Goodwill in Seattle is about to become very scarce. Two of the chain’s Seattle stores will be closing due to rising rents, safety concerns, and increased theft. This is a blow to the lower-income residents in the area, as well as people with disabilities that Goodwill is known for hiring. This is not good news for Goodwill and Seattle.

Goodwill has announced it will close two of its locations in Seattle due to “escalating crime, safety concerns, and rising rents.”

Evergreen Goodwill Northwest Washington announced their closures in a Friday blog post. They said that they could not “maintain an environment of safety and sustainability for both employees as well as shoppers.”

The announcement stated that “escalating thefts, safety concerns, and rising rents make it increasingly difficult for employees and shoppers to maintain a safe and sustainable environment.”

Both South Lake Union District and University District will close on September 22.

Seattle, the epicenter of some of the worst “Summer of Love 2020” riots and rioting, is worth remembering. This includes the notorious “Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone,” which began as a purported anarchist enclave. However, it ended up a satrapy run by a warlord “rapper” with a group of armed thugs. This is Seattle. Goodwill has pulled out of Seattle citing safety concerns, theft, and increasing rents.

Derieontay S. Sparks, Senior Vice President at Evergreen Goodwill attributed the decision to “the troubling increase in property damage and break-ins as well as safety concerns for employees”.

She claimed that the “challenges” combined with the high rental costs made it “unsustainable” to keep the doors open.

Sparks stated in an announcement that the decision to close the stores was not taken lightly. Both locations have seen a disturbing rise in property damages, break-ins, and safety concerns for employees. The challenges we faced, combined with the rising costs of rent and operations, made it impossible to continue our operation in these areas.

What further evidence is needed to show the sad decline of many of America’s largest cities?

Here’s the reason why I tend to take this situation personally. A severe fever that she contracted as an infant left one of my second cousins mentally handicapped. She was able to do most of the things she needed to do every day. She could cook, wash clothes, and clean her room. She was limited in her abilities and would have needed government assistance for most of her adult life. She was not, and she supported herself for the majority of her adulthood, thanks to Goodwill. She was trained and given a job at a local shop. They also helped her to find a room at a group home for people with mental disabilities. Most importantly, they gave her pride.

This last point was the most important. When she moved out of the house and got the job, I was still a teenager. I remember her when we were all at family events. The joy in her eyes as she spoke about “my apartment” and “my job” was palpable, and made us happy for her.

Seattle’s failure to protect liberty and property is bad enough, but now the city will lose a quality, reputable thrift store chain. People like my second cousin who have few options to pursue and are looking for independence will be denied the opportunities Goodwill provides.

Seattle’s voters will continue to elect the same lunatics as asylum directors.