Category: public health

Is there lead in Seattle’s drinking water?

On By In public health, utilities

First there was Flint, Michigan’s horrific revelations of high levels of lead in the city’s water supply. Last week, Tacoma revealed that it had found high levels of lead in samples taken from older homes, and this morning it was reported that two Tacoma schools tested for lead in its water last year.  This has raised questions about whether the residents of Seattle should also be concerned about lead in their water. This morning, officials from Seattle Public Utilities briefed the City Council on the issue, and the good news is that almost no one in Seattle should be worried. …

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Council gets briefed on The Jungle: we’re going to need a bigger table

On By In council briefing, environment, homeless, human services, police, public health, public safety

This morning the City Council got a briefing on the recent assessment of the East Duwamish Greenbelt homeless encampment, better known as “The Jungle.” You can read the assessment team’s written report here, or my summary here. The factual part of this morning’s briefing didn’t relay much information beyond what was in the report, instead the council members were eager to discuss an appropriate response.

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The Jungle

On By In council briefing, crime, environment, homeless, human services, police, public health, public safety

Many of us heard about the Seattle homeless encampment known as “The Jungle” for the first time late last month when a double homicide occurred there. That same night, Mayor Ed Murray, King County Executive Dow Constantine, and Governor Jay Inslee agreed to a joint assessment of the site to gather data on the conditions there and the risks and hazards posed by its ongoing presence. That report is now in, and the City Council will be briefed on it tomorrow morning. And it’s far, far worse than you imagined.

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