The first ballot count is out in today’s special election with just one issue on the ballot, the $1.25 billion, nine-year King County levy intended primarily to fund crisis-care centers. Here are the results; rounding the numbers it’s passing with 54 percent approving, 46 percent rejecting. That count reflects 21 percent of registered voters; as of earlier today, 25 percent had turned in their ballots. Next count will be released Wednesday afternoon.
That many people rejected the levy? Leave the confines of your house and look around.
People opposed are more likely to vote. Look around, yes, I sympathize with your sentiments, but also, look around and wonder where all the money we have already spent has gone. More will fix things?
“People opposed are more likely to vote.” Strange, that not what the vote count says.
Bill, spot on. I live in Burien and it’s next door to me and all around me but there’s no accountability to where the money went to fix this originally. I am not getting a pay raise and we’re all struggling the way it is. Everyone I know, voted “ NO”, on this.
but there’s no accountability to where the money went to fix this originally
Which money or initiatives are you referring to?
Well, in this case, money will build more crisis centers and grow the workforce.
Do you have something else in mind?
Hmm interesting, I was told repeatedly that King County residents were “fed up” with “unacceptable” “tax and spend” “liberal government” in the comments sections of this very fine blog! Certain doom for the levy, it seemed! Oops, wrong again, as always. One of my favorite periodic reminders is when we have elections — actual elections, with actual people, not comments section elections with comment section people — and we see that, hmm, yup! Seattle is still a liberal city. Yup. So is King County. Still liberal. Might this cause introspection as to the “everyone who doesn’t vote the way I do is STUPID” mindset that seems to dominate so many conversations? That seems unlikely, given that this conversation repeats itself before every election, over and over.
Well Jort – I finally agree with you. But the thing is – most of the conservatives I know have given up. Why continue to vote – and “waste your time”? The writing IS on the wall – and Seattle/King County, to wit Washington as a whole (because of the overloaded blue population centers) are indeed blue. Every red ballot cast is overwhelmed by blue. At some point one becomes wary (and skeptical) of the entire process and gives up. To your commentary about activity on this blog and elsewhere – conservatives (still) have a voice – and if it won’t be heard at the ballot box – it will be heard elsewhere.
Where will it be heard from? A gerrymandered district in another state?
Reading comprehension, my friend…….”activity on this blog and elsewhere – conservatives (still) have a voice – and if it won’t be heard at the ballot box – it will be heard elsewhere. ” Basically, the recourse is “complaining” on public boards…BTW – The Evergreen State is pretty good at gerrymandering as well
Every red ballot cast is overwhelmed by blue.
That’s a funny way of saying “every person gets one vote”. Unless you’re suggesting that red voters somehow deserve more voting power than blue voters, that’s how it works in a state where more people vote blue.
Lmao, right? “This democracy isn’t working because my minority opinion doesn’t win elections!”
Not the point. At all.
It’s voter apathy. Its a real thing.
Democracy IS working. Duh.
It’s just not working for one group of voters. So that group of voters just stops participating (not me)
Looking at a 33% voter turnout? that’s not ‘laziness’ that’s apathy – people don’t feel their vote counts, so they don’t cast it.
Seattle voters consistently approve levies based on ideals and emotion, rather than facts and details. I absolutely approve of the idea of expanded mental health facilities and options. However, this levy is another boondoggle costing taxpayers billions of dollars with no plan to deliver on its promises. The proof is in the voter’s pamphlet, for those few who care to actually understand what they are voting for.
The opposition opinion in the voters pamphlet is full of absolute nonsense and misinformation. If that is what you are basing your vote on I’d hope you’d dig deeper for more information in the future. And this is a King County levy, not Seattle.
For posterity.
In support:
This measure will build five regional behavioral health crisis centers, including one dedicated to youth. Funds will also recruit and retain critical staff to address mental health and substance use treatment needs for our growing population. While you can walk into an urgent care clinic to treat a broken bone, there isn’t a single behavioral health walk-in crisis care center in all of King County. Proposition 1 invests in the places we need for care, and the people who provide that care. Currently, people in crisis wait an average of 44 days for treatment, often cycling through costly emergency rooms or jails without receiving needed care. Proposition 1 offers a more economical approach with proven results. That’s why law enforcement and first responders support this measure– agreeing that dedicated staff and treatment centers will help people into long term recovery, and restore their focus on urgent public safety needs. Proposition 1 will cost the average homeowner around $10/ month, with low income exemptions available. Funds will be independently audited to ensure accountability.
In opposition:
Don’t fall for their trick! Politicians (Republicans andDemocrats) are masters at manipulating us. Government spends existing taxes on pet projects and then forces us to vote for essential services. It’s a trick. And when we fall for it, politicians just do it again. But not this time! Property taxes are skyrocketing now because of explosive valuation increases due to huge demand, limited supply. That’s why rent increases are skyrocketing and cost of housing is spiking. Prop 1’s $2000 tax increase (that’s the average) will only make that worse. Politicians are asking for this massive tax increase because it’s more than the law allows. Don’t fall for it! If politicians believe this program is essential, they already have tons of taxes for it. Since 2012, government increased taxes 41 times costing taxpayers $62.3 billion (https://tinyurl.com/64-Billion-41-Tax-Increases). That’s on top of highest sales tax in the nation (state/local), highest gas taxes, employee taxes, utility taxes, business taxes, and tons of fees. We’re taxed enough already! Besides, state and local governments got billions more in federal bailout money. Voting no forces politicians to prioritize spending using existing revenue. But bailing them out only encourages politicians to keep trying to trick us. Vote no.
Cam, I read the entire text of the proposed ordinance, not just the pro and con statements. Your vitriol missed its mark, although I do deeply, deeply regret and apologize for the horrendous error of mischaracterizing the voters as being Seattle rather than King County voters. I will try to do better in the future, as should you.
I saw in an article elsewhere they are projecting that 33% of the eligible population will actually bother to vote – that is so pathetic and troublesome.
I don’t want to broadbrush – but those “facist” right of center voters are tired of getting their teeth kicked in every ballot cycle. Why participate when the outcome is always the same.
Apathy is real.
With all due respect, anyone contributing to these comments looking for conversation… Or worse, to change someone’s mind… will be disappointed.
I’d like to know when a bill is coming out that stops other states from sending their mentally ill/addicted/homeless to our state to care for? That would save some money.
You’d have to establish that is actually happening first. Time and time again data has shown that unhoused people in King County have a last permanent address within Washington. Meaning, they were living here in secure housing before they became unhoused. Passing legislation like that would have absolutely no impact, even if it was ever enforceable.
Yikes… I cannot believe that many people rejected. We all voted YES at my house.
Lets hope the rest of the votes counted are NO!!! They already have wasted enough of my tax money and have no accountability as to where it has gone!
My household voted yes.According to the Seattle Times this morning, 54% of voters approved the levy, and only 33% of voters actually voted.It’s not cheap to have a functional society. But more than that, it’s really expensive to have a dysfunctional one: when people don’t have access to mental health support, sometimes they use emergency room services, police services, or create other kinds of societal disruptions. I’d much rather to pay for support before these things happen, than pay for the worst kinds of crises. (A metaphor: fixing one’s brakes is expensive. Getting into a car crash is even more expensive.) And besides the short term vs. long term costs, my vote is for the humanity of my community, providing resources for those who most need them.I’m a single mom, and a public school teacher. I’m not rolling in cash, to say the least. But I am a homeowner, so I know my good fortune in that regard, and paying (cost to a homeowner of a median priced house) less than $10 a month seems like a good investment in my community.
You should see what the military blows money on some time. At least this is helping people.
Whether or not the levy is worthy is not my question. Why is this burden to pay put to homeowners only? Renters probably voted overwhelmingly in favor because they are not paying the bill. Is there a way to even out the burden?
This is a common misconception.
One way to look at who’s voting is in the county ballot-return stats. While they can’t break it down by owning/renting they do break it down by age. You would expect 55 and up to be mostly property owners, right? See page 7 here. They comprise more than half those voting.
I voted no as the way that I read it that 2024 at $0.145 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, with the 2024 levy amount being the base for calculating annual increases in 2025-2032 under chapter 84.55. So our Property taxes will go up every years based on the way it is written. I know something needs to be done but do some kind of Sales tax to everyone not just Homeowners who are being priced out of their neighborhoods.
I was talking to my newly voting age son about this levy. His thought was, “why don’t the —% of voters who vote YES for a levy just pay their portion?” Essentially you are given a vote/choice to opt into a tax. If you are willing to add $100 or $200 to your annual tax bill because you feel it is a worthy cause, then do it. I think it’s genius and fair.
Sounds like you you were asleep at the wheel and not paying attention to the education of your newly voting age son, if he thinks that is a workable system.
Hopefully you also teach them that we live in a society and that we’re all responsible to continue improving it.
Fantastic, well done King County yea-voters. Another win for Mental Health Care, and a long row to hoe yet.
Would it be acceptable to anyone if a family member was having chest pains and goes to an emergency room and they are set aside in a room, first checked if they are on drugs, given a shot to help calm it down, looked at as a nuance and then had to wait sometimes for days while they tried to find a bed for them. After finding a bed its not in the hospital their at but now have to make a 2 hour trip to a facility up in Skagit county. Then the family that cares about them the most can’t get information because they are an adult. That is our life when my son is in a crisis, my son only wanted to have a normal life like the rest of his friends.
Sorry, comment time is over.
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