News Jul 2, 2009 at 4:00 am

Is the Recession Driving Up Crime?

A Closer Look at the "40-Year-Low Crime Rate" Touted Once Again by the Mayor Earlier This Week

Jonah Spangenthal-Lee
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Comments

1
Seattle is clueless in regards to crime, incredibly underpoliced. Cops are virtually nonexistent, even hard to find. Remember the Mardi Gras riots? They were commanded to stand down. Local politicians wish it away and hope you don't notice. But hey, killer library. Love those sports stadiums. But trying to make it back to your car in one piece is a challenge. Kerlikowskie has been replaced (god help us, he's gone federal now), but the culture remains. You are on your own. Just like they say in the casinos, good luck!
on July 1, 2009 at 1:02 PM Report this
2
I remember Gil. I remember Nickels promising he'd hang up a plaque with Kime's name on his office wall. Bastards.
on July 1, 2009 at 1:06 PM Report this
3
Our apartment building in Capitol Hill just found out that apartment manager of many years was committing fraud and cashing our rent checks. This was thousands of dollars and from the looks of it, it was happening since January. Thank god we weren't robbed to our face but this was still unnerving nonetheless. Especially since we live in the "quiet" side of Cap Hill up by 15th.

I am generally happy with the police response. I think they are doing a good job considering all the sh*t they have to do.
on July 1, 2009 at 6:51 PM Report this
4
Yeah, I should specify that I actually have no problem with the police. It's like firefighters. Love them, but you have to question some of the decisions of their commanders and especially the local politicians and the special interest groups that pressure them. No doubt the WTO debacle directly influenced the horrific command decisions the night of the Mardi Gras riots. I know several cops wanted to turn in their badges over it. Women were being groped and physically assaulted, while men were being savagely beaten and Christopher Kime was killed. But what can you really do? They still make my borderline frail mother take her shoes off at the airport. Virtually everyone that walks the streets of Seattle have some idea of where trouble typically lies, and what trouble looks like. Police have to keep blinders on and wait till it all goes down. Too ex post facto for me. They should really carry sponges to help mop up the blood. It's usually too late for gunfire by the time they've made it to a crime scene. It's a problem that may never change, until there's some comprehensive social, political or even genetic solution to why human nature is what it is.
on July 1, 2009 at 8:35 PM Report this
5
Seattle is better! that's a bottom line but as for Nickles touting? its been ten years of beating cops up and getting the FBI to look over thier shoulder!

once more Seattle is well placed for the recession so like many people I have that wto Marti Grass serial killers jumping out of my closet hind sight!

in anycase the police still suck and its not that much their fault as they can do what the city state and prisons are up for.
Nickels is not a bright politition so insted of pushing his experince and years in the loop he will instead "yack" about everything? The bluest skys are in Seattle because of greg and police are like "A flock of sea gulls" yup we spend millions and millions and find out a year later they dont use the computer BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBbb-eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee CCCCuuuuzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz??????

like they say in New York "dat puter a fuggin nasty pace of chit"

Greg is not tight enough or strap enough and its part of his and Sims appeal and I guess it works for Seattle!

But none the less Seattle is better and Greg has been the Mayor! So I am happy i dont have to foam at the mouth and do voodoo dances all through the night like 6 to 8 years ago?

The question is "why" should we have to make policeing better! why do we need to hold city officials by the hand and explain to them there is crime and terrorist and serial killers and your police department is at the precinct watch "Sex and the city"
reruns and "the View"

Its not a flavor of politics as its the exact same stuff for over 200 years? Its like dam! how many ceturys is going to take before the police get good?
slade on July 2, 2009 at 12:02 PM Report this
6
The economy? The 2008 uptick in crime predates the crash. In the CD and South Seattle gang murders have been going on for a couple of years. There have been 4 robberies on my street in the past year, only one was post-crash and that before the effects were felt locally. Ask the folks in Mt. Baker about the home invasions, laptops snatched from cafe patrons and young men pushing stolen lawn mowers to the pawn shop. Look around for the gang tags, they are everywhere and they didn't spring up because of the recession. The problem has been festering and has been ignored. Truth is, someone has to be killed or seriously hurt before there is action. Or should I say, reaction.
on July 2, 2009 at 8:59 PM Report this
7
It's really not funny, of course, but I'll never forget just a couple years back when the Seattle real estate market was just insane. For 600k you could buy a shabby one bedroom in a bad neighborhood, etc. So the Seattle Times, in bed with all the realtors no doubt, ran a feature article in the real estate section about White Center being 'the flower of Seattle' (!!!). They even interviewed some grocery clerk or the like that said, well, I do see some graffiti now and again but I've never had trouble with any gangs, etc. Oh my god. Well of course not, or your dumb ass would be dead, wouldn't it? But how reassuring to all future crime victims regarding a noticeable problem all over the region that is not only present and growing but also has enjoyed a lengthy history. Don't get me wrong, Seattle is way nicer than other cities I've visited, but there's also way too little happening too late to keep it better than the rest. Anyone that lived in or around downtown in the 80's has noticed a WORLD of difference. I personally think Nickels has to go, but hell, there seem to be no other contenders. Corruption is well set in.
on July 2, 2009 at 11:27 PM Report this
8
look pure and simple,greg nickels is CORUPT!!!!!!!! 1.he shut down the schools!!!{wheres our next generation going to go to school?}2.he kicked out the desitute populis{bums}and tore down the deasent houseing and bulit HIGH RENT condos!!!{who the hell has $500,000,mabye the rich not the poor}3.he puts on a CON saying that the city has no funding than makes up tax laws!!!{like the bubble gum tax,look it up}he bulids a train{link light rail}that goes nowhere,he tears down busness that support the community and makes them empty store frounts{take a look at beltown if you want a example}he passes noise ordance laws on bars!!!!etc,etc,etc,etc,!!!!MY POINT:i got a list full of things that greg nickels has done{above is just a sample}and you think crime is bad,they"re lucky that the public isent in frount of city hall with torchs and pitchforks!!!!fuck protesting!!!it would be 10000000000% worse than the wto riots!!!i can't beleve the shit we get away with in this city!!!fuck the cops and fuck greg nickels!!!
the legend of zelda on July 5, 2009 at 2:16 PM Report this
9
Hey Jonah... I'd tell you to suk my di*k as well, except I know you wouldn't turn it down... so with that in mind.... Fu*k Off Bit*ches
on July 5, 2009 at 4:40 PM Report this
10
It is sad to consider that the quickest way to source a gun for protection of self and residence is to ask your local street ganger. The otherwise-law-abiding public are left to jump through procedural hoops, and even then, it is illegal to carry your weapon where you are likely to find yourself in a life-threatening situation; while leaving or entering a club, liquor store, school, Metro bus, etc. The cops can't protect you, but they will sure as hell put you in jail for your proactive self-preservation efforts
on July 7, 2009 at 8:39 AM Report this
11
Man, I'm home sick with the flu, so maybe it's me, but most of the above comments made no sense whatsoever*.

People are desperate. And hurting. I believe it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better.

*Except of course Seattle Sheeple Herder. Way to be eloquent and thoughtful.
BombasticMO on July 8, 2009 at 9:42 PM Report this

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