In today's P-I, Robert Jamieson writes that Belltown has become a "lawless town" overrun with drug dealers, addicts, panhandlers and partying weekend revelers. Residents complain of the growing number of violent crimes. Just last week, a Microsoft worker from Fargo, North Dakota, was beaten outside a Belltown bar by a group of five or six people. "I can't tell you how many times people have had their store windows shot out," said Belltown resident Constance Rodman. "Bullets are flying. It's the Wild, Wild West down here, especially Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights." Rodman says police officers respond passively to the crimes and says Seattle officials - especially Mayor Greg Nickels - are too PC ("politically comatose" as she puts it) to swiftly address the problem.
I am a former Seattle resident and native, although I now live in Prescott Valley, Arizona. I lived in Queen Anne neighborhood for years, and walked, biked, or rode buses along 1st Ave. going through Belltown. I am saddened to hear of the violence and mayhem there. I just returned from a trip to Seattle in July and saw my old neighborhhood again, in Ballard, although I didn't go into Belltown or the "hill", I hope the situation improves. I will always think of Seattle as my hometown, and miss a lot of things there, but not the long, dark winters and the increasing development of neighborhoods like Ballard, Queen Anne,Belltown, Wallingford, and apathy about some real problems in these communities. I will keep reading and observing what goes on in Seattle and will always have an interest in the welfare of the community and environment in the Seattle area. If more residents got involved in community activist efforts and watching and caring about their neighborhoods, it would be a positive and possibly productive thing for the city....
from someone who cares, Carol
UGh ... just another reason NOT to go to Belltown.
It surprises me though. I had always thought of it as more of a snooty, less-relaxed place. But guns? I'm for sure sticking to Capitol Hill.
If more residents got involved in community activist efforts and watching and caring about their neighborhoods, it would be a positive and possibly productive thing for the city....
But that's not gonna happen huh carol. Why because in seattle we kill the messenger boy. The person who speaks out is the problem not the problem itself this has been going on way too long the ignore it and it might get better is out. Even when your suppose to yell out like at a ball game people look at you like you just raped someone. Clean it up seattle.
Mabye what it will take for this to stop is law abiding gun owners to camp out in Belltown and take the streets back. Im tired of hearing about people getting beat up by 5 people, Im tired of good people getting beat up by thugs. Our city officials dont seem to care enough to do anything, so we should. Mabye then the police and city will pay attention to the problem. Its time to take out the trash Seattle!
This has been going on for years and the community has put together multiple meetings to address the issues. SPD, City Council, and the mayor's office attend these meetings and promise change every time. Hats off to Constance, who has attended EVERY one of those meetings and is still pushing for a safer city.
"Livable City" is a joke, Mayor Nickels. I wouldn't even raise my kids here, which is why we moved out of the city a year ago. I won't even bring my kids into Seattle, even though I work here. The parks, which should be for families and other decent citizens, are full of drug dealers, hookers, and pimps. Not just hanging out minding their own business. These ones are agressive and intimidating.
Then there is our great landlord at 4th and Bell, who will house anybody willing to pay a premium. As a result you have a crime-ridden building full of unsavory tenants, many of which are registered sex offenders. Sure, they're mostly pedifiles and "harmless" to most of Belltown's residents, however I cringed when I saw children catching the school bus across the street years ago.
In SPD's defense, the area has improved over the last 5 years from where it was. Only now Belltown has a weekend crowd coming into town and causing trouble. SPD's hands are tied, as it is our great mayor who ultimately pulls the strings in this town.
If something happens to erode our tourist activity, the mayor increases SPD patrols and makes sure it is on the news. If you're a resident, that's just what you get with "city living".
Could you write about Physics so I can pass Scniece class?
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