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The Kennydale Econo Lodge/Inn at Lake Washington is owned by REBLX Partners, and has been discussed as a possible homeless services site for Burien
Two days ago the Kennydale Neighborhood Association sent a letter to Burien leadership requesting that the City of Burien remove the Econo Lodge from consideration for relocation of their residents experiencing homelessness.
According to the B-Town blog, a Burien-based blog which provides in-depth city hall coverage, this letter was met with some confusion by at least one Burien council member:
“Why is it you think we are considering sending them to Renton?” Councilmember Stephanie Mora said to the KNA via email. “As far as I know there is only one property we are considering using that’s here in the city of Burien. Please help me understand what I might be missing.”
It’s commendable Councilmember Mora spoke up and asked this important question. The answer to Councilmember Mora’s question is that the City of Burien website displays an August 1st news release which (as of today) says:
False information is circulating throughout the community that accuses the Burien City Council of rejecting an offer of $1 million from King County for the purpose of establishing a site for temporary housing.
The Burien City Council did not reject the offer presented by King County; the offer is not contingent upon a vote of acceptance by the Burien City Council and remains available through the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA). The Burien City Council remains committed to exploring fully the issue of temporary housing for the unhoused community and directed the City Manager to investigate potential partnerships and sites in and outside the city of Burien.
City personnel have identified several potential sites, including a facility operated by REBLX, a partner agency of KCRHA. All sites remain under consideration until an exhaustive review has been completed by City personnel and shared with the City Council.
[Emphasis added; the REBLX site is the Kennydale Econo Lodge/Inn at Lake Washington]
The only subsequent news releases (as of today) on Burien’s website are concerning Planning Commission applications and Burien’s Welcoming Week.
Hence, anyone reading the news from Burien’s administration can reasonably assume that the REBLX/Econo Lodge site is still under consideration, and that information to the contrary is false Information (in the words of Burien’s City Manager’s Office.)
Kennydale residents will be relieved to hear that at least one Burien Council member is not considering the Renton Econo Lodge a viable solution, and Kennydale residents would be even more relieved if the Burien Administration superseded their August 1st statement with a new press release saying that the REBLX site is off the table.
While some Burien leaders may feel they have already clarified this, a KOMO news story last week implies Burien has not completed the “exhaustive review” to find shelter space that they called for in their news release.
Per KOMO on September 26: “What are the shelter options that we have? I think that’s the very crucial next step,” Mora explained.
Current screenshot from Burien’s official “News and Announcements” page
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[For additional background on this story, click here]
I’ve included the letter from KNA below:
Mayor Sofia Aragon and Burien City Council
400 SW 152nd Street
Burien, WA 98166
Dear Mayor Aragon and Councilmembers
The Kennydale Neighborhood Association opposes the plans the City of Burien is discussing for turning the EconoLodge/Inn at Lake Washington into a homeless housing facility.
Like all the communities in our region, the City of Renton is challenged with its own homeless population and has expended a lot of money and resources to address this issue in our community.
We request the City of Burien develop solutions to homelessness within its own boundaries.
The EconoLodge/Inn at Lake Washington REBLX property and its surrounding neighborhoods in Renton and Newcastle are not well suited for this purpose.
• There is no transit access to this property. The bus routes serving the area are accessed at Exit 6, one mile to the south along I-405. To walk or use a wheelchair get to that transit zone, one would either need to use the shoulder of I-405 or walk a mile and a half through the Kennydale neighborhood, traversing a very steep grade in the process.
• The area does not have any social service agencies or health facilities for the residents.
• There is no supermarket close by.
• The land is not zoned for an emergency shelter.
We have not heard of a plan on the part of the City of Burien to provide any oversight on the property, nor a plan to transition short-term residents to a more permanent housing solution.
We urge you to consider a more mindful and humane plan for Burien’s homeless population within your community. Renton’s police, fire/medical, and human services resources are strained enough already.
Kennydale Neighborhood Association Board of Directors
Mark S. Peterson, President
We must recognize a fundamental truth: homelessness is not a Renton issue but a Seattle and King County challenge that necessitates collective, cross-city solutions.
I firmly believe that we must unshackle the chains of hyper-localism and embrace a mindset of inclusive humanitarianism. Ryan McIrvin and Kim-Khanh Van have consistently demonstrated a will to engage with this issue through the unwavering support of King County in placing people where they need to be without having Renton give them “oversight” – code for “white/Asian privilege.”
For that, they have my unwavering support.
Communities must avoid harboring a Not-In-My-Backyard (NIMBY) mentality, which only perpetuates the cycle of drug use, particularly those belonging to BIPOC and LGBTQUIA+ communities.
Our neighborhoods, whether in Renton, Burien, or elsewhere, should open their arms to all, erasing boundaries that separate ‘us’ from ‘them.’
Kennydale must do their fair share and relieve this burden from downtown Burien and King County.
Vote Ryan McIrvin and Kim-Khanh Van.
They had the courage to support King County over narrow Renton issues by demanding that the Renton Downtown Red Lion be left to do what is needed.
I hope they will have the courage to do it again.
If Kim and Ryan are all about putting the needs of Seattle, Burien, and King County above our town, then I’m going to pay a lot more attention to voting during this cycle.
You live a privileged life in your violently corrupt dad’s house far away from any King County owned hotel. Go pound sand.
How did I miss this prize comment by Carmen Rivera herself!?! Or one of her faithful minions.
The fact is Renton residents would all like to get the addicted criminals off OUR streets now!! Two hotels in our city have been completely given up to Seattle’s addicts(aka homeless) as well as all the free hotel rooms vouchers handed out for the Seattle criminals to come on down to Renton!
None of those addicted criminals has done anything to deserve any of the new hotel rooms and new apartments being built and given to them and they will most definitely ruin them. They’ll never quit drugs voluntarily, especially when they’re given everything free. Never!
You are delusional to think otherwise just like every other person using those “homeless” to feel better about themselves. State, City & County leaders and “non-profits”. None of this false ” compassion ” you all cry about and try to shame everyone into thinking it’s our personal responsibility is even real. Pretending compassion to get votes and money is disgusting. Everyone wants their piece of the homeless pie.
ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS:
*how many homeless have been placed in these homes provided by KCRHA since it began in 2019,*how many were seniors on social security? *How many were disabled on SSDI or SSI? *How many were Veterans on SSDI? *How many have children? *How many had jobs yet can’t afford rent? *How many were addicts? *How many have criminals records? *How many are repeat offenders? *How many are registered sex offenders? *How many had/have warrants for their arrest? *How many have since gone to jail? *How many of those are still in the place they were homed?, *How many were kicked out/why?, *How many are currently back on the streets in Renton?, *How many have started drug treatment? *How many have completed drug treatment successfully? *How many have OD’d in KCRHA housing? *How many have died in KCRHA? *How many have successfully gotten clean, got a job and now pay they’re own rent from their own money?
Then also tell us how much of our money has been put into the hands of KCRHA. *How much of our money goes towards KCRHA payroll? *How much of our money goes towards KCRHA bonuses? *How much to office space and operating costs? *How much of our money goes to “non-profits”? *How many “non-profits”? *What exactly have they spent our money on? *How many homeless do they use our money specifically given by KCRHA providing items to live on the streets? *What specific items does our money buy?*How much of our money do each of the “non-profit”owners and employees get? *How much of our money does KCRHA and/or the ” non-profits” spend buying addicts drug supplies and Narcan?
ONCE YOU’VE SUPPLIED EVERY DETAIL ON HOW OUR MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT SO FAR ON ACTUALLY HELPING THESE PEOPLE YOU WANT HELPED, THEN YOU CAN HAVE AN OPINION!!!
The idea of spending billions of dollars on refurbishing old hotels so addicted criminals can live in a better home than almost all senior and disabled law abiding, tax paying citizens, barely hanging on, citizens of Renton REALLY makes me furious! Nobody is showing these people any compassion or empathy! They can’t get help from 211 or DSHS because of the pittance they get in their check. Their checks aren’t even as high as the cost of a 1 bedroom apartment anywhere in King county.
Before telling the elderly and disabled to move away from all their friends and family who support them physically so they can live in a cheaper state, how about we give THEM those free brand new apartments and refurbished hotels instead!?! It’s ass-backwards the way things are being done and it’s so very wrong.
So before you tell us to pity those who chose to live on the streets doing drugs and crime, go get us those answers.