New Neighbors!

Please welcome Penny and Chris to our neighborhood (I actually work with Penny and will vouch for her)!
They recently purchased and moved into the home at 2515 19th Ave S. I know they can't wait for the next "Night Out Against" crime party in August!

We are featured on the City of Seattle's Beacon Alliance of Neighbors website!

Check us out! We are "big time" now...


http://www.cityofseattle.net/BAN/index.htm

Also - just an FYI from craig at www.cityofseattle.net/BAN/

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "Craig Thompson"
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2006 15:12:56 –0800

Hi, Lee! We put a notorious vehicle and drug dealer out of business up along
NW/West Beacon Hill - the Adobe Van, so called for its reddish brown primer.

Neighbor Maria Dasovich (21st & Waite) - home burglary 11.24.06

Just a reminder for everyone to try to remember to look out for your neighbors this time of year (or any time really).

My house (21st and Waite) was broken into on Friday the
>24th during the daytime. Someone forced open my bathroom window. The
>person rifled through pretty much everything in my house but they only
>took my laptop computer. Unfortunately they also went through my file
>cabinet with all of my financial information so I've had to cancel my
>bank cards and place a fraud alert on my credit report. This happened
>sometime between 9:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. on Friday. I wanted to pass the
>word on so that people can be extra alert and watch for anything
>suspicious.

Take care and be safe!

Lee

South Precinct Email Community Newsletter - Nov. 2006

Pedestrian Safety
The first week of August, we did a newsletter regarding serious pedestrian/motor vehicle accidents. Since that time, we’ve continued to experience tragic pedestrian collision injuries and fatalities.

Tatsuo Nakata, the chief of staff to City Councilman David Della, was struck Tuesday morning, November 14th, and later died from his injuries at Harborview. Wednesday morning, November 15th, a 57-year-old woman was struck by a car near Safeco Field, at around 6:45 AM and was hospitalized with serious injuries. Less than an hour later, an 11-year-old boy suffered minor injuries after he was struck shortly after 7:30 AM. by a school. Mayor nickels announced plans to crack down on speeding and motorists driving illegally through crosswalks.

Based on accident data collected in Washington State since 1993, about 35 percent of all pedestrian fatalities occur in the two months between the end of daylight-saving time and the end of the year. Less daylight and blustery weather are likely major factors. However, other reasons for these pedestrian collisions come down to the human factor. As motorists, how much attention are we paying to traffic conditions and pedestrians? As pedestrians, how are we utilizing the street, sidewalks and crosswalks?
Some Pedestrian Safety Tips
• Always walk on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk and you must walk in the roadway, always walk facing traffic.
• Look both directions before crossing a roadway.
• See and be seen — drivers need to see you to avoid you. Wear bright/light colored clothing or reflective clothing at night so drivers see you.
• Pedestrians should make eye contact with drivers when crossing busy streets.
• Cross streets only at street corners or marked crosswalks or intersections. Crossing at locations that have traffic signals helps motorists see you.
• Pedestrians DO NOT have the right of way when crossing mid-block.
• Give drivers ample time to stop prior to your entering the crosswalk.
• Do not run across a dark street to catch a bus; cross at crosswalks or intersections.
• If a car is parked where you are trying to cross, look for drivers who may pull out and not see you as they looking for traffic.
• Remember: Telephone poles, utility boxes and parked vehicles block on-coming drivers ability to see you.
• Turn off your headphones while crossing the street, so you can hear approaching traffic.

Some Vehicular Safety Tips:
• Pay attention to and abide by all speed limits.
• Never pass/overtake a vehicle that is stopped at a crosswalk.
• Motorists should be on particular alert for pedestrians along school-bus routes, at intersections, and near transit stops and centers.
• Pedestrians have the right of way at ALL intersections, whether in a marked crosswalk or not.
• Always yield to pedestrians upon making turns at intersection
• Use extra caution when backing out of driveways and driving around parking lots.
• Be aware of weather conditions, such as ice, before starting a trip, and allow ample time to travel.

Until Next Time, Take Care And Stay Safe!

Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator

Block Watch 102

Dear Community Friends:

In our last newsletter we discussed what Block Watch is. In our effort to
dispel rumor, myth and misconceptions, we now present Block Watch 102: What
Block Watch Is Not.

Block Watch is not a single entity. There are over 3000 individual active
Block Watch groups in the city of Seattle. They all have a slightly
different flavor, feel, focus and level of participation. Some block watch
groups consist of just their street from corner to corner. Others encompass
several blocks. Neighbors decide what works best for them.

Block Watch is not a police department controlled tool. While the police
department assists neighbors in getting block watches established, the
police department does not ³run² them. You on the blocks do. Those
involved in Block Watch are not police department employees, the department
does not ³supervise² Block Watch captains or contacts, nor do these captains
and contacts ³report² to the police.

Block Watch is not about patrolling your neighborhood with flashlights and
baseball bats. We encourage neighbors to be visible and out and about in
their neighborhood: the more you are, the less likely bad guys will want to
be around. So, some neighbors do engage in safety walks. That doesn¹t mean
they confront every unknown person they see and challenging their purpose
for being on ³their² street.

Block Watch is not intended as a means to harass, coerce, intimidate or cry
wolf. Block Watch is about preventing crime and improving public safety of
the neighborhood. It¹s not about using the police or city systems to hassle
someone you don¹t like. If you have an issue with a neighbor, before you
start rallying the block watch and city resources to go after that neighbor,
examine what it is about the neighbor you have an issue with. Is it really
a public safety concern, or do you just not like the way the person lives?
There may not be a direct public safety, criminal or quality of life issue
to be addressed, so don¹t use Block Watch to create one.

Block Watch is not about living in your neighbor¹s hip pocket, or you
telling your neighbors every aspect of your business. You can still have
your privacy. It is about getting to know each other and being familiar
enough with each other to know who lives in the neighborhood and who
doesn¹t, which cars are part of the neighborhood and which aren¹t, and when
something suspicious is going on.

So If Block Watch Is Not Those Things, Then What Is It?

· When you go to your window to open or close your drapes, take a moment to
glance around the neighborhood and see what¹s going on.

· When you go out to your car or walk to the bus stop, instead of focusing
on the car or where your feet are going, look around and check the
neighborhood.

· When you go out of town, you let a trusted neighbor know so they can keep
an eye out for your place. And if you have someone staying at your place
while you¹re out of town, you let neighbors know so that your house sitter
doesn¹t get 911 called about them.

· Get to know each other, communicate with each other, and you let people
you see on the street know you acknowledge their presence.

This is Block Watch.

Until Then, Take Care And Stay Safe!
Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator