April 12, 2006 - community newsletter post

Dear Community Friends –

Spring Clean 2006

It’s time again for community, school and business volunteers to sign up for Spring Clean, Seattle’s premier cleanup event. Seattle’s 20th Annual Spring Clean runs April 1st – June 4th 2006. Past Spring Clean activities included painting out graffiti, picking up litter and illegally dumped materials, stenciling storm drains, cleaning school yards, removing invasive plants in watersheds and planting trees.


The City of Seattle supports these neighborhood efforts with bags, free disposal, tools, and help with project design, publicity, and recruitment. Spring Clean information, including neighborhood cleanup activities and sign-up packets, is available by calling 206.233.7187 or visiting http://www.seattle.gov/util.


Spring Clean in Southeast

While there are many events happening throughout the city, we want to bring your attention to a few happening in Southeast Seattle this Saturday, April 15, 2006:


Hillman City – meet at 9:00 am at VelDyke Realty, 5500 Rainier Ave S. Mayor Nickels will be in attendance at 9:30am to address those gathered. Bring work gloves. Snacks and tools will be provided. For more information, contact Diane Skwiercz, 725-5791.


Rainier & Othello – Meet at 9:30am at the Shell station at Rainier Ave S. and S. Othello Street. Bring work gloves, shovels, trash pickup tools, and snacks. Contact Mona Lee, 721-5672 for more information.


Rainier Beach – meet at 9:00 am at the Henderson Plaza of the Mapes Creek Walkway (across the street from Rainier Beach High School). For more information, contact Barb Biondo 323-9671.


Additionally, the Sunnyview Heights Triangle neighborhood is hosting a neighborhood work party on Saturday, April 22, 2006. They are gathering at 9am at the intersection of 39th Ave S. & Carkeek Dr. S. Contact Chris Morrow, 723-8179, for more details.

Why It Is Important

In my career as a Crime Prevention Coordinator, I have come to notice a few things. One of them is this: Neighborhoods that look like people care tend to have less crime than those neighborhoods that give the appearance that people don’t care. Take a moment to think about our communities and what they look like. In those areas where it seems people don’t care, how “safe” do you feel? When you think of a “bad” part of town, how does that part of town look to you? Now think about parts of our community where you feel safe. How do they look? Where do you think criminals are more likely to want to hang out: in an area where people are out and about, engaged in their community and likely to report suspicious or illegal activity, or; in an area that is graffiti-ridden, trash is strewn around, vegetation is overgrown, abandoned cars line the streets, and no one interacts with each other or reports anything to anyone? In the latter neighborhood, what message is being sent?


It doesn’t matter if the neighborhood – or block – is in Columbia City, Phinney Ridge or Madison Valley. What matters is that people who live and work there show they actively care about their community. They do that by picking up litter (and by not littering themselves), removing graffiti as soon as possible, maintaining their properties, and removing abandoned vehicles.


This is only a partial list of things people can do to show they care about their community. You can show you care by participating in one of the planned Spring Clean events, or you can get together with your neighbors and do your own.


As I have previously written, “Neighborhoods have the level of crime that they tolerate.” How a neighborhood looks shows the level of care of those in the neighborhood. It also sends the message as to how much crime they will tolerate. What message do you want to send? Think about it.


Until Next time, Take Care and Stay Safe!


Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention

March 29, 2006 newsletter from the SPD

Dear Community Friends;

Emergency Preparedness In Southeast

This past Monday's Seattle Times contained an article titled "Ready for Disaster? Not Yet." (Seattle Times, March 27, 2006, Section B1). Thisarticle highlighted residential emergency preparedness in certain neighborhoods.

The Seattle Disaster Aid and Response Team (SDART) program has been the city's principle vehicle to educate residents about emergency preparedness. The program informs neighbors how to mitigate the effects of a disaster - such as an earthquake - and how to form response teams with other neighbors to help survive and cope with the aftermath of the disaster.

Of the approximately 460 neighborhood disaster response teams in the City, most are in North Seattle, in some of our more affluent communities. In Southeast Seattle, very few residents are involved in
the SDART program. This article implies that South Seattle residents are not as prepared to deal with emergencies as the rest of the city.

I don't know about you, but I take this as a personal challenge.

If you are on the distribution list for this email, you most likely are participating in block watch. If you already have a block watch, forming a neighborhood disaster response plan with neighbors is a natural extension of what you are already doing. If your block watch hasn't done this yet, then let's get together and make it happen.

It is not difficult and it is not daunting. It does require that you get together with your neighbors. Block Watch asks you to watch out for each other and keep an eye out for suspicious activity.

Forming a neighborhood disaster response team requires that you agree to assist each other during and following a disaster. Emergency preparedness also requires that you do something for yourself and your family. If your block is not ready to form disaster response teams, then start with individual and family preparedness.
* Look at how you can mitigate the effects of a disaster at home.
* Develop a communication plan so that in the event of an emergency, every member of your household knows how to get in touch with each other if they are separated.
* Put together an emergency kit with food, water, clothing, and other supplies that can sustain you for 72 hours in the event you lose power, your water supply is disrupted, or you need to evacuate your home.

Emergency Preparedness Resources

The following websites offer extremely helpful information about idividual, family and workplace emergency preparedness:

seattle.gov/emergency_mgt/www.ready.gov

www.seattleredcross.org

The Red Cross also has materials available in languages other than English. These can be downloaded in PDF format and printed out for distribution to your neighbors that may not have English as their
primary language.

The Times' article threw down a challenge to all of us who live and work i Southeast Seattle. Let's answer that challenge and show the rest of the city the organized strength of our communities, that Southeast is indeed "Ready for Disaster." Let's get started. Call me at
206.386.9766.

Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe!

Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention

Rooster Has New Home

It's official! The rooster has a new home! He lives in Covington with a nice animal rescue lady who was so kind to even come and pick him up. He was underweight, but otherwise super healthy considering he's lived outdoors with no real shelter for over a year. She was happy that we contacted her and now he'll live with other chickens, roosters and even some goats and donkeys.

Thanks all for your patience ~

Lee

2340 19th Ave South

This is the house where the woman has been pounding on
the doors at all hours of the night and it sounds like
other neighbors houses as well. We have also called
911 twice due to very loud screaming in the middle of
the night. The woman who lives there is schizophrenic
per Peter who lives there. She came into our yard to
scream at and we believe hit our dog. The police were
there today around 6:30 with flashlights looking in
the house. I didn't get exactly why they were there
although one policeman told me "we are checking on
Peter" which begs the question of why is he one a
first name basis. I think we should call the city and
complain about the junk in front and back yards. This
may put some pressure on the renters. We also need
to find out the owners name and update him on all the
activity.

Mike and Kelly

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February 15, 2006 Community Newsletter

Dear Community Friends;

Reporting Crime to the Police

Last week, one of our South Seattle residents noticed something that didn't seem right. He heard and then saw a U-Haul truck and a light colored pick-up pulling up on his block at about 1am. It was
suspicious, so he called 9-1-1. While on the phone with the 9-1-1 operator, he watched the driver of the pick-up open the cargo door of the U-Haul and examine the contents with a flashlight.

When officers arrived in the area a minute or so later, the suspects ran. The man came out of his house to point out to officers which direction the suspects went. Multiple patrol officers responded within minutes. Canine units were involved and a Guardian One helicopter was overhead using its heat imaging sensors to track the suspects. Two suspects were taken into custody and stolen property was recovered.

Why All The Fuss?

It is important to note that there have been a number of recent thefts of U-haul trucks, and the same light colored pick-up had been spotted at U-Haul locations in South Seattle. Also of note is that the U-haul truck was connected with an individual with an extensive criminal history. This individual's residence has been an on-going nuisance for the surrounding neighbors. And while the caller may not have known any of this, that one phone call may have helped us resolve multiple
criminal complaints. And for that, we are grateful and send a hearty Thank You! to that individual.

I relate this story because it points out several important things.

First, the man knew something about the trucks was suspicious. Second,he did something about it - he reported it! Third, he assisted officers by pointing out direction of travel. And he was willing to speak with officers afterwards and provide additional information. He could have remained anonymous or requested no contact. Instead, he made himself available and provided information that was critical to the investigation. For that, we again say Thank You!

Normal vs. Suspicious Activity

In our last newsletter, I asked how do you know what's suspicious? To know what's suspicious, you first have to know what's normal. Think about what is normal for your neighborhood. For the neighborhood in our retelling, it was not normal for a U-haul to park on their block at 1am with a pick-up circling around it.

How do you find out what's normal? Get out of your house and engage. Communicate! Get to know your neighbors, talk with each other and alert
each other when something doesn't seem "normal" for you. This is the essence of Block Watch: communicate with each other, agree to watch out for each other and report crime to 9-1-1. I have found when neighbors are connected with each other, the more they show they care about their community, those communities tend to have less crime. As a co-worker of mine once said, "Neighborhoods have the level of crime that they tolerate." Think about it.

You Don't Call - We Don't Come It's your neighborhood: you know what fits and what doesn't. Police
don't, and we won't unless you tell us. We cannot address a problem if we don't know about it, and the only way we are going to know is if you tell us. That's why reporting crime is so important. Bottom line: you may want us there, but unless you call, we ain't comin'. Please, report it. Call 9-1-1.

Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe!

Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention

Car break ins continue

Hi Neighbors!

This is just a reminder that car prowls are still happening in our
neighborhood (and others across the city). Early yesterday am
(02/08/2006) around the time of 6:00-7:00 someone broke in to our
neighbor's SUV by smashing her window and stealing some personal items
from the back seat. Remember if you are out and about and see suspicious
activity - report it. And as always try to set your car alarm and remove
all valuables from plain site. It sucks that this is still taking place,
we'll all just have to continue to be diligent in our crime stopping
efforts! Take care and be safe - thanks, Lee.

February 1, 2006 - Community NEWSLETTER

Dear Community Friends;

Reporting Crime to the Police

Once again we want to cover the issue of crime reporting. There are
many concerns people have about calling 9-1-1 and we're hoping that this
newsletter will answer some questions, dispel some concerns, and debunk
some myths.

First, if you experience a situation requiring police response, call
9-1-1. Officers are dispatched through 9-1-1, not by the precinct. So,
do not call the precinct to have an officer respond.

Do not go to the Precinct to make the report. If you show up at the
precinct to make an incident report, the desk officer at the precinct
will most likely direct you to the phone in the lobby to call 9-1-1 to
have an officer dispatched to take the report. You'll save yourself
time effort and frustration by just calling 9-1-1 and letting the
operator direct you from there. Either an officer will be dispatched to
your location, or the report can be taken over the phone.

When To Call 9-1-1

What warrants a call to police? Some of the things we covered last
time:
* When you have a Police, Fire or Medical emergency.
* To report a crime that is in progress, or has just occurred.
* There is a situation that could, or does, pose a danger to life,
property, or both.
* There is suspicious activity involving a Person(s), or Vehicle, that
appears criminal in intent.
Pinpointing what precisely constitutes "suspicious" behavior can be
difficult, so it is important to distinguish between true illegal
activity and activities of people who just live their lives differently
than yours.

We define suspicious circumstances as those in which there is indication
that a criminal activity has occurred or is about to occur, but in which
the caller him/herself has not observed enough to factually verify. So,
how do you know what's suspicious? We'll cover that next time.

"Don't Tell 'Em I Told You"

Important things to remember about reporting crime or suspicious
activity to the police:
* You do not have to give your name.
* You can remain anonymous.
* You can request that your information not be disclosed
* You can request not to be contacted by an officer.

We prefer that you do give your name and contact information in the
event that officers or detectives need to contact you for follow-up
information. You can give your information and request that it not be
disclosed. In that regard, only law enforcement will see your contact
information.

So, unless you tell them, the suspects are not going to know it is you
who called on them (unless you're standing on the front stoop, phone in
hand, pointing at them). You've said to us "Do Not Disclose," "Do Not
Contact."

While you do not have to give your name and can request no contact, be
aware that the lack of witness or complainant information often inhibits
law enforcement's ability to properly follow-up and investigate an
incident.

Many people don't report crime because of fear of retaliation. In
truth, I've been in this business over 15 years and I've never seen
retaliation against someone who reported suspicious activity or a
property or drug crime to 9-1-1.

Next time - more on crime reporting.

Take Care and Stay Safe!
Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention