Hello friends,

Since my last letter, there has been a string of stories in the media discussing the problem of concentrated poverty in our country. These stories have been in part an extension of the conversation about the tragedy in Ferguson, Missouri. Economic segregation inordinately impacts people of color. And though this topic makes some people uncomfortable, we must continue to have the conversation, because, although we have made some progress over the years, we certainly have not moved as far as I would have hoped. 

Some people believe that market solutions alone are the answer for displacement and poverty concentration. Others see that we need a mixture of private and public solutions. What has been clearly documented is that poverty is growing in the suburbs, here in Seattle and across the country. Land may be cheaper there for now, but the extra burden on our public infrastructure, the lack of support for low income people living far from the urban core, and diminished access to community amenities make this an inadequate and inequitable solution.