Make Seattle Safe Again

While I am sympathetic to those individuals and families who are truly needy, I am not sympathetic to those people who choose homelessness as a lifestyle. I object to having my tax dollars used to support these people, many of whom have moved to Seattle because they've heard Seattle will take care of them. Unfortunately, it is these individuals who detract from and hinder those people who want to better their lives, but have fallen on hard times. There might be fewer homeless people on the street if we prioritized the truly needy from the ones who choose homelessness as a lifestyle. It is these people who are making Seattle unsafe.

I've lived and worked in Ballard and Magnolia all my life and deplore what our Mayor Murray has done to destroy our city during his term. His liberal agenda in so many areas is deplorable. He's allowed the homeless population to trash Ballard.

I have lived in Magnolia for 26 years. During this time I my house and vehicles have never been broken into, I have never seen a needle lying on any street in Magnolia, and I have never been bothered in the least way by the low numbers of homeless people living in my neighborhood. I have had pleasant conversations with people selling Real Change at the Post Office on McGraw Street and at Magnolia Market and QFC. I am, however, very troubled by the mounting wealth inequality and the recent foreclosure crisis in Seattle that has caused several of my friends to lose their homes. I am deeply troubled by Seattle and King County's prolonged failure to adopt the Housing First strategy that reduced homelessness by over 90% in Salt Lake City during the same decaded it exploded here. This strategy is explained here: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/09/22/home-free I as appalled and sickened at the way so many people demonized homeless people through expressions of hate at the meeting last night. They did not represent me, and any Seattle politicians or agencies that try to make the lives of homeless people harder than they already are so no represent me either. As for police response times, it is utter naive and irresponsible for the City of Seattle to permit rampant growth without collecting impact fees authorized under the Growth Management Act of 1990 to compensate for the effects of this growth on public facilities and services including police and fire services, parks and rec, public transportation, and AFFODABLE HOUSING. The City of Seattle sets growth oriented housing policy such as HALA without even attempting to quantify the loss of affordable housing in our city that is directly attributable to growth. We all know that older apartment buildings in our neighborhoods are being renovated so the rents can be as much as doubled, or torn down to make way for expensive new apartments. It should thus come as no surprise that homelessness is complet

Ballard is starting to see more and more RVs parked along the side of the roads. They don't move for months at a time, if at all, and continue to accumulate (or steal) junk and scraps that they they pile around their RV. Upsetting to know my tax dollars go primarily to support bike lanes (In a city where it rains 200 days a year and just about everywhere you go requires crossing a bridge), and soon used on litigation to defend an Uber-Unionization measure that will only further burden the tax payers. The City Council has become a laughing stock and continue to strike out on acts that will actually benefit the citizens who they allegedly represent.

I was driving to work and saw a Homeless man pooping on the sidewalk

My boyfriend and I BOTH had our vehicles stolen on the night of January 1st. This is way too out of control and will only get worse if not addressed.

This lawless environment has gone unchecked for too long. Homeless needing a hand up, no problem and we are here to help you. Those needing a hand out and the criminal element - GTFO. It has gotten to the point where we will not walk the neighborhood without a concealed weapon, and if threatened in any way we will defend ourselves using lethal force if need be. CLEAN UP THIS CRAP MAYOR MURRAY!!

remove cars along 14th Ave nw

The amount of harassment by the (allegedly) homeless or underprivileged in Ballard has increased exponentially since low income housing has been placed in the Ballard neighborhoods. I find myself hyper vigilant when going in and out the Ballard library, and refuse to walk in the neighborhoods around there anymore. Abandoned shopping carts, piles of garbage and cars that are left parked in the same space for weeks at a time are NOT helpful in addressing the homeless issue in Ballard and in Seattle. Tax paying citizens are forced to avoid areas and facilities that WE ARE PAYING FOR in apparent *deference* to the homeless who are just trashing them and behaving erratically, scaring people. I used to live in a neighborhood where I could walk every day and visit commercial establishments without fearing for my safety as a person.

I know for certain that the most recent "Mr Anonymous" comment just written means "Mayor Murray"!!! His priorities are completely out of order and is ruining the safety and environment of our city for Tax Paying Citizens! CLEAN UP YOUR ACT AND CITY MR " Mayor" and CITY COUNCIL!

The lack of foresight & vision is soooo apparent with our INEPT Mayor Murray and his council. He is the worst possible person for the position. These people are a bunch clowns excessively kowtowing to developers as well as bending over to our entitlement society. The areas of QueenAnne, Magnolia and Ballard are deteriorating rapidly and people don't feel safe in their own homes. Who pays the high taxes and supports this once beautiful city? Duh!!! We need fresh ideas(better police presence, cleaner streets, etc.) to preserve our city and get it back in shape. Get on with it Mayor Nicholls and council while you still have a chance!!!

We need a Publick Saftey Building (police Station) in Ballard.

I don't like the number of abandoned cars stuffed with junk, nor the number of mentally and addicts on the streets. The issues are complicated, but there must be some humane, fair way to make us safe again and comfortable.

Despite its growth, seems to be virtually no police presence in Ballard. Agree with comments re: crackdown on long-term RV and van parking. We need more action and a better solution.

Fremont resident frustrated with events on my block, including lots of car prowling and even a house break-in.

Increased safety for all citizens should be a higher priority. This has become epidemic in Ballard and the city appears to be doing little to address the illegal encampments under the Ballard bridge and the accompanying litter. These people need support and a better, safer place to transition out of homelessness.

As a Magnolia Business owner and (Greater) Ballard resident, I support increased policing in our neighborhoods.

I was shoved down to the ground by a homeless man last week because I "got in his way because he was looking at his feet" while walking down the center of the sidewalk on Market Street. I seriously doubt the man knew what planet he was on, and the fact that there were plenty of people around who observed the incident didn't deter him, so I doubt someone in a uniform would. Fortunately I'm a young, sturdy individual, but what if it happened to someone who couldn't take a fall?

We have found homeless camping in our carport and I have found them sleeping in the church yard across the street from our house on a somewhat frequent basis. We have had mail stolen and are cars rifled through on numerous occasions. We have lived here for 12 years and are considering moving for a safer environment for our kids.

I've lived in Loyal Heights since 2000. In the past three years, I have seen a marked increase of problems in my formerly quiet neighborhood. Personally, I have been assaulted, burglarized, harassed by mentally ill people in my own yard, my mail is stolen on a regular basis and I often clean up garbage, feces and graffiti from my yard and house. I am planning on moving to the east side for my family's security, and likely never again to Seattle.