(as circulated to Miller E-mail list, 7/25/04)
Thank you for the recent reports you've all sent to the Miller website:
http://home.jps.net/~tayles/Public_Safety/reports.html
I was struck that, despite all that Captain Meehan and the East Precinct are doing for us, the conditions in the Madison corridor are as bad as ever.
I wrote to Councilmember Licata, chair of the Council,s Public Safety, Civil Rights & Arts Committee to express my continuing concerns.Lisa Herbold in Nick Licata,s office ( see http://home.jps.net/~tayles/Public_Safety/herbold.html) pointed out "the Council's authority is limited to policy and budget.
Please WRITE AGAIN to City Council to remind them that we need MORE Police protection in our neighborhood and that they NEED to include money for those Officers in the budget that they are working on. You might also suggest that funds for a Public Servies outreach worker for our neighborhood (like the one on Broadway) would be a great idea.
City Councilmember contact info:E-mail firstname.lastname@seattle.gov
US Mail: City Hall, 600 4th Avenue Fl 2, PO Box 34025, Seattle,
WA 98124-4025.
Councilmembers:
Jan Drago, Council President,
Jim Compton,
Richard Conlin,
David Della, Vice-Chair, Public Safety Committee
Jean Godden
Nick Licata, Chair, Public Safety Committee
Richard McIver
Tom Rasmussen
Peter Steinbrueck, Member, Public Safety Committee
(and they,re all members of the Budget Committee!)
or see http://seattle.gov/council/councilcontact.htm
Thank you for writing to City Council.
Please consider:
a) sending me a copy of your letter and giving me permission to
put it on the website
b) send in your public safety reports: http://home.jps.net/~tayles/form.html
Dear Seattle City Council Members,
I am a new (5 months) resident to the Miller Park neighborhood,
and am
writing to express solidarity with the Miller Park Neighborhood
Association's efforts to increase public safety in this area,
most
particularly in and around the intersection of 20th Ave E. &
E. Madison St.
(read Deano's Grocery and Lounge).
There is a parking space directly across the street from Deano's
reserved
for police cars. Given the ongoing problems of drug dealing, prostitution,
and violence RIGHT THERE, I don't think having a police car and
four
officers parked there 24 hours/day would be inappropriate (please
see
http://home.jps.net/~tayles/Public_Safety/reports.html for accounts
by local
residents). I understand, however, that that is not feasible with
the number
of officers assigned to the East Precinct, which leads me to the
main
reasons for writing: THE MILLER PARK NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS MORE POLICE
OFFICERS.
As I'm sure you know, the Miller Park neighborhood is about
to change
dramatically -- Over 1/2 billion dollars in development is happening
in this
area
(http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2004/03/29/focus2.html).
With that is going to come a large population increase, and corresponding
property and sales tax revenues. I URGE YOU TO BUDGET FOR OUR
PROTECTION
ACCORDINGLY.
Personally I would advocate for bicycle patrols. Being an avid
cyclist I
know how much more one sees outside of a car. I know one was planned
for our
area until funding was cut. It would be an excellent addition
to the police
presence here -- I ask you to please find the funding for a bicycle
patrol
in our neighborhood. A community outreach worker, such as the
one employed
on Broadway, would be another outstanding addition -- the dealers
and
prostitutes certainly aren't just going to evaporate into thin
air when
Deano,s closes, they need social services that provide and a way
out of that
scene, not just more jail time.
Finally, I must compliment the SPD East Precinct officers on
their
continuing efforts in this area. I attended a neighborhood association
meeting last May with three SPD officers in attendance -- they
were friendly
and genuinely wanted to help us clean up our neighborhood and
make it a safe
place to live. I ask that you help them help us by budgeting for
the
resources they need and in accordance with the rapid growth of
this
neighborhood.
Sincerely,
Kenneth Hillyer
100 block 24th Ave. E.
Seattle, 98112
Date: Mon, 02 Aug 2004 15:14:07 -0700
We have to set priorities in order to have the funds even
potentially
available to address these kinds of pressing issues in the community.
I
will continue to work on putting those priorities into action,
and I am
very aware of the issues in your neighborhood.
Councilmember Richard Conlin
Greetings Council members
I am writing to once again ask that the Council please keep
in mind the
inadequate public safety resources the City of Seattle has. It
seems that
any event in the City -- SeaFair -- protest marches -- the University
area
melee on that Saturday night -- takes all the police resources
that are
available, leaving the rest of the City extremely vulnerable.
What will
happen in the event of a catastrophic event (earthquake, etc.)
or terrorism?
We do not have enough police officers as it is -- let alone add
those into
the equation. I was extremely pleased to see that Police Chief
Gil
Kerlikowske publicly acknowledged the fact (one that has been
long known by
citizens) that we are extremely short of officers -- and even
more so are we
vulnerable if a major disaster occurs.
Summer is here and once again Capitol Hill is awash with street
people.
Public, visible use of drugs has increased dramatically. Drug
sales
continue on most street corners along Broadway! It is as our Community
prophesized to the Council and the Mayor last year -- come summer,
it will
once again be Crime Central on Capitol Hill. This year the street
people
seem more hardened -- numerous muggings and purse snatchings have
been going
on in the Miller Park area -- as well as knifing and use of weapons
seems to
be on the rise this summer.
All over Capitol Hill things are getting worse, despite the
best efforts of
our new East Precinct Captain Meehan, who is doing a great job
with the
limited resources the City Council and Mayor provide.
How long will this continue? We are the densest area of Seattle
yet it
seems we are continuously the most forgotten area. Our neighborhood,
as
well as many other neighborhoods throughout the entire City, are
in dire
need of more police officers -- to beef up the gang unit, the
patrols, man
more bike squads -- the list goes on.
I know just more police is not the total solution. We also
need more human
services to facilitate removing these people from the street and
getting
them into housing, rehab for alcohol and drug addictions and in
jail for
crimes committed (and not a 24 hr revolving door as has been happening)
and
hopefully while there they will take advantage of programs to
become a
contributing (or at least self sustaining) member of the community.
Please seriously consider public safety and related human services
and plan
the 2005 budget accordingly so that Seattle can provide the adequate
public
safety a city this size should make available to its citizens
and taxpayers.
We should not have to live imprisoned within our homes -- we are
not the
criminals.
Catherine Brumbaugh
PS -- good job on not supporting the trolley to Lake Union
area Mr. Conlin.
I ask the entire Council to please not vote for the trolley --
we Seattle
taxpayers should not have to fund that street car -- it benefits
too few at
a cost to too many.
Catherine,
Thank you for taking the time to write and describe the
situation. You
are right the City needs to address these major public safety
issues in
a manner that is lasting and gets results. I'm hoping that the
Council
can work with the Mayor to accomplish such an approach come this
budget.
Jan Drago, Council President
City Hall,
600 4th Avenue
PO Box 34025,
Seattle, WA 98124-4025.
Dear Councilmember Drago,
Hello again from Miller Park and the Central District, I am writing
to you regarding our on-going problem Public Safety.
Specifically, I'm writing in support of a new idea A Levy.
It appears that the Central District and Capital Hill need to
demand some attention in order to deal with the public safety
issues in our neighborhoods.
As a Council, some of you voted in favor of a bike patrols in
2003. We appreciated that effort; however, in 2004 you cut the
money for other stuff. That was bad.
Now we need to consider new revenue sources, as I grow weary of
drug dealers parking in front of my house, gunshots at night (Just
last week!), and general rising crime.
The harm created by social problems like drug and alcohol addiction
are multi-dimensional and require a diversified approach. Money
for police alone is only marginally effective. A successful approach
will involve money for police AND relevant social services.
A public safety levy is being proposed by Councilmember Licata
Please support this idea I will vote to tax myself!!!
This should not supplant existing funding for these services
but support the needed police and social services that are desperately
needed in our City the City that we asked you to take care
of when you came into Office!
Thank you for your time and we hope your support on this vital
issue.
Sincerely,
Michael Booth
1644 21st Ave
Seattle, WA 98122
Dear Councilperson,
I am writing a brief letter to request additional city funding
for police, public safety workers, and outreach services to the
Madison/ Miller Park Corridor. I have lived in the immediate area
for 2 years (although I wa a resident of neighborhoods nearby
in the past).
WE NEED HELP! I really long for the day when I can come home or be home and fell safe. The absolute only time when illegal activities (drug dealing, prostitution, shootings, harrassment) subsides, is when the police are in the area.
Our police are an outstanding force. I have seen them treat some of the roughest, most messed up people with outstanding respect. I ask that you as a member of the council to please respect our police force and give them the proper funding. WE need funding and additional police and public safety workers. I sleep when police are in the area. I wake up when they are not. I, too want more social services for those of our society which are left behind. Yet I also want to feel safe coming and going from my house. It is essential that public safety remain a concern and that the city council fund elements that support that safety.
I write to implore you to fund more Police Officers for problem areas in our City.
We were all very grateful, in the Miller neighborhood, when City Council found funds in this year's budget for an East Precinct bike patrol, and were were very disappointed when the funds were eliminated.
Since then the East Precinct has benefited from the appointment of our vigorous, innovative new Commander, Captain Mike Meehan.
Captain Meehan kindly spent an entire evening touring our neighborhood, visiting the "hotspots" and offering advice:
http://home.jps.net/~tayles/Public_Safety/meehan.html
A few weeks after his visit I queried the neighborhood, to see if the efforts he was bringing to bear on the issues were having any effect. I was also eager to see if East Precinct Lt. John Hayes' weekly efforts to bring public service providers to the Madison corridor loiterers was having any effect.
I have added the many reports I received from the neighborhood to our ongoing log of neighborhood public safety problems:
http://home.jps.net/~tayles/Public_Safety/reports.html
I was struck that, despite all that Captain Meehan, Lt. Hayes and the East Precinct are doing for us, the conditions in the Madison corridor are as bad as ever.
Captain Meehan noted that arresting the petty criminals on Madison has little long-tem effect on the problems there. It is however obvious, to anyone touring the area on a regular basis, that the presence of Officers in the area is the only ting that brings any peace to the area, which is otherwise the scene of constant fights, drug-deals, prostitution and only too frequent gunfire.
I write to URGE YOU to fund more Police Officers for these and other troubled areas in our City. The law-abiding majority in the area deserve the peace this will bring. Without increased patrols we are all afraid that the urban revitalization in our area [and all its attendant new tax revenues] will fail, leaving us in the sorry situation in which we now live.
Councilmember Compton and City Attorney Carr have toured the neighborhood with us: http://home.jps.net/~tayles/Public_Safety/index.htm#blockwatch
We'd happily accompany you on a similar tour.
Please budget more Police Officers for us.
Thank you.
Andrew Taylor
Andrew:
It is always good to hear from you. You are a tireless advocate
for the
Miller Park neighborhood, and I appreciate your regular contacts
and
efforts. You are smart to get a jump on budget comments, and I
will be
sure to examine the Police Department budget proposal when it
comes to
the Council in late September. Thanks again for such a thoughtful
note,
and I'll be sure to keep in touch as the budget process ramps
up.
Best,
Jim
Thanks for the message, Andrew. We will continue to work
on this issue,
and I hope that the continued redevelopment in this area will
also have
a positive effect.
Councilmember Richard Conlin