This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/13/us/coronavirus-seattle-isolation-housing.html

The article has changed 32 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 19 Version 20
An Isolation Center Opened to Protect People From Coronavirus. Then Someone Wandered Out. An Isolation Center Opened to Protect People From Coronavirus. Then Someone Wandered Out.
(32 minutes later)
SEATTLE — Washington State had a problem: there were sure to be more coronavirus cases, and not enough safe places to isolate them. Officials found what they thought was a solution in the form of a shuttered Econo Lodge Motel in the city of Kent, south of Seattle, and modular housing units in another mostly lower-income neighborhood.SEATTLE — Washington State had a problem: there were sure to be more coronavirus cases, and not enough safe places to isolate them. Officials found what they thought was a solution in the form of a shuttered Econo Lodge Motel in the city of Kent, south of Seattle, and modular housing units in another mostly lower-income neighborhood.
The plan quickly ran into trouble. Residents and political leaders circulated petitions, complaining that their communities were becoming sacrifice zones for the coronavirus and warning that businesses could suffer and neighbors could become infected.The plan quickly ran into trouble. Residents and political leaders circulated petitions, complaining that their communities were becoming sacrifice zones for the coronavirus and warning that businesses could suffer and neighbors could become infected.
What might have sounded like ordinary not-in-my-backyard rhetoric came painfully to life on Friday when one of the first residents at the newly converted motel did exactly what the neighbors had feared would happen.What might have sounded like ordinary not-in-my-backyard rhetoric came painfully to life on Friday when one of the first residents at the newly converted motel did exactly what the neighbors had feared would happen.
The resident, a homeless person who was awaiting the results of a coronavirus test, ignored the instructions of a security guard and wandered away, King County officials said in a statement. The person shoplifted some items from a convenience store across the street, it said, then hopped on a northbound bus.The resident, a homeless person who was awaiting the results of a coronavirus test, ignored the instructions of a security guard and wandered away, King County officials said in a statement. The person shoplifted some items from a convenience store across the street, it said, then hopped on a northbound bus.
The bus was taken out of service for cleaning and sanitation; the community was still reeling.The bus was taken out of service for cleaning and sanitation; the community was still reeling.
Kent’s mayor, Dana Ralph, said neither of the two communities chosen to house people in need of isolation for coronavirus had experienced any cases of the virus before the new facilities opened. Residents of her town, she said, have wondered if their city was chosen by the county in order to protect wealthier neighborhoods around Seattle.Kent’s mayor, Dana Ralph, said neither of the two communities chosen to house people in need of isolation for coronavirus had experienced any cases of the virus before the new facilities opened. Residents of her town, she said, have wondered if their city was chosen by the county in order to protect wealthier neighborhoods around Seattle.
“The first two sites are probably the two most diverse areas of our county,” she said, “and are in the less affluent parts of our county. It’s not lost on us.”“The first two sites are probably the two most diverse areas of our county,” she said, “and are in the less affluent parts of our county. It’s not lost on us.”
The Seattle region pioneered a process of decision making, starting about 15 years ago, that requires city and county officials to conduct “equity impact reviews” to make sure that poor neighborhoods and those made up mostly of people of color are treated fairly in government decisions. The equity impact idea has since spread to many other cities, including Oakland, Calif., Minneapolis, Dallas and Charlotte, N.C.The Seattle region pioneered a process of decision making, starting about 15 years ago, that requires city and county officials to conduct “equity impact reviews” to make sure that poor neighborhoods and those made up mostly of people of color are treated fairly in government decisions. The equity impact idea has since spread to many other cities, including Oakland, Calif., Minneapolis, Dallas and Charlotte, N.C.
Ms. Ralph said the process has worked well in the past and local leaders are proud of the region’s role in creating it.Ms. Ralph said the process has worked well in the past and local leaders are proud of the region’s role in creating it.
“You stand those policies up in place so that in a time of crisis, you make sure how decisions are made,” she said. “But from the outside, it looks like all that got pushed aside because of the crisis.”“You stand those policies up in place so that in a time of crisis, you make sure how decisions are made,” she said. “But from the outside, it looks like all that got pushed aside because of the crisis.”
The director of King County’s Department of Community and Human Services, Leo Flor, said at a King County Council hearing on the White Center housing site earlier this week that a formal equity impact review had not been conducted, but that the values embodied by the rules definitely were incorporated.The director of King County’s Department of Community and Human Services, Leo Flor, said at a King County Council hearing on the White Center housing site earlier this week that a formal equity impact review had not been conducted, but that the values embodied by the rules definitely were incorporated.
“The piece of paper, the tool? No,” Mr. Flor said. “The equity impact process and values? Absolutely.”“The piece of paper, the tool? No,” Mr. Flor said. “The equity impact process and values? Absolutely.”
Mr. Flor said that extended discussions with the community, the usual forum in which such reviews take place, simply were not possible given the pace of the crisis and the crushing need to make decisions. “We did not have community engagement the way we normally would,” he said, suggesting that discussions would take place as the housing centers opened and issues arose.Mr. Flor said that extended discussions with the community, the usual forum in which such reviews take place, simply were not possible given the pace of the crisis and the crushing need to make decisions. “We did not have community engagement the way we normally would,” he said, suggesting that discussions would take place as the housing centers opened and issues arose.
He said county officials had to find a place to house people who may have been exposed to the coronavirus but had no place to go to avoid infecting other people. “We are developing facilities for people who do not have a home to go back to, either because they didn’t have a home in the first place, or because to go home would be unsafe to other people residing there,” Mr. Flor said.He said county officials had to find a place to house people who may have been exposed to the coronavirus but had no place to go to avoid infecting other people. “We are developing facilities for people who do not have a home to go back to, either because they didn’t have a home in the first place, or because to go home would be unsafe to other people residing there,” Mr. Flor said.
Ms. Ralph said that she had not been forewarned about the county’s plans for her city, and only found out after being called by a resident who had heard that the county was planning to purchase the motel.Ms. Ralph said that she had not been forewarned about the county’s plans for her city, and only found out after being called by a resident who had heard that the county was planning to purchase the motel.
A court commissioner denied the city’s request last week for a temporary restraining order stopping the former Econo Lodge site from reopening as an isolation center, but an appeal was scheduled for next week in King County Superior Court.A court commissioner denied the city’s request last week for a temporary restraining order stopping the former Econo Lodge site from reopening as an isolation center, but an appeal was scheduled for next week in King County Superior Court.
“We are of the belief that we have control of zoning and permitting and that an emergency doesn’t take that away from us,” Ms. Ralph said. “But our first frustration was that they didn’t consult with us, they didn’t talk to us.”“We are of the belief that we have control of zoning and permitting and that an emergency doesn’t take that away from us,” Ms. Ralph said. “But our first frustration was that they didn’t consult with us, they didn’t talk to us.”
Updated July 21, 2020 Updated July 23, 2020
Many cities are now looking at where to place isolation housing, some of them proposing to use trailers or various forms of existing housing. Seattle’s experience shows that the conversations will be tough, taking in fears about the virus as well as questions about who might be staying in the facilities as they open.Many cities are now looking at where to place isolation housing, some of them proposing to use trailers or various forms of existing housing. Seattle’s experience shows that the conversations will be tough, taking in fears about the virus as well as questions about who might be staying in the facilities as they open.
King County has said it will probably need isolation housing for travelers, for example, who get stranded in the Seattle region after exposure and are unable to go home until the incubation period for the virus has passed. Others could include emergency workers, ordinary residents who cannot go home to their families and homeless people — King County has one of the highest rates of homelessness of any big city in the nation.King County has said it will probably need isolation housing for travelers, for example, who get stranded in the Seattle region after exposure and are unable to go home until the incubation period for the virus has passed. Others could include emergency workers, ordinary residents who cannot go home to their families and homeless people — King County has one of the highest rates of homelessness of any big city in the nation.
The homeless person at the site in Kent was only the second occupant at the location, county officials said.The homeless person at the site in Kent was only the second occupant at the location, county officials said.
One resident who lives near the White Center site, Rita Aronson, who works as a hair stylist, said her livelihood has already been hurt by the large number of people canceling appointments as a result of fears of the virus, and the community can ill afford other economic challenges.One resident who lives near the White Center site, Rita Aronson, who works as a hair stylist, said her livelihood has already been hurt by the large number of people canceling appointments as a result of fears of the virus, and the community can ill afford other economic challenges.
Sonia Ramirez, 45, an immigrant from Mexico who has lived for 25 years in the White Center neighborhood, said she worried about the children, including her 6-year-old daughter, who catch the bus to school near the facility. (Washington’s public schools were ordered closed by Gov. Jay Inslee this week.)Sonia Ramirez, 45, an immigrant from Mexico who has lived for 25 years in the White Center neighborhood, said she worried about the children, including her 6-year-old daughter, who catch the bus to school near the facility. (Washington’s public schools were ordered closed by Gov. Jay Inslee this week.)
“It’s a very residential area,” Ms. Ramirez said.“It’s a very residential area,” Ms. Ramirez said.
One county council member, Girmay Zahilay, who closely questioned Mr. Flor at the hearing about how the sites were chosen, stressed in an interview that he understands the strains on the system, and fully supports the county’s health mission and its workers.One county council member, Girmay Zahilay, who closely questioned Mr. Flor at the hearing about how the sites were chosen, stressed in an interview that he understands the strains on the system, and fully supports the county’s health mission and its workers.
“I know it’s a health crisis,” Mr. Zahilay said, but added that the county has an obligation to all of its residents.“I know it’s a health crisis,” Mr. Zahilay said, but added that the county has an obligation to all of its residents.
“Often times I think the word, ‘equity,’ becomes a buzz word, and the meaning gets lost because it gets thrown around so much,” he said. “During this unprecedented crisis, we have to make sure that the consequences of our decisions don’t fall on the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. That’s how we all get through this together.”“Often times I think the word, ‘equity,’ becomes a buzz word, and the meaning gets lost because it gets thrown around so much,” he said. “During this unprecedented crisis, we have to make sure that the consequences of our decisions don’t fall on the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. That’s how we all get through this together.”