Crime, violence could lead to Seattle park’s condemnation

Crime and violence could lead to the condemnation of Seattle Park

Crime and violence have ravaged City Hall Park in downtown Seattle, leading to a district council member leading efforts to condemn the property on security grounds.

SEATTLE – It’s called the perfect storm. Crime and violence have ravaged City Hall Park in downtown Seattle, leading to a district council member leading efforts to condemn the property on security grounds.

Murder, assault and drug trafficking in an adjacent park threaten the safety of the people who work in the King County courthouse, Councilor Reagan Dunn says.

“The reality is that it has become a war zone,” said Dunn.

What is supposed to be a place for victims to find justice has become a hotbed of crime, Dunn said.

“The courthouse is the people’s courthouse, not the thugs’ courthouse,” he added.

Dunn says the county has seen the murder rate increase by 86 percent, and one person was stabbed to death in City Hall Park just days ago.

The park is located directly south of the county seat. Once the state is fully open, the courthouse will open too, meaning even more people will have to avoid potential dangers.

“People will be using the courthouse again,” said Dunn. “According to our elected prosecutor, we have 2-5 attacks a week outside of the courthouse.”

“She snuggled up and wrapped her arms around my neck,” said John Hickey, sharing photos of his late dog.

Pictures and memories are all he has left of his best friend Alice. She was killed when a walk turned into an attempted robbery. Q13 News first shared their heartbreaking story in early June. Alice was attacked by the stranger and John held her in his arms as she took her last breath.

City Hall Park is owned by the city and is patrolled by Seattle police officers. A conviction could allow the county to take control of the property and patrol it with proxy.

Adding to the crisis, says Dunn, is a drastic reduction in the number of police officers in the city and county. What is at stake is the safety of the rest of the King County’s population who have to do business in downtown Seattle.

Seattle Mayor’s office Jenny Durkan said the city has been working with district officials for years to improve security at City Hall Park. Also, this week the Seattle City Council approved $ 7.5 million to help tackle homelessness in the park for the next year.

Durkan’s office said it will obey Dunn’s legislation as she works her way through the district council.

Durkan’s full answer follows below:

The city of Seattle has worked with the county for a number of years to address issues in the courthouse park. Due to its proximity to the County Courthouse, the city has worked with the county on a regular basis to find common ways to improve public safety in the park and has supported additional public safety resources in the courthouse.

As the city council decided yesterday, the city of King County has pledged $ 7.5 million for a total of $ 15 million to provide adequate funding to tackle homelessness in City Hall Park and Pioneer Square over the next year. These funds will be implemented by King County in the coming weeks.

In recent years, the city, county, and courts have taken steps to improve public safety at this park and will step up those efforts as additional funding becomes available for the courts and homelessness, including:

• Efforts to combat the criminal justice system;
• Efforts in 2018 and 2019 to improve safety by adding lighting, pruning trees, and investing in park activities; and,
• Emphasize patrols in and around the area.

In addition, since March 25, the HOPE team has made 17 referrals to animal shelters in the park and the surrounding area in collaboration with outreach providers such as REACH, JustCARE, UGM, the Seattle Indian Center, and the DESC / PHSKC Street Medicine Team. This includes 12 references to new, improved accommodations in hotels.

Finally, as the county council is likely to know, Initiative 42 puts restrictions on real estate free gifts in Seattle Park. The city will pursue this law on its way through the district council.

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