'Tis true. The poverty and general situation on the eastside is pretty saddening.
It is, however, nothing compared to Seattle where I am now. Where in Vancouver the violence and poverty seem to be confined to a small-ish neighborhood, in Seattle it's rampant and everywhere.
Poverty is nothing new - I've seen it in every place I've ever lived. It is however somewhat shocking to see homelessness overrun an entire city - there's not a single spot in downtown Seattle (or hell, anywhere within city limits) where you can't find vagrants or street kids.
This isn't a value judgment on homelessness in general, but rather an observation that unlike some cities where the worst of the poverty is geographically distinct, here in Seattle it's just... everywhere.
Maybe it's for the better - the harder it is for you to avert your eyes, the more compelled you may be to fix it.
Well, scratch that, the city of Seattle just cut even more funding to homeless social services.
It is, however, nothing compared to Seattle where I am now. Where in Vancouver the violence and poverty seem to be confined to a small-ish neighborhood, in Seattle it's rampant and everywhere.
Poverty is nothing new - I've seen it in every place I've ever lived. It is however somewhat shocking to see homelessness overrun an entire city - there's not a single spot in downtown Seattle (or hell, anywhere within city limits) where you can't find vagrants or street kids.
This isn't a value judgment on homelessness in general, but rather an observation that unlike some cities where the worst of the poverty is geographically distinct, here in Seattle it's just... everywhere.
Maybe it's for the better - the harder it is for you to avert your eyes, the more compelled you may be to fix it.
Well, scratch that, the city of Seattle just cut even more funding to homeless social services.