Results tagged “mayor nickels” from Belltowner

This is great news. It sounds like our neighborhood crime complaints are being heard. The PI is reporting that today councilman Tim Burgess will preview plans for a broad "Safer Streets Initiative". The initiative would target graffiti offenders, prostitution, open air drug markets, aggressive panhandling and business owners who knowingly permit crime on their property. Tim plans on discussing these ideas during the City Council's Public Safety Committee meeting today.

Although a spokesman for Mayor Nickels said he had not yet seen the Safer Streets proposal and could not comment, let's hope he puts these ideas into action once he does see them and that this is the first step in changing things around.

You may recall us quoting an article by the PI's Robert Jameson last week which voiced his concerns about Belltown's ever increasing crime and drug problem. Today he touched on the subject again, announcing that Mayor Greg Nickels "ignores problems as obvious as a hand slammed in a door." Who is to blame for these shootouts, beatings, and drugs in Belltown? Yuppie revelers? Drug dealers? Hostile panhandlers? People high on drugs? Gangbangers? Invisible cops? Belltowner Constance Rodman's answer is, "It's a combo. Everyone knows they can come here and get a free pass, for driving drunk, for disturbing the peace, for dealing."

I've been a little torn on the subject. I've found myself questioning whether the problems in Belltown are all that bad, and if open air drug use and aggressive homeless people are expected when living in a downtown area. My doubts were diminished when over the weekend I was enjoying a dinner near 2nd and Bell. A little girl and her Dad were skipping around playfully on the sidewalk when a man approached them with a cloth in one hand which he was "huffing" (probably paint thinner or something that has similar effects) and a can of alcohol in the other. He started aggressively mumbling jibberish to them, and fell to his knees blocking their path.

Now that's just not cool. A parent shouldn't have to worry about his kids getting confronted by people with eyes rolling in the back of their head. It was a disturbing scene. I think more police attention is definitely called for. Belltown should have the reputation of being a place where people come to experience nightlife, fine dining, art, and culture, rather than a reputation of being a dangerous "wild wild west" where anything goes.

Belltowner Katie wrote me an email today which suggested Belltown residents come together and take action towards catching Mayor Nickels attention.

"Has anyone thought about doing a "Take back our Streets" march in Belltown? Maybe if we shout loud enough and more news reporters in the area were able to see how serious residents are about getting rid of the crime in the area, Mayor Nickels might hear us. We could all wear plastic bags on our heads so we could get his attention.

I think you should use your blog to start a dialog on this.

Katie
Resident of Belltown"

The plastic bags idea is rather clever. What do you think about this idea of a march?

The Slog is reporting that the City is looking to fill the position of "Nightlife Regulatory Coordinator". The job description requires that they "Design and implement a comprehensive regulatory program regarding nightlife establishments in the City of Seattle ... recommend and defend a structure and processes that will improve/enhance regulatory efforts across the City... Coordinate the activities of the Joint Enforcement Team and Monitor liquor license applications and renewals ... recommend non-renewal when circumstances exist that suggest that the establishment does not operate in a safe manner or comply with City and State laws."

This "nightlife regulatory coordinator" (a.k.a. Captain Buzzkill) will get paid between $67,400 and $101,150. Wow. I'm sure we'll be seeing plenty of this person here in Belltown. Sound like something you're interested in? Go here

The Dalai Lama continues his Seeds of Compassion conference this morning by meeting with about 15,500 students and educators from local Washington schools at The Key Arena. He is focusing on encouraging children and youth to practice compassion. Mayor Nickels will also be presenting the Dalai Lama with a key of the city.

It's sure to be a zoo of schoolbuses and cars in the Belltown neighborhood this morning following the conference. Have no fear however, should you find yourself in the midst of frustrating traffic, take it as an opportunity to practice your compassion.

For a live video stream of the Dalai Lama speaking at The Key Arena today go here.

Greg Nickels proposed a $75 million levy today to fund improvements at Pike Place Market. The six-year levy, which would run from 2009 through 2014, would pay for a new heating and cooling system, elevator, restrooms, Hillclimb stairway and seismic upgrades.

Last month, some Pike Place Market tenants told the Puget Sound Business Journal that they worried that the upgrade would increase rents and bring in retail chains. I guess city officials aren't too worried about these concerns.