Make Seattle Safe Again

Mayor, please enforce the law restore order. I voted for you, now prove you deserve that vote.

I've never seen Ballard get this bad, this fast! I never thought I would feel unsafe after living here for 20 years, but now I do. Each time I go down into Ballard, I'm harassed by someone.

Big drug problems at Mayfair Park, Queen Anne http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/neighbors-take-action-after-needles-found-park/npxpF/

I don't live in these neighborhoods, but they are unique and exciting to visit because of the diversity in shops. I would like to feel safer when I visit.

Small time, nonviolent crime and uncivil behavior that is ignored creates a climate leading to more serious crime. This was well documented in policing studies in the past 5-10 years. Take action now on all this illegal and disgusting activity.

There is an active meth lab/sales in the area of nw 65th and 32 ave nw. People are parking on side streets and doing these drugs in their cars. Esp by Nordic museum

Ballard crime is really high. Bike was stolen out of our secure garage. It seems to be a weekly if not monthly occurrence of breakins. More police! Get the abandon RVs and cars out of here!

I live at 14th and 56th. The amount of illegal dumping, theft, break ins, and illegal encampments are getting out of control. Garbage piling out of broken down RVs. Known campers of drug use with nothing being done.

2 Neighbors cars stolen in one week. One next door while making dinner.

Gt

thank you for taking action on this. I am a proud resident of Ballard for 11 years and have become increasingly concerned about the wasteland of illegal encampments, dumping, rampant drug use, and most recently, potential homicides in and around Ballard. The absence of any action or concern from our elected officials and their utter unwillingness to listen to and respond to their constituents is appalling. I will be amazed is any member of city council or their representatives attends this important meeting given their track record of disregard, but will hold out hope. For the sake of our community, our suffering and growing homeless population, and my two young daughters I look forward to a productive dialogue that focuses on real solutions to the growing epidemic of homelessness in seattle's neighborhoods.

I have lived in the Ballard area for almost 10 years. Up until last year I have never had any theft problems. But within the last year I have had 1 car, 1 bicycle, and multiple packages stolen from my apartment building.

Our car was broken into this past Sat/Sun...again. Second time in the past year. This didn't happen when we moved here in 2003, it started 4-5 years ago and has gotten worse each year. I don't think we should just have to "accept this is the way it is now". It costs $300+ each time our car window is broken - not including the lost time and hassle of filing police report, filing insurance claim, renting a car and taking time away from work to have the window replaced. This is bullsh*t.

The criminals are becoming more brazen, needles and feces more common, and garbage ever building up. Ballard is quickly becoming a place to leave.

The crime is an outcome of a larger problem citywide, desperate people do desperate things. Problem is the current elected officials don't share their constituents views....Development is their focus, not those it displaces. Doesn't seem to effect Paul Allen-town, or the Amazonian Jungle that has taken the city over this past decade. We now seemingly don't have to go on vacation to 3rd world countries anymore to see life in cardboard shacks..... Perhaps it'll make the Cruise Ship Industry brochures.

Born raised Ballard 66 years...what it's become is sad. I blame our city council ( which was put into office by pretty much the not very informed) a council that have kissed the developers ass.

I work by the ballard bridge, it is out of control. Something has to be done.

Moved to Ballard twenty years ago, and we've seen everything this petition says happen more and more, with it becoming intolerable about when the Mayor took office. While I obviously don't blame him for criminal behavior, I do blame him for city hall's none-response. One of the basic jobs of government is to keep its citizens and property safe. This is not happening. If it does not change I think I know who I will NOT be supporting during the next election.

I have lived in Fremont since 1972. For many years we had public safety issues on Aurora (prostitution mostly, plus drug use and associated crime bleeding into the neighborhood). Over time with thousands of hours like Fremont Aurora Wallingford Neighbors—FAWN—and the Fremont Neighborhood Council working with the city, we managed to obtain significant improvement. It took years of building good relationships with specific Council members and Assistant City Attorneys. Now I see worse problems occurring in Ballard (I live on the west side of Fremont, not far from Frelard) and come to Ballard on foot and bike frequently. I am sympathetic to concerns of neighbors about the activities discussed here and in numerous posts on Facebook, Nextdoor, MyBallard, and elsewhere. However, I have a couple of thoughts I hope signers and would-be signers will receive in the spirit of constructive criticism. First, attacking city expenditures on bicycle infrastructure is not helpful. There are thousands of bikers (like me) in all of these neighborhoods and we need and deserve safe, grade separated bike routes (and a fix to the ghastly ped/bike crossing on Ballard Bridge). Funding bike lanes and funding solutions to crime and homelessness are not mutually exclusive. We surely need to have a more progressive tax system (i.e., tax the rich more) but in the meantime you will not create allies for increased public health and safety budget allocations by attacking a demographic (bikers, and also pedestrian advocates) that has nothing to do with the problem. Build coalitions; please don't attack neighbors who are not part of the problem. Second, I wonder what percentage of petition signers are registered to vote and actually voted in the last election. Did you try to influence Mike O'Brien *before* the election? If you want to improve your long term ability to influence City budget allocations, sitting out elections and not contacting council members regularly will not get you there.

Some problems my family has experienced/witnessed/heard about from our Ballard neighbors: Drug deals happening in the middle of the Ballard library; neighbors' garages and cars broken into with no resolution; stolen mail/packages from homes; rat infestations in hoarder homes that spread to other homes when those houses are sold to builders and torn down; huge, modern homes being built that violate height and other zoning restrictions; daily harassment from people on the street (being yelled at for no reason, threatening gestures and cursing. etc.); large RV vehicles parked along curbs permanently and being used as housing; trash, needles, etc. thrown all over streets; drug deals and pot smoking at all local parks; the list goes on and on. It is so expensive to buy a home here, pay taxes, etc. and it definitely feels like there is no police presence unless a serious crime occurs.