Seattle Press on Line - Pioneer Square Ills Shifted to Capitol Hill, Say Irate Residents and Business Owners

Pioneer Square Ills Shifted to Capitol Hill, Say Irate Residents and Business Owners

Oct 04, 2000 -- Public drunkennesss, prostitution and drug dealing have increased substantially on Capitol Hill in the last three months, an angry and vocal group of 100 or more business owners told a panel of city officials September 26 at Miller Recreation Center.

Several members said that recent efforts to clean up Pioneer Square and restrict alcohol sales there have resulted in pushing the problem into Capitol Hill streets.

The panel, including East Precinct Police Captain Nick Metz, City Councilmember Jan Drago and several other city officials, was sponsored by the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce. Darlene Flynn of the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods moderated the discussion.

"We came here because of an emergency," said Jerry Olsen, a Capitol Hill building manager. "There is rampant and open drug and sexual activity right at our front door. When the police come, they just tell people to 'move it along.' We're tired of seeing drunks hauled off to Harborview to sleep it off, and the next day they're back right here in our neighborhood."

Joanne Godmintz, manager of the Capitol Hill Inn, said, "Capitol Hill is under attack. The situation is acute right now. Building managers have to sweep the streets, do police work."

Police Captain Metz told the audience, "We have 150 officers covering eight square miles. Our officers feel a lot of frustration too...we feel like we're shoveling sand against the waves." He recommended the creation of a new Capitol Hill Public Safety Council.

City Council member Jan Drago said, "Broadway is next on my radar screen for designation as a volunteer Alcohol Impact Area (AIA). Let's see what can be done on a volunteer basis to restrict the sale of fortified wines and other drinks of choice for pre-recovery alcoholics." Drago also urged the community to set a new public safety council.

Drago said the Mayor's new budget proposal called for more funds for police patrols, but the biggest thing to help will be for the rains to start and the weather cool down.

"The answer is not the rainy season," Monica Moe, executive director of the Broadway Business Improvement Association, replied to Drago's weather forecast. Moe called for greater police presence and expanded alcoholic treatment services.

"Our cops are working their butts off, we don't have time to lobby the city every day."

Alan Deright suggested, "A new jail in Eastern King County with about 2,000 new prison beds would help reduce street crime in Capitol Hill."

Other suggestions from the audience included making pay phones outgoing only, and forcing tavern and liquor stores to lock their dumpsters.

Several business owners and service providers said they didn't want to simply push their problems into other neighborhoods. They called for expanded police presence and more facilities for the homeless and increased drug and alcohol treatment programs.

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