It is complete and total anarchy here in the northern sector of Seattle. When I leave my home I wonder what will happen in my absence. It is very scary. Every single day someone is experiencing physical/emotional loss due to the criminals knowing there is ABSOLUTELY NO reason not to continnue to carry on their "work" .
E
Erin Snow
10 years ago
With regard to quality of life in Seattle, one of the most important needs is being able to feel safe in one's own home and neighborhood
M
Misty Olson
10 years ago
10y Ballard (Whittier heights) resident with 1 home breakin and multiple car breakins.
B
Barbara Cote
10 years ago
I have lived in Ballard for 37 years and can scarcely believe the increase in criminal activity, vagrant camps, illegal camping and discarded garbage and filth that is now commonplace in this formerly beautiful neighborhood. This has transpired in barely a year's time. You must make this a priority in your administration.
K
Kevin Jeffries
10 years ago
My wife and I moved to Magnolia in March '15 with our two young boys Z(ages 7 yrs and 2 yrs). Unfortunately, the incidences of property crime continue to rise and a significant portion of this is most likely due to the vagrants and RV dwellers down around Gilmore Ave and surrounding areas. I mean come on, just do a drive by and you'll see the obvious. Here's the thing, increase patrols, enforce the laws on the books (like tow after 72 hours) cite these folks, and let's go. I can assure you if this was in your neighborhood (council, mayor, etc.) we'd see pretty quick change and response. Yes, I have a heart, but I also don't need my kid, dog, etc., being accosted by these individuals, or even worse, stepping on some needle left behind by some dirtbag selling meth out of his RV. Come on, get with the program and let's see some respect for your constituents and let's police appropriately and enforce the laws on the books. This is a joke and unsafe.
A
Angie Gerrald
10 years ago
Ballard's public safety continues to dangerously plummet, especially since the mayor and Mike O'Brien have told the police to "stand down" on any issues related to homelessness (which apparently includes public drug dealing/use, open chop shops, theft, vehicle abandonment, and excessive public dumping). We have a micro community policing plan that is explicitly NOT being enforced because of the unwritten, off-the-record instructions of our mayor! Police response times are sloooowwww and when they do show up they shake their heads and say there is little they can do to enforce our laws. With our population boom, instead of seeing more police we see fewer (and rarely if ever on foot or bike). Even at the North Precinct Advisory Council Meeting, I was told "off the record" by a police sergeant that their hands are tied because of the directive from the mayor!? In trying to be compassionate and not "criminalize homelessness" the mayor and council have totally overstepped the bounds of public safety; it is disrespectful and downright dangerous to treat a whole class of citizens as if they are anonymous and beyond the law, with no consequences for their actions nor path toward a healthy future. If the city wants to provide leniency or aid to specific people based on specific circumstances, there needs to be transparency to the policies, fairness for all citizens, and a means of treating people like individuals -- with the expectation that they are a part of society, not outside of it. Please, make Ballard safe for ALL!
K
Kris Lee
10 years ago
This has to stop! I've lived in Ballard for 8 years and the last year has been horrible. Crime in my condo is out of control. Stealing bikes, cars, storage units, breaking into stores below us. The drug use is out of control and these camping sites are out of hand. Don't forget about the dead woman who was shoved into a grocery cart under the Ballard bridge.
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
Please! We had a guy on drugs trying to break in to our house - called 911 and got ZERO police response. The policing in these neighborhoods is at unsafe levels.
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
I moved to Magnolia a year ago, thinking this is a safe neighborhood, and I am concerned to see the amount of break ins to homes and cars, stolen property. My car is broken in two in the last two months, and my stroller is stolen right in front of my front door two days after I had my baby. Please do something before things get real bad. Thank you!
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
Hire more police
C
Claudia Heiden
10 years ago
We have lived in Magnolia for 17 years and crime has never been as bad as it has been this last 1-2 years. I know friends and neighbors who have been burglarized, had their cars prowled and also have to deal with the drugs, RVs and garbage in the neighborhood. Enough is enough. Our neighborhood, Magnolia, as well was QA, Fremont & Ballard all pay a lot of taxes and we need better police patrol and response time. I called the police for a suspicious person and they didn't respond until 5 hours later. There is no way calling in a suspicious person helps if the police don't check it out. Quite a few of us have actually paid for our own private patrols. I am willing to to do that but it does seem unacceptable as the taxes we already pay should be paying for our protection instead of citizens having to take it in their own hands. We urge you to make our neighborhoods safe again. Thanks!
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
This idea is 35 years in the making.
C
calvin saulsbury
10 years ago
How can you argue with people who are arming themselves for the first time in their lives
D
Deborah Gates
10 years ago
The only "crime" the city Is concerned about is expired parking meters. Doing drugs, graffiti, littering, property damage, theft , loitering, no problem.
D
Deborah Gates
10 years ago
The city is only worried about putting more bicycle lanes in and giving out more parking tickets.
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
I can NOT believe how horrible crime has become in my neighborhood! This is ridiculous!
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
Just recently we had a woman shooting up drugs on a bench she actually walked up to our condo to sit on, and the same day a strange guy trying the locked front door & attempting to climb over the fence to get in our garage - this is shocking!
D
Donna Manders
10 years ago
The degradation of the Ballard neighborhood has been marked in the past 10 years. If it continues with its current trajectory, this place will become a ghetto defined by crime, destruction of property, and mean-spirited, angry people. Tghe time to turn things around is now. Thank you.
Z
Zachary Shalla
10 years ago
My wife reported a potential intruder in our house and it took police over 90 minutes to respond.
It is complete and total anarchy here in the northern sector of Seattle. When I leave my home I wonder what will happen in my absence. It is very scary. Every single day someone is experiencing physical/emotional loss due to the criminals knowing there is ABSOLUTELY NO reason not to continnue to carry on their "work" .
With regard to quality of life in Seattle, one of the most important needs is being able to feel safe in one's own home and neighborhood
10y Ballard (Whittier heights) resident with 1 home breakin and multiple car breakins.
I have lived in Ballard for 37 years and can scarcely believe the increase in criminal activity, vagrant camps, illegal camping and discarded garbage and filth that is now commonplace in this formerly beautiful neighborhood. This has transpired in barely a year's time. You must make this a priority in your administration.
My wife and I moved to Magnolia in March '15 with our two young boys Z(ages 7 yrs and 2 yrs). Unfortunately, the incidences of property crime continue to rise and a significant portion of this is most likely due to the vagrants and RV dwellers down around Gilmore Ave and surrounding areas. I mean come on, just do a drive by and you'll see the obvious. Here's the thing, increase patrols, enforce the laws on the books (like tow after 72 hours) cite these folks, and let's go. I can assure you if this was in your neighborhood (council, mayor, etc.) we'd see pretty quick change and response. Yes, I have a heart, but I also don't need my kid, dog, etc., being accosted by these individuals, or even worse, stepping on some needle left behind by some dirtbag selling meth out of his RV. Come on, get with the program and let's see some respect for your constituents and let's police appropriately and enforce the laws on the books. This is a joke and unsafe.
Ballard's public safety continues to dangerously plummet, especially since the mayor and Mike O'Brien have told the police to "stand down" on any issues related to homelessness (which apparently includes public drug dealing/use, open chop shops, theft, vehicle abandonment, and excessive public dumping). We have a micro community policing plan that is explicitly NOT being enforced because of the unwritten, off-the-record instructions of our mayor! Police response times are sloooowwww and when they do show up they shake their heads and say there is little they can do to enforce our laws. With our population boom, instead of seeing more police we see fewer (and rarely if ever on foot or bike). Even at the North Precinct Advisory Council Meeting, I was told "off the record" by a police sergeant that their hands are tied because of the directive from the mayor!? In trying to be compassionate and not "criminalize homelessness" the mayor and council have totally overstepped the bounds of public safety; it is disrespectful and downright dangerous to treat a whole class of citizens as if they are anonymous and beyond the law, with no consequences for their actions nor path toward a healthy future. If the city wants to provide leniency or aid to specific people based on specific circumstances, there needs to be transparency to the policies, fairness for all citizens, and a means of treating people like individuals -- with the expectation that they are a part of society, not outside of it. Please, make Ballard safe for ALL!
This has to stop! I've lived in Ballard for 8 years and the last year has been horrible. Crime in my condo is out of control. Stealing bikes, cars, storage units, breaking into stores below us. The drug use is out of control and these camping sites are out of hand. Don't forget about the dead woman who was shoved into a grocery cart under the Ballard bridge.
Please! We had a guy on drugs trying to break in to our house - called 911 and got ZERO police response. The policing in these neighborhoods is at unsafe levels.
I moved to Magnolia a year ago, thinking this is a safe neighborhood, and I am concerned to see the amount of break ins to homes and cars, stolen property. My car is broken in two in the last two months, and my stroller is stolen right in front of my front door two days after I had my baby. Please do something before things get real bad. Thank you!
Hire more police
We have lived in Magnolia for 17 years and crime has never been as bad as it has been this last 1-2 years. I know friends and neighbors who have been burglarized, had their cars prowled and also have to deal with the drugs, RVs and garbage in the neighborhood. Enough is enough. Our neighborhood, Magnolia, as well was QA, Fremont & Ballard all pay a lot of taxes and we need better police patrol and response time. I called the police for a suspicious person and they didn't respond until 5 hours later. There is no way calling in a suspicious person helps if the police don't check it out. Quite a few of us have actually paid for our own private patrols. I am willing to to do that but it does seem unacceptable as the taxes we already pay should be paying for our protection instead of citizens having to take it in their own hands. We urge you to make our neighborhoods safe again. Thanks!
This idea is 35 years in the making.
How can you argue with people who are arming themselves for the first time in their lives
The only "crime" the city Is concerned about is expired parking meters. Doing drugs, graffiti, littering, property damage, theft , loitering, no problem.
The city is only worried about putting more bicycle lanes in and giving out more parking tickets.
I can NOT believe how horrible crime has become in my neighborhood! This is ridiculous!
Just recently we had a woman shooting up drugs on a bench she actually walked up to our condo to sit on, and the same day a strange guy trying the locked front door & attempting to climb over the fence to get in our garage - this is shocking!
The degradation of the Ballard neighborhood has been marked in the past 10 years. If it continues with its current trajectory, this place will become a ghetto defined by crime, destruction of property, and mean-spirited, angry people. Tghe time to turn things around is now. Thank you.
My wife reported a potential intruder in our house and it took police over 90 minutes to respond.
Keep our neighborhoods safe!