National Night Out Against Crime — taking to the streets to make them safer

By Seattle Times staff

JOHN LOK / THE SEATTLE TIMES

The lights were on, but no one was home.

Instead, thousands of Seattle-area residents took to the streets Tuesday evening to meet with neighbors and police during the annual National Night Out Against Crime. Neighborhoods throughout the region — and across the U.S. — marked the event with barbecues, block parties, parades and ice-cream socials designed to strengthen community spirit and develop partnerships with local law enforcement.

Participants were asked to turn on their porch lights to show solidarity.

"It presents an opportunity for people to be neighborly," said Matt Peskin, executive director of the National Association of Town Watch and organizer of the first National Night Out in 1984. "The interaction is what is the cornerstone of National Night Out. You're getting people out and talking."

Times reporters visited several National Night Out events Tuesday to capture the spirit of an event that makes friends of longtime neighbors and partners of police, and helps rekindle neighborhood unity. This is what they found:

South Rainier Avenue

Just around the block from what they called "our infamous car wash," neighbors at the block party for the Rainier-Othello Safety Organization (ROSA) watched dozens of children dig into barbecued ribs, bounce around an inflatable dragon and ride their bikes up and down the street — something they wish could happen more often.

Unfortunately, the drug dealing and prostitution that emanates from the area around the car wash on the corner of South Rainier Avenue and Othello Street, according to police, draws an unsavory crowd most evenings. Through ROSA, the neighbors are instituting regular neighborhood walks, beautifying the street and confronting the drug dealers — all to make it clear that crime is unwelcome. "We've discovered, actually, that some of the best ways to help are also the nicest ways," said Leslie Miller, who organized Tuesday's block party. "Know your neighbors. Clean up your yard."

Seattle police South Precinct Capt. Tom Byer stopped by to say hello and grab a plate of ribs. He said his officers have also been cracking down on traffic enforcement. The traffic stops make it safer to walk the streets, he said, but have also led to a number of gun seizures.

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