‘How insane and dystopian is that?’: Jake and Spike blast reports of drug-use units at Seattle’s newest tiny home village

KIRO hosts Jake Skorheim and Spike O’Neill criticized reports that Seattle’s newest tiny home village would set aside two units where residents could use drugs. The nonprofit that runs the village has described those spaces differently.

“How insane and dystopian is that?” Jake said on “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio.

Cloverleaf Tiny House Village opened Tuesday in South Park with 90 tiny homes, according to the mayor’s office. The Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) runs the village, and nearly $2.8 million in grants from the Shelter Accelerator Fund helped pay for it. The fund is a joint effort between the city and Challenge Seattle, a business group led by former Gov. Christine Gregoire.

Dispute over two units

Employees of a construction company near the village claim a LIHI staff member told neighbors at a meeting that two of the tiny homes would allow drug use and would have cameras to monitor them, according to The Center Square. A LIHI spokesperson told the outlet the village has “two multi-use rooms to sit,” with “books, puzzles, games and comfortable places to sit.”

“We have cameras in all public places to ensure safety,” the spokesperson wrote.

Jake understood the arrangement to mean that two of the 90 units would be set aside for drug use, with cameras to spot overdoses. He was also bothered that nearby businesses were given little warning before a village opened across the street. He hopes to bring workers from the construction company on the show.

One of those workers told The Center Square that he expects the village’s problems to spill outside it.

“Outside of that gate becomes our problem,” he said.

According to the city, a community advisory council of nearby residents, business owners and community leaders will hold monthly public meetings to provide input and oversight.

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson did not take questions from the media at the opening, according to The Center Square. Spike joked that she was there “to cut a ribbon, take a few pictures.”

Gregoire pressed on drug use

The hosts played a video of reporter Jonathan Choe questioning Gregoire next to her car after the event. Choe asked whether she knew drug use would be allowed in some areas of the village.

“What I was told, nothing outside the village, and nothing in open spaces in the village, while these people are getting help to get off their drugs,” Gregoire said.

Choe pressed her on whether treatment is required.

“You have to sign a code of conduct to get in here, and we were real clear,” Gregoire said.

When Choe asked again, Gregoire ended the exchange.

“I don’t know this,” Gregoire said.

Jake was unimpressed with how she handled it.

“It’s a bad look,” Jake said.

Spike says Gregoire chose her words carefully

Jake initially gave Gregoire the benefit of the doubt and assumed she didn’t know about the arrangement.

“I was actually giving her more credit for being ignorant about this,” Jake said.

Spike read her answer differently. He argued that her answer ruled out drug use outside the village and in open spaces but left room for it indoors.

“Her answer was very politically, carefully calculated,” Spike said.

‘Definition of lunacy’

Jake questioned the judgment of state leaders who back projects like this, and he put the question to his co-host.

“If you were the governor of Washington or the former governor, would you put your name on two fentanyl drug shacks?” Jake asked.

Spike explained the reasoning behind low-barrier shelters. Supporters believe it’s safer for people to use drugs where staff can respond to an overdose than on the street, he noted. He made clear he doesn’t share that view.

“I think doing the same thing and expecting different results is the definition of lunacy,” Spike said.

He also argued that low-barrier policies could cost the city more than $20 million in federal funding.

Jake approved.

“This is why you and I get along,” Jake said.

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3