SEATTLE -- Here's one big lie:

Tent city is a farce. Homeless people can just go to a shelter.

Here's another big lie:

Seattle cleaned out homeless encampments around Queen Anne hill earlier this month because of concern for public safety.

Want a dose of truth?

There is nowhere near enough shelter beds to take care of the homeless in Seattle.

There is nowhere near enough low income housing available for the people who need it.

And aside from passing laws prohibiting sitting on sidewalks and crashing through hillside brush to damage and remove the personal property of people who next to no personal property to begin with, Seattle city officials haven't done diddly-squat to confront the issue of homelessness.

That's why there's talk of setting up a depression-era wood shack housing development.

Back in Seattle circa 1930 it was called "Hooverville."

In the new millennium, it'll be dubbed "Nicklesville."

Maybe when Seattle city officials quit pretending that homelessness is best dealt with by hiding it; maybe when they figure out that homelessness is a big problem getting bigger; maybe then the big lies will give way to a little truth.

Have something to say to Ken? E-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com.

And be sure to join Ken, along with John Carlson, on "The Commentators", which airs every weekday from 3-6 p.m. on AM 570 KVI.

It's a lively exchange of information, insight and perspective with two guys who don't agree on much, but still manage to enjoy each other as they tackle issues of the day. Even better, callers are invited in on the verbal action.