Journalist Jonathan Choe Banned from DESC Facilities Following Critical Reports on Drug-Related Incidents

Independent journalist Jonathan Choe announced he has been banned by leaders of the Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) from their "permanent supportive housing" facilities. Choe, a Senior Fellow with the Discovery Institute’s Center on Wealth and Poverty, stated on X, formerly Twitter, that the ban occurred because he "ask[s] questions for a living." The move follows Choe's extensive critical reporting on homelessness services, particularly those provided by DESC.

Choe, a former KOMO-TV reporter, has consistently focused on the challenges and controversies surrounding "Housing First" and "harm reduction" strategies implemented by organizations like DESC. His reporting often highlights issues such as drug use, crime, and public safety concerns within these facilities. He has previously been critical of what he terms the "homeless industrial complex."

His recent investigations have brought significant attention to DESC's Bloomside facility in Burien, which has been described as an "epicenter for crime, chaos, and death." According to a July 2025 report by Burien.news, the facility saw "two more people died of drug OD's inside units" over a single weekend. The report also noted that since its opening, the Bloomside location "leads the city in 911 calls" and is a "constant drain on emergency resources."

DESC operates numerous permanent supportive housing sites across the Seattle area, aiming to provide stable housing and services to individuals experiencing homelessness, often with co-occurring mental health or substance use disorders. Choe's characterization of these sites as "drug dens" reflects his ongoing critique of the efficacy and safety of current harm reduction models. The ban raises questions about journalistic access and transparency regarding publicly funded social services.