Home › Forums › Open Discussion › KIRO Reporter gets an earful about Roxhill Area crime
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November 10, 2014 at 1:44 am #816095
HalynParticipantI was walking my dog a few minutes ago and noticed a news truck parked by Roxhill Elementary. Being the Nosy Nellie I am, I decided to stroll down there and check it out. Turns out, the reporter on the truck was looking for info about a stabbing at the school. I didn’t know anything about it, so I turned to leave. Then it occurred to me that the news media might be interested in the general uptick (real or perceived) of crime in the area, so I said, “You know, if you’re looking for a story, you could look into how bad the crime is in the park behind the school.”
He was interested, so I filled him in on the wall of buses, the violence, the darkness, the needles and other drug paraphernalia that have been found there. He asked if I had any hard info on it, or if I thought it was just perception and I admitted that it could be a case of “once it strikes home, you notice it more.” I name-dropped the WSB a few times as a great source for West Seattle-ites looking to be informed, and as the source of most of my info. He asked for my name, and seemed surprised when I told him I wasn’t interested in being on the air. So he gave me his business card and asked me to call if I had any other info or opinions to share about Roxhill park crime. So, fellow WSB-ers…wanna fill Nick McGurk in on the state of the ‘hood?
Nick McGurk
@nickKIRO7
I have phone numbers for him too, but I’m kind of hesitant to just throw those out there–getting a ton of phone calls just seems way more intrusive than a bunch of emails or tweets, and more like the kind of thing I should ask permission about before posting.
November 10, 2014 at 2:16 am #819260
WSBKeymasterWe actually just published a story about the reported incident at Roxhill. It happened on October 30th but wasn’t reported to police until November 5th and the report did not appear publicly in the files until this weekend, when it was redacted and posted.
Update: Police investigating pencil-stabbing attack reported by Roxhill Elementary student
Since it wasn’t reported the day it happened and there was no medical call, it did not come to light until the narrative-added report turned up.
As for TV … they’ve been out here before; they read every story we publish (along with other neighborhood publications around the city – we all see their IPs on our logs) and make their decisions about whether to cover it or not. – TR
November 10, 2014 at 2:20 am #819261
HalynParticipantHe didn’t seem to enjoy my references to the WSB…he referred to you as a competing news agency. :)
November 10, 2014 at 2:54 am #819262
WSBKeymasterActually, we are. So they couldn’t ethically take info from us without crediting, nor vice versa. We’re local/indie/small, and they’re owned by an huge out-of-state corporation, with local staff in a downtown newsroom, but nonetheless, same business.
I applaud you for choosing not to speak on camera about something you didn’t have firsthand knowledge of. I am a recovering TV news producer/manager (quit in 2007 to run WSB fulltime) and still ashamed of all the years I had a hand in putting “person on the street” soundbites on the air even if they had no knowledge of the actual incident, just because we had some stupid story template that there HAD to be a “real person” in it (think of every time you’ve seen a quick cut of a person saying “Oh no, how awful!”), and I was complicit. Among other sins.
-TR
November 10, 2014 at 3:06 am #819263
miwsParticipantNovember 10, 2014 at 3:08 am #819264
HalynParticipantThanks…although I have to admit that part of my reasoning was that I was in yoga pants and a sweatshirt, had my hair in a headband and had no makeup on! Seriously, though, as soon as he asked for my name I reiterated that I did not have stats or hard proof, and that I didn’t want to mislead anyone by being on camera as though I was stating a fact.
November 10, 2014 at 5:18 am #819265
maplesyrupParticipantIf that reporter were to go incognito and hang around that bus stop for 3 or 4 hours, he’d see plenty on his own. It’s not that difficult.
November 10, 2014 at 2:51 pm #819266
anonymeParticipantI’ve worked in that area for several years, and can tell you that all of Halyn’s ‘allegations’ are true, experienced first hand by me. One of the most disturbing developments has been the appearance of junkies and meth heads, and the paraphernalia they leave behind. The park, and the entire block adjacent to it, is littered with syringes and has become a cigarette butt, garbage filled, vomit covered toilet (literally). A house burned on 26th not too long ago, due to meth squatters. I’ve seen drug dealers openly set up shop, wares in full view, at the bus stop.
This is having a dramatic impact on the private properties bordering the park, as well as Westwood Village. I understand that Target reports a 75% increase in shoplifting since the bus wall went in. Police have confirmed (during their frequent visits) that in the last year the park has become a magnet for homeless addicts, in part due to the closure of Nickelsville.
November 10, 2014 at 7:29 pm #819267
JanSParticipantI prefer to not shop at Westwood, only if I really have to. It is sad that the city does not see, or care to see, what is actually going on in that park. I can’t imagine living on the fringes of it :(
November 10, 2014 at 7:52 pm #819268
wsn00bParticipantProbably unfair to most of the upstanding citizenry of the following areas but Mrs. wsn00b and I call the stretch/patch from morgan/35th -> high point -> delridge/home-depot -> 16th/holden -> westwood -> roxbury/delridge/16th as “Sketch Seattle”.
The incessant documentation on WSB seems to keep supporting the anecdotal advice we got when we moved almost 3 years ago to WS: “stay west of 35th”.
Haven’t been to Westwood in about a year.
That said, recently, I’ve started to feel the same about the Admiral area. I’m sure there is data to prove my perceptions are misplaced.
November 11, 2014 at 4:03 am #819269
trickycooljParticipantWow thanks for degrading my home to “Sketch Seattle” I’ve enjoyed the 2.5 years I’ve lived here but get rather irritated by the holier than thou attitude from folks “West of 35th” but hey your stereotype is working several of my friends decided to move to Burien because of your elitist attitude so I guess you win.
November 11, 2014 at 4:33 am #819270
JanSParticipantwsn00b…kind of snobbish, don’t you think? There are many wonderful neighborhoods in West Seattle (esp.hidden down along Delridge, 16th, the community college, and HP). Admiral is terrific, as is the area where tricky lives. A few bad interlopers does not make an area total trash, and the people living there are not total trash either. I’m soooooo glad your area is crime free, and you don’t ever have to worry about those things….guess the prices are more than us lowly commoners can afford…
damn, your attitude makes me angry..:(
November 11, 2014 at 5:14 am #819271
wsn00bParticipanttrickycoolj: Not being holier than thou or degrading your personal home. The perception I have is directed at general parts of West Seattle. I too live in an area west of 35th, parts of which are downright sketchy and have crime. I refuse to park my car on the street (yes I am elitist enough to have an usable garage..woohoo)
Of course my perception of relative sketchiness is hard to define and will probably offend somebody. That’s why I was saying there is probably some data to prove my perception reading CrimeWatch is off.
Snobbish/elitist perception? Maybe.
November 11, 2014 at 5:52 am #819272
miwsParticipantI LOVE living in the Land O’ Sketch, Highland Park/S. Delridge!
Meat the Live Butcher and Lee’s Produce Market each about 1/4 mile away, Zippy’s, Bartell’s, Meander’s, and Huang Xua (was there just today for Banh Mi for lunch, and a Roast Pork/Rice Noodle Salad for dinner), each about 1/2 mile away, Target, Toshi’s Teriyaki, Taco Del Mar, EATS Market Cafe, the Post Office, all down at Westwood, about 3/4 mile away. These are all walkable, as I don’t have a car, although trips to Westwood are always a bus ride coming back, as uphills are a problem. (Plus am usually pretty loaded down with Target purchases).
Also, a Bus Stop Across to get me to Thriftway. A stop down the street for coming back. I can stay on that bus, and go to the Junction, or all the way up to recently Sketchy Admiral! And, just a few blocks over to Delridge, for a one bus ride up to Harborview around once a week. And Bus Stops down the street, for the rare occasions I go to the Downtown CBD.
Been in this Neighborhood for nearly two years now, and couldn’t be happier!
Mike
November 11, 2014 at 7:19 am #819273
datamuseParticipantI guess those of us east of 16th just don’t exist.
November 11, 2014 at 8:51 am #819274
JanSParticipantwell, datamuse…maybe it’ll keep the riffraff out ;-)
lol, Mike…I will henceforth refer to it as Sketchy Admiral – lolol…along with Sketchy Safeway, Sketchy PCC, Sketchy Met Market…oh and Sketchy moviehouse ;-)
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