FOLLOWUP: Southwest Teen Life Center camera-replacement timeline

| Crime | Safety | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, January 27)

After the January 23 shooting death of 15-year-old Mobarak Adam at Southwest Teen Life Center/Pool, it came to light that the security-camera system at the center had long been inoperable. Seattle Parks told us on January 29 – six days after the shooting – that the camera would be replaced. No timeline, though. Today in his latest weekly newsletter, District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka says Parks Superintendent AP Diaz has told him the replacement will be up no later than mid-March. Meantime, no update from SPD on the investigation. Also – today was also the day that Mobarak’s sister Leyla Adam had said another protest would be held, this time, at City Hall, but we got no word of a final plan and didn’t receive a reply to our inquiries. She did speak emotionally to the Seattle Public Schools Board this past Wednesday (this link should take you to that part of the meeting video, 51 minutes in), asking for specific school-security improvements.

Odd son February 9, 2024 (5:43 pm)

Way to be proactive 🤦‍♂️

Jim February 10, 2024 (2:14 am)

I mean what are you expecting exactly?! No later than mid March is actually pretty quick considering that the camera system either has to be repaired or replaced This isn’t like just putting up a ring camera or putting a couple cameras on a garage It’s an integrated and probably rather expensive system that’s going to take expert installation.

No later than mid March is less than a month
- Conan February 10, 2024 (8:17 am)
  
  I think you missed the point.
- K February 10, 2024 (2:53 pm)
  
  In all honesty, why COULDN’T they simply put up a Ring camera? At least until the original system is restored.
- Kyle February 11, 2024 (8:20 pm)
  
  The camera was non functioning for months. It’s only getting fixed and prioritized because of the tragic events.
  - TerminatedWithoutCause February 13, 2024 (6:55 am)
    
    The cameras have been inoperable for at least a year. SPR and SPD knew that the cameras weren’t working after Kadon Brown was killed immediately after leaving Late Night at SWTLC and it (as well as not having proper sign in/sign out procedures for participants) impacted SPDs ability to investigate that homicide. How many young people have to die before SPR cares enough to put up literally any kind of surveillance cameras in the building or implement common sense methods of monitoring who is coming and going from what is meant to be a safe place for teens? I’m not holding my breath for solutions by March. My heart breaks for the families that are lacking closure because of the city’s inaction.

Montana Griz February 9, 2024 (6:13 pm)

This sounds like a good opportunity to organize a citizen-led effort to confirm operability of existing public security cameras wherever anyone might be at any given time of day and find themselves in an unsafe or dangerous situation.I’ll volunteer my time toward that end.

valvashon February 9, 2024 (11:40 pm)

If we put real time and effort into getting rid of the gun culture that would actually make us all safer. Security cameras don’t prevent gun violence. There rightfully would not have been a security camera inside of the bathroom where this happened anyway. As long as guns are in charge of our society this is the new normal.

miws February 10, 2024 (7:54 am)

Valvashon, your first sentence, in a nutshell… —Mike
herewego February 10, 2024 (1:02 pm)

How do you suggest we do that Valvashon? Please suggest ideas that will work in a country that gave Trump a favorable approval rating overall. We need real ideas.
WSCurmudgeon February 10, 2024 (1:13 pm)

Valvashon, Amen! I second Mike’s comment.

spiro February 10, 2024 (12:01 am)

There also should be focus on behaviors as that is the key to what leads the students into obtaining the firearms in the first place. So not just how to keep firearms out of schools, but address and curb the reasons why students obtain firearms. Perhaps the schools could put together an educational seminar explaining the challenges the students will face when being exposed to illegal firearm possession and how those choices they make will affect their lives and the lives of others. Let’s get to the root cause.

Andrew February 10, 2024 (3:58 am)

The camera issue is a smoke screen to a much bigger problem. Cameras won’t prevent anything especially in a public bathroom.

Admiral-2009 February 10, 2024 (12:29 pm)

It says installation would be completed by mid March, but the year was not specified. The City has a very poor track record on meeting schedules.

Jon. February 10, 2024 (3:43 pm)

So who monitors the camera? Or is it just recording so AFTER something happens we can see what it was. These cameras don’t prevent people being hurt, just, maybe, gives us a chance to see who did what.