Followup: Mayor orders more police patrols for Nickelsville

“The current situation raises serious concerns about Nickelsville’s ability to protect the health and safety of its residents.”

That was part of Mayor McGinn‘s response to WSB today, after we requested comment on the situation reported here on Sunday – centering on the encampment’s Central Committee declaring that it was having trouble “preventing the overrun of our community by meth dealers and barred, violent former campers,” blaming police for not supporting camp decisions to evict such people. Our story, meantime, included an incident one week ago in which the SPD report indeed quoted police saying that people on public land had no right to tell others to get off that public land – while also including a would-be evictee claiming they were getting booted for going to police about an alleged crime.

The mayor, meantime, says more police help is in order; the second and final sentence of his reply to us was, “The immediate next step is to increase our police presence through the use of directed patrols from the Southwest Precinct.” We hope to hear something about that when precinct commander Capt. Joe Kessler speaks to the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network on Tuesday night (6:30 pm, SW Precinct, Delridge/Webster); then on Wednesday night, the Highland Park Action Committee, the neighborhood council closest to the encampment, plans a Nickelsville update during its regular monthly meeting (7 pm, HP Improvement Club, 12th/Holden).

9 Replies to "Followup: Mayor orders more police patrols for Nickelsville"

  • Unfair? March 26, 2013 (8:49 am)

    Really more City money on more police in Nickelsville? Meanwhile people I know have experienced seering more crime and theft in the Junction and Triangle, area lately. Also seems to be more drug activity in the Junction? When I enquired with the SW preceint officers about not seeing them very much these days. They say it’s due to imited sources- okay, understand. I guess Nickelsville is important enough the City feels it warrants more resources-feels kind of unfair.

  • wetone March 26, 2013 (10:16 am)

    Why don’t they put a couple cameras up down there since this city is so big on using them and see what happens. But I guess that might be infringing on their rights even though it’s a illegal encampment on city property. I’m sure some SPD will get some good overtime babysitting this area.

  • brian March 26, 2013 (12:22 pm)

    I AM A WEST SEATTLE RESIDENT AND I AM ANGRY WHEN THE COPS DON’T DEAL WITH PROBLEMS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

    I AM ALSO ANGRY WHEN THEY DO DEAL WITH PROBLEMS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

    IF POSSIBLE, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ANGRY AT ALL TIMES.

    • WSB March 26, 2013 (12:29 pm)

      Aw, Brian, that’s not good for your health. I think capslockitis could be permanent. P.S. One more pitch – anyone with neighborhood crime-prevention interest is welcome at tonight’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting, 6:30 pm at the precinct. Barring last-minute complications, precinct commander Capt. Joe Kessler is scheduled to be there at the start of the meeting too – his first visit to WSBWCN since returning – TR

  • jiggers March 26, 2013 (12:52 pm)

    Why don’t they put a couple cameras up down there since this city is so big on using them and see what happens. But I guess that might be infringing on their rights even though it’s a illegal encampment on city property. I’m sure some SPD will get some good overtime babysitting this area.

    Comment by wetone — 10:16 am March 26, 2013

    That is a super idea wetone. Camera’s overlooking the parking lot into the camp would be more useful than spying on girls in their bikinis’ on Alki Beach.

  • joel March 26, 2013 (4:35 pm)

    trouble in illegal nicksville and add more cops and take them away from the tax paying citizens.

    nicksville rejects living and doing crack/meth in the greenbelt and that’s okay….just don’t do it in the illegal nicksville and all is good.

  • cj March 26, 2013 (4:39 pm)

    I think the land that Nicklesville is sitting on would be a great spot to test out the new camera project. I vote we add that site to the list.

  • Mel March 26, 2013 (6:07 pm)

    I’m really surprised that, with how far the site has gone downhill in the past few years, it hasn’t been renamed as “McGinnville.” After all, he believes his police force doesn’t need oversight…

  • jiggers March 27, 2013 (8:32 am)

    Mel..McGinnville doesn’t have that ring or flow to it. Nickelsville does. Plus, Nickels earned the reputation. He moved them around like yesterday’s garbage thinking the problem will go away unlike McShwinn who has a better heart than Nickels ever will. Nickelsville it shall always be called.

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