A Word From Our Sponsor

As there has been relatively little interest in contributing to this blog by anyone who once read it regularly, particularly those who seemed most vehemently opposed to the issues which our nascent neighborhood faces–and as I have long since moved on to more personally relevant matters–I think that for all intents and purposes it is time for High Point Blog to say goodbye. But first, I would like to clarify certain matters which have been grossly misrepresented by also-ran journalists looking for a sensational scoop. After all, regardless of whatever sort of a liberal or libertarian twang one might have, we here in Seattle all know how harmlessly satisfying and self-validating it is to demonize Republicans racist, white conservatives.

Recently, I noticed that, not having been content with generalizing and reducing ad absurdam the central issues surrounding the controversial debate which took place last fall on the question of High Point’s identity–the SLOG, The Stranger’s own blog, for apparent lack of any better target (though several come to mind) continues its crusade against HPB.

So let’s set the story straight folks:

1. Low-income housing and mixed-income neighborhoods are not bad. Yes, that’s right: the sinner has been converted–he did just in fact say what you just read. (In fact, I have never thought the former were bad; contrary to what the papers might have you believe.) Programs which exist to help those who earn significantly less than the median income are great. They help those who normally would not be able to reap the plentiful joys of homeownership attain those dreams, and this ownership of property in turn helps create safe, community-involved neighborhoods. What is bad and always has been bad and always will be bad, is poor management and bureaucracy.

2. The original post which prompted the subsequent discourse was written so as to engage the public in an immediately necessary discourse; one which had not occurred prior to the explosive and divisive post, one which has subsequently been largely suppressed, and one which I think still needs to take place as the neighborhood grows. As such, I intentionally used language which might provoke some into speaking up, when they otherwise might not have. Had I not been as dramatic, the post would have gone largely unnoticed. This having been said: I grew up in a family which earned less than the median family income; my family earns less than the median family income; and I emphatically stress that I have no problem with poor people; again… just poor management.

3. The central issue at hand, which was unfortunately clouded by the value-laden rhetoric of white vs. non-white, rich vs. poor and so forth, is this: that the SHA, and its various departments and affiliated programs, in screening, selecting, and choosing tenants who occupy the low-income housing in High Point have in significant numbers, chosen tenants who as I stated in the original post, “seek to abuse every sort of privilege they can for their maximum benefit.”

What does that mean? It means, with no classist or socioeconomic qualifiers implied, that a good number of the tenants who rent in High Point have been almost wholly responsible for the very real problems ranging from littering, drug trafficking and loitering to theft (i.e. break-ins, stolen cars) and assault. Let’s just be real here for a minute folks: in fact, I challenge the SLOG or anyone else to prove that the vast majority of neighborhood malfeasance ISN’T caused by the few, yet intolerable miscreants living in the low-income housing. Do us a favor: be real journalists; read the police reports; and see just who is causing the crime.

The point is NOT to say that: low-income citizens cause crime, that all poor people are bad, that the poor people who live in High Point are bad; but rather the point is to say that even ONE bad apple living in the low-income housing at High Point is one too many, and inexcusable to the agency(-ies) responsible for overseeing the responsible behavior of the citizens that dwell there (receiving discounted housing is a privilege, not a right) and moreover to say that–it in fact is these few bad apples, who happen to live in the low-income housing, who are causing the overwhelming majority of problems for the rest of High Point’s homeowners and homeleasers alike.

4. Finally, I’d like to say a word about myself and any of the other homeowners who have been villified for wanting a crime-free neighborhood. Many of the people who bought in High Point, if not all–bought in High Point because of the attraction of being part of a diverse, dynamic, multicultural community. We bought because we are in fact those Seattlelites whose incomes may not necessarily support the très-chic-ultra-super-cool-Ballard-living-conveniently-priced-in-the-low-500s condo/lofts from which you tower down to attack us. We are the very hardworking individuals who are realizing the dream of a sustainable, all-income-encompassing, diverse community–not just tell ourselves that we are from the safe convenience of our South Lake Union urban-living environments. The desire for a crime-free community is not a privilege reserved for those who can buy in the ‘golden neighborhoods’–its a basic human right.

And just as an aside–I removed the poll because it is bad press for the neighborhood, and because a specific individual attempted to skewer the results of the poll to indicate that most respondents felt there were no significant problems facing the High Point community.

In conclusion, I think it is time for High Point Blog to say goodbye because the real cause for action has been mired by those who would probably describe themselves as very open-minded progressives and has convoluted the intent of this author and this blog to the extent that such a public image has come to be inseparable from that of the blog itself. It is especially disappointing to me to see that a community full of such promise and hope, is so deaf to consider a message of fact and good-faith; one which seeks solutions, not slander.

Thank You all for your continued readership. The site will remain open, and I will occasionally post materials relating to the neighborhood when and as I feel inclined.

High Point Spring 2008

I’m beginning to worry that the “Retail Center” is going to be a market-rate apartment complex. Present market conditions (i.e. lack of financing for speculative commercial real estate) and months after months of delays on the retail center’s ground-breaking, as well as the lack of any announcement for an anchor tenant has lead me to believe that this project has been dramatically redesigned from what it was originally envisioned and sold to future residents as.

In other news, it seems that the neighborhood has really been quieting down over the last few months. Personally I have noticed a significant reduction in terms the loitering that used to take place on 30th, 29th, and High Point drive respectively. The raucous parties which often seem to dominate Friday and Saturday nights in certain parts of High Point have died down quite a bit–though not completely. 

Looks like there is plenty of inventory hanging around High Point Phase I for prospective homebuyers; I wonder what this means for everyone who bought on the hopes that Phase II would incorporate more for-sale single family homes. Hopefully the developers who bought the land can secure financing and plan to continue building in spite of the abundance of homes still on the market.