The hour long TV documentary special on Seattle's homeless crisis has prompted a strong debate from viewers who are saying it is either an accurate portrayal of what is happening in the city or that it "misses the mark" and embellishes the issue.
The doc titled "Seattle is Dying" first aired on KOMO-TV Saturday and shows images of homeless campsites, shocked tourists, and disgruntled business owners who complain about theft in the area.
The doc also ignited heated conversations about how Portland and San Francisco are just as bad and could be the next to die, The Oregonian reports.
Writing on the Next Door website, where discussions of homelessness are a common theme, a Portlander posted a link to “Seattle Is Dying,” writing, "This is Portland, too. On Seattle’s homeless. Very well done."
Another Portland Next Door poster responded: “Disturbing and way too much like Portland, indeed. Hopefully, we can all learn from this (and other reporting like this) and find solutions to our problems moving forward. It’s so hard to remain compassionate and find the necessary level of humanity to deal with these serious problems. I think every part of our political system needs to seek out and find more balance.”
KOMO’s Eric Johnson wrote the special saying the doc is about 'citizens who don’t feel safe taking their families into downtown Seattle.' "It’s about parents who won’t take their children into the public parks they pay for. It’s about filth and degradation all around us. And theft and crime. It’s about people who don’t feel protected anymore, who don’t feel like their voices are being heard.”
Twitter held the largest debate:
Los Angeles needs a documentary special next, "LA is Dying."