The Mayor wants to hear from us, and boy do we have a lot to say if the Wallyhood comments sections about burglaries and graffiti are any indication.
Here’s the deal, as described on seattle.gov:
The City of Seattle is conducting a public opinion survey among Seattle residents aged 18 and over concerning their views of public safety and the Seattle Police Department. We are only asking for your opinion on the Seattle Police Department, not other police agencies such as the Washington State Patrol. This study is being conducted by graduate students at the Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington on behalf of the Mayor’s Office. Your answers will help police and city officials provide effective and responsive police services.
It’s a brief, anonymous survey. I took it Friday & was glad to see that property theft is one of the categories to discuss, as well as vandalism and graffiti. At the end of the survey is a free-form comments section you can use to be more specific. For me, I don’t care if you call it graffiti or if you call it vandalism – and I hope the results aren’t skewed by how each of us defines these things. Regardless, it’s nice to be asked. Especially in light of the recent wave of break-ins around here & how often we tell each other that the police don’t show up for certain property thefts. Let’s weigh in & let Mayor McGinn know how we’re feeling!
Take the quick survey here.
Fed up with growing property crime and what seems to be increasing numbers and aggressiveness of bums (sorry, homeless”) around here? FILL. IT. OUT. If you guys feel as I do that things are getting worse around Wallyworld, I urge you to fill out the form and point out that there’s not enough law enforcement for all the miscreants making their home here.
The survey is seriously flawed by not including a category “don’t know”. Leaves room for various answers to many of the questions.
I just took the survey, however I’m sure many who post here on Wallyhood will be disappointed because I’m sure I’ll skew their responses as I’m not concerned with the amount of crime in our neighborhood. And I certainly don’t feel we have aggressive “bums” in the ‘hood!
Judy – I found that you can leave a question blank if you don’t know the answer.
I do agree, everyone should fill it out so that the voice of Wallingford is heard.
Yes, proving that when in doubt read the instructions! But maybe Wallyhood would like to remind us absent minded ones that you can leave a question blank. Most surveys I take make you go back and answer every question. Sorry to mislead anyone. And thanks for the mild response Lauren.
Aggressive bums in Wallingford? Get real.
Lauren and Doug: I have witnessed some of them harassing women. And perhaps you should read some of the stories in the Wallyhood archives about others who’ve witnessed aggressive and antisocial behaviors from them.
And do you wonder whatever happened to the older lady who was a fixture outside the QFC selling Real Change? She was assaulted by two BUMS who wanted a piece of her coveted turf.
Do you really believe these guys from the offramps and wherever else they crawl out of are so harmless? If so, I’m sure they would love a hot shower and a couch to sleep on at your place, since you’re so sympathetic.
With attitudes like these, no wonder Seattle is a destination city for vagrants.
@hayduke – you may want to work on a new argument. It’s kinda weak. I wouldn’t let you or most everyone else in Wallingford in my house for a hot shower either. Not because I think everyone’s a vagrant with intent to harm, but because you’re a stranger.
Phrases like “seems like” help foster ignorance. Though Seattle ranks #10 for the highest homeless population in the U.S., it’s a pretty low 10. L.A. @ #1 has 68k+, while Seattle has ~7k
But in terms of homeless rate (# of homeless per 10,000 people), Seattle doesn’t even rank in the top 10.
So your comment “no wonder Seattle is a destination city for vagrants” doesn’t really add up. Unless you meant to say “seems like Seattle…” — in which case, sure. Seems like you could be right.