Two Goodwill locations in Seattle will close next month due to the city’s crime, homelessness and drug crises. This decision should come as no surprise to anyone.
Derieontay Sparks, senior vice president at Evergreen Goodwill, announced the closures in a blog post. She blamed the decision on the “worrying increase in property damage, break-ins and safety concerns for our associates.” She said those “challenges,” combined with the cost of rent, are not worth keeping them open.
Employees at the affected locations in South Lake Union and University Place will be offered jobs at other stores – that is, until those stores close for the same reason.
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Who could have guessed that Seattle Goodwill stores would close?
The closure of Seattle’s Goodwill stores is exactly what happens when a city allows itself to be overwhelmed by unchecked crime and homelessness and follows the kind of progressive policies that don’t look like much on paper but inevitably and catastrophically fail in reality.
Seattle has become a city where lawlessness thrives and businesses suffer. Theft, vandalism and drug use are rampant. And who could forget the aggressive panhandlers and their potential for violence?
This is exactly why stores like Nike, Lululemon, Fox’s Jewelry and others have closed in recent months. This is why a massive housing project in downtown Seattle has been put on hold indefinitely. Is anyone paying attention?
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The community will suffer
Goodwill is a non-profit organization that has done a lot of good, especially for those trying to get back on their feet, providing jobs, training, and affordable goods to the community.
But even such organizations cannot operate in an environment where safety is a luxury rather than a given. When even Goodwill – a company known for its resilience – decides it can no longer handle the chaos, it is a clear warning sign that the city is in big trouble.
What’s particularly galling is that city leaders are sure to dismiss this. They’ll make their usual arguments about “addressing root causes” and pretend their plans (what plans?) are working, while ignoring the fact that their lenient crime policies are directly leading to these closures. How many more businesses have to close before Seattle’s politicians wake up? Apparently the threshold hasn’t been reached yet.
These store closings aren’t just a loss for those who rely on Goodwill for affordable shopping or jobs (ironically, the people who steal from them are the ones who could benefit the most from the organization). They’re a loss for the entire community. Every store that closes is a reminder that Seattle isn’t protecting us.
Seattle’s vicious circle
Goodwill’s departure from these Seattle neighborhoods will likely result in more boarded-up windows, less vibrant streets, and even more homelessness-related crime.
This vicious cycle in Seattle will continue until Democrats in power have the courage to make real, bold changes. They need to tackle this problem on a grand scale and with a sense of urgency. We shouldn’t hold our breath. While the Seattle City Council has come to its senses, the Mayor’s office is still too afraid to make the necessary changes for fear of angering the progressive base that is fighting to keep things the way they are.
Unless we take major action, the people of Seattle will continue to suffer the consequences of their politicians’ incompetence.
And now we’re watching a nonprofit that was trying to help the community get pushed out of office by the very problems it’s trying to alleviate. It’s tragic. The question is, how much more of this can Seattle take before it’s too late?
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