‘I shouldn’t have to’: Disabled veteran spends $3,000 on billboard calling out Seattle on crime, drugs

A disabled Air Force veteran who has lived near Aurora Avenue since 1955 said he’s spent years trying to get the city of Seattle to listen. Nobody called him back. So he put up a billboard.

The sign, which went up about a week and a half ago near Aurora, reads: “Would the last taxpayer to leave the Emerald City change the name to The Blue Tarp City of Thieves, Druggies, and Shooters? Paid for by V.A. Fleming,” followed by his personal phone number.

Victor Fleming put up a billboard near Aurora to get the city’s attention. (Photo courtesy of Victor Fleming)

Victor Fleming told “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio that the billboard cost $3,000 a month and was born out of “exasperation.”

“I’ve tried calling the mayor’s office,” Fleming said. “I try calling them on the phone, and I get some person or an AI that says, ‘Well, we’ll call you back.’ But they never seem to, particularly when they find out that what I want to talk about isn’t pleasant for them.”

Fleming, who is battling lung cancer and prostate cancer, said he is physically unable to attend city meetings and make his case in person.

“I’m disabled. I have lung cancer. I have prostate cancer, and I’m not able to go down to these meetings and scream at these people in public,” he said.

Someone told him to build a fence. He wasn’t having it

Fleming shared that one caller from his billboard suggested he spend the $3,000 on a fence instead. His response was immediate.

“I shouldn’t have to,” Fleming said.

KIRO host Spike O’Neill said that reaction captured exactly why the billboard matters.

“Putting up a fence, that’s selfish,” Spike said. “Putting up a sign, you’re speaking up for the entire city that you care about.”

Spike compared Fleming’s effort to other residents who have taken matters into their own hands, from personal barricades to stop shootings to Dunn Lumber owner Gay Wards addressing human trafficking on Aurora.

“This billboard, I hope, is going to get the city’s attention,” Spike said. “We’re going to try to help you do that and amplify the message you felt you needed to put out there.”

The billboard idea came from a love story

Fleming said the billboard idea wasn’t new for him. He got the inspiration decades ago.

“Back in the ’70s, I was in love with a girl, and I put up a billboard to tell her so,” Fleming said.

When Spike asked if it worked, Fleming didn’t hesitate.

“Oh, yeah, absolutely,” he said.

“Billboards work!” KIRO host Jake Skorheim responded.

Fleming also drew inspiration from the famous 1971 billboard that read, “Will the last person leaving Seattle turn out the lights?” during Boeing’s massive layoffs.

Nearly 100 calls and counting

Fleming said he has received close to 100 calls and messages since the billboard went up, with the response accelerating after Seattle Red 770 AM host Jason Rantz spotted the sign and interviewed him.

Fleming said he doesn’t do email. He carries a flip phone.

“It’s not that, it’s just I’ve got nothing but a flip phone,” Fleming said.

“You’re smart,” Jake responded. “You’re trying to go off the grid. I like that.”

Jake said the reason he wanted Fleming on the show is because the message on the billboard is one he has heard from “countless people” who feel the city is happy to ignore the problems happening right outside their windows.

“This feels like the city is just happy to ignore these very real problems that you guys are watching right outside your front windows every day,” Jake said.

“Well, that’s putting it mildly,” Fleming responded.

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