Dear victorious progressives:

I didn’t vote for you, but I honestly and sincerely wish you luck. I have voted progressive in the past, and if you can make this work I will again. Everyone knows the horrifying contrast between wealth and poverty; it challenges our morality. How can I look at the wretchedness of my brothers and sisters on the street and not want to transform their situation? I have known those who were addicted who recovered, those who were homeless who found a home, those who were mentally ill who found a place of relative peace. And I have known those who died, who did not recover. And those who fled Seattle because of cost.

This is my plea: Do your research, find out what works, find the best practices and methods for solving these problems. Don’t be fooled by a plan that sounds good in theory, because theories are cheap. And once you have a method, figure out a way to measure its success. If it works, great, double down. If not, have the courage to let it go.

Honestly, I hope it works. If not, you feed the beast.

Ken Mapp, Seattle