The Seahawks have training camp until its first preseason game Aug. 10 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Seattle will face the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns in the subsequent weeks before the regular season kicks off (for Seattle) on Sept. 8.

Any QB conversation ended by July

I can’t believe how wide the gap is between Geno Smith and Sam Howell. I’d go as far as to say that I don’t remember a Seahawks quarterback who has looked this good early on in camp (you read that right).

Any conversation revolving around a “quarterback controversy” was squashed this week in practice.

Now, if you have ever been around football — junior high football, high school, college — you know that usually that defense is usually beating up on the offense first, because the offense hasn’t gotten things together. The offense needs to develop a groove because the continuity isn’t there … yet.

Now I heard on Day 2 of practice that the defense kind of got on top of the offense, but from what I saw, Geno Smith looked good. Real good. So good that led with it on their show earlier this week.

Geno looked a world different from what we saw a year ago. The offense did whatever it wanted with him under center. And he wasn’t leaning on anyone in particular. He looked Metcalf’s way. He looked Smith-Njigba’s way. He looked Lockett’s way. He included the tight ends in his drive while including running backs in the flat on simpler routes. Look out.

The secondary will take another leap

The talent at safety is something special. The addition of Rayshawn Jenkins and K’von Wallace is like putting your banana bread on a skillet with some butter (thank me later).

With Devon Witherspoon building off his rookie season, the Seattle Seahawks brought in safety Rayshawn Jenkins while locking down Julian Love long term.

Jenkins is a bad boy. Out of the Univeristy of Maimi, his first seven seasons were with the Los Angeles Chargers and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Totaling 217 combined tackles, five interceptions, three forced fumbles, 10 tackles for loss and two sacks over his last two years, he’s making his presence felt already in practice.

Meanwhile, Love got himself a new contract at $36 million for three years after not only earning a starting spot last year, but making a Pro Bowl trip to Orlando. We’ll be seeing a lot more of him soon.

The buzz is in the air

The amount of excitement about this team is the ultimate shocker. Thought there would be more uncertainty. Nope! There’s a real feeling that this team is about to be like Rocky in Rocky IV (the best Rocky movie ever, argue with someone else).

John Snyder did an excellent job in his pick for the new head coach. It may not be as loud as it was with Pete Carroll. It may not be as fun as it was with Pete Carroll, but this team is buzzing in practice!

Gee Scott’s new podcast — The RESET

I got a new podcast — — launching August 2024. The podcast will be dedicated to covering and discussing the Seattle Seahawks multiple times a week, but also allowing me to share my stories with the Seattle Seahawks, starting with when I was a car detailer for the Hawks back in 2003.

Listeners will get to hear stories, interviews from players and topics from other Seahawks-related personalities.

Tune in, whether you’re a die-hard fan or just looking to stay informed, will be the community that you want to stay connected with.

 debuts Aug. 5.

[Editor’s Note: Five people were wounded, two seriously, in a late Friday shooting in the parking lot of a Rainier Beach Safeway. The people injured were attending a pop-up held each Friday that works to help people by providing food and services. The shooters remain at large.]

How about you? Would you show up to work after five people were shot.

We often just talk about Safeway or Albertsons or where it happened. And for some reason, when we talk about the store, the name of the store, it feels like we stop right there.

And the thing that does not get talked about, are the incredible people that keep that place going — keep any grocery store going. The employees at the stores are absolutely everything. And for some reason, I feel like they get forgotten. The florists are amazing people that help you out. Your corsages for proms and all those things? How about the people who help with your cake for birthday parties? What about those back in the meat department?

This particular store in Rainier Beach has done almost everything that it can as a grocery company to keep the store safe. They’ve done private security and monitoring. They’ve implemented all of the defensive design elements suggested by the Seattle Police Department. They’ve partnered with community groups to host these events every week.

More Gee Scott: Where did all the good customer service go?

According to , one of those community groups just so happened to have two of their members shot on Friday. the Executive Director and co-founder of Urban Family, said the community organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club, provide the pop-up event for the community every Friday, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Safeway parking lot, as part of a safety initiative.

So the question now moving forward is where are more of the resources? Employees constantly in these grocery stores are subjected to threats and assaults on a regular basis. They have no real means of protection. They can’t have a weapon, they can’t approach someone with a weapon. How long will this continue?

The workers in these stores deserve to feel safe. Where is the union? Where is the UFCW ? Where is the demand to protect these members?

Your aunt, your sister, and your mother should all feel safe going to the grocery store.

Safeway Albertsons has 221 stores in Washington and Alaska. I’m told by a source within the company that they spend as much on the 15 stores in Seattle for security measures and equipment as they do for the rest of the 204 stores in all of Washington and Alaska.

the city council member in charge of District 2 said “This tragedy has left us all in a devastated space.” She said that her office would be working toward comprehensive and evidence-based solutions that will prevent such tragedies from reoccurring while addressing the significant need for mental health resources to address the trauma of this event.

If I hear “comprehensive and evidence-based solutions” one more time I think I’m going to puke.

I am tired of a lot of you liberals out here. All you want to do is sit here and talk about this. You get on Twitter and you say these things, and you have this idea. And you tell people, we don’t need police officers.

Ain’t none of y’all at these kitchen tables sitting with Black folks talking about ‘you don’t need police officers.’ I have never heard anybody in a Black community say we don’t need police officers. The conversations centered around ‘we don’t need police’ is because some of you sit there and just talk.

And when you’re done, you go back to your damn bubble.

More on Seattle Police: Seattle Police recruitment falls short as response times increase

I’m sick and tired of these things happening in this community. So here going forward, that parking lot at the Rainier Beach Safeway, needs police presence every single time so it doesn’t happen again.

This needs to be the wake-up call. We need more police. We need more police in that area. We need them there now.

The toothpaste cannot be put back in the tube — we have a real problem. Because we talk about the essential workers in our community. We talk about the amazing people in these grocery stores. But what happens is, I have a feeling that sometimes it just gets summed up as gun violence. And we just move on. And we wait. And I don’t want to wait.

Shout out to the mayor. Shout out to the police chief for showing up there that night. Thank you. You could tell that your presence was needed. You could tell by your being there that you were very concerned. Now we need action.

And I’m telling you right now, any politician in his town, anybody that comes forward with this, we don’t need the police stuff. You can hold police officers that do the wrong thing accountable, and still understand the need for police officers.

This is Seattle 2023. This is not Mayberry 1903. The people working in the grocery stores, the people in the community that live in that area, they’re tired of hearing it.

So if you’re a politician, quit trying to listen to the small minority of people.

Quit trying to say the things that are going to get you elected or get you favor. Just do what needs to be done.

If you really want to know what’s going on, go and sit at the kitchen tables of some folks in the community, then you will find out what’s really going on.

Listen to Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin weekday mornings from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on ����Xվ Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

I remember him showing me how to ride a bike. I remember when I got two Fs on my fifth-grade report card, and he told me that I wasn’t what my report card said that I was. I remember when I was struggling, and he told me that one day I would turn things around.

More from Gee Scott: Police officers should be allowed to march in Pride Parade

Communication and emotional connection were crucial for the relationship that my father and I had. Being able to be vulnerable with him allowed me to connect deeper with him than I’ve ever have with anyone else in my life.

In my 20s, as I searched for my identity, this became a strain on our relationship. It wasn’t his fault; it was all mine. I had this idea that I could do things without his help and his influence. I felt that if I did things my own way, he would see that I didn’t need to listen to him.

During that time, he was always accepting of the bad choices that I kept making.

So where am I going with this? Well, today, my dad would have turned 80 years old if he were alive today. Yes, I want to tell you about him, but more importantly, I want to tell you about a discussion we had one week before he died. 

“Champ (he called me, ‘Champ’), money doesn’t matter without purpose,” he said. “You can have all the in the world and still not be happy. Money can help with basic needs and enhance the quality of your life, but (money) can’t provide you with purpose. If you only chase money, it’s really easy to get lost.”

Toward the end of the discussion, he said, “Yeah, Champ, you can’t take any money with you when you leave here, so you might as well make an impact.” 

The reason for this discussion is because he was letting me know that he was really going to retire.

At the time, he was a resource officer for an elementary school, and he said that it was time just to sit back and enjoy what my sister and I were doing. He also said that he wanted to come out to Seattle to watch some Seahawks games as he had never been to any before.

So when he died a week later, I was scared to be without him. What started off as me being afraid, ended up turning into me seeing the world differently.

It’s as if he started to guide me from the other side. All of what he said to me over the years became crystal clear. It was also a reminder that time is just as good as money. Trust me, I wish I could have just a little more time with him. 

Time is a currency in all cultures and backgrounds. Sure, I wanted to write about time being money, but I also wanted to honor my hero.

He’d love the fact that there was a write-up about him on his birthday. He’d also love it if, maybe, someone reading this could connect to this and gain more of an appreciation of time.

As you prepare for the upcoming holiday, appreciate the time with loved ones and friends. Take it all in and enjoy it as if it’s money. 

Listen to Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin weekday mornings from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on ����Xվ Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

(Full disclaimer: Both of my parents were law enforcement — my mom was a probation officer).

Gee: ‘Graffiti should be a felony’ as Seattle ends enforcement

Let’s talk about how we got here. There are a lot of reasons why some people may not have positive feelings toward police officers in uniform.

1. Past negative experiences

Some may have had negative interactions with law enforcement officers in the past, such as being unfairly targeted or treated with disrespect. This has happened to me a few times. Unfortunately, this can lead to distrust or dislike of police officers, even if the police officers they see were not personally involved in the encounter.

2. History

Racism and incidents of police brutality that have occurred have been an issue. Rodney King was beaten on camera in front of the world, and those officers were acquitted. Then there are all of the stories of unarmed Black men that have been killed over the years. It’s not a matter of opinion, these are facts. A lot of the issues have gone unaddressed for years, and for that, it has put a cloud on law enforcement.

3. Fear

I’ve learned over the years that there are some folks that are flat-out scared of police officers in uniform. No, I don’t understand that, but as I said above in my disclaimer, my parents were law enforcement. Because of that, I was around police officers growing up.

Not everyone will have negative feelings toward police officers in uniform. Some people have positive associations with law enforcement and view officers as protectors of their communities.

If you do have that view, I think that is positive. You see, I believe 90% of police officers are outstanding. My problem is the 10% and the culture that has sometimes protected them.

I do believe law enforcement is doing a better job in holding their own accountable, but I wish it didn’t take technology for that to happen. Either way, I’m grateful for the progress.

I want to remind you that you can hold folks accountable and still love and respect their profession.

I mean, we hold our kids responsible when they mess up, but we still love them, right? There are a lot of men and women that put that uniform on every day and give 100% to protecting and serving our community.

Understanding and addressing the reasons behind negative attitudes towards police officers can help create a more nuanced and productive conversation about how to build trust between officers and the communities they serve.

That’s why this was a big swing and a miss. The chance to have Seattle police officers marching in uniform during the Pride Parade would have been really cool.

It would have been a signal of progress. Seeing this could have helped some that have a negative view of law enforcement. We can’t keep going like this. The constant drawing the line in the sand and pointing at others gets us nowhere.

So now that it isn’t happening in 2023, I believe we should make a goal for it to happen in 2024. Like my dad used to say to me, “If better is possible, good is never enough.”

Listen to Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin weekday mornings from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on ����Xվ Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

Well, so did some of the commercials. One of my favorite commercials was the commercial featuring Calvin. I loved how proud he was to have a job. Plus when he wasn’t working, he was wearing some amazing clothes.

More from Gee Scott: Why does alcohol get so much love?

Time out!! I need to explain the Calvin commercials. When I got older, I realized how much I didn’t like the commercials. The fact that working at McDonald’s is the way to bigger and better things is a little rough, but the implication that his friends weren’t doing anything at all was wild.

Everyone in the commercial was shocked that Calvin made it to management. Oh well, everyone has grown to understand better.

The takeaway is the pride that Calvin had. That was something that I always loved and admired. So much so that I always wanted to work in customer service.

Speaking of customer service, what happened to great customer service? I mean, it’s out there, but it seems to be rare.

Customer service is an essential aspect of any successful business. In the modern-day world, customers have more power and options than ever before, and this means that companies need to place a greater emphasis on providing high-quality customer service experiences.

The other day my wife and I were flying back from Arizona. We stopped off at one of the airport lounges. There was this young man around 21 or 22 years old that helped us.

His customer service was so good that I felt compelled to write about it. I let him know how appreciative we were of his outstanding service. It was his passion and attention to detail that made him truly great. You could tell that his mission was to make sure we were taken care of. I didn’t get a chance to really talk to him, but if I did, here’s what I’d say.

Young man, how you do anything is how you do everything. Continue to stay the way that you are. You have a special gift for working with people, and it’s rare to come across someone like you. Chase being great at what you do, and the money will chase you. When it’s time to train the next person, show them the ways so that they can be exactly like you.

Some say that these jobs aren’t supposed to be careers, to which I say they’re wrong.

Customer service is a critical component of any successful business and contributes to customer retention, satisfaction, and cost reduction. Companies that prioritize customer service and invest in the training of their staff can reap the many benefits that come with providing excellent customer service.

Maybe there’s time for change in this industry. I’d love to see the pay increase so that we can help with the increase in great customer service. Let’s face it, we could all use some extra kindness in the world these days.

Listen to Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin weekday mornings from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on ����Xվ Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

Alcohol is involved in more homicides across the U.S. compared to other substances, like heroin and cocaine. In fact, about 40% of convicted murderers had used alcohol before or during the crime.

Alcohol is often considered just as bad as drugs because it can be addictive and harmful to a person’s health and well-being. Like drugs, alcohol can impair a person’s judgment, coordination, and cognitive functioning. It can also lead to risky behaviors, such as drunk driving or violence.

Gee Scott on Seattle ‘Sip ‘n Stroll’: ‘I don’t want a Bourbon Street here’

In the U.S. from 1920 to 1933, prohibited the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages. It was said the reason was to reduce crime and corruption, solve social problems, reduce the tax burden created by prisons and poorhouses, and improve health and hygiene in America. That sounds good, but I wonder why they didn’t call for a “War on Alcohol” the same way If they would have, I also wonder if after 52 years of a “War on Alcohol,” treatment centers would be all over the place for help.

So why again does alcohol get such good PR? Watch a sporting event? Alcohol commercial. See someone’s Facebook post? At the beach on vacation with alcohol to show relaxation. As a matter of fact, alcohol is so popular that if you’re with a bunch of adults and you tell folks that you don’t drink, they kinda wonder what’s wrong with you. Drinking in social settings is completely normal but being the one that doesn’t drink isn’t.

That’s a head-scratcher to me. After a couple of drinks, it clearly does something to the body, but we look at that as normal, but other stuff isn’t.

Speaking of other stuff, we have a drug problem in this country because we refuse to be honest about it. We have spent 50-plus years disproportionately incarcerating people of color, yet we have some folks pretending like it was no big deal.

• Black incarceration rate in America exploded from about 600 per 100,000 people in 1970 to 1,808 in 2000
• Latino incarceration rate in America went from 208 per 100,000 people in 1970 to 615 per 100,000 in 2000
• White incarceration rate grew from 103 per 100,000 people in 1970 to 242 in 2000

Ursula: A personal story on how drug addiction affects us all

Here’s the kicker. We have folks that want to repeat that behavior again today. Some have no other plan other than locking folks up with a drug problem. I want to be clear, this drug crisis breaks my heart, but so does knowing that some of you believe a war on people instead of drugs is the solution. That’s why we’re in this situation in the first place. We are so outdated that we don’t even have drug education as a curriculum in school. I mean, don’t we have to do a little more than “just say no”?

Alcohol and drug use can cause significant harm to individuals and society. It’s essential that we educate ourselves and others about the potential dangers of these substances and provide support and resources to those struggling with addiction. Once that happens, then we can work towards a society that is free from the harmful effects of substance abuse. I’d like to see the can stop being kicked down the road, and actually do real work to solve this issue. Right now, we are 52 years behind.

Gee Scott is the co-host of the Gee & Ursula show on ����Xվ Newsradio, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 12 noon

The Seahawks just came off a 5-11 season and were looking for their next head coach. On a January evening, I was with Rob Sims, an offensive lineman for the Seahawks at the time, at the home of former linebacker Lofa Tatupu. We were hanging out downstairs when the news came through that Carroll would be named the new head coach.

I’ll never forget what Lofa said: “Get ready, this franchise is getting ready to change.”

I didn’t really understand if he meant for good or for bad, but I assumed he meant for the better, considering the Seahawks were coming off a five win season.

So, for the next couple of months, there was a lot of talk amongst the players, and of course, the entire city, on what this team would be like with Pete as the coach.

Then, in early April 2010, the person that I’m living with, the person that gave me a place to stay when I was unhoused, gets traded. Yep, my mind was made up, I don’t like this Pete guy at all! Selfishly speaking, I’m also wondering where I’m going to live.

Well, let me answer that part first. Sims made sure I stayed there for another year. Crazy right?! Yeah, I can never repay him for what he did for me. Plus, he goes on to start for the Detroit Lions and has a 10-year career.

Oh, and one last thing. The Seahawks traded Sims and a 7th-round pick for defensive end Robert Henderson and a 5th-round pick in the upcoming draft. As for what the Seahawks did with that 5th-round pick, they spent it on some guy named Kam Chancellor, maybe you’ve heard of him.

So, Ted Lasso is about a successful American football collegiate coach who was hired to coach a fútbol club in England’s Premier League. The catch is he has no experience coaching soccer, and a lot of folks think he’ll fail.

As soon as I figured out the plot of the show, all I kept thinking is how this is 2010 all over again. Yes, Pete had success in college, but it wasn’t like that when he last coached in the pros. So, there were a lot of people that didn’t think he’d be successful with the Seahawks, including myself.

I don’t remember exactly when it was, but I remember the first time hearing some of the guys talk about music at practice. While music during practice is as commonplace today as cleats and pop-up dummies, back in 2010, not so much. As a matter of fact, some of the guys were saying how they didn’t believe this “college stuff” would work in the pros.

Then I’d overhear talk about how all this “positive stuff” might not be real. If you’ve ever been around Pete or heard him talk, then you’ve probably caught on to how positive he is. Well, there were some non-believers at first. I’m sure not many would admit it. Don’t worry, let’s just say I’ve forgotten the names.

Former President Teddy Roosevelt once said, “nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Ted Lasso is a coach that nobody thinks will succeed, but continued to do things that nobody has ever seen before. Lasso created an environment for everyone that helps create a willingness to succeed, genuinely caring that you are a better person on and off the field. He actually cares about the entire staff, and not just the players — even wanting to know the name of Nathan Shelly (Nate the Great), who, at the time, was the “kit man” and was very surprised that the new head coach even cares to know his name.

That part in Episode 1 made me think about my first interaction with Pete.

I was at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center cleaning vehicles that day when I took a break. I was heading in to use the restroom when I saw Pete outside by the basketball hoop.

We exchanged names, and then he asked if I wanted to play a game of “PIG,” an abbreviated version of the basketball game HORSE. Well, he beat me in the first game. Then he beat me in the second game. After, he said we would do it again someday. (Yo, Pete, when can I get that rematch? You’ve been ducking me.)

That time spent with Pete really changed how I felt about him. It made me feel seen. I felt like I had more purpose. It’s kind of how “Nate the Great” felt when Lasso wanted to know his name.

The first time I cleaned his vehicle, he told me to make sure the keys got put back on his desk. Well afterward, I dropped the keys off with a pile of other keys as I would always do. So, the next time he’s about to hand me his keys to clean his vehicle, he says, “Okay now, make sure the keys get put back on my desk.” Oh yes, from that point on, I made sure to get the keys on his desk.

What we all have learned about Pete over time is that he inspires individuals to reach their greatest potential. I’m sure everyone has their perspective of how they saw things when Pete got there, but I’m just sharing mine.

More from Gee Scott: Ja Morant made a mistake, but haven’t we all

I never played one snap and have no idea what it’s like to be a player. However, I do know what it’s like to be the guy cleaning the vehicles. I took pride in that. I worked as if the job I did on their vehicles mattered the same way the shower pressure mattered at the beginning of Ted Lasso.

I wonder if the writers of this show reached out to Pete at all when creating this. Like Ted, there were folks unsure if Pete could win in the NFL. Just like this show, when Pete proved it by creating a productive and positive environment that lead to feeling connected.

When everyone is connected, then everyone feels empowered. When everyone feels empowered, then they all want to buy in (with the Seahawks, you tap the sign that says ‘I’m In’), and when you buy in, then you’re better able to comPETE.

I don’t know about you, but I often cringe about some of the things I’ve said back in the day. That had me thinking about Ja Morant.

More from Gee Scott: ‘Nice ride bro,’ the power of kindness to the unhoused

, for some reason, he likes to listen to music while holding a gun. Have you ever done that? Yeah, neither have I.

Wait, who is Ja? Ja Morant is an NBA superstar for the Memphis Grizzlies. Earlier this year, he was suspended 8 games for brandishing a gun inside a strip club while listening to music. He came back, finished the season, and then got caught doing it again.

Here’s the kicker. He’s getting caught using his own platform. Have you ever got caught that way? So according to the NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, he’s facing very heavy punishment.

So, let’s talk about this. First, let me get this out of the way. Ja, what the hell are you doing?!?!

Okay, I’m back.

I had to scream that because of his suspension earlier during the season, which caused him to miss the requirement on games so he could make the All-NBA team. It’s being said he missed out on $39M because of his inability to meet the game requirements. Now can you understand why I screamed?

Young people make mistakes. A lot! They’re at a stage in their lives where they’re still learning and growing, and their mistakes are an integral part of this process.

It’s important to remember that making mistakes is not necessarily bad, as it can help us learn valuable life lessons and become better individuals.

I was young before, and one of my biggest challenges was peer pressure. You really didn’t wanna skip school, but your friends did it. You really didn’t wanna sneak out at night, but maybe your friends did it. Okay, maybe you’re perfect and never made mistakes growing up, so I’ll just throw myself under the bus.

I was punished for the mistakes I made growing up, but I wasn’t vilified.

Have you ever said, “Hey, I’m sure glad social media wasn’t around when I was young?” Well, social media and technology can also be a source of mistakes for young people today. They may share inappropriate content or even engage in cyberbullying, not realizing the potential harm they can cause to themselves and others. It’s important to educate young people on responsible social media use.

Ja Morant didn’t commit a crime, but he did do something dumb. Mistakes can be valuable learning experiences, and if young people are guided and supported through them, they can emerge wiser and more resilient than they once were. Ja needs to serve whatever punishment that his employer has in store for him, but he shouldn’t be vilified.

These stories that play out in front of us are tricky, one second, the story is about a celebrity, then at another point, you realize that your loved one is judged just as harshly. Look deeper into how society responds differently to some that make mistakes.

Listen to Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin weekday mornings from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on ����Xվ Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

There was a right next to the apartments where I would park my vehicle. I usually ordered a Dick’s Deluxe, five or six cheeseburgers, and fries.

More from Gee Scott: Those that love addicts know treatment is the only way forward

Bet you’re thinking about how much I was eating, huh? Well, food was my addiction. Food is how I would cope. If I thought drugs would have been better, I would have tried that. That’s just it, when you’re unhoused, you’re not exactly in a good place, so doing things to keep your mind off reality is a great possibility.

So the next time you see someone unhoused that might be addicted to drugs, remember how I was addicted to food. Addiction is when you’re addicted to a particular substance, thing, or activity. What we are addicted to is subjective, and hopefully, whatever it is, we can get ahold of it before it continues the spiral.

So how did I get there? There are many reasons, but ultimately, the decisions left me close to the edge until I fell. One minute life was one way, and the next it was another.

I’d love to throw in depression here, but I had no idea I was depressed. I just figured that I was a loser and my life would continue to spiral. I’d love to blame the Great Recession, but most people I knew weren’t unhoused during that time, so what was wrong with me? I was clueless and just about done with it all.

Before I go further, I want to explain to you something I better understand after all of these years. Folks living in poverty can struggle to afford even basic necessities like food, let alone the cost of housing.

So many in this country are one missed paycheck away from being unhoused. Many individuals and families find themselves unable to pay rent or mortgage payments, leading to homelessness.

Advocacy and policy change are also essential for addressing the systemic issues contributing to homelessness, income inequality, and the lack of affordable housing.

With the little money that I was making during that time, I couldn’t afford a deposit for an apartment. Even if I did have the money, by then, I didn’t have the credit.

When you think of someone being unhoused, what do they look like to you? I’m sure you have a visual of the folks that you see, but this blog today is about those that you don’t see. I was one that you didn’t see.

City of Kirkland hopeful hotel purchase will fill homeless shelter gaps

By day I was driving this vehicle, and at night this was where I laid my head. So many compliments on this car. I specifically remember one night at Dick’s before bed; these teenagers said, “Bro, nice ride!!”

I’m sure those words got me through the night. Even at your lowest, kind words can be powerful.

Now let’s talk about the many people in this country that are on the verge of homelessness.

So many don’t qualify for the help they need to sustain housing until they are without housing. I still have a hard time understanding that. Let’s help folks before they are unhoused! (Sorry for yelling there, just got a little emotional.)

So no matter how much money is spent to help those that are unhoused, there’s more on the way. Why? Because there’s a hole in the boat. We keep scooping water out with buckets (addressing homelessness), but there’s still a hole in the boat (Income inequality, unaffordable housing, medical debt, student loan debt.)

So my goal right now isn’t for you to read this and find the answers. Truthfully I don’t have them. However, I do want you to come away with a better understanding that for every person that you see unhoused, there’s even more that you don’t see. It could be a family member, a close friend, or even a co-worker. Being unhoused is not exactly something that you brag about.

I want you to remember that the person that you might see has an addiction. Remember what my addiction was? I also want you to know that even though there’s help provided through non-profit organizations, government, and others, that’s not always the answer. Former NFL player Rob Sims gave me a place to stay. I was able to stay rent-free for over a year.

Even with all of that help, I still struggled. I remember one day being in tears on the couch. Rob came in and asked what was up. I told him that I was tired of being a failure. I’ll never forget what he said. “Bro, it’s not always gonna be this way. Watch, you’re going to rise up. I believe in you.”

Rob could have given me $10,000 to leave and be out of his house. Instead, he let me live rent-free and believed in me. That felt like a million dollars. I’ll be forever grateful to Rob, and without him, I’d imagine food wouldn’t have been the only thing I would have stayed addicted to. Who knows? To be honest, I’m glad I’ll never know.

Homelessness is a complex and ongoing social issue that affects millions of people worldwide. To effectively address this problem, we must work together to identify and address the root causes of homelessness, increase access to affordable housing and healthcare, and advocate for policy changes that prioritize the well-being of all individuals, regardless of their socioeconomic status. Only when we work together can we hope to create a world where homelessness is no longer a devastating social issue.

Let’s start with how we talk about it. They are someone. They are people. Someone loved them. Someone loves them. Even if they were never loved, they deserve empathy. No matter what we believe. Maybe they don’t have a Rob like I did, but the energy of more love towards them really can’t hurt.

Listen to Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin weekday mornings from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on ����Xվ Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

When I was about five years old, my dad would say, “Hey, we are gonna go to Derrell and Daniel’s house.” It was the equivalent of going to Disneyland.

I can’t remember what I ate for lunch yesterday, but I can remember going to my cousin’s house at a really young age. Derrell was one year older, and Daniel was one year younger than me.

My grandmother (Mama Scott) lived there, along with my Aunt Darlene (Derrell and Daniel’s Mom). This was on the south side of Chicago in a complex called Parkway Gardens. It’s gone now, but back in the early 80s, there was a seesaw out front that I loved.

Gee on Nerf Wars: ‘Don’t do this in Gig Harbor if you look like me’

One of the main reasons I loved going over there is because of my Aunt Darlene. Ahh, she was (still is) the most beautiful woman. I’m telling you, she would walk into any room and would command attention. I don’t remember eating anything but fried chicken when I was there.

Let me be specific, she would make me chicken wings and always tell me how handsome I was and how much she loved me. To this day, when I have chicken wings, I think about Aunt Darlene.

Fast forward to the present day, and one of the problems that still exists in our country is drug consumption. According to the CDC, drug overdose deaths rose from 38,329 in 2010 to 70,237 in 2017 and have remained steady through 2019. Then, in 2020 we saw a significant increase, with 91,799 reported deaths.

From 1968-2020, 1,106,859 have died from drug overdose in the United States. Wait, how does that happen? President Nixon declared a War on Drugs in 1971, so you’d think we wouldn’t have the problem that we have today.

Let’s check the receipts. In 1972 there were 6,622 overdose deaths. Then in 1980, there were 2,492 overdose deaths. That’s when the increase continues. So, if there was a War on Drugs, why didn’t that stop the problem? Well, let’s look up what the word “war” means.

War: a state of usually open and declared armed hostile conflict between states or nations

: a period of such armed conflict

: weapons and equipment for war

: a state of hostility, conflict, or antagonism

: a struggle or competition between opposing forces or for a particular end

So was the war on the problem, or was the war on the people?

I’ll let you answer that. Also, what is it about a war that brings in so much money? The U.S. spent $56 billion a year on the war on drugs, spending over $1 trillion in 50 years. All that money is spent, and we are really slim with the amount of drug treatment services in this country.

More than 54% of voters approve King County Crisis Care Center levy

Then I hear folks say, “Well, why don’t they get help?” Well, most of the time, it’s financial reasons, stigma, and sometimes geographic location.

Another problem is how outdated we are with the discussion centered around drugs. For the most part, we are still repeating what Nancy Regan said, “Just say no!”

Yeah, so how’s that working? It’s not. And for over 50 years, the inaction by our Federal Government has us where we are today.

Drug treatment shouldn’t just be accessible to those that are financially able. Drugs touch all of us, whether we use drugs or not — our family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, or acquaintances.

Let me take this time to apologize right now. I’m sure some of my family will be upset with this next part, but this is what’s on my heart. If you’ve listened to me on the radio, then you’ve heard my stance on this drug issue. What you don’t know is why I speak on it this way.

I never saw my aunt use drugs. I was a kid, so how would I know? Well, I knew by listening to what adults were saying. It must have been pretty bad cause anytime I would hear her name, it was always connected to the discussion about drugs. Back then, it was crack.

I was really confused, though. I was confused because every time I would see her, she would always say, “Hello, my handsome nephew.”

I always felt so much love. As a matter of fact, I remember she was dating a guy by the name of Derek. He worked on the radio.

Well, one night, he said the names of my cousin and me, and I thought that was soooo cool. Maybe the seed was planted then that one day I would be on the radio myself.

Through her addiction, she still loved everyone. That was my lesson on drug addiction. Sure, there’s drug addiction, but inside, there’s still a beautiful soul. A soul that’s fighting something that needs so much help.

I speak passionately about this for the love of my Aunt Darlene. Do you know that no matter what, she makes sure to text me on my birthday? And she was the first to text me this year.

My heart goes out to any of you that have lost loved ones due to drugs. I’m sure it’s not easy.

My hope and prayer is that there is a dramatic increase in drug treatment facilities. Individuals struggling with addiction need access to quality treatment programs. Period!

While we treat those that are fighting, we also need to improve education. There needs to be more education about the harms and risks of drugs, and I’m not talking about the one annual school assembly. It needs to be put into our school curriculum. There has always been a battle (war) on the supply but not on the demand. We address the demand through more education.

I will continue to use my platform to help with the drug problem in this country, and I will also use my platform to remind my Aunt Darlene how much I love her. You are still the most beautiful woman in the world, and I love your heart. I know you love me and everyone else, Auntie.

Listen to Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin weekday mornings from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on ����Xվ Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

Gee: I wonder what it was like for a black man in the media in…

“Either (Colin Kaepernick is going to) do what it takes to get back in the NFL or just take that settlement check they gave him, and go full fledge civil rights activist,” he wrote. “I’m riding with him either way. But he needs to let us know what we riding for.”

I’d like to thank him, because I believe so many want to know the plan.

Hey Kaep, so, what’s the plan? Folks that support you want to know.

You say you want to play in the NFL. Week after week, month after month, after the season goes by, and we’ve seen three years pass since you’ve taken a snap in the league. We’ve seen washed up, washed out, no-name, and has-been quarterbacks taken by teams who have suffered injuries at your position without even giving you a workout.

Certainly they haven’t forgot the time where you ran for 181 yards and two touchdowns, and threw for another pair of TDs in a playoff game against the Packers, have they? I mean it was 2013, and Lamar Jackson wasn’t even playing varsity football then. Maybe you inspired him.

Yes, people of color, and even more specifically, black Americans aren’t being treated fairly in this nation of ours. You taking a knee was to place a spotlight on that. Oh boy, the conversations are being had; more than we could have imagined.

We know the NFL settled with you, but you signed their non-disclosure agreement, so we don’t know if they gave you $15 dollars and an Amazon gift card, or if you walked away from the table with nine figures.

Here’s what I do know: There are a lot of people in the country who felt like you put out a call to action, and we were ready to carry your flag into a glorious battle. We took shots from our family, friends, and coworkers defending your “right” to do this, or the “reason” you did that, and we really didn’t hear much from you.

Some people don’t get the benefit of the doubt

Again, we’re still riding for you, we just don’t know the plan.

Yes, you have done some great things to donate $1 million to charities and causes (see ) Thank you for that. As someone in the philanthropy world, I see a lot of amazing folks that give. Some do it for the tax breaks. Others do it to offset negative public perception. And some do it and don’t even say a word about it.

Stephen A. Smith has an opinion that you don’t want to play the game of football. Since then, he has been called all kinds of things by some black folks. From sellout, to Uncle Tom, to Tap Dancer, and even more sad things all because of an opinion. Is his opinion right or wrong? I think only you know that.

So, I’ll tell you what I think based on what I’ve seen over the last 16 years of being very close to this NFL:

• I’ve seen men cry for another chance
• I’ve seen families split apart because of someone not making it anymore
• I’ve seen some sacrifice family situations to play again
• A close friend of mine went to a park with a gun and almost killed himself because he was cut unexpectedly
• I just talked to someone yesterday that is staying ready by the phone for another chance

I’ll stop there and just say, I , like Stephen A. Smith, don’t think you want to play either. It doesn’t mean I don’t support what you’ve done already. It doesn’t mean I don’t believe you were blacklisted from the NFL.

It just means I don’t think you want to play. That’s it, that’s all.

So if I’m wrong, that’s fair. Trust me, I’ve been wrong about things before. However, here’s what I’m not wrong about: If there was a company that I worked for in the past, and we had a problem of trust, one where it was so bad that we settled for an amount of money, and I signed a NDA, my close friends would ask me why I would want to work for a place that I don’t trust.

So it’s simple: What’s the plan, Kaep? I’m confused. I support what you did when you took a knee, but I’m confused about what the plan is going forward. The other day in your impromptu speech, you said the NFL and their owners were hiding, but you hid a lot of this by signing that NDA. So I’m sure you can see some of the confusion.

So, what is it? What exactly are trying to do? Some might say, “Hey, it’s none of your business.” OK, that’s fair, but then who should know his plan? Because it’s us out here that are fighting about it.

Listen to ����Xվ Nights with Gee Scott and Aaron Mason weekdays from 7-10 p.m. on ����Xվ Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

Question:

I’m a straight white male. I was born and raised in south Georgia/north Florida by a racist father who was raised by a racist father (my grandfather was a member of the Ku Klux Klan for a period of time). Hell, I was named after my cousin, Alexander Stephens, who was the Vice President of the confederacy.

Thankfully my mother left my father when I was 10 and since then I have sought to use my straight white male privilege to be an ally to any person or group that is marginalized. To that end I am wondering what you would recommend to me and others that are in a position of privilege to be an ally to those that are not?

-Alex, Lynnwood, WA

Answer:

Alex,

Wow! I would like to some day find out how you came to the decision to not follow in the footsteps of your father and grandfather. You recognizing that white privilege does exist is already a huge step. Just know that it isn’t something you should feel shame about. It’s just something that is. You’re an ally already because you recognize it.

Also, continue to help spread inclusiveness. I believe that’s what we as a society still need to get better with. We must be better about everyone being included. However, we don’t do it by trying to always change the opinion of people. Sometimes people can say they aren’t racist, or they aren’t sexist, but then you see some of the policies that they support and it has you scratching your head. So, pay more attention to structure and policies that are put in place that continue to support racism.

I just want you to know that I appreciate you. Not just for me, but for the world. Folks like you make the world better.

I always look at some of the white people that were marching during the civil rights movement, and I wonder if I have that kind of courage. The kind of courage in which you’re willing to sacrifice your name and your entire family in order to fight for others.

-Gee

Have a question for Gee? Send them here.

Listen to ����Xվ Nights with Gee Scott and Aaron Mason weekdays from 7-10 p.m. on ����Xվ Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

I was called the n-word last week, this is what I learned

We’re talking 60 years ago. Back then, there were plenty of people who didn’t want him to have a voice. Why? I believe that what it came down to then, and what it comes down to now, is fear. For those who were hateful then, what were they afraid of? Equality?

Then what are they afraid of in 2019? Equality?

As you know, I’m host of ����Xվ Nights on 97.3 FM. This week, someone dropped off something outside the front entrance to the radio station. It was a doll, with brown skin and a couple of small notes.

One note stated: “I worked for a wealthy black family cleaning their house out. She gave me this. You don’t know who I am!”

I’m going to talk about the second note, which stated, “To G Scott everything is Racist!”

No, everything is not racist. But racism does exist. Some people, some groups, and some corporations are a lot better at hiding it today than in the past. Only a small percentage of people in our country don’t believe in equality, but you only hear the squeaky wheel.

Today, it’s not enough to be “not racist.” We must become anti-racist. And that means we must address racist laws and policies that have been, and are, in place. We must address people and groups promoting harmful, racist ideas.

Back to the point. If the purpose of this doll is to find out why I bring up race on the air, ask yourself where this conversation started in the first place. Trust me, I and so many people wish that race wasn’t an issue. It’s an ugly thing in our country and something that continues to be addressed. And this action proves it.

I’ll leave you with this:

“With ignorance comes fear — from fear comes bigotry. Education is the key to acceptance.” – Kathleen Patel

Some people don’t get the benefit of the doubt

Gee: I was called the n-word last week

We do. Some big, some small. None of us are perfect and we’ve all done something stupid or thoughtless.

Putting politics aside, I have always been of the mindset to respect a person who gives a sincere apology. I might not have to forgive them, but I will respect a sincere apology.

To me a sincere apology happens when a person recognizes they made a mistake or a bad choice, acknowledges their responsibility for it without blaming anything or anyone else. They take ownership for the consequences of their mistake, and wrap it up with a pledge to not do it again. Pretty simple, right?

How often do we really see this though?

From celebrities we get something that was written up by their lawyer or a PR team. From politicians we get canned, generic responses, fit for a teleprompter, which sound like every other political apology we have heard before. And from the people we know, they usually tell us what we want to hear. Sometimes, we simply get continued denial that a person did something wrong at all.

This week I am going to wag the finger at Chris Cuomo of CNN. By now, you may have heard about, read, or of an encounter with Cuomo. At a bar on New York’s Shelter Island Sunday a man called Cuomo “Fredo.”

The short story is that Cuomo took serious offense to being called “Fredo,” a reference to a character in Mario Puzo’s novel The Godfather. If you haven’t seen the films or read the books, Fredo is the weaker and less intelligent of the Corleone brothers. So this certainly isn’t a term of endearment. Cuomo threatened the man with physical violence. And since it is the 21st century, he also called him a “racist.”

There’s probably not too many of us who feel he wasn’t justified in saying something to the guy who did it. But Chris took his self-justification out of bounds after video of the incident went viral. Cuomo suggested that a person calling an Italian “Fredo” was “like the n-word for us.”

Oh no Chris, you didn’t. You really compared the n-word with a character reference from a book? You really think this is the same?

Cuomo has since admitted that he let someone “get the best” of him.

Appreciate all the support but – truth is I should be better than the guys baiting me. This happens all the time these days. Often in front of my family. But there is a lesson: no need to add to the ugliness; I should be better than what I oppose.

— Christopher C. Cuomo (@ChrisCuomo)

I could write a whole story on why “Fredo” and that word aren’t the same thing. But for me to bring this back in bounds is that I feel like we have all trained ourselves to find excuses and blame, versus simply taking ownership of screwing up.

Gee: Are President Trump’s tweets infested with racism?

Guess what folks — I am human. I make mistakes daily. When they are pointed out to me, I thank people for pointing them out. I take responsibility for them, and I hold myself accountable to not doing them again. It isn’t easy. But I decided that it is the way I want my boys to be when they make mistakes in their lives.

Have I always done this when I have made mistakes? No. Not even close. And that too, friends, is what we have in common. We’ve all had our moment, and have been faced with what to do and how to act.

None of us are perfect, and our apologies when we slip up aren’t going to be perfect. They won’t please everyone, every time. However, the time has come when we all can start talking about what we do when we make mistakes and how we should act, rather than pointing the finger at someone else, or denying it happened.

Let’s all try to own our mistakes, face the music, and stop pointing fingers at others when we goof up. As “to err, is human”

This makes 251 mass shootings in the past 216 days, as they are defined by the FBI’s term of “mass murder.” That’s more than one a day. Isn’t this the kind of stuff we usually read or hear about happening in “less developed” countries like Iraq or Afghanistan?

Are hate crime numbers really on the rise?

In the 80s and 90s, we blamed such things on gang violence; mass murders were blamed on feuds between Crips and Bloods, drug dealers, or in later years, bullying. Isn’t this why so many bring up MS-13 — because they are afraid of violence?

More and more, these recent massacres are being committed by people who are echoing the messages sent and/or endorsed by our president. In May the president said we are being “invaded” by immigrants. The El Paso murderer said he wanted to stop “the invasion.”

We cannot allow all of these people to invade our Country. When somebody comes in, we must immediately, with no Judges or Court Cases, bring them back from where they came. Our system is a mockery to good immigration policy and Law and Order. Most children come without parents…

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)

President Trump “How do you stop these people from crossing the border?”

“Shoot them!” someone screamed.

And he laughed. The crowd laughed, too.

I could never have imagined us sinking so low as a country and turning on each other like this. I try to logically find a reason for this. I can’t. We have no moral leadership in our government.

If this is America becoming “great again,” then I want no part of it. It has become clear that the value of human lives isn’t as important as the gun industry’s profit in the USA.

Are president Trump’s tweets infested with racism?

Toxic masculinity and white supremacy is a huge problem in America. We can’t pretend it doesn’t exist by throwing “mental health” at the issue of mass shootings. When there were Muslims that committed acts of violence, did anybody bring up mental health issues? So, why now? Let’s call it what it is: Right wing extremist violence is because of white supremacy.

Time to pay the gun industry

The gun industry is pushing messages of fear telling you that you should buy their products to be “safe” from all the violence out there.  But they don’t want a solution — they want more customers.

Comedian Chris Rock once joked that if bullets were $5,000 apiece, that would be a good start to curbing gun violence. But I am going to go a step further.

, but the gun industry only makes around $51 billion. That is bad business folks. So what if we just gave $75 billion to the gun makers to not make guns? What if we did this for five years, and watched what happened?

Sound crazy? Maybe you should do a quick Google search on how much we give farmers to not grow certain things, or to not produce commodities like milk when the market is off.

What if we did something drastic as a country to stop the killing?

Because whatever it is we are doing right now isn’t working. While we point fingers at each other, people are pointing guns at us and pulling the triggers.

Love is the side that I hope you’re on. On this side, all of us are brothers and sisters together.

Not a single bit of this is funny, and it is making our nation, our neighbors, turn against each other.

Let me ask you a simple question: Do you use the term “infested” when talking about other human beings?

Trump is racist and if what he’s saying doesn’t bother you or make you uncomfortable, you might want to ask yourself “why?” We’ve stepped beyond politics here. There is not even a red or blue angle to this.

This is beyond politics, this is Donald Trump

Trump repeatedly proves through his actions and his words (and tweets) that his agenda aligns with racist extremism; that he is not a president for all Americans, especially if you live in an area he deems as Just look at his track record. Look at people like who have titles such as “advisor to the president.”

Trump has: had multiple extramarital affairs; paid off porn stars; been sued thousands of times; left cities holding the bills for his ego-glorifying rallies; had countless unhinged Twitter rants; various allegations of having ties to Russia, or ties to filth like Jeffrey Epstein (and moral filth of every kind). And yet there are still folks out there who think he is a great example for our country.

This is the same guy who claimed he could “stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody” and “not lose any voters.” What is scary — it he appears to have been accurate. He can do and say terrible things, and it seems his loses little support and suffers little consequences.

This is what gets me, though.

I was going to make a list of all the white Republican lawmakers who came out and publicly condemned Trump’s racist “rat infested” remarks about Baltimore, and Elijah Cummings’s 7th Congressional District of Maryland. I wanted to be fair. The problem is that there aren’t any who have done that.

Let’s call it like it is — since 1973, the 7th District has been drawn up to be a majority black district. If you looked at the , you’d probably wonder how any of its geography makes sense. It doesn’t. That district was set up to be a black district. Everyone knows it.

So when the president calls Rep. Cummings’s district “infested” and says “no human would want to live there” what he is saying is that it is full of black and brown people.

In the wake of the president’s horrible tweet, there was a powerful moment from CNN anchor Victor Blackwell, who . In an emotional message, he noted that he was from Rep. Cummings’ district.

How to get President Trump to start a poverty progam

Blackwell choked back rage and tears as he said:

The president says about Congressman Cummings’ district that no human would want to live there. You know who did, Mr. President? I did, from the day I was brought home from the hospital to the day I left for college, and a lot of people I care about still do. There are challenges, no doubt. But people are proud of their community. I don’t want to sound self-righteous. But people get up and go to work there, they care for their families there, they love their children who pledge allegiance to the flag just like people who live in districts of congressmen who support you, sir. They are Americans, too.

Donald Trump has tweeted more than 43,000 times. He’s insulted thousands of people; many different types of people. But when he tweets about infestation, it’s about black and brown people.

A week before his inauguration, January 2017, Trump took shots at another black congressman saying, “Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart, not to mention crime infested.”

See a pattern here?

If none of this bothers you, nothing I say will matter. But if none of this matters to you, then ask yourself if it matters to someone you love.

Should wealth protect people from consequences?

In most places of the world, its the lowest paid and those who are treated the worst that are indicators a successful business.

On July 24, 2009, the federal minimum wage was $7.25. And on July 24, 2019, that wage is still $7.25.

Sometimes I hear people say “these people should make better choices of where they work” or maybe “they should’ve applied themselves in school.” Are you kidding me?

Does the lady at the checkout counter at your favorite fast food restaurant not deserve to be able to live in a one-bedroom apartment on her own, after working 40 or more hours a week?

What is wrong with us to think that just because we made certain decisions in life, that other people’s decisions, education, or career choices are “wrong?”

Power company CEO pay is among highest in nation

What we aren’t doing a good job of is talking about how the prices of everything are going up while the wages for many people aren’t. The companies they work for are making more money, and the bosses seem to get the lion’s share of the spoils.

Is it time for us to start taking a look at the minimum wage?

Some argue that we shouldn’t have a minimum wage, and that it would ultimately lower prices. Really? At what cost? Would seven or eight adults have to huddle together in a one bedroom apartment just to get by?

The national housing wage for a modest two-bedroom rental apartment is $22.10, while the federal minimum wage is $7.25. A low-income worker earning the federal minimum wage would need three jobs to afford a two-bedroom apartment — or 1.5 jobs and a roommate.

, a person living in Washington state would have to earn $23.84 an hour to afford fair market rent for a two bedroom rental home, without paying more than 30 percent of their income.

Washington CEO pay is 400 times higher than employees

And folks, this isn’t getting any better. , roughly $800,000. The average worker’s raise was 3 percent at the same time. Maybe that’s part of the reason so many people are without homes right now. Sure, there’s other factors like drugs, crime, and those who don’t want to work.

Others say that if we raise the minimum wages, prices of things will go up too. They’re probably right. But I don’t see bosses voting in any cuts to their own bonuses any time soon. I am not seeing any industry trends of CEOs saying, “Wow, what if we took a couple million less and gave it to the men and women who work for us?” (there’s a few, but not a trend for certain).

What does it mean to be truly wealthy?

But I ask you again, does the guy who goes to work every day, and gives his 100 percent to his employer, not deserve to have at least enough money to pay the rent, and enjoy some of the finer things in life — like seeing a movie or a ballgame once in a while?

I have watched the rich get richer over the past couple of decades while the poor stand there and wonder what happened. Ten years ago, the minimum wage was $7.25 and it hasn’t budged since — 10 years. And a CEO got roughly $800,000 more in just one year.

Take a look at what things cost compared to 10 years ago and ask yourself, “can $7.25 cut it in today’s world?”

I know I am not alone in thinking that if a person works 40 hours in a week, they should at least have a roof over their head and some food to eat.

More from Gee Scott.

Listen to ����Xվ Nights with Gee Scott and Aaron Mason weekdays from 7-10 p.m. on ����Xվ Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

Human decency says that’s not OK. Common sense tells us that they are talking about a citizen of the United States, who also happens to be a congresswoman. How are we even here?

I have had difficulty trying to make sense of a tweet from a President of the United States telling four US congresswomen that they should “go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came” (three of which were born in the United States, the fourth has lived in the US for 27 years).

On Monday, after President Trump , I had to think hard about where I was at in life, the blessings I have been afforded over the last few years. I thought about the legacy I will leave for my boys. There was a moment when I said to myself, “Nope, not going to work this week. As a matter of fact, I don’t know if I can continue doing this.”

Lessons from MLK and why a good meal is better than politics

How was I going to put a live microphone in front of my face and guarantee to myself, my boys, and others who support me that I would not say something irresponsible and threaten the successes I have worked so hard for?

That’s when my co-host saved me from myself. Mase — which is what I call Aaron Mason — is my reminder of so many people, good people. And yes, I am going to go there — so many white people who don’t like what is going on and have no problem speaking up about it. On Monday, when I struggled to find a way to come to work, Mase was the reason I did.

Imagine going to work and feeling like nobody at your job understands how you feel? Let’s be honest, there aren’t a lot of people of color in “Corporate America” and folks, there are even fewer in corporate media. I was afraid that I would be all worked up about something and nobody would be able to relate on my level.

There are a lot of us black folks who won’t speak up, or say much at all, in corporate America because we don’t want to be seen as a threat. We don’t want to be labeled as “disruptive.” We often say nothing so that we don’t jeopardize being able to provide for our families.

On Monday, I envied those of you who have jobs where you don’t have to interact with people or watch what you say. Because with my job, when the ON AIR light goes on, whatever I say is broadcast to hundreds of square miles around me and streamed online across the globe. It is then recorded and available to playback forever. I really questioned my own professionalism and the ability to not say how I felt about the President of the United States of America.

I was afraid that I was going to be the topic of one of those viral news stories with a race baiting tagline like, “BLACK Radio Host Loses it On Air – WATCH this EPIC Meltdown!” or “Seattle Talk Host BLASTS Trump on LIVE Radio – Loses Job and House!” or perhaps “WATCH This radio host LOSE IT with Epic anti-Trump Rant!”

This is not political. It’s Trump.

In my lifetime I have seen several presidents — Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, another Bush, Obama, and now Trump. I don’t remember any of the previous presidents being mean to people. I don’t remember any of them continually degrading women and people of color, and then backing up what they said. I remember a few times when George W. Bush made a gaffe or said something on accident because, let’s face it, at times he wasn’t the best public speaker. But he wasn’t mean. In hindsight, I kinda miss George W. Bush.  No, I really miss W.

This isn’t political. This isn’t about Hillary Clinton, emails, Democrats, Republicans, Russians, the electoral college, or Barack Obama. This is about Donald J. Trump.

Somebody randomly asked be about reparations recently

I am shocked, saddened, disappointed, and frankly mad as hell at how many people I know who are OK with this behavior. I am no longer able to brush off when you make excuses for a man who is saying things that even the Klan wouldn’t say. At least, the Klansmen put a sheet over their faces and try to hide who they are. If you don’t think that what the president said was racist — that’s fine. But I recommend not going to work and telling a black or brown person that. If you can’t say it, then maybe the president shouldn’t.

But our president does say these things and scoffs at us after he says it. Some people find that to be awesome. I don’t. And I’m not going to sit quiet about it. I mentioned my sons and my legacy earlier. I think both of my sons will be proud that their dad didn’t sit quiet on this. I think that 20 years from now they will want to know what I said during this time, and what some of you said, too.

I love my country. I love it so much that I have no problem pointing out that what our president is saying and doing right now is wrong. There is no other definition.

An example: . Go ahead. .

That billboard stood on the side of U.S. 70 in Johnston County, North Carolina nearly 50 years ago. It is a reminder of the past. It’s not suppose to reflect our current day. But our president is telling American citizens to leave. Kind of like this sign, right?

I went to work Monday because I had a great coworker who is also my friend. He told me, “Whatever you need, man. I’ll take care of you. Anything you need from me, you let me know.”

That was everything to me.

He’s not alone. There are so many good people I get to work with each day, like Matt Pitman and Michael Simeona, who reached out to me and had some kind words. I can’t stress enough how great it is to have folks like them.

Now, this is no longer political. This is a crisis we all face together as a nation and it will take all of us to stop it. And to all of you out there who are hurt and angry about what you see and hear in the world, and feel like you have nobody to talk to, listen to ����Xվ Nights from 7-10 p.m. weeknights. We can talk there.

I’m grateful to know that I have people at work who have my back. Because even strong people have a weak moment. I love you all.

Listen to ����Xվ Nights with Gee Scott and Aaron Mason weekdays from 7-10 p.m. on ����Xվ Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

Facebook offers us a list of “People You May Know” based on who our friends are. It suggests people who know others in our social circles or places we work.

Has the social media process replaced what we used to do — actually meeting and talking with people, then deciding we are friends?

We now also assume that our friends are doing OK, too. Because hey, all we see are photos at the beach, nice cars, or filtered pictures of their already beautiful smiles. The reality is they could be hurting and we don’t even know it.

Ongoing struggle for civility on Twitter

So what do lonely people do online?

I’ve seen some of them make up clever names. They have a lot of critical stuff to say about the things I post, all while hiding behind a profile of a faceless, nameless icon. I appreciate those people, because they inspire me to do my best work. But are those really the people who are going through some rough stuff and this is how they cope?

I’d never know, because all I see is a doom and gloom style screen name, a silhouette for a profile picture, and negative comments to counter my wisdom. I might actually like these people if I knew them. But social media lets us interact, without ever knowing each other.

We all have a few “friends” we’ve added to our social media circles who we really don’t know at all. Some of us even have friends we’ve added that we’ve never met in person. We laugh at their funny memes, we click the sad emoji when we see their loved ones have passed. We may even, from time-to-time, offer them advice or encouragement.

But do we know our Facebook friends?

Once in a while, I have a person in my network for who I am clicking like, after like, after like on their stuff — then bam! They post something so ignorant or hateful that I want to wash my hands and eyes after reading it.

But should I be shocked? Did I really know that person?

Our reliance on fake friends and the approval of others has made an entire generation of people oblivious to basic personal skills — skills which cause us to interact with each other as humans. It could be argued that the less we talk to each other face-to-face, the less that we care about one another as humans. And the less empathetic we are to the experience of another.

Oh, your dad died? Well, let me click a sad face emoji and show you that I care. Seems extreme, right? But is this how heartless we’ve become?

What does it mean to be truly wealthy?

There are scores of people out there hurting, sad, challenged, frightened, who only show us their best side, their filtered pics, their reposted funny jokes and their cropped images that we never know the truth about. We don’t hear their voices, or see their struggles. We just know they have a cat that does cool stuff and a pretty nice car. They click like on everything I post, so things must be going great for them.

And sometimes our addiction to social media robs us of the moments we share with the people two feet away from us, who love us, and actually spend our lives with us? How often have we stopped a dinner out to take a picture of our plate, only to steal that moment from the person across the table? How many times have we stopped our vacation to post a check-in picture just so our Facebook and Instagram followers can see us having fun? I’m so guilty of this. To Lillian and my kids, I apologize for my selfishness.

I work across multiple professions where social media is a powerful tool to get my message out. It makes sense for me to keep using it, but sometimes, I have to call it what it is. The ugly truth is that social media has replaced that long phone call we enjoyed with a boy or girl as a teenager. It has replaced the postcard. It has replaced, for some of us, spending time with one another enough to know when people need us.

And for all of that, I think social media has made us sad, lonely people.

From R. Kelly to Micheal Jackson — and sadly, many more — we’ve seen some amazing pieces of journalism showing us how some very public men, with money, have been able to do some very questionable things in their private lives and seem to skirt consequences and accountability. Now we are hearing reports about another billionaire that, quite frankly, my head cannot even process. And this story is entangled with a cabinet-level official.

President Trump announced Friday that Labor Secretary Alex Acosta is stepping down. He leaves amid criticism over a while Acosta was a federal prosecutor in Florida.

Gee: What does it really mean to be truly wealthy?

Jeffrey Epstein, a billionaire businessman who has socialized with Presidents Trump and Clinton, was charged with luring teenage girls to his Palm Beach mansion for sex. But he previously received a lenient punishment under a plea deal that Acosta negotiated in 2008 when he was a U.S. attorney.

Under that 2008 agreement, Epstein — who otherwise faced a potential sentence of life in prison — pleaded guilty to two felony solicitation charges and was sentenced to 13 months in county jail. He received permission to work from his office six days a week.

Acosta has denied any wrongdoing, but the lenient plea deal gave rise to criticism that Epstein was granted favorable treatment because of his wealth and social connections.

Through all of this, I feel compelled to remind everyone why all of us need to stand firm behind the premise that a free press matters.

The day we see the truth and cease to speak is the day we begin to die.
― Martin Luther King Jr.

Some in the media want to jump to telling us how Epstien is or was a friend of Trump or of the Clintons. That’s a lazy story. Rich people, billionaires especially, are going to bump into one another. They might even friend each other once in a while. That’s not the story.

Thankfully there are other media outlets that focus on the real story, that children were being sexually abused by a predatory billionaire and when he was caught and accused, he was able to somehow use his money and connections to weasel out of any justice.

With the spotlight on Epstein, have we finally drawn the line in the sand? Are we finally saying that this is not OK not matter who you know or how much money you have?

Rich and powerful people leverage their friendships with other rich and powerful people to find windows of opportunity, or a backdoor to get away with bad behavior. And for some, they use these relationships as a “get out of jail free card” too.

The system works better to protect the rich and guilty than the innocent and poor.
– Bryan Stevenson

We have learned that the criminal justice system has failed innocent little girls. That’s what they were — little girls. Some in the media marginalize the issue by referring to them as “young women.”

Young women? That is a great term to refer to 12- and 13-year-old girls when they are at a business skills conference. But how on Earth are they “young women” when referring to them as victims of sexual misconduct and the victims of sexual criminal activity?

Thank God for the great journalism by the , and a salute to them for sticking to a story that needed to be told. If not for their hard work, and dedication, Epstein would likely still be doing what he was doing. And what he was doing, is so wrong by so many standards, that I can’t imagine anyone disagrees with me here.

Gee: Our personal relationship with extremism

There are many wrongs in this world we live in. One of the most powerful weapons we have to fight against those wrongs is a spotlight of justice. That spotlight is shined by the hard working men and women of the news media.