Seattle, WA
Seattle get sidewalk murals to tackle homeless drug addicts
As fentanyl addicts and the mentally ill continue to languish and die on our streets, Mayor Bruce Harrell’s administration has decided that what downtown Seattle really needs are sidewalk murals. Because nothing says “we’re tackling the root causes of homelessness” quite like ensuring that when a drug addict passes out, they do so on a vibrant, city-commissioned work of art.
The sidewalk murals are part of Harrell’s uninspired Downtown Activation Plan. One of the action steps? “Create more murals and other art installations throughout Downtown and activate street corners, parks, and transit stations with buskers and other forms of entertainment to create a more beautiful and welcoming environment, mitigating the impact of graffiti and street disorder.”
The logic, if you can call it that, seems to be that if we make the scenery prettier, the human suffering playing out against it will somehow be less tragic. It’s a continuation of the same tired, ineffective, and lazy approach we’ve seen countless times from our city’s leadership. Harrell is a master of the performative gesture, the symbolic act that accomplishes nothing but allows the mayor to pat himself on the back for a job well done.
This is not a parody. This is the actual strategy of a city in the throes of a humanitarian crisis.
As part of the plan to tackle downtown Seattle homelessness, the mayor is having murals painted on the sidewalks.
But all this means is that fentanyl addicts will pass out on murals. pic.twitter.com/8EC2KSUvyw
— Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) June 26, 2025
Bruce Harrell’s homelessness plans? Sidewalk art and lighting
This sidewalk mural initiative is a perfect companion piece to another of the mayor’s recent beautification-as-solution projects: strings of lights a few blocks away from where the homeless congregate.
Billed as a way to “enhance community safety and vibrancy,” the decorative lights are meant to deter crime and make residents feel more secure. But ask anyone who lives or works in the downtown core and Belltown, and they’ll tell you that the problem isn’t a lack of ambient lighting. The problem is the open-air drug markets, the relentless property crime, and the sense that the city has all but abandoned them to the wolves.
The lights and sidewalk murals are a slap in the face to a community that has been begging for a real plan, for more police, and for a commitment to prosecuting the criminals who are making their lives a living hell.
Seattle residents should be insulted
What these initiatives share is a fundamental misunderstanding, or perhaps a willful ignorance, of the nature of the problem.
We are not dealing with a crisis of aesthetics. We are dealing with a crisis of addiction, of mental illness, and of a complete and utter breakdown of law and order. Painting a mural on a sidewalk will not get a fentanyl addict into treatment. Installing a light fixture will not stop a prolific offender from breaking into another small business.
These are solutions for a city that is not in crisis, for a city that has the luxury of worrying about its appearance. That is not Seattle.
We actually know what tackles homelessness
The tragic irony is that we know what works. We know that a compassionate, but firm approach, one that combines robust and readily available treatment options with a law enforcement presence that makes it clear that criminal behavior will not be tolerated, is the only way to make a real difference.
Seattle should be investing in long-term treatment facilities, in mental health care, and in a criminal justice system that is allowed to do its job. Instead, we get murals and mood lighting. Soon? Buskers.
It’s a tale of two cities. In the Seattle mayor’s press releases, the city is becoming more vibrant, more beautiful, and more welcoming with each passing day. In the real Seattle, the one that the rest of us have to live in, things are getting worse. The open-air drug use, the homeless encampments, the property crime—these are the realities that a fresh coat of paint and some light bulbs cannot hide.
The people of Seattle are not asking for a more scenic city. Our city is beautiful—when you clean up the mess made by the homeless.
Listen to The Jason Rantz Show on weekday afternoons from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. on KTTH 770 AM (HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3). Subscribe to the podcast here. Follow Jason Rantz on X, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.
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There were Seattle Seahawks injury updates on Friday regarding three defensive backs coming out of the Hawks’ overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football.
Seahawks’ Derick Hall suspended one game for stepping on player
Here’s a look at the updates, as well as insight from head coach Mike Macdonald and additional information from ESPN NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler.
• The biggest concern for the Seahawks coming out of the game is safety Coby Bryant, who has a knee injury. Macdonald said in a press conference Friday that Bryant would “get imaged,” meaning undergo an MRI. Fowler reported on social media that, per sources, Bryant is “expected to miss ‘some time’ based on initial tests.”
• Cornerback Riq Woolen has a knee concern of his own, but Fowler reported that it’s “not considered serious” and that, per a source, Woolen “more so got ‘banged up.’”
• Versatile defensive back Nick Emmanwori was evaluated for a concussion late in Thursday’s game, but Macdonald said he cleared concussion protocol.
The Seahawks improved to 12-3 with their win over the Rams, giving them a one-game lead over Los Angeles for both first place in the NFC West and the No. 1 seed to the postseason out of the NFC. The Seahawks also clinched a playoff spot with the dramatic comeback victory.
The next Seahawks game will be at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 28 on the road against the Carolina Panthers (7-7). Radio coverage on Seattle Sports will begin at 7 a.m. that day with the pregame show.
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Seattle Kraken (12-14-6, in the Pacific Division) vs. San Jose Sharks (17-15-3, in the Pacific Division)
San Jose, California; Saturday, 10 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: The Seattle Kraken look to end a four-game losing streak with a victory over the San Jose Sharks.
San Jose is 17-15-3 overall and 4-4-2 against the Pacific Division. The Sharks have conceded 117 goals while scoring 104 for a -13 scoring differential.
Seattle is 12-14-6 overall with a 5-4-0 record in Pacific Division play. The Kraken have a -20 scoring differential, with 79 total goals scored and 99 conceded.
The matchup Saturday is the third time these teams square off this season. The Kraken won 4-1 in the last meeting. Jaden Schwartz led the Kraken with two goals.
TOP PERFORMERS: William Eklund has eight goals and 14 assists for the Sharks. Tyler Toffoli has five goals and five assists over the past 10 games.
Vince Dunn has five goals and 14 assists for the Kraken. Chandler Stephenson has four goals and three assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Sharks: 5-5-0, averaging 3.4 goals, 5.9 assists, 2.9 penalties and 5.8 penalty minutes while giving up 3.5 goals per game.
Kraken: 1-9-0, averaging 2.2 goals, 4.1 assists, 3.9 penalties and 9.6 penalty minutes while giving up 3.6 goals per game.
INJURIES: Sharks: None listed.
Kraken: None listed.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The Seattle Seahawks activated wide receiver Dareke Young from injured reserve and elevated running back Cam Akers and offensive tackle Amari Knight off the practice squad Thursday ahead of their pivotal primetime showdown against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field.
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Young, 26, has missed Seattle’s past eight games with a quadricep injury. The fourth-year pro is a key special teams member for the Seahawks and was on the field for over 50% of the team’s special teams snaps in each of the six games he’s played this season. He has seven tackles and 10 kickoff returns for 322 yards. He also has two receptions for 48 yards.
Akers, 26, would be making his Seahawks debut against his former team if he gets into Thursday’s game. He played in three games for the Minnesota Vikings earlier this season and totaled 19 yards on five carries.
A sixth-year pro, Akers spent three-plus seasons with the Rams after they selected him in the second round of the 2020 draft out of Florida State. Akers’ best season with Los Angeles came in 2022 when he rushed for career highs of 786 yards and seven touchdowns. He has 2,044 yards and 13 TDs on the ground in 56 career NFL games.
Knight, 24, provides the Seahawks with some depth at tackle with starting left tackle Charles Cross ruled out for Thursday’s game with a hamstring injury. Veteran backup Josh Jones is getting the start in place of Cross.
Knight went undrafted out of UCF and made his pro debut in Seattle’s Week 4 win over Arizona.
The Seahawks face the Rams on Thursday night at 5:15 p.m. Radio coverage begins at 2 p.m. with the pregame show on Seattle Sports 710 AM and the Seattle sports app.
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