My impression of high tech, wealthy, progressive Seattle

I am headed home from a week long visit to the Seattle area. I lived here 40 years ago and my husband grew up here and we have seen many changes.

My impressions of Seattle are:

1. The airport is dirty and lacks outlets for charging. Maybe there is a charging station or outlets for general use somewhere, but I never saw them.
One of the walkways was broken when we arrived and still broken a week later when we departed.
I saw trash on the floor both coming and going and there was graffiti in the restroom I used.

2. We avoided the tourist areas this time, but went to them last time we visited. The streets have urine on them and smell.

3. The I-5 was trashy (i.e. garbage); sections have grass growing in the cracks; the overhang and directional signs have graffiti on them.
The express underground lanes look like a trash dump with broken open bags of garbage strewn on the sides.

4. There were lots of signs in the airport and other places encouraging people to be green.

5. The traffic was horrific and moved at a literal stop and go crawl through the city.

6. My best friend said her Doctor is very very progressive and wants one of the 2020 Democrats to win, but won't accept medicare or medicaid.

7. My friend was very concerned about the extreme homeless problem and the fact that the city has no intention of helping the homeless. In fact the city is proposing a law to allow the homeless to camp anywhere that is discrete, even in people's back yards.

8. The city has become a cesspool - which is a shame because in the 1970's it was a clean city, with clean streets that I walked freely without fear as a college student.

9. I don't suggest it as a tourist destination anymore. The famous Wharf is so crowded you can barely move or walk through it anymore and the prices that used to be a treat are now gouging.

10. In my personal opinion, Seattle has degenerated into a third world status that is scary to visit.

These are my observations and what I have seen in my last 2 visits to Seattle in the past 2 years.

a reply to: The2Billies

I moved from Chicago to Seattle close to four years ago... A lot of your observations are true, and we are essentially what San Francisco was like 5-10 years ago, with property continuing to rise, similarly to the homeless population, as more and more people are displaced. I currently lived in downtown Seattle (South lake union neighborhood where Amazon is HQ'd) and when I eventually buy, it wont be in Seattle, it will be on the East side... If you would have taken a short trip over the 520 bridge, you would see cities like Medina, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond... Now, these cities are nice, these cities are filled with "tech" people, good schools, clean streets, and you'll notice the homeless population is vastly different in these areas... Next time you come to Seattle, check out these spots, they aren't falling apart like Seattle is.

Some of the major issues we face is a far left leaning Mayor, a very left leaning/progressive city council, and we have a police force that is receiving no backing from its Mayor or city officials... Oh yea, and we are a sanctuary city that welcomes all, while ignoring federal investigations to get illegals removed from our city. And we have Yakima county dropping off inmates under the I5 bridge in downtown seattle into homeless camps... So, yea, its a sh*t show... would be interesting if a major EQ hit or Mt Rainier decided to blow its lid off...

I visited Seattle about seven years ago for a vacation. I was floored by the homeless/druggies everywhere. Portland was like a smaller version of Seattle.

It is a beautiful city, great food, etc but they kind of crossed the Rubicon of progressivism politics and it shows in how the city is devolving into a Elysium like dsytopian city.

a reply to: The2Billies

You've described pretty much every city in america, and every liberal. No, they dont want to help the poor. They want to compensate for that by making someone else do it. Also, not sure you know what third world status actually means.

a reply to: The2Billies

Wow, well............thanks a heap for that assessment and description. My wife and I are planning some trips in the near future, (camping with travel trailer), but we have absolutely no intention whatsoever of going anywhere near any of the major metro areas and I had long ago written Seattle off the bucket list.

I'm hearing pretty much the same description of LA and San Francisco. We wouldn't feel comfortable entering California with Texas plates however.

It fascinates me that cities like Seattle, long since Democrat party strongholds, have fallen into 3rd world status, filthy and covered up with homeless. Its made me wonder whether there's a correlation between One Party Control and a dramatic increase in government corruption leading to siphoning off of monies that might be spent on things like trash management and maintenance of facilities? I'm going to try to find a site that monitors corruption.

I must say however, it does bring a big smile to my face to know that progressives are stalled in traffic sucking in the stank of third world living conditions. Its nice to know they get to live in hellish conditions before dying and literally going to hell.

Thanks for the information!

a reply to: The2Billies

In my personal opinion, Seattle has degenerated into a third world status that is scary to visit.

You're talking about a place where the tide would bring the sewage right back into people toilets. I took the history tour and it seems that city has always been a bit shady.

I enjoyed visiting the boeing museum and boeing factory. Those areas were nicer than Seattle.

I have relatives who are life-long Seattle residents. They're ultra left wing screwballs who for some strange reason think Seattle is Mecca.

a reply to: The2Billies

What a shame! I haven't visited Seattle in about 8 years and it wasn't nearly that bad then. Guess there's no point in returning now. Sad for such a once beautiful city to fall so far.

originally posted by: bender151
a reply to: The2Billies

You've described pretty much every city in america, and every liberal. No, they dont want to help the poor. They want to compensate for that by making someone else do it. Also, not sure you know what third world status actually means.

I highly doubt that statement is true in ANY form?

EVERY city in America, really?

My guess is you have not visited anywhere outside of your bubble. If you did, you would never have made that asinine statement.

originally posted by: Krakatoa

originally posted by: bender151
a reply to: The2Billies

You've described pretty much every city in america, and every liberal. No, they dont want to help the poor. They want to compensate for that by making someone else do it. Also, not sure you know what third world status actually means.

I highly doubt that statement is true in ANY form?

EVERY city in America, really?

My guess is you have not visited anywhere outside of your bubble. If you did, you would never have made that asinine statement.

He said "pretty much" so let's count some of them:

Chicago? Yup
Detroit? Yup
Cleveland? Yup
Philly? Oh, yeah
Baltimore? Definitely
DC? For sure.
San Fran? Top of the heap
L.A.? Avoid.

Keep it going. In fact, that list will get too long. How about name cities of any size controlled by the Democrat/Socialist regime that do NOT fall into the "ruined beyond repair" category?

Take your time.....

originally posted by: schuyler

originally posted by: Krakatoa

originally posted by: bender151
a reply to: The2Billies

You've described pretty much every city in america, and every liberal. No, they dont want to help the poor. They want to compensate for that by making someone else do it. Also, not sure you know what third world status actually means.

I highly doubt that statement is true in ANY form?

EVERY city in America, really?

My guess is you have not visited anywhere outside of your bubble. If you did, you would never have made that asinine statement.

He said "pretty much" so let's count some of them:

Chicago? Yup
Detroit? Yup
Cleveland? Yup
Philly? Oh, yeah
Baltimore? Definitely
DC? For sure.
San Fran? Top of the heap
L.A.? Avoid.

Keep it going. In fact, that list will get too long. How about name cities of any size controlled by the Democrat/Socialist regime that do NOT fall into the "ruined beyond repair" category?

Take your time.....

Had the poster earlier qualified by stating "Democrat run" cities, I would not have responded since it would be a much smaller list and more specific.

However, Boston, MA, which is most definitely a Democrat controlled city, does not have nearly the issue with many of these items listed. So, it would not be in the same class as say a Portland (Maine or Oregon are similar in this respect).

a reply to: schuyler

I've been to every city you listed east of the Rockies...and I will add Indianapolis, Atlanta and Saint Louis to the list....

Some of the airports are in better shape than Seattle but as for the rest of the op's description it's spot on.

originally posted by: bender151
a reply to: The2Billies

You've described pretty much every city in america, and every liberal. No, they dont want to help the poor. They want to compensate for that by making someone else do it. Also, not sure you know what third world status actually means.

I have LIVED in Asia and Europe and traveled extensively around the world. I lived in Okinawa when it was not part of Japan and third world, I lived in Korea pre-Olympics when it was third world (early 1970's) I have traveled to many third world countries, Dominica, a small island where there is an offshore medical school and most people live in abject poverty; communist East Germany before the wall went down and many others. Have you ever been to several third world countries? I definitely know what third world status means and have been in third world cities and airports. Seattle qualifies in many respects. A filthy out of date airport, filthy streets, wretched poor living and begging on the streets. That was what I saw in Seattle.

a reply to: The2Billies
Who cares about all that other stuff...I gotta know
The
I gotta know man, is IVARS fast food sea food still there....?!!

I lived in the Seattle area, back in the early 90s... and visited the city frequently. Seattle, back then, was a beautiful city. It was a clean, urbane city with an upbeat feel. The music scene was off the hook, and it always felt safe.

My wife and I visited Seattle four years ago. It's a dump. Liberalism destroyed a beautiful city.

a reply to: GBP/JPY

Yes if you are willing to wade through the crowds, can get a seat, and seagulls don't snatch your food.