Is President Obama going to find an alternate route around the ‘Jungle’?
Jun 24, 2016, 10:56 AM
KIRO Radio's Dave Ross wonders if President Obama's motorcade flew into Sea-Tac to avoid the "Jungle." (KIRO 7)
(KIRO 7)
It’s curious that Air Force One would land at Sea-Tac Airport instead of Boeing Field, KIRO Radio’s Dave Ross pointed out on Seattle’s Morning News.
Air Force One typically lands at Boeing Field, KIRO Radio’s Chris Sullivan says. Boeing Field would give President Obama a few routes into downtown, he says.
“That is weird though,” Dave said. “He doesn’t usually come into Sea-Tac.”
Maybe it fits better into the schedule, Sullivan says. Or, maybe there’s another reason.
Related: Jungle 2.0? Seattle neighbors worry about impact of cleanup
“I wonder if he wants to take I-405 and route his way around the ‘Jungle,'” Dave said.
Dave is referring to Seattle’s largest illegal homeless encampment located in a greenbelt that runs along and underneath I-5, south of Beacon Hill. The city and state have struggled with what to do with the camp for years; the area received national attention after three teenagers were arrested for killing two people in January.
There have been estimates that as many as 300 people or more live in the Jungle. With that many people living near and under I-5, Dave says it’s possible there are safety concerns for the president. Take, for example, the many fires that start in the Jungle that can be seen from I-5.
“I’m sort of semi-serious,” he said. “Because [you have] a president going over a freeway where there are 300 people — you don’t know who they are — right underneath the motorcade. Right?”
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Tune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 5am for Dave Ross on Seattle's Morning News.
