTOR LIST | HOUSE OUR NEIGHBORS CONTRIBUTORS
RELEVANT PANELIST OP-EDS
Lisa Daugaard | Jon Scholes | Tiffani McCoy | Mark Sidran
05/28/21 - We, the people, can compel action to solve Seattle’s homelessness crisis | Jon Scholes et. al via Seattle Times
07/07/19 - Seattle’s inconvenient truth on homelessness and spending | Jon Scholes via Seattle Times
04/01/18 - Housing the homeless: The case for an employee hours tax | Lisa Daugaard via Seattle Times
02/11/16 - 5 real fixes for homeless encampments | Lisa Daugaard via Crosscut
CA 29 COVERAGE & OP-EDS
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER - NOVEMBER
11/01/21 - How Compassion Seattle became dividing line between candidates following defeat in court | My Northwest
10/15/21 - True compassion not only says ‘yes,’ it also says ‘no’ | Seattle Times
09/06/21 - “Compassion Seattle” Is Dead. Now What? | Publicola
09/03/21 - Compassion Seattle homelessness measure will not appear on November ballot, state Court of Appeals | Seattle Times
AUGUST
08/31/21 - Supporters file appeal to get Compassion Seattle homeless measure back on ballot | My Northwest + Publicola
08/30/21 - What went wrong for Compassion Seattle’s homeless initiative, and what’s next? | My Northwest
08/27/21 - Judge strikes Seattle charter amendment on homelessness from November ballot | Seattle Times + My Northwest
08/23/21 - Compassion Seattle Fires Back as Charter Amendment Faces Second Lawsuit | The Urbanist
08/19/21 - As voters face ‘Compassion Seattle’ decision, ...report records most shelter referrals ever | Capitol Hill Seattle Blog
08/12/21 - Large donations to ‘Compassion Seattle’ homelessness initiative dwarf all other races in 2021 | MyNorthwest
08/11/21 - ACLU and advocates file lawsuit over ‘Compassion Seattle’ ballot initiative | Seattle Times
08/03/21 - ...November election lined up to be referendum on homelessness in the city | Capitol Hill Seattle Blog
JULY
07/29/21 - Concerns about “Compassion Seattle” | Compass Housing Alliance
07/28/21 - ‘Compassion Seattle’ homelessness initiative qualifies for November ballot | MyNorthwest + Seattle Times
07/13/21 - The C Is for Crank: Correcting the Record on Compassion Seattle | Publicola + All Publicola 'Compassion Seattle'
07/11/21 - Seattle’s mayoral candidates have plans for homelessness, but they’re staring at an uncertain future | Seattle Times
07/07/21 - Why ‘Compassion Seattle’ will do more harm than good for our unhoused neighbors | Solid Ground
07/06/21 - Cost Analysis of Proposed Charter Amendment 29 | Seattle City Council Central Staff
07/04/21 - Resolution to Oppose ‘Compassion Seattle' Charter Amendment 29 | 32nd District Democrats
07/02/21 - How do mayoral candidates intend to fix the homelessness crisis: Compassion Seattle or another plan? | Seattle Times EB
07/01/21 - Seattle homelessness proposal gathers enough signatures to make ballot | MyNorthwest
JUNE
06/30/21 - Echohawk's Evolving Stance on Compassion Seattle | The Stranger
06/28/21 - The Recall Sawant and Compassion Seattle Campaigns Have a Lot in Common | The Stranger
06/25/21 - Compassion Seattle Amendment Faces Scrutiny From Democratic Group and Homeless Advocates | Seattle Reports
06/24/21 - Letter re: City of Seattle Charter Amendment 29 Questions and Concerns | Seattle Human Services Coalition
06/24/21 - VIDEO: 'Compassion Seattle' CA 29 Expert Panel | Belltown United
06/20/21 - Homeless crisis continues in Seattle, across Pacific Northwest | World Socialist Web Site
06/19/21 - ‘They’re always from somewhere else:’ A Northwest town debates who owns its homelessness crisis | Seattle Times
06/18/21 - Why business backs the Compassion Seattle amendment for addressing homelessness | Seattle Times
06/17/21 - ...Compassion Seattle Plays Victim | Publicola
06/16/21 - Latest deaths at Seattle encampment have people saying city’s homelessness response needs to change | KIRO 7
06/16/21 - Don't be fooled by 'Compassion' Seattle | Real Change News
06/15/21 - Latest deaths at Seattle encampment have people saying city’s homelessness response needs to change | KIRO 7
06/12/21 - Follow Up on “Compassion Seattle” | Anthony B. Robinson
06/11/21 - Tim Burgess Explains the Compassion Seattle Amendment. Count me in | Post Alley
06/09/21 - ACLU of Washington decries 'Compassion Seattle' homeless charter amendment | Seattle P-I
06/09/21 - ACLU: ‘Compassion Seattle’ homelessness proposal ‘is neither compassionate nor effective’ - MyNorthwest
06/08/21 - Statement from the ACLU of Washington on proposed Seattle Charter Amendment 29 | ACLU Washington
06/07/21 - Compassion Seattle Predictions, Street Sink Challenges, ... | Publicola
06/06/21 - Amid city’s sweeps and a continuing crisis, Seattle mayoral candidates on homelessness... | Capitol Hill Seattle Blog
06/04/21 - Support Compassion Seattle’s push to mandate humane solutions to chronic homelessness | Seattle Times Editorial Board
06/02/21 - VIDEO: Compassion Seattle: Is this the path to solving homelessness? | GeekWire Civic Converstaions
MAY
05/28/21 - We, the people, can compel action to solve Seattle’s homelessness crisis | Seattle Times
05/28/21 - Homeless Advocates Launch Campaign Against ‘Compassion Seattle’ Charter Amendment | The Urbanist
05/28/21 - Campaign Fizz: Compassion Seattle Claims Endorsements It Doesn’t Have, Farrell Looks on the Bright Side | Publicola
05/27/21 - VIDEO: 'Compassion Seattle': Homeless charter amendment campaign now underway | KOMO News
05/26/21 - Seattle group gets approval to gather signatures for homelessness ballot initiative | MyNorthwest
05/25/21 - Compassion Seattle charter amendment gets tweak to ballot title, clearance to gather signatures | SCC Insight
05/25/21 - Seattle homelessness ballot initiative ‘Compassion Seattle’ will begin collecting signatures Thursday | Seattle Times
05/24/21 - An epic Charter Divide: Public Battle over Seattle Homelessness Proposal | Post Alley
05/24/21 - How Compassion Seattle could shape the mayoral race | Crosscut
05/21/21 - There Is No Compassion in Compassion Seattle's Proposed Charter Amendment | The Stranger
05/20/21 - Charter Amendment contains good surprises | Seattle Transit Blog
05/19/21 - Would Compassion Seattle lead to fewer tents or more? Nobody knows | Crosscut
05/14/21 - A charter amendment is not the way out of Seattle’s homelessness crisis | Seattle Times
05/11/21 - Mark Sidran on Compassion Seattle: It Makes Things Worse | Seattle for Growth
05/07/21 - Why we’re challenging “Compassion Seattle” | Transit Riders Union
05/07/21 - Homeless Advocates Challenge ‘Compassion Seattle’ Initiative | South Seattle Emerald
05/06/21 - Homeless Advocates Challenge Compassion Seattle Ballot Measure | Publicola
05/03/21 - Compassion Seattle Isn’t | Forbes
APRIL
04/29/21 - VIDEO: Compassion Seattle? | Seattle Channel City Inside/Out
04/29/21 - Compassion Seattle has a plan for a tent-free city. Does it hold up? | Crosscut
04/27/21 - Op-ed: How to Improve Compassion Seattle’s Charter Amendment | The Urbanist
04/23/21 - The Urbanist Case Against the Homelessness Charter Amendment | Publicola
04/18/21 - Finally: Bringing Factions Together to Solve Seattle’s Housing Problem? | Post Alley
04/16/21 - Statement on Compassion Seattle Charter Amendment | DESC
04/16/21 - Civic and Community Groups Update Charter Amendment | Compassion Seattle
04/15/21 - 'Compassion' amendment calls for accountability but do the numbers add up? | Downtown Residents Alliance Blog
04/13/21 - Morning Fizz: Downtown Business Cash Funds Homelessness Initiative... | Publicola
04/09/21 - Homelessness: Ballot-measure campaign | Seattle Times Letter to the Editor
04/06/21 - Homeless Advocates Find Red Flags in Proposed Charter Amendment | The Stranger
04/06/21 - Morning Fizz: “Unlikely Alliance” Narrative Falls Flat, City’s Hotel Shelters Aren’t ADA Accessible... | Publicola
04/05/21 - ‘Compassion Seattle’ proposal would provide housing, services ... | Capitol Hill Seattle Blog
04/05/21 - Unlikely alliance hopes to force Seattle to take compassionate action on homelessness | MyNorthwest
04/04/21 - Civic coalition wants to make Seattle’s homeless response part of the City Charter | Downtown Residents Alliance Blog
04/03/21 - Something just shifted in Seattle’s stuck homelessness debate | Seattle Times
04/01/21 - Seattle group pushes ballot measure to build housing for homeless, ban encampments in parks | KING 5
04/01/21 - New initiative could force Seattle to fund homeless housing and treatment, then clear encampments | KIRO 7
04/01/21 - Initiative seeks to force Seattle to fund homeless housing and then clear camps | GeekWire
04/01/21 - Proposed charter amendment writes plan for addressing homelessness | SCC Insight
OTHER RELEVANT MATERIAL
Homelessness: Publicola - Seattle Times | Project Homeless (Seattle Times)
Watch 5 Washington residents tell stories about homelessness in their own words
John Oliver's October 2021 Segment on Homelessness
2016
08/24/16 - An open letter to Mayor Murray and City Council on Seattle's Unsheltered Residents | South Seattle Emerald
09/05/16 - Limiting city’s ability to clear homeless camps is wrong solution | Seattle Times
09/06/16 - AN ORDINANCE relating to City responses to people who are homeless living on public property; setting standards and procedures for remedying unsafe conditions and protecting the rights and property of homeless individuals | Seattle City Council
09/07/16 - No homeless camping in Seattle parks, school grounds | Seattle Times Editorial Board
09/19/16 - Pro/con: What’s the right balance when dealing with homelessness? | Seattle Times
09/20/16 - Humane Treatment Needed in Helping Homeless Find Shelter | ACLU
09/22/16 - "A New Approach to Unsheltered Residents" Draft Situation Definitions | ACLU + Columbia Legal Services
2017, 2018, 2019
06/05/17 - Ghostwriter | The Blog Quixotic
02/07/18 - Meet Seattle’s Reformer-in-Chief, Lisa Daugaard | Publicola
11/25/19 - Seattle council wants to expand program that keeps low-level offenders out of jail, getting help they need | Seattle Times
12/01/19 - Homelessness in America: The Issues Forcing People in Seattle Onto the Street | CBS News
Martin v. City of Boise: The Homeless Quandry | SCC Insight | Harvard Law Review | Justia
2020
02/27/20 - Q&A with Lisa Daugaard, Lead Architect, LEAD Program, King County | Policy Research Associates
04/06/20 - Saving Washington: The case for doubling wages of frontline care workers | Crosscut
11/25/20 - New approach to sheltering homeless people during COVID-19 shows signs of success, but funding in peril | Seattle Times
2021
06/03/21 - A path out of the perpetual emergency of chronic homelessness | Seattle Times Editorial Board
06/06/21 - King County promised to end youth homelessness by June 2021. It didn’t. | Seattle Times
06/13/21 - Washington’s COVID-19 recovery hinges on addressing chronic homelessness | Seattle Times
06/22/21 - Fatal stabbing prompts proposed legislation to condemn Seattle’s City Hall Park | Seattle Times
06/23/21 - Lewis touts new report on JustCARE program… but maybe he shouldn’t. | SCC Insight
06/27/21 - See how Seattle’s homelessness crisis stacks up across the country and region | Seattle Times
06/29/21 - Seattle council approves density bonus for religious organizations that build affordable housing | Seattle Times
07/01/21 - Portland's new homeless ordinance won't fix problem, say critics | KATU2
07/02/21 - Seattle chamber appeals dismissal of lawsuit against city’s ‘JumpStart’ payroll tax | Seattle Times
07/14/21 - To predict who’s most likely to become homeless, look to South King County, researchers say | Seattle Times
07/16/21 - Seattle mayoral candidates lay out their plans to address city’s homeless crisis | MyNorthwest
07/22/21 - Can King County’s “Health Through Housing” Plan Make a Visible Dent in Homelessness? | Publicola
07/26/21 - A homeless encampment led Seattle to close a spray park... | Seattle Times
07/26/21 - Seattle struck a ‘grand bargain’ on housing. Now City Hall is reviewing the initial results | Seattle Times
07/26/21 - Seattle Needs to Redefine Affordability | The Stranger
07/26/21 - Regional Homelessness Director Marc Dones: “The Driver of Homelessness Is Economic.” | Publicola
07/30/21 - When we say ‘affordable housing,’ we mean one of America’s biggest dilemmas | Seattle Times
07/31/21 - King County has quickly bought 7 hotels for homeless people, but will it be enough? | Seattle Times
07/31/21 - Contentious Hearing Exposes Fault Lines in City and County Approaches to Homelessness | Publicola
08/19/21 - When a homeless encampment was cleared, no one went to a shelter. The reasons are complicated | Seattle Times
08/22/21 - Tension over visible homelessness has risen in Seattle — and the country | Seattle Times
08/24/21 - 57 people from one Seattle homeless encampment got hotel rooms ... 1/3 likely went back to the streets | Seattle Times
08/26/21 - As Seattle’s Homeless System Goes Regional, The Future of Tiny House Villages Is Uncertain | Publicola
08/30/21 - Formerly homeless ‘first time fliers’ signal gradual removal of North Seattle encampment | My Northwest
09/02/21 - Seattle mayoral candidate Bruce Harrell says homeless who refuse shelter should face consequences | KING 5
09/07/21 - Seattle homelessness nonprofits struggle to hire, complicating plans to expand shelters and housing | Seattle Times
10/26/21 - Homelessness authority has a vision for downtown Seattle recovery — but first they’re asking for $27M | Seattle Times
10/27/21 - King County unveils details of plan to house the unsheltered | KOMO News
11/08/21 - Here’s what the 2020 Census tells us about King County’s homeless population | Seattle Times
