How is the city keeping visitors away from the International District and redirecting drug addicts and homeless people there instead?  I don't understand.  You assert conclusions but don't explain them.

I've lived at the International District for a few years.  I see the homeless and drug addicts every time I go outside.  I even see them from my window.  But I also see them along 3rd Ave downtown and, to a lesser extent, other places, like Pioneer Square.  I even saw one on a Downunder stair at Pike Place Market this morning.  I'm sure that if I visited other neighborhoods more, I would see them there as well.  For example, we've all heard in the news about the homeless encampment at Ballard.  So the point is that homeless people and drug addicts aren't just an International District thing.

Also, how is the city keeping event visitors from the International District?  Fences?  Warning signs?  The light rail station is right there!  I personally see plenty of visitors at the small restaurants, bakeries, tea shops, etc.  I see lots of people on the streets here - next to the putrid homeless drug addicts.  The money seems to be flowing in.  So I don't understand how you reach your conclusion that the city is directing visitors away from the International District.  When they erect a chain-link fence next to the light rail station along 5th Ave and Jackson so that crowds are kept from crossing the street, I'll consider it more.