Mike Meehan is the Captain at the E. Precinct.
Officer Tyrone Davis <tyrone.davis@Seattle.Gov>, phone 684-4370, is our Community Police Team Officer: call him for ongoing, non-emergency, issues. After you've reported something to 911, be sure to call him (684-4370) and leave him a message: it's the best way for him to find out about things!
Dan Okada is an Assistant City Attorney working at the East Precinct. Call him at 684-4375 or dan.okada@seattle.gov
Lt. John Hayes is the Operations Lieutenant at the East Precinct and is responsible for many innovative efforts to make our neighborhood safer and to find social service help for the people who hang out on Madison, This Seattle Star article shows another example of his innovative and compassionate approach.
Sonja Richter <Sonja.Richter@Seattle.Gov> is our Crime Prevention Manager, i.e. the person to go to for block watch and crime prevention issues. phone: 684-7717
José Cervantes <jose.cervantes@seattle.gov>, our Neighborhood Service Center Coordinator, can help you with any safety issue that Sonja can't. You may E-mail him, call him (684-4574) or visit him in his office in the Capitol Hill library. There, among other things, you can look at ALL the sex offender release bulletins.
Seattle PI: Saturday, May 7, 2005
Two officers receive medals for valor for bravely intervening in the shooting at Miller Community Center last year.
It's a great comfort to us, living in our often dangerous neighborhood, to know that we are protected by such exceptional police officers.
The attached resolution is
number 7 on the agenda.
This will be voted on by Councilmembers Della and Licata on 5/17/05
(here's the Committee schedule).
Councilmember Steinbrueck will not be in attendance; the PSCRA
alternate, Councilmember Compton may attend in his place (but
this is
not confirmed). The Full Council will likely vote on
5/23.
Councilmembers Licata, Della, Conlin, and Rasmussen are sponsors.
Thanks for your continued interest. Let
me know if you have
questions.
(from information suppleid by
Lisa Herbold
Legislative Aide to Councilmember Nick Licata
lisa.herbold@seattle.gov
ph: 206-684-8803/fax: 206-233-0054
600 4th Avenue, 2nd Floor
Seattle, WA 98104)
New neighbor Mike Clarke kindly took these minutes at the meeting , and I (Andrew) took a few pictures.
Mike also noted:
It seems like there is a lot of frustration and anger, which
also
leads to energy. I think our biggest problem as a group may be
to harness
this energy in a way that is both very productive for the neighborhood,
and leaves the residents feeling empowered, so that they continue
to stay
involved rather than give up, as you mentioned that many have
done before.
One way to do this I think would be to organize into action teams
and/or
have individuals as the point people assigned to specific issues
or
physical areas (streets, blocks, or sub-blocks) that follow up
on these
issues and stay with them for the long haul. It sounded like Ofc.
Davis
thought that it would be easier to deal with the neighborhood's
concerns
effectively if it were more organized like this as well. E.g.,
action
teams/point people for:
-Legal action and nonviolent protests (joint/individual) vs. Deano's
-Homeless/Drug Outreach
-Surveillance cameras (and other neighborhood security technology)
-Environment Problems (trash, graffiti, unlit areas, abandoned houses)
-Block Watch (photo documenting homeless/criminal/drug persons
around
neighborhood, identification of drug houses to residents and police,
consistently posting to MPNA Public Safety Reports) etc.
Notes from Andrew:
Assorted notes:
Drug dealing, prostitution, public drunkenness and related problems have been associated with the stretch of East Madison Street in our neighborhood for a long time. (This letter details many of the problems).
The problems seem to have got much worse recently, perhaps due to the increased efforts being made at 23rd & Union. Drug dealing has become a problem on 22nd Ave E. , and customers of drug dealers have been coming into the neighborhood to enjoy their purchases, as have prostitutes and their clients. (This letter says it much better than I can!).
A letter from the Capitol Hill Housing Improvement Program requests more Police support in our neighborhood. Other neighbors had questions.
The Commander of the East Precinct is Captain Fred Hill.
We are not alone in are concerns. Here's a compilation of recent (July 02) E-mails among members of the Squire Park community, showing that they have many of the same problems that we do. They also offer useful sugggestions and insights on how to tackle the issues. The residents of the Central Area are also organizing (3/03).
10/12/03: The Mayor and Councilmember Pageler have proposed two new "alcohol impact areas", one to include our neighborhood. The Pioneer Square Alcohol Impact Area is just being implemented: it is expected to displace problem drunks into our area. Hence the two new proposals.
The Alcohol Impact Area in Tacoma is reported to be successful. (data, summary)
NICKELS
AND PAGELER CALL FOR NEW ALCOHOL IMPACT AREAS (Press release)
Map of the
proposed Capitol Hill/Central AreaAlcohol Impact Area
(and here are the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce's thoughts and a Seattle PI article and Margaret Pageler's thoughts)
Language has been inserted in the budget that will weaken and eliminate the Washington State Liquor Control Board's ability to assist cities and communities in establishing or revising Alcohol Impact Areas. As we know the Liquor Board is an essential partner in this process which cannot be accomplished without their full participation and invaluable guidance.
Budget language in House Bill HB 2459 and ESSB 6187 "prohibits the Liquor Control Board from using any of the budget money to implement or revise Alcohol Impact Areas."
This will directly impact the City of Seattle and its participating communities from establishing new AIAs.
We are asking King County Executive Ron Sims, Representative Helen Sommers and Senator Margarita Prentice to take appropriate actions to have this language removed from the budget before adopted by our legislature.
Please consider contacting our key elected leadership and ask them to please; "remove budget language that undermines 5 years of hard work by the community while effectively eliminating the use of AIAs to improve public safety and community livability"
Key Contact Information
King County Executive Ron Sims
Telephone (206) 296-4040 e-mail ron.sims@metrokc.gov
Senator Margarita Prentice
Telephone: (360) 786-7616 e-mail prentice_ma@leg.wa.gov
Representative Helen Sommers
Telephone: (360) 786-7814 e-mail sommers_he@leg.wa.gov
Information from Jordan Royer
Manager, Neighborhood Action Team
City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods
700 Third Avenue, Ste. 400
Seattle, WA 98104-1848
Phone: (206) 233-0069 fax: 684-8493
jordan.royer@seattle.gov
http://www.cityofseattle.net/neighborhoods/nats/
(A now abandoned neighborhood effort, from a few years ago)
We meet under the US flag, in the alley behind 100 - 20th Ave E at 8 PM (typically on the first and third Fridays of the month) and tour the streets around Madison for about an hour, accompanied by a Community Police Team Officer.
Here's an article from the Stranger about the patrols. And some comments on the crime statistics in the article:
"Read the article again and had a thought - is 482 crimes in the census tract a lot? Compared to the 296 in the abutting tract is sure sounds like it!!! But consider: of the 25 murders in the city in 2001 exactly 1 happened in Federal Census Tract 079 (the tract in question). Of the 164 rapes logged in Seattle, exactly 1 was committed in census tract 079. Of the 1,594 robberies, 25 are credited to census tract 079 (compared to 181 in tract 081). Of the 2,367 aggravated assaults, 40 were committed in tract 079. Of the 123 census tracts for which crime statistics are kept by the Seattle Police Department, there were 41 census tracts (one third) that logged more than 482 crimes.
2001 crime stats can be found at:http://www.cityofseattle.net/police/criminfo/ctstats/200112y.htm "
On June 21st, 2002 we were accompained on our patrol by Councilmember Jim Compton and City Attorney Tom Carr. Miller Park resident Julianne Anderson helped to "rally the troops" for the walk with Mr. Compton.
We made the front page of the June 26, 2002 Capitol Hill Times:
"Apartment manager Wes Brewton (left) and Miller Park Neighborhood Association Chair Andrew Taylor (right) share the neighborhood's concerns with Seattle City Councilmember Jim Compton (center) during a neighborhood anti-crime walk on Friday, June 21. The tour began in the alley behind the 100 block of 20th Ave E. Compton heard concerns about the impacts drug use and sales and prostitution (among others) are having on the neighborhood."
Photo by Bradley Enghaus, reproduced courtesy of the Capitol Hill Times. Click here for a larger version of the photo.
Councilmember Compton writes:"I appreciate the thank
you note, though I think I should be the one thanking you. Friday
night was a real eye-opening event. It was great to see that kind
of neighborhood support and solidarity. Tom Carr and I got a chance
to speak about the issues and obstacles you all face as a neighborhood,
and that we as City officials have in finding a solution for you.
You will be glad to know that together we were able to draw attention
to the crime issue with a wonderful
photograph that was printed in the June 26th edition of the
Capitol Hill Times. Also, just last week Tom Carr was able to
send me his legislation that will direct significant funds towards
prostitute rehabilitation by increasing and earmarking the fines
levied against prostitutes' customers.
My Legislative Assistant Linda Robson and I look forward to working
with neighborhood residents and the Seattle Police Department
to find a way to clean up Miller Park once and for all. Thank
you again for inviting me to join you on June 21. Andrew, please
feel free to share this with the Neighborhood Association members
and to post it on your website if you wish.
Best Regards,
Jim Compton
Assorted other info about Madison-related problems:
Look at these recent reports from neighbors
about activities on Madison Street (and please send
in your reports)
July 2001: Here's some recent correspondence between neighbors and the Police Department, detailing the recent disturbing rise in activity and how the Police propose to deal with it.
As detailed in this letter to the Police Chief,one of those marches turned quite ugly. Other neighbors also sent letters to the Police and City Council
The Police Department started emphasis patrols in the neighborhood that have (at least for now) helped make things more pleasant.
This Seattle Times article warns of reduced Police enforcement in our area.
At the June 28, 2001 Miller Park meeting we met Acting Lt. Carmen Best, who is in charge of our Community Police team. We gave her this letter of support and encouragement for the officers of the East Precinct. The letter was signed by many of those at the meeting.
Please use the form to document problems in the neighborhood. We'll use the information to document the need for action in the neighborhood. Reports will be forwarded to the Community Police Team where appropriate.
Some thoughts (from a neighbor) prompted by talk at the Design Review hearing for the new grocery/apartment complex at 23rd & Madison:
"In the presentation last night, it was mentioned that the retail would include a coffee shop. To confirm what we were all probably were thinking, it will in fact be a Starbucks -- or at least that's what one of the presenters told me after the talk. They also told me that they are still in negotiations with a few different grocery store chains, and the other commercial contracts are still up in the air. He didn't give me any names.
After I got home, I continued to think about the safety issues. The presenters mentioned their attempt to create a structure that lends itself to having "eyes on the streets." Along these lines, they discussed their plans for targeted lighting, walkways, balconies, etc., to keep people about. This is great, but I would imagine the effect of these measures is lessened significantly when the businesses are closed for the evening and the residents are inside cooking dinner, etc., after 7pm or so when it gets dark. At that point, there will of course be less "eyes on the street." Not surprisingly, this is also when the 21st-23rd and Madison area currently starts to become relatively unsafe. Among other things, what may help reduce this effect would be a 24hr grocery which would continue to attract people to the area after dark. Do you know whether this has ever been discussed?"
Andrew and Others--
A few days ago we found that our front door jam was split,
damage that could only have resulted from an attempt to break
our door down. I would say kick the door down, but there is no
evidence of feet on the door, leading us to
believe that someone used bodily force in trying to gain entry
into our home.
We feel very lucky that our door held, and assume this must of happened during the day when we were not home. Had we been home, we surely would have have heard wood splintering and lots of noise from the force required to result in such substantial damage.
Our front door faces the alley between 19th and 20th Avenues East just south of John Street. The alley is accessible from either Denny or John but dead ends in the middle of the block. This has been something of a mixed blessing: we see less traffic back here, however, the privacy, or darkness, sometimes provides cover for criminal activity.
Scores of times we have encountered people urinating and have several times found human feces, we regularly find used condoms, surgical gloves, evidence of drug use, and on occasion, abandoned clothes and garbage by the bag. More than once we have had fugitives hiding next to our house while police searched for them.
Until now the illegal activities we have been exposed have mostly been considered victim-less crimes: public drinking, public drug use, and public fornication. Of course we are victims of these crimes when the result is the inability to use our own property freely.
We pay a whole lot in property taxes, and it would be nice to be able to use our own outdoor spaces in the same ways that people in other parts of the city are able to. Or even to feel safe inside our house.
Let's look out for each other--and let's ask the police to dedicate more resources for our area.
--Karen
From a sign posted in Tully's window:
6 women mugged & injured in last 2 weeks (as of 2/12/02) & their purses stolen. Area: 14th Ave E. -19th Ave E., Volunteer Park - Madison Street. African American male, 6' tall, slight to medium build. Dark blue or black hooded jacket, tied tight around face. Walks up behind women & knocks them to the ground.
See this Police Blotter report from the February 20th Capitol Hill Times. The Police Department reports that the series of muggings was over a longer period and wider area than reported above.
December 2001 The Captain of the East Precinct and a Liquor Control Board Officer wrote to update us on their tactics to help the neighborhood.
March 2002: here's an interesting approach to drug paraphernalia sales (from The Weekly).
August 2002: City Attorney Carr is proposing to go after the clients of prostitutes. (Seattle Times, PI articles )
East Precinct SPD update, from Captain Metz, as reported in the minutes:
Deano's/Oscar's on Madison has been experiencing increased activity. Oscar's is doing well with quieter crowds and clear boundaries about appropriate behavior inside of their establishment. Deano's had a shooting on the dance floor in the past month. The owner closed the establishment and encouraged folks to leave but not call police or 911. The victim flagged down passing officers one hour after the incident.
Again a report by Captain Metz, from the meeting minutes:
21st & Madison -- heavy drug use in front of and behind DEANO's, several groups (Department of Corrections, Liquor Control Board, Community Police Team) are working together to permanently resolve this problem. There has been over service of alcohol at DEANO's, so Liquor Control Board and Seattle Police Department have been working on that. Oscar's has been doing OK, no problems have surfaced recently.
You can search the King County Sex Offenders website by ZIP code.
To receive E-mailed copies of Sex Offender notification for our area, please contact
Stephanie Coleman <spd.sexoffenderdetail@seattle.gov>
Seattle PD-Sex & Kidnapping Offender Detail
Seattle Police Department
610 - 5th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104-1900
Phone (206) 684-5332
Fax (206) 684-0217
Letter sent (June 2002) commenting on proposed renewal of license for Deano's Café & Lounge, 2030 E. Madison St. , License #355415. There's still time for you to write a letter (address below)!
(My letter was based in part on an E-mail from Assistant City Attorney Trish Nellermoe stating that:
Andrew--You should know that the liquor agents and Kim have
been working with Deano's to no avail. Further, there are at least
3 liquor violations stacked up against them. You may want to consider
an all-out objection on this one since the liquor agent has already
recommended cancellation of the license.
Trish
I subsequently contacted Liquor agent Bud Fish who replied:
"I will respond thru our agency and keep things in order
with the Seattle City Attorney's office thru our channels with
the board. I have not recommended cancellation of the license.
Agents do not do those things. I respond to Seattle Police reports,
generate activity thru random premise checks and follow liquor
board policy thru our agency, working with the enforcement agency
involved. I can also say that I responded and will continue to
respond to complaints as they come in to our office from all parties.
Thanks, Bud" )
| Licensee | Business name and address | License number | Priviledges |
| Golden Lotus Inc |
Monsoon, 615 - 19th Ave E. Seattle WA 98112 |
079643 | Restaurant: beer/wine |
| Stephan Mollman |
The Twilight Exit, 2020 E. Madison, Seattle WA 98122 |
080476 | Tavern: beer/wine |
If you choose to comment on them:
I've heard from SPD in the past that they need to hear from multiple people to give them a stronger case with the Liquor Board, so please write to:
Captain Judy de Mello
Director, Records, Evidence and Identification Section,
Seattle Police Department
610 - 3rd Ave
Seattle WA 98104
phone: 684-5445 FAX: 684-5340
Consider also writing directly to:
Mr. Lester C. Dalrymple
Supervisor, Licensing
Washington State Liquor Control Board
1025 E. Union
PO Box 43075
Olympia WA 98504-3075
(360) 753-6262
It would be useful if you can make your comments as specific as possible o the license under consideration. Or acknowledge the uncertainty and point out that they contribute to an overall problem.
Recall that your letter will be a public document and will be available to the licensee (I've had my letters quoted to me by a tavern's lawyer). So be honest but firm!
I'd be happy to post your letter (anonymous if desired) on my website to inspire others to write.
