‘How can you take this CEO seriously?’: Gee and Ursula slam INRIX’s exit; Jake and Spike back the move

Transportation data and analytics company INRIX is moving out of Kirkland after nearly two decades.

CEO Bryan Mistele said the decision to leave stems from what he calls a “homeless hotel” being placed nearby. In a contribution to MyNorthwest Thursday, Mistele complained the building will not require drug testing and that “no treatment is required and no real supervision will happen on-site.”

KIRO Newsradio hosts had dramatically different responses to the move.

Gee Scott, co-host of “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio, slammed Mistele’s reasoning, especially since the facility isn’t yet open.

“Imagine having such a strong opinion about what’s going on somewhere and yet you haven’t even opened in that area,” Gee explained. “How can you really take this person, this CEO, seriously? And by the way, where did he get his data from when it comes to this topic?”

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Ursula on INRIX leaving Kirkland: ‘Weak leadership’

Ursula Reutin, co-host of “The Gee and Ursula Show,” agreed with Gee.

“The CEO of INRIX is an example of weak leadership,” she said. “Bryan Mistele is not being truthful, and I think is actually shameful that he is blaming a facility for the homeless that hasn’t even opened yet for his decision to move.”

The city of Kirkland also responded to Mistele’s claims in a statement to MyNorthwest that read in part:

“We understand that surrounding businesses and residents have concerns whenever a facility like this is sited. The safety of the facility’s residents, surrounding businesses, and the community is the city’s top priority. The city supports the facility to provide stable and safe homes for up to 102 disabled and chronically unhoused individuals while also being a positive addition to the community when it opens later this year.

“Up to 65% of these new residents will be people experiencing homelessness from Kirkland or the Eastside. To keep all parties safe, the city negotiated with King County for various important elements be included in the agreement regarding the facility.”

Ursula noted Mistele told The Puget Sound Business Journal in 2020 he was planning to leave in Kirkland in 2025 with no mention of a “homeless hotel.”

“I would have much more respect if he said, ‘Hey, we were planning to do this anyway,'” she said. “But I find it just so sad that he is blaming this situation on this thing, this place that has not even opened.”

Jake and Spike agree with INRIX CEO

However, Jake Skorheim, co-host of “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio, had a different view.

“You’re inviting all these people to come and live in your community. You’re not requiring them to be sober or not taking drugs. And I would have a major problem with that if this was in my backyard,” he said.

Spike O’Neill, co-host of “Jake and Spike,” agreed with Jake.

“Completely valid point of view. Businesses are leaving town because of it,” he shared.

Jake believes the homeless housing will be dangerous.

“You’re inviting an element into that community that they don’t want, and you shouldn’t be allowed to just stick somebody in there, stick a whole hotel,” he said. “The La Quinta Inn is empty now; they’re gonna fill it with people who, God bless them. I hope that they find the recovery that they need, and I hope they can get their life back on the straight and narrow, obviously, but that doesn’t need to happen in a busy area surrounded by businesses and families and homes and children who don’t want it there.”

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Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9am to 12am on KIRO Newsradio. 

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