A Washington official blew up at a fellow board member, who objected to a sex offender joining their committee, saying she was “glad” the convicted pedophile was nominated for the role.
Shanee Colston, the co-chair for the King County Regional Homelessness Authority Continuum of Care Advisory Committee, presided over a Zoom call on May 3 where the group voted to approve prospective board members, including 38-year-old Thomas Whitaker-Raven Crowfoot.
Kristina Sawyckyj, a board member and sexual assault survivor, raised concerns with Whitaker’s nomination as she expressed she had a “bad experience” with him in the past.
“We have a code of ethics on this board and Thomas Whitaker-Raven Crowfoot is a sex offender — repeat sex offender — and I have had bad experience with him,” Sawyckyj, a military veteran, said.
Colston defended Whitaker while condemning Sawyckyj during a tense and firey outburst in front of the group.
“We can’t disclose people’s personal business here, right? Although that’s public disclosure, we have no right to out anybody in this space,” Colston said. “That’s just not OK, at all. I won’t stand for that as a co-chair. We’re not here to discover people’s backgrounds
“And I’m actually glad that is the case that he’s here because sex offenders are another population that is most vulnerable that don’t have housing. People do change.”
In 2012, Whitaker was convicted of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes, according to the King’s County Sheriff’s Office.
He was also convicted of harboring a minor, a 13-year-old who he had a sexual relationship with, and was charged with raping a minor in 2010, according to Publicola.
Sawyckyj later alleged Whitaker “touched me” and said she would not be able to attend any board meetings if he were in attendance.
Other board members interjected in the tense exchange between Sawyckyj and Colston, suggesting the former needs to “take this to the police. This is not the forum.”
“As the co-chair, I’m telling you that you cannot talk like that in this meeting. I will not have that here. If anyone wants to talk like that you will be muted and removed from this board meeting,” Colston said.
“This is about equity and everyone, EVERYONE, deserves housing. I don’t care if they’re a sex offender. I don’t care if they’re black. I don’t care if they’re indigenous. I don’t care if they’re a criminal. I don’t care if they’re coming out of jail or prison. Everyone deserves housing.”
“When we talk about a Code of Ethics at the CoC Board, we will be respectful of all people.”
The King County Regional Homeless Authority is a program “designed to unify and coordinate policy, funding, and services for people experiencing homelessness,” according to its LinkedIn page.
Colston also works as a peer counselor and Diversion Coach with the KCRHA.
According to Publicola, KCRHA chief program officer Peter Lynn has asked Colston to resign following the outburst.
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