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June 20, 2008 at 7:14 pm #587257
IrukandjiParticipantWe are in the process of trying to establish a law enforcement presence in our neighborhood for the Fourth of July. The area, over the past few years, has been over run by visitors. We’ve had yards trashed, lots of confrontation when people (many illegally parked) can’t seem to get out of the neighborhood because of the clog of cars and pedestrians, and neighbors actually threatened by drunken fireworks watchers.
For those in neighborhoods who have successfully been able to block outside traffic, what did you have to go thru to get enforcement? Are you paying for off duty officers or is the city providing a presence?
As yet, we are being denied assistance though we’ve been talking with SPD for the past year. We are looking for options.
Thanks for your input.
June 20, 2008 at 7:47 pm #628210
beachdrivegirlParticipantWhat part of West Seattle do you live in? I take it down by Alki beach? I believe they posted a link on the home page about some of the things the City of Seattle police department are doing to try to make the neighborhood safer for that Saturday. I have never had to actually organize it myself, but maybe contacting the SPD might help too.
June 20, 2008 at 9:29 pm #628211
IrukandjiParticipantWe have messages in to SPD. We’re up by the Admiral Viewpoint (near the recent round of break-ins at Admiral/37th). WE have neighbors willing to put money in to hire off-duty officers, but SPD has been waffling about closing off our neighborhood – we just got word that we won’t be included.
Nothing says American Independence better than hoards callously overtaking a neighborhood, wrecking property, cutting off access for emergency vehicles, ignoring the NO PARKING areas, swearing at and threatening the residents.
I’ll just keep the sprinklers on.
June 20, 2008 at 9:45 pm #628212
beachdrivegirlParticipantI would actually pay for an off-duty officer to be on call if that is the case. I just moved down to Beach Drive and used to be up in the Junction. And never faced in problems up there …. hopefully I wont face any down here. Best of luck and I can do know what you are talking about. I dont even enjoy going to Alki nearly as much in the summer months than the off season because of some of the crowd it attracts. I can not even imagine what it would be like on 4th of July and with booze involved.
June 20, 2008 at 9:50 pm #628213
ErikParticipant‘Nothing says American Independence better than hoards callously overtaking a neighborhood, wrecking property, cutting off access for emergency vehicles, ignoring the NO PARKING areas, swearing at and threatening the residents.’
Ummm…that’s alki.
Last year the cops were trying their best to clear out/close the beach because of excessive rowdiness, and this was before the fireworks started.
June 20, 2008 at 10:45 pm #628214
herongrrrlParticipantI wonder if you could get permits to close the side streets in your neighborhood, as happens for “night out” block parties?
June 21, 2008 at 12:41 am #628215
IrukandjiParticipantGreat ideas! I better get on it – declare a neighborhood party and close the streets. Thanks all!
June 21, 2008 at 12:44 am #628216
JeannieParticipantErik, I love that quote. Not to get off on a tangent, but I get pretty disgusted at the mess people leave on Alki Beach on summer weekends. Use the wastebaskets, slobs. I have a feeling the offenders don’t live in West Seattle.
June 21, 2008 at 12:45 am #628217
JeannieParticipantOops, the quote thanks should go to Irukandji. Regardless, it’s sadly true!
June 21, 2008 at 1:09 am #628218
ErikParticipantJeannie – I just arrived home and there was a car parked in front of my house with a couple young moms putting away their strollers in the trunk. A few minutes later I went outside to run to the basement when I noticed the car had left, and they tossed one of their sbux cups on the strip.
Nice…teach the younger generation how it’s done.
Time to drink :-)~~
June 21, 2008 at 1:32 am #628219
karenParticipantNothing says American like a group of people being able to close down a public area because they don’t like other people using it. This makes me crazy – why shut down Alki because some people (myabe even a lot of people) don’t behave. how about stiff punishments? Maybe instead of shutting down the area, just get all the tow trucks in the area there on standby and tow those who park like idiots?
And how about arresting the people who shoot off the fireworks? I’ve seen the cops warn people not to shoot the fireworks – Umm, arrest them!
I don’t live where I can see the big shows, so we are one of those families that heads over to view them at Alki. I am furious that I can not drive down a public street and park in a legal manner to watch the fireworks.
I get that you guys don’t want your property trashed but I am really annoyed that the vast majority of well behaved people get punished rather than punishing the people who deserve it.
June 21, 2008 at 2:02 am #628220
IrukandjiParticipantAmen Karen! I’d love to have people take the bus up to the viewpoint on Admiral and politely come thru our neighborhood. Unfortunately, you are not representative of the visitors we get. PLEASE come and spread good cheer here!
June 21, 2008 at 2:05 am #628221
JoMemberI live on Alki, a block off the beach. I agree things get pretty loud and hectic during holidays in the summer. But I remind myself constantly that this is a PUBLIC beach, open to all to enjoy. I don’t own it because I live here. Frankly, the bad traffic, and bad parkers, and (bad?) people are only around for less than 3 months of the year. The rest of the time it’s very quiet.
June 21, 2008 at 2:17 am #628222
ErikParticipantJo – My thoughts too. I guess mine was more of a rant on human slobishness.
I’ve lived in much worse surroundings.
June 21, 2008 at 2:44 am #628223
JanSParticipanthuman slobishness…yes, a great topic, Erik…maybe needs a thread all of it’s own. :)
I live on 42nd, just south of Admiral Way. I gave up years ago trying to get to a viewing area around me. Last time I did it, I went to Hamilton Viewpoint. Unfortunately, I was in the throes of arthritis, and couldn’t hoof it all the way from home, so we took a car, parked fairly far away anyway…it simply wasn’t worth it for what I couldn’t really see – lol. I have gone up to Capitol Hill to view from the roof of a bldg. there that a friend manages…you can see both sets of fireworks from there, and it was just the two of us and our chairs and beer..fantastic. I had to laugh coming back to WS up Admiral Hill…bumper to bumper leaving WS, and I just sailed up the hill…
it may be TV time this year…or the daughter’s deck…I think they might be visible far off in the distance from there…and no crowds :)
Yes, those areas are public, but common sense mainly doesn’t prevail…and if the emergency vehicle couldn’t get to you because of the crowd, I’m sure it would make a difference…just a thought..
June 21, 2008 at 2:52 am #628224
IrukandjiParticipantOne of the best views of fireworks I ever saw was a well-timed car trip down Denny Way from Capitol Hill – no traffic at all. Outside of the home area, we were in Vancouver, Canada, one summer when the international fireworks competitions were being held. FABULOUS!
June 21, 2008 at 3:01 am #628225
JanSParticipantthere’s an international fireworks competition? wow…wonder how we could get that in seattle…I heart fireworks <3
June 21, 2008 at 3:33 am #628226
karenParticipantActually, I AM representative of the people that go to Alki. Look at the traffic after the fireworks and think about how many people those cars hold. If all of those people, or even the majority of them, misbehaved it would be a riot out there.
The majority of people that go park legally (yes, we drive in circles and clog up the streets, but they are public streets), we sit and enjoy the fireworks, we pick up our trash and we leave.
The majority of the people there DO NOT wreck peoples’ yards, they do not shoot off fireworks, they are not drunk and rowdy. SOME of them are – not MOST of them.
Didn’t we just have a big fuss about beach fires? Don’t take them away from us, most of us behave, just punish the people who don’t behave.
We have laws in place, I would prefer to see them enforced.
June 21, 2008 at 3:46 am #628227
JoMemberKaren, I totally agree that the majority of the people that come for celebrations/weekends, etc at the beach are just like you. I remember about 10 years ago getting bawled out by a cop because me and some very adult friends were doing sparklers on the beach. Actually, it was pretty embarrasing.
Maybe it would be worthwhile calling Metro to see if the #56 bus has had problems in the past keeping a reasonable schedule to/from Alki on the 4th. Or how about the Water Taxi and Water Taxi Shuttle?
Just some thoughts to maybe make it easier to come to the beach to see the fireworks. It’s spectacular!
June 21, 2008 at 3:56 am #628228
JPParticipantHey Jan, There use to be a great view from Safeways roof. Now, we all go to…Seafood Johns!
June 21, 2008 at 5:04 am #628229
JanSParticipanthow come I never saw anyone up there on the 4th? or was that before I became part of the neighborhood?
June 21, 2008 at 3:04 pm #628230
berthaParticipantforget alki & come on down to White Center. I live a couple blocks north of WC and see an awesome fireworks display every year w/o the crowds, the drunks and the garbage! It’s not professional but it is fun. White Center – Not So White, Not So Centered.
June 22, 2008 at 1:00 am #628231
JayDeeParticipantA slight tangent, but a friend of mine works for another city’s Parks and Rec and has to staff July 4 crowd control.
The visitors to Alki sound like what he has to deal with. His name for the holiday:
“Drunken Patriots Day”
with the Fourth on a Friday, rather than Tuesday-Thursday, it is gonna be ugly unless it rains (let’s hope for a 60% chance of clouds/rain…).
June 22, 2008 at 2:42 am #628232
JanSParticipantJayDee..I was thinking about the 4th falling on a Friday…gives everyone a 3 day weekend to really tie one on….somehow I feel like I don’t want to be out in that …
June 22, 2008 at 3:58 am #628233
JPParticipantHey Jan, It probably was before your time. I forget how old I am!
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