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News & ArtsThursday, April 7, 2011
City City Issues Permit for Controversial Mental Health Center in Jackson Place
Posted by Cienna Madrid on Thu, Apr 7, 2011 at 11:06 AM
For three months, a small, vocal, frothy group of Jackson Place residents have fought a proposal to open a mental health crisis center in their neighborhood, arguing that the facility would operate more like a prison than a hospital, and thus shouldn't be allowed in the area under current land use regulations.
After weighing the issue for three months, the Department of Planning Development disagreed with opponents. Yesterday, the Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) was finally granted a city permit to build a Crisis Solutions Center in the neighborhood.
"It was an arduous process but we got it," says Bill Hobson, director of the DESC. The diversion center will provide police and medical responders a place to can take non-violent people who appear to be suffering from mental illness, or emotional or substance abuse problems, in lieu of jail or a hospital stay.
"The county is resolute about getting this project operational," says Bill Hobson, the director of DESC, who notes that last year, 2,930 people were admitted to King County jails for psychiatric reasons. "The DESC is resolute. The sooner, the better."
Opponents of the project—calling themselves the Jackson Place Alliance for Equity (JPAE)—now have 24 days to file a lawsuit against the project in King County Superior Court. The group's lawyer, Peter Eglick, hasn't yet returned calls for comment, but DESC director Bill Hobson is confident this fight's far from over.
"There's absolutely no doubt in my mind that a lawsuit will be filed—probably on day 24," says Hobson. "Their whole strategy is to delay, delay, delay—they're trying to dampen enthusiasm or derail our capital funding."
Last night, the DESC began drafting a Good Neighbor Agreement with open-minded Jackson Place residents who have concerns about the project but ultimately recognize it's value. JPAE members have refused to participate in the process.
If by some miracle of a blue moon the group doesn't file a suit, Hobson says that the center could be up and running in four to five months. The voluntary facility will have 46 available beds—16 reserved for short term patients (24 to 72 hours) and another 30 for people who require more intensive two-week stabilization and referrals for shelter, housing, and further treatment. A mobile crisis outreach team will also work with first responders and transport clients to housing appointments as well as drug and mental health treatment programs (more info here).
2
Can't tell if #1 is being sarcastic or earnest, and whether s/he is a resident or someone from "a few minutes to the north" who knows what's best for CD.
As a long time resident, I'm so glad I ditched that neighborhood, partly due to shit like this.
As a long time resident, I'm so glad I ditched that neighborhood, partly due to shit like this.
3
As stated by Bill Hobson "Their whole strategy is to delay, delay, delay—they're trying to dampen enthusiasm or derail our capital funding." Really? It's unfortunate that Mr. Hobson would make comments of this nature. The JPAE has never tried to dampen the enthusiasm for the Crisis Center - in fact, JPAE has publicly supported the need for this type of program in King County. JPAE and Jackson Place Community residents have expressed concerns and asked questions about the siting of this type of facility on S Lane Street, a residential neighborhood in the Central area of Seattle.
In Nov. 2009 JPAE obtained a lengthy police report from the Seattle Police Department that lists all of the events that required police assistance at four of DESC's supportive housing locations for a 90-day period (The Union, The Morrison, Lyon Building and 1811 Eastlake). The reports state there were 208 criminal acts that required police assistance during this 90-day period and 16 of these events resulted in arrest. The offenses ranged from noise and detox to rape and assault.
If DESC's supportive housing locations have a history of requiring police assistance - 208 criminal acts during a 90-day period - where individuals are free to leave at will, wouldn't it be cause for concern that the Crisis Solutions Center would also require the same level of police assistance for similar criminal activity?
How do you explain to a 7 year old that it's no longer safe to play outside because John Doe has decided he doesn't want to participate in the Crisis Center program, has left at his own free will and is now roaming the neighborhood? What if John Doe becomes combative and assaults someone? Is DESC going to ensure the safety of residents living in the Jackson Place Community? No, they would rather say we're trying to dampen enthusiasm or derail capital funding.
More...
In Nov. 2009 JPAE obtained a lengthy police report from the Seattle Police Department that lists all of the events that required police assistance at four of DESC's supportive housing locations for a 90-day period (The Union, The Morrison, Lyon Building and 1811 Eastlake). The reports state there were 208 criminal acts that required police assistance during this 90-day period and 16 of these events resulted in arrest. The offenses ranged from noise and detox to rape and assault.
If DESC's supportive housing locations have a history of requiring police assistance - 208 criminal acts during a 90-day period - where individuals are free to leave at will, wouldn't it be cause for concern that the Crisis Solutions Center would also require the same level of police assistance for similar criminal activity?
How do you explain to a 7 year old that it's no longer safe to play outside because John Doe has decided he doesn't want to participate in the Crisis Center program, has left at his own free will and is now roaming the neighborhood? What if John Doe becomes combative and assaults someone? Is DESC going to ensure the safety of residents living in the Jackson Place Community? No, they would rather say we're trying to dampen enthusiasm or derail capital funding.
4
maybe if LivingInSeattle came to the Good Neighbor meetings, they could raise these questions and find out the answers to them.
Nah, better to just interact via comment threads...
Nah, better to just interact via comment threads...
5
@#2: I don't know if Gloomy Gus is being sarcastic or not but I am a long time resident of the area and I am earnestly saying this is a good thing. I am glad that the DPD did not cave to a bunch of zealots who continue to try and change their argument and find loopholes to support their arguments in land codes. If they really did their zoning homework they would have known they do not live in a quiet residential area, they live on the very outskirts of a neighborhood that has residential, commercial, and industrial zoning all within a block.
@LivinginSeattle AKA Kristin (member of JPAE and until recently the person you would be making a donation to if you gave $ to this organization):
Why don't you post these comments using your actual name? It looks like Mr. Hobson is calling it like he sees it, just like you have continued to redundantly do.
The whole concept of pursuing this from a zoning angle came about on the Central District News when you guys found out the project was proposed. And the suggestion of delaying the process just to make it difficult has come up several times, so don't pretend that he is off base by saying that.
Actually the JPAE has repeatedly tried to dampen enthusiasm for the project every step of the way and you have personally been active in doing just that. So it is quite disingenuous for you to act like you are not trying to dampen enthusiasm.
And your loaded question about other DESC facilities needing police assistance is just that, a loaded question. You are aware that there is no other DESC facility like the one being proposed and comparing their transitional housing and long term housing programs to the CSC is completely an apples and oranges comparison. But it spreads misconceptions and fear, which is something you have been dedicated to since you found out about this.
As for the 7 year old, please explain to him/her that John Doe already has free will and roams all around your area and does not have a crisis center available to him. Then explain to yourself that you may actually be safer with such a service provided. Well, actually, skip the last step because I think that is asking WAY too much from you. Maybe just try to keep your overactive paranoid stereotypes to yourself and stop stressing out the 7 year olds.
More...
@LivinginSeattle AKA Kristin (member of JPAE and until recently the person you would be making a donation to if you gave $ to this organization):
Why don't you post these comments using your actual name? It looks like Mr. Hobson is calling it like he sees it, just like you have continued to redundantly do.
The whole concept of pursuing this from a zoning angle came about on the Central District News when you guys found out the project was proposed. And the suggestion of delaying the process just to make it difficult has come up several times, so don't pretend that he is off base by saying that.
Actually the JPAE has repeatedly tried to dampen enthusiasm for the project every step of the way and you have personally been active in doing just that. So it is quite disingenuous for you to act like you are not trying to dampen enthusiasm.
And your loaded question about other DESC facilities needing police assistance is just that, a loaded question. You are aware that there is no other DESC facility like the one being proposed and comparing their transitional housing and long term housing programs to the CSC is completely an apples and oranges comparison. But it spreads misconceptions and fear, which is something you have been dedicated to since you found out about this.
As for the 7 year old, please explain to him/her that John Doe already has free will and roams all around your area and does not have a crisis center available to him. Then explain to yourself that you may actually be safer with such a service provided. Well, actually, skip the last step because I think that is asking WAY too much from you. Maybe just try to keep your overactive paranoid stereotypes to yourself and stop stressing out the 7 year olds.
6
@south downtown - perhaps you should visit the JPAE website www.jpae.org to get the full story. It all comes down to dollars and cents for DESC and King County. A Good Neighbor Agreement isn't legally binding and won't hold up in court. Everyone involved and affected by this project should do due diligence and research the impact of DESCs other facilities - good and bad - on the surrounding neighbors, residents and business owners. DESC can say what ever they want, the truth lies in the details of what's already taken place.
7
DESC's other projects are not the same as this project. It's nonsensical and illogical (and intentionally inflammatory) to compare crime stats from those locations to what could occur at this location. None of those locations are crisis intervention centers; they have neither the same staffing, the same rules, nor the same purpose.
And I live one block away from the proposed location and am just fine with it.
And I live one block away from the proposed location and am just fine with it.
8
Everyone has someone in their family who is a bit brittle and sometimes acts out in public. Would you prefer that family member go to jail, or be taken somewhere they could be helped? Again, this isn't some crazy stranger, this is YOUR crazy person. Where do you want them to go?
9
@#2: I don't know if Gloomy Gus is being sarcastic or not but I am a long time resident of the area and I am earnestly saying this is a good thing. I am glad that the DPD did not cave to a bunch of zealots who continue to try and change their argument and find loopholes to support their arguments in land codes. If they really did their zoning homework they would have known they do not live in a quiet residential area, they live on the very outskirts of a neighborhood that has residential, commercial, and industrial zoning all within a block.
@LivinginSeattle AKA Kristin (member of JPAE and until recently the person you would be making a donation to if you gave $ to this organization):
Why don't you post these comments using your actual name? It looks like Mr. Hobson is calling it like he sees it, just like you have continued to redundantly do.
The whole concept of pursuing this from a zoning angle came about on the Central District News when you guys found out the project was proposed. And the suggestion of delaying the process just to make it difficult has come up several times, so don't pretend that he is off base by saying that.
Actually the JPAE has repeatedly tried to dampen enthusiasm for the project every step of the way and you have personally been active in doing just that. So it is quite disingenuous for you to act like you are not trying to dampen enthusiasm.
And your loaded question about other DESC facilities needing police assistance is just that, a loaded question. You are aware that there is no other DESC facility like the one being proposed and comparing their transitional housing and long term housing programs to the CSC is completely an apples and oranges comparison. But it spreads misconceptions and fear, which is something you have been dedicated to since you found out about this.
As for the 7 year old, please explain to him/her that John Doe already has free will and roams all around your area and does not have a crisis center available to him. Then explain to yourself that you may actually be safer with such a service provided. Well, actually, skip the last step because I think that is asking WAY too much from you. Maybe just try to keep your overactive paranoid stereotypes to yourself and stop stressing out the 7 year olds.
More...
@LivinginSeattle AKA Kristin (member of JPAE and until recently the person you would be making a donation to if you gave $ to this organization):
Why don't you post these comments using your actual name? It looks like Mr. Hobson is calling it like he sees it, just like you have continued to redundantly do.
The whole concept of pursuing this from a zoning angle came about on the Central District News when you guys found out the project was proposed. And the suggestion of delaying the process just to make it difficult has come up several times, so don't pretend that he is off base by saying that.
Actually the JPAE has repeatedly tried to dampen enthusiasm for the project every step of the way and you have personally been active in doing just that. So it is quite disingenuous for you to act like you are not trying to dampen enthusiasm.
And your loaded question about other DESC facilities needing police assistance is just that, a loaded question. You are aware that there is no other DESC facility like the one being proposed and comparing their transitional housing and long term housing programs to the CSC is completely an apples and oranges comparison. But it spreads misconceptions and fear, which is something you have been dedicated to since you found out about this.
As for the 7 year old, please explain to him/her that John Doe already has free will and roams all around your area and does not have a crisis center available to him. Then explain to yourself that you may actually be safer with such a service provided. Well, actually, skip the last step because I think that is asking WAY too much from you. Maybe just try to keep your overactive paranoid stereotypes to yourself and stop stressing out the 7 year olds.
10
Thank you City of Seattle Planners! You deserve a pat on the back - no joke.
And thank you DESC and Mr. Hobson! I sincerely hope you don't have to deal with more BS from JPAE.
Glad to see people standing up to "LivinginSeattle" AKA Kristin of JPAE!! She's clearly living in a little bubble and has somehow managed not to notice the individuals with mental health and addiction issues ALREADY roaming around the city. Rather than unnecessarily freaking out and projecting fear into your 7-year old, you might consider the learning opportunities here. Here's a few ideas for you: acceptance of others, the hardships of homelessness, treating people the way you want to be treated, what it means to be prejudice, etc.
And thank you DESC and Mr. Hobson! I sincerely hope you don't have to deal with more BS from JPAE.
Glad to see people standing up to "LivinginSeattle" AKA Kristin of JPAE!! She's clearly living in a little bubble and has somehow managed not to notice the individuals with mental health and addiction issues ALREADY roaming around the city. Rather than unnecessarily freaking out and projecting fear into your 7-year old, you might consider the learning opportunities here. Here's a few ideas for you: acceptance of others, the hardships of homelessness, treating people the way you want to be treated, what it means to be prejudice, etc.
11
I work in a law enforcement support position and so deal with clients of DESC daily. I have DESC's various addresses memorized, as do all my coworkers, as we read frequent police reports of assaults at and in front of DESC facilities, more than a few involving DESC staff, with the offenders eventually trespassed from DESC. There WILL be combative, addicted and mentally ill people acting out at this facility, and that behavior will spill in to the streets around the facility. This happens at EVERY DESC facility.
I think DESC is awesome. The work they do is quite desperately needed and the staff have some seriously thick skins and a lot of compassion. I just massively disagree that their services belong in anything resembling a residential area.
I think DESC is awesome. The work they do is quite desperately needed and the staff have some seriously thick skins and a lot of compassion. I just massively disagree that their services belong in anything resembling a residential area.
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