[Music] how’s everybody doing excellent hey
how’s everybody doing excellent hey
how’s everybody doing excellent hey listen I recently celebrated my fiftieth
listen I recently celebrated my fiftieth
listen I recently celebrated my fiftieth birthday the half-century mark and
birthday the half-century mark and
birthday the half-century mark and despite my complete apprehension about
despite my complete apprehension about
despite my complete apprehension about that moment it really turned out to be
that moment it really turned out to be
that moment it really turned out to be not quite as bad as I was worried it was
not quite as bad as I was worried it was
not quite as bad as I was worried it was going to be and in fact as I stand here
going to be and in fact as I stand here
going to be and in fact as I stand here today looking out over this audience I’m
today looking out over this audience I’m
today looking out over this audience I’m reminded that life is actually pretty
reminded that life is actually pretty
reminded that life is actually pretty cool so thank you all for showing up you
cool so thank you all for showing up you
cool so thank you all for showing up you know it was just a few years ago when I
know it was just a few years ago when I
know it was just a few years ago when I actually had some questions that might
actually had some questions that might
actually had some questions that might sound familiar to you in terms of what I
sound familiar to you in terms of what I
sound familiar to you in terms of what I wanted to be doing with my life was this
wanted to be doing with my life was this
wanted to be doing with my life was this it was this the sum total of everything
it was this the sum total of everything
it was this the sum total of everything that I’d been taught was I happy was I
that I’d been taught was I happy was I
that I’d been taught was I happy was I headed in the right direction with what
headed in the right direction with what
headed in the right direction with what I was doing
I was doing
I was doing politics is a family business in the
politics is a family business in the
politics is a family business in the Durkin family one that dates back to
Durkin family one that dates back to
Durkin family one that dates back to 1913 when my grandfather an Irish
1913 when my grandfather an Irish
1913 when my grandfather an Irish immigrant was elected to the State House
immigrant was elected to the State House
immigrant was elected to the State House of Representatives for Montana and 50
of Representatives for Montana and 50
of Representatives for Montana and 50 years later my dad would be elected to
years later my dad would be elected to
years later my dad would be elected to the state Senate right here in
the state Senate right here in
the state Senate right here in Washington my sister Jenny served his
Washington my sister Jenny served his
Washington my sister Jenny served his United States District Attorney under
United States District Attorney under
United States District Attorney under President Obama and that was proud to
President Obama and that was proud to
President Obama and that was proud to serve under three different mayors for
serve under three different mayors for
serve under three different mayors for the City of Seattle first as a policy
the City of Seattle first as a policy
the City of Seattle first as a policy advisor for the mayor and then as a
advisor for the mayor and then as a
advisor for the mayor and then as a community coordinator for a little
community coordinator for a little
community coordinator for a little smaller Department and in both roles
smaller Department and in both roles
smaller Department and in both roles which I loved my my job was essentially
which I loved my my job was essentially
which I loved my my job was essentially the same I was that about a liaison
the same I was that about a liaison
the same I was that about a liaison between a 10,000 city work force 10,000
between a 10,000 city work force 10,000
between a 10,000 city work force 10,000 City bureaucrats and 600,000 people that
City bureaucrats and 600,000 people that
City bureaucrats and 600,000 people that lived in the city of Seattle my job was
lived in the city of Seattle my job was
lived in the city of Seattle my job was to disseminate deliver decode messages
to disseminate deliver decode messages
to disseminate deliver decode messages sometimes people don’t speak government
sometimes people don’t speak government
sometimes people don’t speak government and believe it or not sometimes
and believe it or not sometimes
and believe it or not sometimes government doesn’t speak regular people
government doesn’t speak regular people
government doesn’t speak regular people talk and being one of a one-of eating a
talk and being one of a one-of eating a
talk and being one of a one-of eating a catholic big Irish Catholic family you
catholic big Irish Catholic family you
catholic big Irish Catholic family you get pretty good at being a peacemaker so
get pretty good at being a peacemaker so
get pretty good at being a peacemaker so it was a natural job that I that I loved
it was a natural job that I that I loved
it was a natural job that I that I loved very much it was challenging and even at
very much it was challenging and even at
very much it was challenging and even at times quite entertaining I don’t know
times quite entertaining I don’t know
times quite entertaining I don’t know how many of you can boast that you get
how many of you can boast that you get
how many of you can boast that you get to show up to your workplace every day
to show up to your workplace every day
to show up to your workplace every day and debate the merits of
and debate the merits of
and debate the merits of tree pruning with people and tall rubber
tree pruning with people and tall rubber
tree pruning with people and tall rubber tree suits but I can so now at this
tree suits but I can so now at this
tree suits but I can so now at this point in my life politics was one of
point in my life politics was one of
point in my life politics was one of those avenues I thought was going to
those avenues I thought was going to
those avenues I thought was going to kind of get me there was gonna be where
kind of get me there was gonna be where
kind of get me there was gonna be where I wanted to land in life in some very
I wanted to land in life in some very
I wanted to land in life in some very tall shadows and I had been taking
tall shadows and I had been taking
tall shadows and I had been taking photos at this point for several years I
photos at this point for several years I
photos at this point for several years I never really thought of myself as good
never really thought of myself as good
never really thought of myself as good or as a professional like some of the
or as a professional like some of the
or as a professional like some of the people that I really admired but I was
people that I really admired but I was
people that I really admired but I was very avid about it very passionate about
very avid about it very passionate about
very avid about it very passionate about it and one day just a couple years after
it and one day just a couple years after
it and one day just a couple years after I took this picture something very
I took this picture something very
I took this picture something very profound happened something’s very
profound happened something’s very
profound happened something’s very simple but something that would change
simple but something that would change
simple but something that would change my life the way that I would look at how
my life the way that I would look at how
my life the way that I would look at how I wanted to approach the world or as my
I wanted to approach the world or as my
I wanted to approach the world or as my dad used to say leave your mark on the
dad used to say leave your mark on the
dad used to say leave your mark on the world and one day in October 2013 I woke
world and one day in October 2013 I woke
world and one day in October 2013 I woke up it wasn’t a day that I really felt it
up it wasn’t a day that I really felt it
up it wasn’t a day that I really felt it was gonna be a profound impact on my
was gonna be a profound impact on my
was gonna be a profound impact on my life in fact just the opposite I woke up
life in fact just the opposite I woke up
life in fact just the opposite I woke up with a horrible cold coffee and sneezing
with a horrible cold coffee and sneezing
with a horrible cold coffee and sneezing that only got worse as the day went on
that only got worse as the day went on
that only got worse as the day went on 103 degree temperature and I really
103 degree temperature and I really
103 degree temperature and I really didn’t want to roll out of bed I just
didn’t want to roll out of bed I just
didn’t want to roll out of bed I just felt horrible but as any decent
felt horrible but as any decent
felt horrible but as any decent photographer will tell you towards
photographer will tell you towards
photographer will tell you towards sunset you get up you look out the
sunset you get up you look out the
sunset you get up you look out the window to see what’s happening during
window to see what’s happening during
window to see what’s happening during the Golden Hour see if there’s anything
the Golden Hour see if there’s anything
the Golden Hour see if there’s anything worth taking a picture of and that’s
worth taking a picture of and that’s
worth taking a picture of and that’s what I did
what I did
what I did I dragged myself out of bed feeling
I dragged myself out of bed feeling
I dragged myself out of bed feeling pretty low four hundred square foot
pretty low four hundred square foot
pretty low four hundred square foot little apartment I’ve lived in for 25
little apartment I’ve lived in for 25
little apartment I’ve lived in for 25 years now didn’t want to see anything I
years now didn’t want to see anything I
years now didn’t want to see anything I was about to throw up in the blinds to
was about to throw up in the blinds to
was about to throw up in the blinds to my place and really expecting just
my place and really expecting just
my place and really expecting just another October day and see how it gray
another October day and see how it gray
another October day and see how it gray overcast right so went over threw open
overcast right so went over threw open
overcast right so went over threw open the blinds
that that was a pretty amazing sight you
that that was a pretty amazing sight you have the iconic Space Needle draped in
have the iconic Space Needle draped in
have the iconic Space Needle draped in this blanket of fog against that
this blanket of fog against that
this blanket of fog against that wonderful backdrop of the Olympic
wonderful backdrop of the Olympic
wonderful backdrop of the Olympic Mountains I’ve never seen anything quite
Mountains I’ve never seen anything quite
Mountains I’ve never seen anything quite like it staring out of that window of
like it staring out of that window of
like it staring out of that window of mine and so as my heartbeat starting to
mine and so as my heartbeat starting to
mine and so as my heartbeat starting to grow louder I forgot all about the fact
grow louder I forgot all about the fact
grow louder I forgot all about the fact that I was just sick sick sick and I
that I was just sick sick sick and I
that I was just sick sick sick and I went and grabbed my camera gear I’ve got
went and grabbed my camera gear I’ve got
went and grabbed my camera gear I’ve got to my secret place got a couple pictures
to my secret place got a couple pictures
to my secret place got a couple pictures I thought were pretty good posted him on
I thought were pretty good posted him on
I thought were pretty good posted him on a little place called Facebook and went
a little place called Facebook and went
a little place called Facebook and went back to bed for about 12 hours now when
back to bed for about 12 hours now when
back to bed for about 12 hours now when I awoke to my phone ringing crazy
I awoke to my phone ringing crazy
I awoke to my phone ringing crazy my friends calling me and saying oh my
my friends calling me and saying oh my
my friends calling me and saying oh my god that picture you took is all over
god that picture you took is all over
god that picture you took is all over the news have you seen it like news what
the news have you seen it like news what
the news have you seen it like news what are you talking about it’s all over the
are you talking about it’s all over the
are you talking about it’s all over the place so I tuned in turned on my little
place so I tuned in turned on my little
place so I tuned in turned on my little Facebook within 12 hours that picture
Facebook within 12 hours that picture
Facebook within 12 hours that picture had been seen I was to half a million
had been seen I was to half a million
had been seen I was to half a million times and by the time the weekend rolled
times and by the time the weekend rolled
times and by the time the weekend rolled around millions of people had seen this
around millions of people had seen this
around millions of people had seen this picture that I took from the rooftop of
picture that I took from the rooftop of
picture that I took from the rooftop of my little condo which blew my mind
my little condo which blew my mind
my little condo which blew my mind absolutely blew my mind
absolutely blew my mind
absolutely blew my mind now it changed a couple of things first
now it changed a couple of things first
now it changed a couple of things first of all it changed the way that I thought
of all it changed the way that I thought
of all it changed the way that I thought about photography in terms of making it
about photography in terms of making it
about photography in terms of making it a profession and changed the way people
a profession and changed the way people
a profession and changed the way people kind of looked at me in terms of how
kind of looked at me in terms of how
kind of looked at me in terms of how this guy’s actually pretty good he can
this guy’s actually pretty good he can
this guy’s actually pretty good he can shoot which is nice and more importantly
shoot which is nice and more importantly
shoot which is nice and more importantly it it changed the way I thought I could
it it changed the way I thought I could
it it changed the way I thought I could change the world the way I could deliver
change the world the way I could deliver
change the world the way I could deliver my message suddenly politics which I had
my message suddenly politics which I had
my message suddenly politics which I had known my whole life which is an
known my whole life which is an
known my whole life which is an important sport full-contact sport
important sport full-contact sport
important sport full-contact sport my father understood it and my sisters
my father understood it and my sisters
my father understood it and my sisters suddenly politics took a backseat to
suddenly politics took a backseat to
suddenly politics took a backseat to photography is a new way to help tell my
photography is a new way to help tell my
photography is a new way to help tell my story the way I wanted to be heard and
story the way I wanted to be heard and
story the way I wanted to be heard and over the course of the next couple of
over the course of the next couple of
over the course of the next couple of years I was very proud to have my work
years I was very proud to have my work
years I was very proud to have my work featured on places ABC NBC CBS USA Today
featured on places ABC NBC CBS USA Today
featured on places ABC NBC CBS USA Today had a nice feature on me
had a nice feature on me
had a nice feature on me friends over at CNN posted some of my
friends over at CNN posted some of my
friends over at CNN posted some of my pictures on their front page very cool
pictures on their front page very cool
pictures on their front page very cool and get this geek wire I knew I had made
and get this geek wire I knew I had made
and get this geek wire I knew I had made the big time when the picture of my
the big time when the picture of my
the big time when the picture of my aurora borealis er made geek wire that’s
aurora borealis er made geek wire that’s
aurora borealis er made geek wire that’s a pretty cool accomplishment that I’m
a pretty cool accomplishment that I’m
a pretty cool accomplishment that I’m still very proud of so the question
still very proud of so the question
still very proud of so the question really became and it happened very
really became and it happened very
really became and it happened very quickly what do I do with this newfound
quickly what do I do with this newfound
quickly what do I do with this newfound respect this celebrity that social media
respect this celebrity that social media
respect this celebrity that social media was giving me because there was other
was giving me because there was other
was giving me because there was other things that were more important to me
things that were more important to me
things that were more important to me that were going on in and around the
that were going on in and around the
that were going on in and around the Emerald City the city that I was born in
Emerald City the city that I was born in
Emerald City the city that I was born in and that I love issues of homelessness
and that I love issues of homelessness
and that I love issues of homelessness we’ve all seen pictures like this or
we’ve all seen pictures like this or
we’ve all seen pictures like this or maybe scenes in our own neighborhood
maybe scenes in our own neighborhood
maybe scenes in our own neighborhood issues of addiction I hope this guy get
issues of addiction I hope this guy get
issues of addiction I hope this guy get down to the sobering center where he got
down to the sobering center where he got
down to the sobering center where he got to spend the night but these are scenes
to spend the night but these are scenes
to spend the night but these are scenes that were playing out in my neighborhood
that were playing out in my neighborhood
that were playing out in my neighborhood on a daily basis and they weren’t
on a daily basis and they weren’t
on a daily basis and they weren’t isolated incidences I didn’t have to go
isolated incidences I didn’t have to go
isolated incidences I didn’t have to go very far to realize that wow this
very far to realize that wow this
very far to realize that wow this Emerald City that was so famous for its
Emerald City that was so famous for its
Emerald City that was so famous for its tech its industry its Starbucks it had
tech its industry its Starbucks it had
tech its industry its Starbucks it had some serious issues and it wasn’t just a
some serious issues and it wasn’t just a
some serious issues and it wasn’t just a couple people there were thousands of
couple people there were thousands of
couple people there were thousands of people living in the streets of Seattle
people living in the streets of Seattle
people living in the streets of Seattle in tent cities in our greenbelts our
in tent cities in our greenbelts our
in tent cities in our greenbelts our city parks underneath our freeways
city parks underneath our freeways
city parks underneath our freeways entire communities of people that had
entire communities of people that had
entire communities of people that had been lost and forgotten
been lost and forgotten
been lost and forgotten this was very bothersome to me these are
this was very bothersome to me these are
this was very bothersome to me these are the stories that I felt I wanted to
the stories that I felt I wanted to
the stories that I felt I wanted to bring to people outside in my
bring to people outside in my
bring to people outside in my pretty-pretty er works and within this
pretty-pretty er works and within this
pretty-pretty er works and within this community of homeless folks many of them
community of homeless folks many of them
community of homeless folks many of them who I called my friends there was
who I called my friends there was
who I called my friends there was another very bothersome secret that I
another very bothersome secret that I
another very bothersome secret that I saw brewing on the horizon that has to
saw brewing on the horizon that has to
saw brewing on the horizon that has to do with that issue of addiction
do with that issue of addiction
do with that issue of addiction especially as it relates to heroin this
especially as it relates to heroin this
especially as it relates to heroin this is a friend of mine I ran into just a
is a friend of mine I ran into just a
is a friend of mine I ran into just a few weeks ago who bought this little
few weeks ago who bought this little
few weeks ago who bought this little needle of heroin for less than ten bucks
needle of heroin for less than ten bucks
needle of heroin for less than ten bucks right out front of a big grocery store
right out front of a big grocery store
right out front of a big grocery store chain in my neighborhood this is right
chain in my neighborhood this is right
chain in my neighborhood this is right here my own right in my own neighborhood
these are things that I was seen on a
these are things that I was seen on a nightly basis that I couldn’t no longer
nightly basis that I couldn’t no longer
nightly basis that I couldn’t no longer turn my head from that I felt important
turn my head from that I felt important
turn my head from that I felt important enough to bring to the outside world
enough to bring to the outside world
enough to bring to the outside world next picture is kind of hard to look at
next picture is kind of hard to look at
next picture is kind of hard to look at if you don’t like needles it’s a good
if you don’t like needles it’s a good
if you don’t like needles it’s a good time to look away just for a minute so
time to look away just for a minute so
time to look away just for a minute so many of you are accustomed to hearing
many of you are accustomed to hearing
many of you are accustomed to hearing about prescription pills painkillers
about prescription pills painkillers
about prescription pills painkillers opioids they’re called Vicodin Oxycontin
percocets these are all very powerful
percocets these are all very powerful cousins of heroin these pills if you can
cousins of heroin these pills if you can
cousins of heroin these pills if you can find them on the streets are about 30
find them on the streets are about 30
find them on the streets are about 30 bucks a piece the gold standard heroin
bucks a piece the gold standard heroin
bucks a piece the gold standard heroin is eight dollars and it’s for sale right
is eight dollars and it’s for sale right
is eight dollars and it’s for sale right here in Friday Harbor by the way it’s
here in Friday Harbor by the way it’s
here in Friday Harbor by the way it’s not a big city problem and while scenes
not a big city problem and while scenes
not a big city problem and while scenes like this are incredibly hard to look at
like this are incredibly hard to look at
like this are incredibly hard to look at believe me they were hard to take
believe me they were hard to take
believe me they were hard to take they’re still hard to look at it’s hard
they’re still hard to look at it’s hard
they’re still hard to look at it’s hard to understand that I was there that
to understand that I was there that
to understand that I was there that night watching my friend do this
so this would become the focus of my
so this would become the focus of my work the pretty and the gritty and I was
work the pretty and the gritty and I was
work the pretty and the gritty and I was very happy to talk to my friend at Col
very happy to talk to my friend at Col
very happy to talk to my friend at Col Broder at the Seattle Times who shared
Broder at the Seattle Times who shared
Broder at the Seattle Times who shared my stories because these are stories
my stories because these are stories
my stories because these are stories that I want people to to remember of
that I want people to to remember of
that I want people to to remember of course the funny thing is is that when
course the funny thing is is that when
course the funny thing is is that when this story came out people started to
this story came out people started to
this story came out people started to really wake up like wow Holy’s that’s in
really wake up like wow Holy’s that’s in
really wake up like wow Holy’s that’s in Seattle this is this is an issue in my
Seattle this is this is an issue in my
Seattle this is this is an issue in my town how could that be
town how could that be
town how could that be yet Amazon Starbucks and my curse are
yet Amazon Starbucks and my curse are
yet Amazon Starbucks and my curse are these people getting like this that’s a
these people getting like this that’s a
these people getting like this that’s a complex set of questions and it has a
complex set of questions and it has a
complex set of questions and it has a very complex answer that can take teams
very complex answer that can take teams
very complex answer that can take teams of people years to help kind of unravel
of people years to help kind of unravel
of people years to help kind of unravel one of the interesting questions people
one of the interesting questions people
one of the interesting questions people ask me is how did you get to know these
ask me is how did you get to know these
ask me is how did you get to know these people Tim I mean people like my friend
people Tim I mean people like my friend
people Tim I mean people like my friend Sean here who’s been on the streets in
Sean here who’s been on the streets in
Sean here who’s been on the streets in Seattle for about a decade one of the
Seattle for about a decade one of the
Seattle for about a decade one of the nicest sweetest guys you’ll ever meet
nicest sweetest guys you’ll ever meet
nicest sweetest guys you’ll ever meet got a huge addiction issue my friends
got a huge addiction issue my friends
got a huge addiction issue my friends Eric and Bella she was six months
Eric and Bella she was six months
Eric and Bella she was six months pregnant when this photo was taken they
pregnant when this photo was taken they
pregnant when this photo was taken they were living in doorways in and around
were living in doorways in and around
were living in doorways in and around Capitol Hill my neighborhood and this is
Capitol Hill my neighborhood and this is
Capitol Hill my neighborhood and this is her baby Ethan born here just about
her baby Ethan born here just about
her baby Ethan born here just about three months ago they’ve been struggling
three months ago they’ve been struggling
three months ago they’ve been struggling to find permanent housing so that they
to find permanent housing so that they
to find permanent housing so that they can start building the life that
can start building the life that
can start building the life that everybody deserves you’ll be happy to
everybody deserves you’ll be happy to
everybody deserves you’ll be happy to know that Eric texted me as I was
know that Eric texted me as I was
know that Eric texted me as I was preparing for the show saying Tim you’re
preparing for the show saying Tim you’re
preparing for the show saying Tim you’re not going to believe it we just got a
not going to believe it we just got a
not going to believe it we just got a letter from the housing authority and we
letter from the housing authority and we
letter from the housing authority and we have housing vouchers we might get our
have housing vouchers we might get our
have housing vouchers we might get our keys to our new apartment by Monday
keys to our new apartment by Monday
keys to our new apartment by Monday afternoon that seemed you’re not going
afternoon that seemed you’re not going
afternoon that seemed you’re not going to believe it with your help and
to believe it with your help and
to believe it with your help and encouragement I got a job offer at Ivers
encouragement I got a job offer at Ivers
encouragement I got a job offer at Ivers down on the waterfront fortunes can
down on the waterfront fortunes can
down on the waterfront fortunes can change if we help each other out this is
change if we help each other out this is
change if we help each other out this is a really good story it’s my friend Rick
a really good story it’s my friend Rick
a really good story it’s my friend Rick he’s been on the streets over 20 years
he’s been on the streets over 20 years
he’s been on the streets over 20 years now and very nice guy he says he loves
now and very nice guy he says he loves
now and very nice guy he says he loves the freedom that homelessness provides
the freedom that homelessness provides
the freedom that homelessness provides which is interesting but he said he
which is interesting but he said he
which is interesting but he said he can’t stand the way that loneliness
can’t stand the way that loneliness
can’t stand the way that loneliness creeps into his life unexpectedly and he
creeps into his life unexpectedly and he
creeps into his life unexpectedly and he said something really profound to me the
said something really profound to me the
said something really profound to me the other night he said Tim I can sit here
other night he said Tim I can sit here
other night he said Tim I can sit here for hours with my sign trying to make a
for hours with my sign trying to make a
for hours with my sign trying to make a couple bucks and people walk right by me
couple bucks and people walk right by me
couple bucks and people walk right by me they don’t even see me it’s like I’m a
they don’t even see me it’s like I’m a
they don’t even see me it’s like I’m a ghost
ghost
ghost that’s a loneliness that I don’t ever
that’s a loneliness that I don’t ever
that’s a loneliness that I don’t ever want to experience and I’m sure some of
want to experience and I’m sure some of
want to experience and I’m sure some of you can relate to my friend Luke from
you can relate to my friend Luke from
you can relate to my friend Luke from Arizona he’s been on the streets for
Arizona he’s been on the streets for
Arizona he’s been on the streets for about ten years
about ten years
about ten years misses his family a lot doesn’t think
misses his family a lot doesn’t think
misses his family a lot doesn’t think that they miss him I think he’s probably
that they miss him I think he’s probably
that they miss him I think he’s probably wrong there and says that the worst
wrong there and says that the worst
wrong there and says that the worst mistake he’s ever made was doing heroin
mistake he’s ever made was doing heroin
mistake he’s ever made was doing heroin is worried that he can’t get back to a
is worried that he can’t get back to a
is worried that he can’t get back to a place of normality I think he’s wrong
this guy this guy let me tell you about
this guy this guy let me tell you about this guy if you come to Seattle you’re
this guy if you come to Seattle you’re
this guy if you come to Seattle you’re gonna want to meet my friend Broadway
gonna want to meet my friend Broadway
gonna want to meet my friend Broadway Mike this guy is the most famous guy on
Mike this guy is the most famous guy on
Mike this guy is the most famous guy on the streets he lived underneath the Bank
the streets he lived underneath the Bank
the streets he lived underneath the Bank of America in my neighborhood for ten
of America in my neighborhood for ten
of America in my neighborhood for ten years dug out an apartment by himself
years dug out an apartment by himself
years dug out an apartment by himself and live there rent-free for a decade
and live there rent-free for a decade
and live there rent-free for a decade before he had a few friends over one
before he had a few friends over one
before he had a few friends over one night they got to play in music live
night they got to play in music live
night they got to play in music live music but the cops came and shut him
music but the cops came and shut him
music but the cops came and shut him down and I think he’s still the only one
down and I think he’s still the only one
down and I think he’s still the only one to this day who’s gotten away from
to this day who’s gotten away from
to this day who’s gotten away from paying Bank of America cent on a
paying Bank of America cent on a
paying Bank of America cent on a mortgage like that you’ll be happy to
mortgage like that you’ll be happy to
mortgage like that you’ll be happy to know that he is in permanent housing now
know that he is in permanent housing now
know that he is in permanent housing now he got himself an apartment after 25
he got himself an apartment after 25
he got himself an apartment after 25 years on the streets and I was talking
years on the streets and I was talking
years on the streets and I was talking to the other day nice Ike you know what
to the other day nice Ike you know what
to the other day nice Ike you know what I love the fact I can lock my door and
I love the fact I can lock my door and
I love the fact I can lock my door and go to sleep on a mattress that just
go to sleep on a mattress that just
go to sleep on a mattress that just blows my mind the simple things in life
blows my mind the simple things in life
blows my mind the simple things in life that we take for granted are crazy but a
that we take for granted are crazy but a
that we take for granted are crazy but a really good guy and I want you to meet
really good guy and I want you to meet
really good guy and I want you to meet him if you ever come out and visit me
him if you ever come out and visit me
him if you ever come out and visit me now don’t get me wrong it’s I love
now don’t get me wrong it’s I love
now don’t get me wrong it’s I love taking pictures you won’t find somebody
taking pictures you won’t find somebody
taking pictures you won’t find somebody that loves taking pictures of sunsets
that loves taking pictures of sunsets
that loves taking pictures of sunsets and ferry boats more than me I promise
and ferry boats more than me I promise
and ferry boats more than me I promise you if you’re looking for this kind of a
you if you’re looking for this kind of a
you if you’re looking for this kind of a scenery come to my facebook site I got
scenery come to my facebook site I got
scenery come to my facebook site I got you covered that’s me
you covered that’s me
you covered that’s me chasin rainbows in the pouring down rain
chasin rainbows in the pouring down rain
chasin rainbows in the pouring down rain storm got you covered
storm got you covered
storm got you covered I’ll get that shot or how about that
I’ll get that shot or how about that
I’ll get that shot or how about that aurora borealis a couple months ago did
aurora borealis a couple months ago did
aurora borealis a couple months ago did you guys catch that 2:00 a.m. in the
you guys catch that 2:00 a.m. in the
you guys catch that 2:00 a.m. in the morning I got that shot I couldn’t
morning I got that shot I couldn’t
morning I got that shot I couldn’t believe what I was seeing was the first
believe what I was seeing was the first
believe what I was seeing was the first time in 50 years that anything like that
time in 50 years that anything like that
time in 50 years that anything like that had been seen dancing over the Emerald
had been seen dancing over the Emerald
had been seen dancing over the Emerald City and I was happy to catch it I loved
City and I was happy to catch it I loved
City and I was happy to catch it I loved taking those kinds of pictures but in my
taking those kinds of pictures but in my
taking those kinds of pictures but in my heart of hearts I know they aren’t going
heart of hearts I know they aren’t going
heart of hearts I know they aren’t going to change the minds of policymakers like
to change the minds of policymakers like
to change the minds of policymakers like the mayor mayor Mary who’s a good guy he
the mayor mayor Mary who’s a good guy he
the mayor mayor Mary who’s a good guy he works very hard loves the City of
works very hard loves the City of
works very hard loves the City of Seattle with all his heart invited me up
Seattle with all his heart invited me up
Seattle with all his heart invited me up to a place called the East do Amish
to a place called the East do Amish
to a place called the East do Amish Greenbelt some of you might have also
Greenbelt some of you might have also
Greenbelt some of you might have also heard to it heard it referred to as the
heard to it heard it referred to as the
heard to it heard it referred to as the jungle a very dangerous place but the
jungle a very dangerous place but the
jungle a very dangerous place but the mayor invited me up to meet with and
mayor invited me up to meet with and
mayor invited me up to meet with and photograph and document some of these
photograph and document some of these
photograph and document some of these people that need help and I’m very proud
people that need help and I’m very proud
people that need help and I’m very proud that he turned around and used my photos
that he turned around and used my photos
that he turned around and used my photos to help convince the City Council to
to help convince the City Council to
to help convince the City Council to open up a new navigation Center where
open up a new navigation Center where
open up a new navigation Center where homeless people can come grab a coffee
homeless people can come grab a coffee
homeless people can come grab a coffee grab a shower check the job postings get
grab a shower check the job postings get
grab a shower check the job postings get touch with social services to help them
touch with social services to help them
touch with social services to help them get out underneath the clutch of
get out underneath the clutch of
get out underneath the clutch of homelessness and addiction I was very
homelessness and addiction I was very
homelessness and addiction I was very healthy to help there my friends at King
healthy to help there my friends at King
healthy to help there my friends at King County have a task force on opiate
County have a task force on opiate
County have a task force on opiate addiction and I was proud to lend them
addiction and I was proud to lend them
addiction and I was proud to lend them my photos to help illustrate the story
my photos to help illustrate the story
my photos to help illustrate the story because a good picture can tell a
because a good picture can tell a
because a good picture can tell a thousand words and statistics statistics
thousand words and statistics statistics
thousand words and statistics statistics can take a thousand words so I’m very
can take a thousand words so I’m very
can take a thousand words so I’m very happy to lend those photos so that my
happy to lend those photos so that my
happy to lend those photos so that my friends can tell the story of addiction
friends can tell the story of addiction
friends can tell the story of addiction let me drop a couple final thoughts on
let me drop a couple final thoughts on
let me drop a couple final thoughts on you here when you find yourself in those
you here when you find yourself in those
you here when you find yourself in those life positive moments maybe it’s walk on
life positive moments maybe it’s walk on
life positive moments maybe it’s walk on the beach with your loved one or with
the beach with your loved one or with
the beach with your loved one or with your family for me it’s taking pictures
your family for me it’s taking pictures
your family for me it’s taking pictures you know like this one which was almost
you know like this one which was almost
you know like this one which was almost a year ago to the date of that blood red
a year ago to the date of that blood red
a year ago to the date of that blood red super Eclipse as it sailed up over the
super Eclipse as it sailed up over the
super Eclipse as it sailed up over the Space Needle and I thought and I’m still
Space Needle and I thought and I’m still
Space Needle and I thought and I’m still looking at this going man you were there
looking at this going man you were there
looking at this going man you were there you got that shot to when you find
you got that shot to when you find
you got that shot to when you find yourself in that moment
yourself in that moment
yourself in that moment hold on to it live in the moment because
hold on to it live in the moment because
hold on to it live in the moment because they don’t come around very often and
they don’t come around very often and
they don’t come around very often and they certainly don’t last very long but
they certainly don’t last very long but
they certainly don’t last very long but it’s your first opportunity help share
it’s your first opportunity help share
it’s your first opportunity help share that positivity with somebody less
that positivity with somebody less
that positivity with somebody less fortunate with somebody vulnerable
fortunate with somebody vulnerable
fortunate with somebody vulnerable introduced to your so introduce yourself
introduced to your so introduce yourself
introduced to your so introduce yourself to somebody who you recognize as
to somebody who you recognize as
to somebody who you recognize as homeless buy him a cup of coffee and get
homeless buy him a cup of coffee and get
homeless buy him a cup of coffee and get to know him I guarantee not only will
to know him I guarantee not only will
to know him I guarantee not only will you brighten their day but you’ll
you brighten their day but you’ll
you brighten their day but you’ll probably learn something about how best
probably learn something about how best
probably learn something about how best to help them maybe even on a larger
to help them maybe even on a larger
to help them maybe even on a larger scale about how we can all start to
scale about how we can all start to
scale about how we can all start to address this issue that we’re seeing in
address this issue that we’re seeing in
address this issue that we’re seeing in the streets remember they’re not an
the streets remember they’re not an
the streets remember they’re not an alien invasion force these are our
alien invasion force these are our
alien invasion force these are our friends some of them are our family
friends some of them are our family
friends some of them are our family members that wind up on the streets our
members that wind up on the streets our
members that wind up on the streets our coworkers and they are our neighbors
coworkers and they are our neighbors
coworkers and they are our neighbors let’s show them some love patience and
let’s show them some love patience and
let’s show them some love patience and understanding and let’s see if we can’t
understanding and let’s see if we can’t
understanding and let’s see if we can’t get out there and make a difference in
get out there and make a difference in
get out there and make a difference in their life thank you very much everybody
their life thank you very much everybody
their life thank you very much everybody [Applause]
”
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