About 30 south-end neighbors attended Monday night’s Southeast Neighborhood District Council (SENDC) meeting in Mt. Baker where they discussed the area’s rising crime rate with City Councilman Bruce Harrell and South Precinct Lt. James Koutsky.
SENDC Chair Pat Murakami cited a recent spike in violent crime, including several burglaries and home invasions and a shooting in Mt. Baker that caused a lockdown at John Muir Elementary School.
“We know we’ve got a problem,” she said. “They’re becoming more brazen and empowered,” She mentioned a recent home invasion in which a 16-year old boy was tied up and put in a trunk while the suspect rifled through the house. “He’s still terrified,” she said.
Councilman Harrell – born and raised in the Rainier Valley and still a resident – said, “I’ve been reading the emails about what’s going on down here and it scares the heebeegeebees out of me.”
Lt. Koutsky from SPD’s South Precinct confirmed neighbors’ perception of an uptick in gang activity adding that he’s frustrated with the large number of youths using guns to resolve differences.
“I don’t know where that’s coming from,” he said. “There are a lot of guns out there. It’s unfortunate. They don’t realize the impact it makes and how far a bullet travels.”
“A lot of them have had a lot of struggle in their lives,” he added. “They’ve been separated from the normal course since about 12 or 13-years old, which is why the Mayor’s youth violence initiative focuses on kids that age who are already engaging in risky behavior.”
Lt. Koutsky (who was voted Favorite South Precinct Police Officer in the RVP’s Best of SE Seattle Reader’s Choice Poll 2008) also pointed out that there is “always more the community can do” when it comes to getting involved in and being a part of what’s going on around them – especially the lives of neighborhood youth.
Top: Lt. James Koutsky (not visible), Seattle City Councilman Bruce Harrell and SENDC Chair Pat Murakami address the crowd of about 30 neighbors at Mt. Baker Community Club. Right: Lt. James Koutsky hangs with Othello-area neighbors at a 2008 block party. Photos/do communications, inc.
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The three-point plan:
1) Positively intervene in the lives of younger, at-risk youth. Use ongoing metrics to determine a specific though evolving program agenda.
2) Clamp down hard on adult offenders. Use alternative “rehab” methods that have proven to work in other communities. Incarceration simply lines the pockets of the corporate-owned for-profit prison system, and sends criminals back into the community, in worse mental condition.
3) Identify and isolate corrupt politicians at all levels of govt. Same goes for upper management at colluding and complicit media organizations. Corruption can take many forms. Nonprofit watchdog groups require ethical leadership (annual psych testing) and objective funding (no donations from PACs, media, govt, etc.).
Given that this is an Anonymous post, is this the SENDC plan, the city’s plan or a personal opinion?
Adding to the first person’s ideas:
4) handing out contraceptives to the really crappy parents in our community so they don’t be bigger idiots and have more kids they are unable to raise.
Wow, interesting plan. Is this what Councilman Harrell agreed to? I’m surprised at the implication of the media. Is it because they don’t cover the crime in the sound end – not sure how this point will help. Please help us understand point 3. Not being critical, just not understanding it.
The first comment is a random individual’s opinion, nothing more. Feel free to be critical. Add to it. Remove stuff. These are my honest thoughts about what needs doing.
As far as point #3: Real change will happen when corruption isn’t the norm, and when journalism once again becomes objective and in support of a republic that truly represents the interests of the (unmanipulated) masses.
“Councilman Harrell – born and raised in the Rainier Valley and still a resident – said, “I’ve been reading the emails about what’s going on down here and it scares the heebeegeebees out of me.”
Isn’t it “It scares the Bejesus out of me”?
And “it gives me the heebeegeebees”?
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