Yust a quick comment!
I've been stumbling through a few times with exaustion,watchin out for some sighns of a serious problem.
I remember,an parody 'zine published by the alleged"Bircher Poleitzei"{remember them?)in MAD:"BIGOT"magazine.
1st issue had an bumper sticker that sums up the NIMBY-Pamby,Bourgeoise-Bohemian mind in a nut-shell:
[(your 'other'label) GO SOMEWHERE!]
ie,somewhere else.
To-day,it's:
home-less(ie,persons)
druggies(ie,sons of Ollie North,Gen.Singlaub,'Freeway-Rick'Ross,'Iran-Contra',et.al)
crazies('de-nstitutionalisation-started w./Gov.Ronnie)
Illegal Workers('braseros/coolies)
hippies(unemployable roustabouts,etc)
LONG ENOUGH LIST OF PEJORATIVE LABELS,for all you label-queens out there??
"Ranulf"

I am asking for help from the community in regard to Bergen Place and Marvin Gardens. I cannot speak to whatever is happening on Market Street only these two parks.

My concern is for the safety of the volunteers who garden, pick up litter, run into disgusting stuff in the hedge and on occasion chat with some of the homeless in the park.

There is a port-o-potty, or whatever you want to call it just a half block from Bergen Place. There is no excuse, other than laziness, that anyone cannot walk to use it.

The reason this is happening in the parks is because no one is stopping the illegal activity. I can tell you that two people's lives were threatened who tried to stop the homeless drug deals. I am truly worried about their safety. All they hope to accomplish is to make Ballard a safer place for everyone. This is a fact.

There are homeless who have stopped to help us and there are others who feel entitled to do whatever they please. For some reason they seem to be immune to the laws that take other citizens to jail. It is important for this to stop.

We'll keep you posted as to how you can help. In the meantime, some great ideas here. Please do what you can to help. It takes a community to work together to get things done. Ballard has never been a place to back down to adversity. Call it Viking spirit, Mother Earth spirit, whatever you like, but if you want to live here and enjoy this amazing place - get involved. Action speaks much louder than words, but I'm sure you all know that.

It's amazing how many armchair (or computer chair) social experts there are. I'm a volunteer with Friends of Bergen Place and there are layers of 'troubling' when it comes to the park.
Sure, it's not surprising that homeless folks are drawn to this place. Once each month, volunteers (citizens like you and me who work 40, 50+ hours a week) show up for a work party and spend up to three hours cleaning the park--cigarette butts, beer bottles, vomit to hose down, pruning, sweeping, weeding, painting, whatever it takes to keep the park looking like part of the neighborhood. Often, we're joined by neighbors who have pride in the area they live.
Then, the homeless arrives, feeling entitled to trash the park. Society has not treated them right, so they take it out on the park, deal drugs, have sex in the bushes (on multiple occasions) and occasionally, resort to vandalism.
I'm not speaking for anyone, but I can tell you the police have been informed...response has been "we've got bigger problems"...and merchants have been offeredto hire two (the required minimum required) off-duty police officers would cost $150 an hour to keep an eye on the park.
A simple solution is to put this park on the radar for a while...have the police do emphasis patrols...followed by sporadic visits to make the park a less-desirable place to hang. Set up a drug bust (we still arrest people for that, right?) and take away the serial criminals. How about surveillance to capture the illegal activity and use it for prosecution?
Call or e-mail your city council person and ask what they'd recommend doing about it. It's only a problem if they know its a problem.
It all depends on what kind of Ballard you want. If you're going to tolerate what's going on in the park, you'll get that and more.
Frankly, the community shouldn't have to lower its expectations or standards for a handful of law-breaking citizens.
How about this idea? Arrest the ones breaking the law and get help for the rest? Meaningful, long-term help...not temporary, "feel good about myself" measures.

157:

Yes, I know what a crack stem looks like and what it means when folks shove chore boy into it.

@163 - Overdramatize much?

@164 - I'm not saying there is no problem. I am saying that it doesn't seem any different than 5 or 10 years ago. That's my opinion (and that's what blogs are for).

I'm not naive. I've lived in far worse neighborhoods, where the crackies were in action day and night.

I'm not saying you're a yuppie who's freaked out by the sight of a crackhead. But, I am saying that perhaps Ballard is not as squeaky clean of a neighborhood as you thought it was when you moved in.

You're there every day, so I will take you at your word that the situation has deteriorated. If it's as bad as you say, take some pictures and video. Make your case. Take it to the city and demand action. If it's as bad as you say, it will be EASY to make your case. What are you waiting for?

@165 - I doubt the police would or could do anything based on video or pictures alone (for example, in court you couldn't prove if someone was selling crack or girl scout cookies). However, it would make a compelling story in the media, and making a public case of the problem might prompt our elected officials to take action. Getting more foot/bike patrols in Ballard is a political problem and it is an election year.

Actually the only incident I have seen that could even remotely be called an assault involved a wacked out Ballard business owner who dashed out of her door to scream at my daughter as we walked down 22nd. Seems she was irritated by my daughter’s clothing. The business owner followed us down to Market and screamed obscenities at the then 14 year old and continued to do so until we went into a doorway to escape her verbal abuse.

It was a great day for a walk huh 162 Mahtli69. Not so cold as last nught when that was the excuse why cdpenne saw no crack smoking or open drug dealing.

Maybe too cold still for the latinos ey vato?

Are there any Police officers on this forum, or does anyone know one. I'd be curious what if anything would be done if pictures of the illegal activities were presented to them. It seems like a better approach than going down there in some sort of improptu mob and strong arming them out. But it does seem like the lights need to turned on some how.

162- how long I have been here has nothing to do with crackheads smoking out at 2:43 today at the bus stop in front of Bank of America. I am glad you are able to walk around and A. not see anything but what is in your little world or B. Have lived such a sheltered life you don't know what you are seeing. I spend 70+ hours a week where I can see Market st. In just my little 300 yard window I have noticed a HUGH increase in open drug dealing and drug use. Last year there was a group of latinos running the show and they were a bit more professional at it then the present crackhead selling to crackhead but never the less.
I am sure your 30 min. stroll has made you think there is no problem so you will discount everything the rest of us see, fine. I am happy knowing you will benefit from my work regardless if you think if needs it or not.
BTW: I was raised in a working class family, am working class so don't try and use the BS that I am just a yuppie who is freaked out by the sight of a crackhead. Oh on top of everything I am a renter and yes I care about where I live.

Look up the word Civic duty. Maybe you will change your mind about what the freedom you love so much really means, nothings free in this world.

" It’s been yuppified the past few years with all of the condos going in. "

Way to insult our new neighbors moving in, investing in Ballard spending their money on local businesses. God forbid, you probably prefer to have homeless moving in than yuppies.

I walked around Bergen place this afternoon with my wife. One woman was sitting alone reading her book on one of the benches. A couple of other people were strolling through. I saw one "homeless" guy walking around with a guitar case and an open "tall-boy" beer can. Pretty uneventful all around, and frankly, this is how it usually is when we're down there (day or night).

Saw, how long have you lived in Ballard? I ask because Ballard has always been a little bit gritty. It's been yuppified the past few years with all of the condos going in. But, honestly, other than being more trendy now, it doesn't seem much different than how it was 5 or 10 years ago.

That is why I suggested you take pictures or video of the illegal activities.

I'd like a pony.

Josh it seems to me that everyone EXCEPT me is telling us all how they have lived in gritty urban jungles.

@Hostess #142

Maria is simply trying to make herself feel better by convincing herself that she's more urban and gritty than the rest of us. It's pretty transparent. Anyone that claims they can safely walk down the street because they "emit a sense of power" obviously doesn't understand the roll that dumb luck plays in crime and instead thinks that because nothing has happened to them, they are "special"

Here's a shocker, there is nothing wrong with saying, "I'd like to reduce homelessness! I'd like to reduce open drug use! I want to reduce agressive pan-handling!" Anyone that disagrees with you on this is simply trying to get attention.

Cdpenne-
Last night was cold that's why you did not see the normal street life. It does not just happen at night anymore which I think it some of the growing concern. It seems to be a any time any place type of behavior now. It has been here since I moved here but now it is out in the open and more of it. I am pretty sure anyone can tell when someone is smoking crack, looks quite different from a cig. or even a joint.

Where I lived before they started (the city) something called a Downtown Action Team which was non-police officers in uniform who rode around on bike and foot patrol. I assume the cost was less and they also passed a no panhandling law. You never even had to call the police before these guys and gals would just pop out of nowhere and tell the offender to go away. They cleaned up the downtown VERY fast. Before it was a place where you did not want to walk alone, man or woman. Most people I knew avoided the area all together. Now it is a growing downtown with lots of new business, night life and real estate values in the high are fast becoming the highest in the city.
It is amazing how just the sight of a little official looking people can get rid of these type of criminals-Maybe we can get some of the stimulus money as it will create jobs.

hmmm well.. at 7 the park was well lit and completely deserted. At 9 there were 6 or 7 run of the mill old timers with the usual "used to be" or "waiting for the skipper to call" fish stories but no crack. I did see a couple open containers and was thinking I should have brought one myself. 156 are you experienced enough to know what smoking crack looks like? I didn't see any of that. Not that I doubt it happens. Nor any of the other usual unsavory habits like heroin, but my honest impression is that most of the most ardent detractors speaking of "taking back Ballard" are making much ado aobut nothing. However, the "homeless" folks tend to be bolder and probably a bit more cogent at night when they have some cover from the sanctioned drunks. I'll try an afternoon walk tomorrow.

I just saw a group of 6 folks in the park smoking crack at like 4PM out in plain sight. lulz.

I think I'll walk down there tonight and have a look around. I haven't finished reading all the comments yet but I've got the jist. Guess I need to see for myself just how bad it might or might not be. I did live at the Starlight for 4 months this past summer while looking for a home to buy (mostly because it was close to Hatties) and I didn't notice too much of a problem. Most of the professional bums were polite, and I got to know a couple of them. But I didn't get off Ballard Ave much. So I guess I'm off on a low budget adventure.

@151 "Sustainable Ballard folks live their convictions and act on them regardless of whether or not I agree with all they want."

Yes, it's great they ignored the community when they put the port-a-crapper idea together. Of course most of us thought SB's big bugaboo was global warming, so we were not sure how bums fit into that since their non-productive lifestyles are the model for low carbon emission living.

Since the port-a-sh*tters never happened, maybe our emails worked Maria and we succeeded in stopping more vagrants moving to Ballard to soak the suckers?

.....Mahtli69 don’t count on too much action or money or anything from these folks

Actually I emailed and called Mary Lou's office multiple times. Maybe the pressure we put on them is why this never happened?

Score 1 for the Society to Protect Ballard
Score 0 for the Society to feed the pigeons

Mah-
I agree with Maria’s suggestion that some of you ought to move to Edmonds if this is a little to gritty for you.--Why should we move instead of make our neighborhood better? oh ya, i forgot alot of old timers hate new people, well only if you have a job and money

@59 is also right on the money. The homeless are downright polite here compared to most cities.---go ask that lady this morning.


Don’t like people crapping in doorways? Then provide public restrooms.
----Ok, so homelessness is not a crime, but crapping in public is.

Don’t like illegal activities? Then pay for extra cops.---thats your solution??? I vote for you.

All your statements, every single one you say not a big deal, other cities are worse. Who f'ing cars what San Fran of NY is like, we are not talking about a nation wide issue. I don't care what it is like in Capital Hill either. I care about where I live and work. So you say you are in favor of things changing stop trying to convince everyone there is no issue here. if the greater numbers believe there is a issue, there is. Because you choose to try and steer the subject off topic in almost each post that leads me to believe you don't think it's an issue.
I lived in a violent city, why do you think I left. I do not enjoy that vibe. I know this isn't South Seattle or whatever, but we also pay alot more because of that. That is the point, read what people are saying. No one here wants to debate other cities issues.
I am glad to see you offer to go around and take pictures and video, but as you say there won't be much to take pictures and video of.

Mahtli69 don’t count on too much action or money or anything from these folks. If they try to focus on real criminal acts my guess is they will not have a great deal of ammunition to use. I can imagine how quickly the nasty email received from these folks would be deleted as sent by a lunatic fringe.
At least the Sustainable Ballard folks live their convictions and act on them regardless of whether or not I agree with all they want.

"where do you suggest their presence be decreased so it can be increased in Ballard? "

Well, stopping the police from having to attend sensitivity training and ACLU lawsuits would be a good start.

And why is it always crazy, old gray haired ladies feeding pigeons in park so they then sh*t all over our homes?

"I have not seen them"

You and your $10 handouts for starters.

@141 - Not once did I say you shouldn't work together, and I have supported @120's idea a couple of times now. In fact, I think for the most part we are in violent agreement, Saw.

Where we differ is I think you should focus on stopping the crime, while you seem to think that all of the homeless in Ballard are your enemy, regardless of their behavior.

This problem is a City of Seattle problem. Ballard is not a priority for the police. But, it's a city council election year. Use the media to your advantage. Focus on the crime. Take pictures and video if you can (especially important if you want the media to take notice). Make a visible campaign out of it. I would take that route before hiring private security, frankly.

Where are these welcome signs? I have not seen them. Demand you say? Police are spread very thin, so unless you are willing to pay higher taxes, where do you suggest their presence be decreased so it can be increased in Ballard? I have seen no camp built by Sustainable Ballard? They seem to be offering solutions to some immediate issues like cleanliness which seems to me to be a reasonable effort. More of a real effort in fact than those who want to ‘take back their streets.” I can just picture the roving bands of soccer moms and dads patrolling. A majority here in Ballard must have voted for Mary Lou Dickerson. I didn’t. Oh… maybe she stole the election? Were there hanging chads involved? Where were those who all SAY they are so willing when it came time to vote? If they can’t even bother to vote I doubt anything else they are willing to do will make much difference. Oh wait.....they will email... HA!

Email these folks about the unscreened, vagrant car camps they want to build near our homes. These are the folks putting out the welcome sign:

MaryLee (Glo) Mahar, glowingowl@speakeasy.net

and

Jean Darsie, nwcitizen@comcast.net

http://sustainableballard.org/wiki/index.php?ti...

Then we need to get them out of office and someone who understands the desires of all of Ballard not just a TINY number. I moved here within the last few years so I thank you for letting me know who is to blame somewhat. I know some of the people at Sustainable Ballard and I will be talking with them on a personal level to ask them why they think it is a good idea to make Ballard a homeless mecca.
To Mrs. Grayhair-so the 70 year old lady walking her dog this morning at 8:30 being followed by two homeless men yelling and cussing at her wasn't you? I wonder if she would agree that this is such a lovely place to live out her years. I bet you she really felt loved and cared for, maybe they were just speaking loudly because she is hard of hearing.

Saw, our reps are the ones like Mary Lou Dickerson who want to build vagrant camps in Ballard, with no screening of people staying there. No drug screening, no screening for criminal records, no screening for violent or criminal sexual histories. No, she and Sustainable Ballard and BHAC simply want allow vagrants into our neighborhoods and we're supposed to be happy about it.

"Really folks it’s just not that scary out there."

Who said it's scary? People are simply concerned about the kind of neighborhood we live in, are concerned about their investments in various businesses and the value of their homes and don't want to see them get trashed by vagrants moving in from outside. Putting a stop to the influx by removing the welcome sign some folks have hung up in Ballard doesn't mean anyone's scared. Good grief Maria, you strut around here like we're all afraid of our own shadows.

Rather than raise taxes, don't you think it's better to simply organize and demand through our local representatives that the police to pay extra attention? That's why we have elected officials. And insisting that Ballard doesn't become a mecca for homeless by demanding that churches and groups like Sustainable Ballard don't build camps in our neighborhood doesn't require raising taxes either. It simply requires that we demand that they be responsible neighbors.

And don't worry Maria, we all know you are some gray haired lady by the way you haven't fixed the URL link in your name from the one time you copy and pasted a posting in there.

That is why I say all they intend to do is try and stop people from working together, seems like their core reason for posting is to undermine any effort. I suppose if they are long time Ballard dwellers they refuse to see a problem, head in the sand.
Like alot of people I am sure they are just scared and it is easier to just say it is no big deal, be tough and they will leave and not bother anyone.
I have started checking into hiring private security and I think if enough businesses agreed to split the bill it would be very doable. We then contact the local media and let them know what we have done. This will make our reps. look out of touch, which they are.
Everyone is talking about our economy and how bad everything is going to get. Well if we don't do something at the local level then we are just another part of the problem.
I agree 100% with Bark More, wag less. that is why I choose to move to Ballard and not capital hill or downtown. I want slower, quieter life. I don't go bar hopping, I change crap filled diapers at night.
Just a couple ideas from a VERY pissed off person!

Good grief I am an old gray haired lady, far from a Capitol Hill hipster or a tough urbanite. Have I suggested a single homeless service, homeless camp or porta whatever? I’m sorry I am just not seeing this fearsome urban jungle out there that the rest of you seem to be experiencing. I live a block from the main drag and have never been accosted or assaulted and neither has my teen aged daughter who also is a walker and bus rider, (AND who really did grew up in a giant burb) and is out and about in Ballard much more often than I am. It’s just not that bad folks and if you think it is don’t expect any of us to believe that you are used to a gritty inner city lifestyle. Ballard is very safe and simple neighborhood, not a war zone. Honestly I really almost never notice the homeless.

I am simply suggesting that if you don’t like what is happening then pony up some bucks to fix what you don’t like. Take Back Ballard will find there is no 1-800-rentapanzer available to them to use in their war effort and increased law enforcement costs money and that equals more taxes. Maybe the soccer dads can all take turns walking a beat at night. hehe You will get the Ballard you pay for. Me? I am pretty content with the way it is right now. I don’t hate condos and any business that can make a profit seems a good choice to fill the empty storefronts, whether it be a bar or a restaurant or even a place where one can buy doggie donuts. I like and frequent some of the new businesses in Ballard and some I don’t. That’s the way any neighborhood works in any place whether it be the provincial backwater you perceive Seattle to be or the inner city. Really folks it’s just not that scary out there.

Got to agree with Bark. Maria if you think Ballard is some tough urban core and people complaining about the homeless are only suburbanites, you're the one coming across as the small town, unsophisticated bumpkin. What do you think, this is the Bronx!!?? LOL!

@120, great idea! let's continue to take action...

". It seems that only the transplanted burbites live in fear which is why I am so puzzled they moved here to begin with when what they seek exists in Edmonds right now."

Oh please Maria, you sound like one of the Capitol Hill hipsters always shaking his fist at his parents living in Bellevue to justify his urban hipness.

Ballard is the most suburban place I've lived in the past 30 years. I've lived in cities with population densities that would make your average condo-hating Ballardite faint. Cities with high crime rates, bums and crazies on every corner. Seattle has 600K people. That's a town in most of the world and Ballard is a suburb.

I moved to Ballard because it feels so suburban! That's why I don't want to see Ballard turned into a homeless camp by a bunch of far left 'progressives' with an agenda to attract every bum on the west coast here with so-called 'homeless' services, port-a-pissers, car camps, tent villages.

Saw actually I am very old and grew up in this hood. I hide from no one and as I have said previously, I seldom have any trouble with the homeless even though I walk and ride buses and spend a great deal of time downtown. In fact I was more outraged by the idiot soccer mom who recently felt the need to park across the exit at Bartells so her kiddies could play in the skate park. I see many older than I am out and about also and they don’t seem to be living in fear. It seems that only the transplanted burbites live in fear which is why I am so puzzled they moved here to begin with when what they seek exists in Edmonds right now. If you would read you would see that I support more taxes for law enforcement not to house anyone. Where have I suggested money for housing? Your fear and anger seem to cloud your reading comprehension. Yes I do give my money to those in need, even friends and family because everyone has the occasional bad times.

Please though do continue to die on your feet fighting. All you will be is dead and you lose. In this country every different type of person has a right to be on the streets. It is not a crime to speak to someone on the street. It is not a crime to be an alcoholic or even to be a drug addict. It is not a crime to have no home and to choose to live on the streets. If they commit a crime and there is money for law enforcement they will be arrested. Law enforcement costs real money and while you say you are willing to pay taxes for that I doubt it. Instead of starting a discussion group start a petition to raise taxes and see how far you get with your neighbors.

@132 - As far as I can tell "Saw it Go Down", this is the only time you have responded to me (or maybe you're the type who likes to add layer of anonymity to your anonymity by changing your handle with every post).

Did you even read my posts? I've given constructive criticism and concrete ideas and, unlike you, I am realistic about what is possible, and what is a legal response.

From what I can tell, you're obviously pissed off, but I haven't heard ONE actual solution from you other than "dying on your feet fighting for what's right". That's a brilliant plan. What exactly do you mean by that anyway? Are you going to call in artillery strikes on Ballard Ave?

But CH, didn't you hear Maria's brilliant plan? All we need are more taxes and these people will magically reform themselves.

It is heartbreaking to see the obviously mentally ill people on the street but they are not the ones that are concerning most of us. Actually, they tend to be polite! When they have caused any problem in our store they always leave when asked. The guys causing the problems are the drug and alcohol abusers who are confrontational, aggressive and often hang out in groups. In the last year we've had about eight incidents at our business- 6 were guys in the latter category. EVERY time there was the potential for violence to employees or the public and twice there was actual violence. Due to the shortage of law enforcement officers it takes 20-60 minutes for them to arrive after a 911 call if an actual weapon is not in evidence. If the suspect is brandishing a weapon I think they would come sooner. 20-60 minutes with an aggressive, high man threatening to assault a woman is not a good thing! One of these incidents involved a woman who was only trying to buckle her two small children into their car seats! She should not have to fear being assaulted in broad daylight on a busy street. These are the people that we really need to know what to do with.

To Mahtli69 and Maria,

This will be the last time I respond to you as it is CLEAR your only goal is to bring people down who are trying to change where they live for the better. My guess is you are young and think it is funny or involved in the drug dealing and do not want people to get involved.
I have fought crime before and paid a high price for it, but I will NEVER live like a lamb and hide from these type of people. I would soon die on my feet fighting for what is right and giving my children a world that they can live in. I love how you do ALWAYS try and change the focus and bring in complete and utter useless points. So I can to answer your question if I could lock up anybody you two would join all your friends until you and your bodies realize they are not quite so harmless.
Maria, you stopped someone from walking into a apartment building? has he/she holding a crack pipe and just completely sky high? A drug addict will, so please stop giving them money so they will leave. If you have no intention of supporting people willing to work towards a solution why don't you keep your thoughts to yourself. You won't change my mind and I don't care about yours.

@127 - "Time to take it back."

Good luck, Rambo.

If you want to improve the situation, get SPD to add bike and foot patrols. If you're lucky, that will stop the open drug market and the big parties. If SPD doesn't cooperate, then I suggest calling the local TV news and newspapers. Beyond this, there's not too much you can do other than being vigilant around your own property.

Oh, I'd also pay taxes for work camps for these folks. You want housing? You have to work for it.

"If someone can come up with an answer as to where to find more money please do so. "

Right, all we need is more money for the 'homeless'.

These aren't homeless, they are bums: big difference. You could give everyone one of these bums 6 months detox, a fabulous condo and a job and in 7 months they'd be on the streets with their buddies. Only difference is we'd all be poorer for the taxes that you think are the solution to everything.

I'll pay taxes for cops though to stop illegal public camping, drinking, intoxication and loitering. Sign me up.

I am curious as to how exactly this group plans to ‘take Ballard back.’ My guess is there will have some meetings, be outraged, and write letter or two and maybe even ask a city official to attend a meeting. Yeah that’ll work. I suppose you all could form street patrols but being a vigilante is a good way to get yourself killed and is seldom accomplishes much other than to make us an even more violent and unhappy society. Maybe the Take Back Ballard group would like to have martial law or private police paid for out of their own pockets or better yet the ability to lock up anyone they choose.

Those who offend most are the drug addicts and mentally ill. I am no fan of The Idiot Reagan but he was not the reason many mental hospitals were closed and patients put on the streets. How these situations were handled before this was done was simply found to be unconstitutional and I have to agree with that decision. Often when a mentally ill person is institutionalized he or she is placed on medication and they are fine and cannot legally be held. They leave the institution and go off the meds and are once again a menace. Sometimes there is just no answer within our basic freedom and I rather like freedom.

Freedom and the pursuit of happiness means it applies to all and that means often there are those that do not fit our chosen pattern. It is not illegal to drink too much. It is not illegal to be mentally ill. When you drink and get behind the wheel of a car it is illegal or if you are mentally ill and hurt someone that is a crime. We have laws for those things but those who enforce them are spread thin. The only way to increase protection and enforcement is to raise taxes.

Basically this issue is the same as the school issues. It’s all about the money. If someone can come up with an answer as to where to find more money please do so. We are all ears. What we hear instead is “somebody ought to do something.” We ARE that somebody. We are our government and we pay for it. You want more you pay more. Taxes are the price we pay to live in a society. Meetings and outrage and whining seem to be very satisfying to many but they do nothing. Money talks and gets action but no one wants to pony up.

"boutique shoppers."

Oh please, stop with the classism. The problem is even with the few law abiding homeless,they attract those, the majority (public drinking and drugs) that aren't. I was near Bergen yesterday; these aren't 'down on their luck' types from from Steinbeck novel, their drunks, druggies and petty criminals. We tried hitting a few stores on the block and everywhere you went you see bums staggering around.

Every village needs its village idiot but we have an army down there now. Time to take it back.

@124 -
You seem surprised about this incident too, so I think you'll agree that this was an exception to the norm.

No, I did not own a business in Belltown. However, I have friends who worked the door or behind the bar at a couple of places, and have witnessed numerous confrontations (a vast majority not physical). I had a few confrontations myself when someone was trying to piggyback into the front door of my apartment building and I refused to let them enter (we had a temporary problem with one of the neighbors selling drugs out of the building).

Look, I am not disagreeing with @120. When I lived there, the drug problem in Belltown was MUCH worse than in Ballard today, and there were SPD bike and foot patrols on a fairly regular basis. In the end, the sanctity of the neighborhood came down to business owners giving a crap and being proactive about the problem.

Whatever happens in Ballard, I just hope that the focus is on preventing the crime, and not on hassling law-abiding homeless people who's very appearance on the block disturbs boutique shoppers. There is a difference, and it could easily go either way.

@#91 H311 y3ah!

To post 123-
Just today I had one of the crackheads in my store. I told him to leave, he refused, i called the cops and was told because of the wreck on i-5 it would be quite some time 30+mins plus until they would be there. He continued to try and get me to strike him, then started harssing my customers. It reached the point where I had no choice but to fight him. Now, I did as you say tell him to f- off but shockingly he didn't listen. You advice is both foolish and lacks any sort of firm basis in reality. You lived in Belltown, great, did you own a business there? or could you just keep walking, or were the crackheads in your house and wouldn't leave.
I was lucky to have a customer help me drag him out of the store and give him a couple knocks upside the head. The police did show up an hour later.
I am one of the most assertive people you could meet, it does not work when someone is crazy or high.
So what great image now does this gentleman and his wife have or our store, let alone the other ten customers who were there. If this problem continues it will hurt all local businesses and by default affect you.
If you believe in your power of words so much PLEASE give me your number and next time this happens I will call you.
I for one will join Take Ballard Back and support it in anyway I can.

@121 - Nobody likes the homeless using their property like that. But, perhaps I have a little more compassion than the others on this board. Yes, there are some homeless people who are chronically homeless with drug/alcohol problems, and nobody can help them. But, there are also homeless people who are just down on their luck - lost job, medical disability, bankruptcy, etc. These are the people that any of us could become given a set of unfortunate circumstances.

For a variety of reasons, there are always going to be homeless people. And, given the rising unemployment rate, there will probably be more in the near future. As I mentioned in a previous post, people need to poop. If there are no public facilities, then people will poop wherever they can. Sorry, but that's a fact that you cannot change.

My advice to you is do whatever you can to protect your own property. Do you have motion-activated exterior lighting? Locked gates to your yard?

I'm also gonna take a wild guess and say that the people with the cars, cell phones, and drug business are not the same people pooping on your property. And, I agree wholeheartedly with @120 above that foot and bike patrols would do wonders in solving the drug problem.

As for aggressive panhandling and loitering, I suggest telling people who are out of line to "Fuc< off". That applies especially to business owners. If they don't take your advice, then call the cops. I used to live in Belltown, and there were crackheads all over the place. Left to their own devices, they would destroy the entire community. But, business owners there are vigilant, and take care of their property and the sidewalk in front of it. Just be assertive and nobody will mess with you.

I'm with you! Time to take our neighborhood back. These people have no interest in our community, our homes.

Maht, do you mind the homeless squatting and sh*tting on your property then?

Doc - You're exactly right. We need solutions.

Everyone I know who lives in Ballard sees the neighborhood quickly deteriorating, and it appears that most of the people commenting here see the same thing. That should be alarming to everyone.

Yes, Ballard is growing, but that doesn't mean we have to accept rampant crime, drug dealing, vandalism and aggressive panhandling. We literally have drug dealers dealing openly and without fear all across downtown Ballard both day and night. We're dealing with transients that are disregarding our laws and harassing our pedestrians and businesses, all without consequence. How did this happen, and what can we do about it?

I believe in a Ballard that successfully adapts to growth and creates a thriving local economy. That's why I'm putting together a community action group web site, takeballardback.org. It's primary goal is to organize individuals and businesses within the Ballard community that are willing to participate in taking our community back. As individuals, addressing the issues facing Ballard can seem daunting and overwhelming, but as an organized group we empower ourselves to make real change.

I'm currently in the process of gathering and organizing information, and plan to launch the site in March. I'll be contacting our local police precincts, as well as local elected officials to discuss with them the best ways that we, as an organized community, can address these very important issues. Once the site is up, I'll contact the great folks here at My Ballard blog and ask them for a quick post announcing it.

I believe the problems we're experiencing are being created largely by a lack of deterrent. An immediate improvement would be to increase police presence in Ballard, specifically foot and bicycle patrols throughout the downtown area. I know that SPD's budget is stretched already, but if we work with our local Council Members and Representatives in conjunction with the SPD Precinct Advisory Council we can work towards getting the funding necessary to properly police our growing community, as well as develop new ways that we can get involved and make a difference together.

Who's with me? I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter, either here or at takeballardback@gmail.com.

I am. You?

"panties in a bunch."

Not a home owner are you?

"What’s wrong with Ballard / why is it a mecca for homeless?"

Apparently they're coming and holding their sh*t for Sustainable Ballard's port-a-crapper. We have SB to thank.

Mike @115 -
New York City has 36,000 people living in homeless shelters, including 16,000 homeless children. I'm guessing that's a much larger population than the group that currently has Ballardites' panties in a bunch.

I just returned from a weeklong trip to New York and Boston. Manhatten has far fewer homeless than Ballard. And in Boston, I didn't see a single bum.

What's wrong with Ballard / why is it a mecca for homeless?

boardbrown, how do you like that over/under? I was 43 minutes off, but I admit, you picked it....

I like the idea of problem solving, not complaining. Here's a little brainstorming:

1) Assuming more cops would help the issues of drug use & dealing, alcohol consumption in public, harassment, public defecation, & littering, can we petition the city for more officers?

2) What about citizens arrest? The first listing on this link says that in WA state a citizen can make an arrest for a misdemeanor if it was conducted in the person's presence and the act constituted a breach of peace. I'm not sure what exactly is a "breach of peace", but would anyone be willing to do this if they witnessed these crimes?

http://askgeorge.wa.gov/AW2/query.html?col=sow&...

3) If citizens arrest is a little too risky, what about documenting the crimes with pictures & video? If volunteers stood watch & could provide evidence of this to the city, could that help move them to action?

Other ideas? I'd like to take action to prevent these crimes from deteriorating our neighborhood and I believe we can.

FYI if anyone really wants to know how to deal with the panhandlers, just ask anyone who works door security at any nightclub in Seattle.
Easy peasy.

I miss the hobos, winos, and bums in Chicago. They had class! They would dance, sing, tell insane stories for my dollar.
Ballard bums it's time to step up your game if you want to play with the big boys.
Dance monkey, dance!

Hey # 99 - East Ballard,
Sorry, I have been getting so snippy in my remarks and just passed over the fact that The Friends of Bergen Park have been working so hard to keep the place up. Thank you all.

In the time I've lived in Ballard the drug dealing is getting significantly worse. If you don't see it, you're just naive! All up and down Market St., 20th Ave. etc. all day and night. Guys in groups, look outs with cell phones setting up the deals, guy in car pulling up and exchanging money for drugs through the windows. Not even counting the alleys! If you don't know that this leads to increased crime, you're just blind.

I used to live in one of the apartments above Miro Tea (until the new owners DOUBLED our rent...) and the drunks at Marvin Gardens and on this stretch of Ballard Ave were a real nuisance. They were constantly drinking and making rude comments to people who were passing by (including me). They passed out on the benches and left thier cans all over the place. I would say this was one of the top reasons we moved.
What is worse than this though are the ones who hang out in the bus stop by the Safeway. People who are passing by or waiting for the bus get harrassed and cannot use the shelter for its intended purpose. Plus have you seen it? It's a total disaster area. I have no sympathy whatsoever for these people. Step one is put down the alcohol.

" Sticks are needed along with the many carrots now provided."

Nothing but carrots now. Hence all the poop.

As noted before, you feed pigeons, you will get a pigeon problem. The solution is to stop feeding them so they fly somewhere else.

Well, if they can hold their sh*t while in Ballard, maybe they should leave.

Most of these bums we see now are migrants from Pike Place, Belltown. They're lifers. You could give them a house, a job and six months rehab and in 7 months they'd be back on the streets.

And yes, use vagrancy laws. It's illegal for you and me to sleep and camp in public parks you know.

@104 - If they weren't toilet-trained, they'd crap in their pants, not in a doorway.

Given the choice between a toilet and a doorway, I think just about everyone would choose toilet.

How many Ballard businesses would let a homeless person use the toilet on a regular basis? McDonald's probably would. And maybe the gas stations on 15th, if they even have toilets for customers. Anywhere else? I'm guessing not. Anywhere at all that's open at night? I'm guessing not.

Mrs. Gordy is often confronted by aggressive homeless people asking for money. She ignores them as best she can and they still yell after her. I just found an area next to our fence where someone had defecated-quite a lot. We should feel safe walking our neighborhoods and also not deal with human excrement and waste in our yards. These seem like basic rights.

@Mah 103
It's not unreasonable to expect adults to be toilet-trained. Somehow everyone I know manages to find a bathroom, even when not at home or work.

Of course being homeless is not a crime, but, as you note, many of the actions of the homeless ARE crimes. To often, I see people trying to excuse those crimes because of the perpetrators' homeless status. What ever happened to the expectation of personal responsibility? Sticks are needed along with the many carrots now provided.

@100
Regardless of the logistics of providing public restrooms and keeping them clean, people need to poop. You cannot change this fact.

Enforcing "vagrancy" laws? The ACLU should sue them for that. Being homeless is not a crime, and if it is, it shouldn't be.

On the other hand, arresting people for stealing, selling crack, threatening passers by, and, you know, committing actual crimes? If the police did that, they'd go a long way towards solving the problem. Even better, SPD foot patrols in downtown Ballard would probably do wonders, but I doubt there's enough resources for that.

I don't have anything to say that hasn't already been said several times, but I do want to be......

Hundred and SECOND!

(Hi Miller!)

Hundred and FIRST!!

"Don’t like people crapping in doorways? Then provide public restrooms."

We already did that, remember? $5.2 million so the bums would have somewhere nice and warm to shoot up and sell drugs AND they still were crapping in door ways all around Pike Place. Apparently some people can't be toilet trained no matter how hard the idiocy trifecta of Licata, Conlin and Drago try.

I'd love more cops enforcing vagrancy laws but how long until the ACLU sues them?

As someone who works with Victoria Sangrey to clean Bergen Place each month, it is getting a bit tiring picking up beer cans and bottles from the same spot each month. I'm presuming it's the same people who hang out there and get drunk that are the source of the trash. I was thinking that maybe it's time to "get in their face" a bit about the littering. However, they would probably just go to a less noticeable place in the neighborhood, and we'd still have the same root problem to resolve.

Also, we consistently find a man using one of the benches as his sleeping place for the night.

The hedge along the east side of Bergen Place Park and the way the benches are situated provides a visual shield/privacy for those sitting on the benches. Maybe things to be rearranged.

Oh god!...that plan!...how sustainable ballard got sucked into that one is a mystery.
when someone is during a book on the stupids of 08 it will get top billing; shooting galleries with showers next to your yard.

Homelessness is a social problem that affects us all, but it is not a crime.

Don't like people crapping in doorways? Then provide public restrooms.

Don't like illegal activities? Then pay for extra cops.

Grubby, I'll tell you who has the welcome sigh out for the bums:

SUSTAINABLE BALLARD and our local rep Mary LouDickerson with their idiotic car camp plan.

As a bunch of people have pointed out, Seattle does have a larger homeless presence than NYC or LA, and a much more aggressive one too.
I don't really have anything against the homeless specifically, but I do have issues with ANYONE who deals drugs, harasses people, and steals from the people who work for a living. We should have zero tolerance for the lawbreaking homeless and leave the rest of them alone.
We'd be having fewer issues if we had a stronger police presence to deter the illegal behavior and if Reagan hadn't shut down the mental hospitals and pushed the crazies out on the street.

"I can remember signs as a kid that said “We reserve the right to refuse to serve anyone.”. Time to bring that philosphy back."

In a lot of this country what those signs really meant was "No Blacks". Any business can refuse service with or without a sign.

Most times the homeless don't bother me. However, when they sit next to or near me on the bus and they smell like they've been rolling around in shit, I want to shoot myself. At that point, I can't stand them and have no sympathy for them.

There is one guy on Ballard ave, he used to hang out in front of People's Pub a lot, that I used to have a conversation with now and again. I'd give him a buck and keep walking. Nice guy.

homelessness in ballard is a problem. it's not something we can "just get over" or "live with" as some have suggested. i live a block from bergen place and have seen numerous drug deals involving the homeless crowd. i've witnessed 2 car break-ins in the middle of the night, both committed by homeless men. the "douchebags" at kings wake me up at night, but they clear out when the bars close and they don't steal my stuff or crap next to my dumpster. i don't have an issue with homeless people dancing in the park or playing a rowdy game of chess, but i do have a problem with the illegal activities they engage in. i welcome an increase in police presence. ideally, i'd like to see more cops just walking the neighborhood, even biking the neighborhood, get to know the place and see what's going on.

Better get rid of them if you truly want to be like Redmond!

nordic woman--

we used to have a beat cop until the mid 90's. tall, balding, gray office w/glasses.

Nordic Woman, actually many of the benefits seen in NYC were due to Mayor Dinkens (sp?). His increased staffing of the NYPD and forward thinking ideas of policing were actually pretty forward thinking. Unfortunately the funding for implementing many of this, didn't come till later in this term. By the time we were seeing the benefits, he was our and Guliani was getting credit.
But you are right about Ballard. I have no problem with paying taxes, Maria. I do have a problem when the tax money I am agreeing to pay for things I would like to see are being misappropriated and wasted! Monorail? Lawsuit about the tunnel?

Where oh where are the rent-a-mobs railing against these schlubs? If I were working at station 18 I'd protest assisting the same drunks each and every night. Night after night. At Burger Kings lot. Where are the angry moms with their signs worrying about "the children"? Where are the letters to editors? What IS the exit strategy for these shreds of human debris? It aint cute any longer. And all of you guilt ridden limo-libs...............take one home for a week. Save us all. Practice exactly what U preach. Don't take my $$ for another of your silly programs that fail again and again. Take one home for us all, for a "change" of course. I feel better now

So, where is all this drug dealing going down?

"which means we are a homeless destination."

So what idiot put out the 'welcome' sign?

We will have a stronger police presence in all of Seattle as well as other services when Seattlites are willing to pay for it with increased taxes, not before.

I always bought drugs with money I worked for.

Trizzle; Ballard USED to have it's own City Hall/Police station...until 1967. We also had beat cops walking the beat ON Ballard Avenue into the 1960s. There was a good reason for it then (from, oh, 1890-1968 or so) and there is a good reason for it now.

Anyone who things dealing drugs is a "victimless crime" is an idiot. I've watched drug deals go down in fron tof Golden City, King's Flags, Bergen Park, Marvin Gardens, the Sloop, etc. etc. etc. Where do you people thing these vagrant s GET the money to buy drugs? From ripping off the public, that's where. From breaking into cars, businesees, homes..

One might want to see what Guiliani did in NYC...not a bad idea.

A friend of mine goes to the same dentist as my mom up on 15th, near the Plasma Center...and every time they go TO the dentist early in the AM, there is crap (I mean that literally) in the doorways. Is this the sort of neighborhood we want?

There are a lot of reasons for the proliferation of the homless in Seattle: mainly the destruction of SRO housing to build offices and condos, AND the trend in the 1980s to empty out the mental institutions. You ran read all about it here:
http://www.anitra.net/homelessness/columns/gues...

Ok, I grew up in LA. I have been here since 89', but my dad stayed in LA and I go back 2-4x a year. My sister lives in NYC and I go there 2x a year. There are way more visible homeless here. They are more aggressive here. I am fine with people hanging out after the bar at marvin gardens, etc. I have a problem when they approach my kids. I have a problem with aggression and not taking no for an answer. I have been and will be aggressive in return. It is then that they usually back off. This may not be new to ballard, but has definately become more visible and more aggressive.
The drunk jackasses at most of the bars on Ballard ave are there weekend nights after 7-8. They aren't bothering me and my kids at 4 in the afternoon.
I have a bigger problem with thieves and criminals, but it really seems that no matter what your problem is, it all boils down to needing a stronger police presence here in Ballard.

Ok, I grew up in LA. I have been here since 89', but my dad stayed in LA and I go back 2-4x a year. My sister lives in NYC and I go there 2x a year. There are way more visible homeless here. They are more aggressive here. I am fine with people hanging out after the bar at marvin gardens, etc. I have a problem when they approach my kids. I have a problem with aggression and not taking no for an answer. I have been and will be aggressive in return. It is then that they usually back off. This may not be new to ballard, but has definately become more visible and more aggressive.
The drunk jackasses at most of the bars on Ballard ave are there weekend nights after 7-8. They aren't bothering me and my kids at 4 in the afternoon.
I have a bigger problem with thieves and criminals, but it really seems that no matter what your problem is, it all boils down to needing a stronger police presence here in Ballard.

Coming to Maria's defense here, what's the matter with you people? You live in a city. Yes, Ballard Guy, this is a city. It's the largest US metro area within 800 miles, which means we are a homeless destination. We also have milder winters than everywhere East of here, so again, we are a homeless destination.

I agree with Maria's suggestion that some of you ought to move to Edmonds if this is a little to gritty for you.

@59 is also right on the money. The homeless are downright polite here compared to most cities.

I'd like to see some of you sleep on the sidewalk for a couple of days and NOT drink. I'll bet you couldn't do it.

Actually, if we as a society got smart we would simply house the homeless. The cost to society of having these people slow-dying in the streets is more than it would cost to simply put them in small apartments.

Maria, the only thing you're interested in is alleviating your guilt. Giving $1 or $10 to someone with drug or alcohol problems only hurts them, but makes you feel great.

Keep feeding those pigeons Maria, hopefully one won't shit on you but one someone else.

FYI Seattle is not a city. It's a town. The last cities we lived in were 8, 15 (Mexico City) & 10 million people and living them didn't turn me into an idiot enabler.

M Guy's comment did not offend me. It’s just typical reactionary rhetoric. You see I don’t feel I am putting up with any crap. It’s just life is all. I really feel it would be better for all concerned if he and his wife just moved to Edmonds. I feel they would be much happier and we would not have to hear all the whining.

Really I am not even trying to help anyone all that much. I am far from being a crusader. It’s just a human reaction to another human.

For me the difference between HAVING to deal with my fellow human beings, and having to deal with my fellow human beings is that I generally can find something good.
#71 - I am so refreshed to hear you say that you think that the truely crazy need government help. I have been working for most of my career trying to deliver mental health service to adults with severe and persistent mental illnesses - you know like thought disorders, mood disorders and even people with substance abuse induced disorders.
Welcome newcomer, I'm glad to hear that you so proudly pay taxes. Me too. Don't know where you are from.....but in my experience living in 4 other states, some sort of income tax provides more flexibility to the state and localities in providing services in all sorts of arenas. Those States are not so reliant on the big scary federal government programs that we all hear so much about. Might even take some of the burden in a different way.

No guy, she can just move to Edmonds. Really you would like it, they have PCC and there are lots of strollers and wanna be hipsters and no pan handling allowed. Nothing there to offend your senses. Why do you want to turn the city into a burb?

Maria - if you feed the pigeons you have to put up with the pigeon crap. While I appreciate a compassionate heart, you are just enabling these individuals. Not helping, enabling. Why would they do anything different when you support them in what they are doing now?

And that weak sister remark is as offensive as the butch comment - not cool.

So I guess since my wife is young, sweet and pretty she deserves the shit she's had to hear from the bums in Ballard because she's not butch like Maria.

For what it’s worth ii once gave a beggar $10 when he knocked on my front door and on more than one occasion have awoken to drunks sleeping it off on my stoop.

As I said I am seldom bothered by panhandlers. I guess I emit a sense of power instead of walking the streets in fears looking like a weak sister and an easy mark.
Paranoia will destroy ya, weak sister.

God I with these wanna be urbanites would move to Edmonds.

Maria-
As a new comer to Ballard who pays taxes(alot) has kids and a business you and your type are the reason I will not be calling this place my home for good. I hope you will enjoy it when your only neighbors are druggies, drunks and insane homeless people. I have a ZERO limit for this kind of BS. The truly crazy homeless people with mental problems that stop them from being able to work and care for themselves do need help, government help. The others that I see drinking at 8:30 in the morning and buying drugs all hours of the day, off with their hands.

I can tell you do not HAVE to deal with them on a daily basis or else your statements would be different. I not only have to run my business in a very hard time but also act as a police officer to protect my employees and my business, which pays taxes and employs people who live and spend their money in Ballard.

So Maria from one adult to another, get a f'ing clue.

I would feel very sad. How could you imagine that I would feel anything other that sadness and despair? Almost as much sadness as I feel when I read fear mongering statements.

It'd be cool if we could get someone to mount a hose gun from an old fire truck up on the roof of the tea shop...or Blackbird would work too. Then when things get outta hand we could just let 'er rip and wash all the bums down the street...vomit, shit, and all.

I guess this idea would fall in the "stupid" category, but that doesn't make it any less valid.

And I just got my ass kicked on the over/under.

I wonder how Maria would feel if the homeless were camped out on her property all day? Would she mind if we started encouraging that? Let them piss and shit in her garden, scream obsceneties at her kids, make offensive sexual comments about her every morning she steps out.

Come on Maria, tell us YOUR address. Maybe Hostess can come over with some 'bird seed' to get the homeless camp started on YOUR property.

A police crack down on public drinking is all that's needed. And for people like Maria to stop helping these bums buy drugs and alcohol with her 'compassion' and money.

CJ!!!!!
My compatriot!!!
It is time to take back parks - though I am going to leave my cocktail at home.
It might even be a hoot and a half.

Instead of arguing about whether this is an old or new issue or if our homelessness rates up there with other urban areas - can we please discuss the possibility of resolution?

I don't know what the answer is but boardbrown said it best - "If I come up with something brilliant (or stupid), you’ll be the first to know."

Ideas?

I've seen way more homeless people in Ballard than I ever saw in my 3 years in Hollywood. I didn't see any in NYC. Just because it's worse here than in the others I listed or that there's more elsewhere doesn't mean there isn't a problem in Ballard. So, yah, I'd say it's a bit of a problem. I've travelled lots, Cyclocrossmechanic. Not just to the places I've listed.

Please, Seattle has always had a major homeless problem -- maybe Nordic Woman has up her history sleeve some info about the days of Mayor Royer and the 'drunk payment'?

Anyway, SF and lots of the warm, liberal cities are even more infested than we are, but I had colleagues from all over the country visiting here for a big conference, most from spots like Atlanta, Chicago, NYC, Philly, etc, and they were BLOWN AWAY by the number and vigor of our bums. As a host, I didn't know whether to be ashamed or proud. Seattle, world-class bums!

I like CJ's idea, 'cept we'd have to party there every night to make it stick.

"I think we should all be complaining about the condo people instead"

Yes, how dare they pay taxes to help pay for schools, police, fires stations etc. etc. How dare they!

Ballard Workeer, if you could get rid of the condo dwellers, would you be willing to make up the difference in lost taxes to our community?

I think you may lose this round, Boardbrown - it's nearing 5...

Are you kidding? Sorry but this another example of people in Seattle not having a clue. If you think this is a "huge issue" I suggest you head down to San Francisco and pay a visit to the Civic Center or Golden Gate Park! The homeless problem in Seattle pales by comparison. One of the big reasons my wife and I moved here was to get away from the homeless - surprising as this may sound to some libs we actually grew tired of people urinating in our doorway and then having liberals fight against laws banning public urination. Also the time I had a homeless person shove me because I didn't give him any money or the time one screamed at me because I didn't give him money or the time a bum tried to steal our dog while it was leased outside a bookstore (our dog rightly tore a huge hole in his arm as a result!) I've seen the homeless people in Ballard and while I don't like it anyone who calls this a "huge issue" is seriously clueless and obviously doesn't travel much!! There are much bigger issues facing Seattle.

Phantom - what? What is 'fakeing stupid'? I must be over-educated too.

The homeless issue: I try to treat them kindly and treat them as human beings. When they ask for change, I say no. I prefer to help those who try to help themselves. I give money to the Real Change people. I have no sympathy for those that break into people homes or cars. None. There shouldn't be separate rules of conduct based on your home life.

If I was homeless I would be drinking too. I think we should all be complaining about the condo people instead. The homeless were here first.

A-yup!

troll alert! lol

VIDE:"put down the blunt" comment by ex-pdx:
Ad hominem attack = too stupid for real English,so I throw in a smear..
Huh,PDX?
Never used a dictionary,depend on a spell-checker?
watch a lot of low-brow/middle-brow 'entertainment'?
semi-literate?
Funny,opinions seem to be more important if you have a history of actual experience with an issue,didn't read it in the funnies.
Wanna bet you're over-educated,fakeing stupid??
Write:[randiO088(at)aim.com]
"The Phantom Blut 1 & 1/2"

Well, boardbrown wants chatter, so I'll oblige.

The original post made mention of selling drugs and "holding parties" in the park. Perhaps myballard peeps could hold our own party in the park some night. We can skip the drug selling bizo, but I may put a cocktail in my Starbucks traveler, the yuppie to-go cocktail glass!

C'mon, take back the parks! The homeless folk who want to stay and mingle are wlecome to stay. It could be a real hoot.

Put down the blunt, Phantom. We don't understand a word you're saying.

Heilsa,All!
Just thinking about,how Bollard has been over-run with sanctimonious neo-Bourgeoise Bohemians who feel,their Sh*t doesnt stink.
I just read,"Bobos in Paradise",about how,the "New Class/caste",formerly,"Pettites-Borgeoise",whom were not "always with us",until the 1900's,suddenly decided they were the ultimate vox populi.
The outburst of sullen petulance in these posts is worthy of an classic"regulator".
Since the Amerikkan dream turned rancid,homeless people,liberally supplied by the same pettittes whom deprive the great unwashed of their meager crumb at the KKapitalist table,are the only caste/class that can't fight back by lawsuit,boycott,or Klass Kleanseing...
Why don't some of you sanctimonious types think about how the Emerald City of OOze is NuKallcutta,complete with "NuDalits"??

Well said boardbrown! I,ve been here 21 years and it ain't what it used to be. things have been getting worst the last three years or so.
there is so much enabling going on now that its getting out of control.
the ladies of some of these ballard churches feel the more ham and bread they stuff into these jerks the closer they get to glory land. neighborhoods be dammed!
these guys are not our fathers homeless! If they were asked to work an hour or two for that food they would run screaming from Ballard.

Well, Maria apparently likes feeding the pigeons.

Of course, not in front of her house! No, she does it in front of someone else's house so they'll sh*t over that place, not hers.

Damn, if we're gonna hit 109 comments by 5pm, you guys'll have to start talking!

Back home from work. Paid some taxes. Now I can get serious again.
I like the comment the best about how some are "professionally homeless." The idea that no economic conditions had effect. What caused those individuals to weigh their options and choose this life as the best course of action?
HMM wonder if there could be medical conditions involved, or environmental conditions.
Be that as it may.......I would rather pretend that many things could be different or used to be different.
Sometimes what I see and hear on the streets is just too cruel.
When I was young, I knew an old guy who would entertain me with stories of running away and joining the Lincoln Brigade in Spain in his youth..... he had this idea that flowers and bikes were community property and a god given right for all to share. He looked like Pete Seeger, and maybe that is why I took what he said with such seriousness. We didn't have iconoclastic folk of that sort where I was from. Now that I am wiser, I understand that his absenses were probably spent in detox or jail......But I miss those wonderful bouquets of flowers and fun stories that brightened my day.

For what it's worth, I've definately noticed a change in the Ballard homeless community in the 13 years I've been here. Sure, it's always been a problem, just like any other city. But it's getting much worse very quickly (w/in the last 3 years or so) and the behavior is definately getting more aggressive. I've had similar experiences to Angelatini's just trying to walk into the library w/ my kids.

And don't play the "life in the big city" card w/ me. I lived the first 25 years of my life in the east side of D.C., and worked nights in Seattle's Belltown during the late 90's. Ballard was always a refreshing change from my past experiences w/ the homeless...until recently.

I guess our sleepy days are over. But I don't have to like it. And I'm willing to act towards improvement. I guess I just don't know how make that happen just yet. But my wheels are turning...

If I come up with something brilliant (or stupid), you'll be the first to know.

I have no issue with homeless folks and they seldom bother me. I actually give a few favorites some money now and then. ( THE HORROR!) OMG Seattlites prefer of course to not see the poor and homeless; it is easier to pretend they don’t exist that way.

OMG -

I think that's the problem. You are newer to Ballard and don't understand that we aren't used to certain things here. In this instance, this many homeless people never used to be in Ballard...or certainly didn't show their presence as prominently, they were mainly in other areas. And, as per my story above, they are far more aggressive than they should be.

I think you missed the point, we live in Ballard because we have no desire to live in New York, Philadelphia, or San Francisco and the like. It's not that we can't embrace change, but this in particular isn't GOOD change.

PDX Ballardite -

I KNOW a serious piece of sarcasm flew right on over OMG's head and kept going...and I am not a new transplant, but I am worried about them, too.

I was babysitting my friend's 5 year old about a month ago and went to get him a cupcake at Cupcake Royale in the afternoon. (he calls it Cupcake WOW! haha) On the way back home I had a homeless guy ask me for change, when I wouldn't give him any he started screaming names at me. Yes, a lot of profanity. While I personally couldn't care less, and were I alone likely would have gone off on him right back...I had a friggin 5 YEAR OLD with me. REALLY???

That's the crap that scares the piss out of me.

Regardless, I stand by what I said...maybe it's because I am new to this area in particular, but it sure seems like 90% of the people on this blog complain about things that are simply part of city life - it's ridiculous.
Go live in New York, Philadelphia, or San Francisco for a while, then come back and complain about Ballard.

@ OMG...I think a SERIOUS piece of sarcasm just sailed right over your head.

NEWSFLASH:
You live in the 24th largest city in the country....and growing..... get your head out of the sand!
The more crowded a city gets the more this kind of stuff happens. It's part of living in the city - deal with it.
I moved here 6 months ago and Ballard has not gotten better, it's gotten worse, I am sad to say.
It's tough times folks.
Yes, there are some people that choose to remain homeless by choice but, even those who do not often turn to drugs and drinking....
"I for one am shocked, SHOCKED I SAY, to find that the homeless are dealing drugs and drinking alcohol! I thought they were all innocent vicitms of society and no harm to others…"
Are you kidding me???? Where the hell are you from GB, Ohio? Mars? First time in the big city? If anything is SHOCKING, it's that statement!

I remember quite vividly the FIRST time I saw a homeless person in Ballard- it was in May of 1989, sitting on the brickwork planter in front of Washington Mutual. The homeless were usually camped out in Pioneer and Occidental Squares.

We had plenty of bums on Ballard Avenue...but they had homes. There were a number of "single room occupancy" hotels on Ballard Avenue. The last one is the "Starlight Hotel" across from the Olympic Health Club. (historical note: at one time it was a brothel known as The Harvey Rooms."

I believe it is well within any business owner's rights to ask people to leave. If Ballard has made the area hospitable to transients, then they will stay here. Starbucks is not immune, as is Tully's...you can barely get a table for all the bums hanging out. I can remember signs as a kid that said "We reserve the right to refuse to serve anyone.". Time to bring that philosphy back.

Anyone who has been to San Francisco lately has seen the effects of liberal government on the homeless problem; there are more transients per capita than NYC. There are literally aggressive panhandlers evey few feet. The "nice" areas of town around Union Square and the Fairmont hotel (Saks, Neiman Marcus, Gumps, Burberry) have homeless guys sleeping in all the doorways, accosting passersby, panhandling, ect. Is this what we want Ballard (and Seattle) to turn into?

Not that I condone the homeless nightime activities described in the post, but what I witness every night is the obnoxious, spoiled-brat teenagers and twenty-somethings driving up in their parents' Mercedes'and SUV's, getting drunk, dealing drugs and tagging in the playfield across the street from my house.

Until the denizens of politically-correct Seattle get a clue nothing will change. The behavior will only increase.

"Homelessness has always been a issue in Ballard, it’s funny seeing all the new transplants get all concerned about it now."

So people who have chosen a new community to put down roots, invest in a home and raise some kids should clam up about things that are dragging a neighborhood down? Not bloody likely.

Yes, Kim - I wonder how many would have been interested?

Probably the same number that would be willing to watch a movie in a theatre that was a homeless camp overnight. Exactly none.

blacksheep--

my response would be for those people to open THEIR homes not advising others.

I used to manage a movie theatre, and was told several times by customers that I should let the homeless sleep in the auditoriums at night when it was cold.

Wouldn't that be cute?

Why I refuse to go into Tullys and zip next door to Verite, happily a bum-free zone.

Have you ever tried to enjoy sitting in the Tully's on that corner? I think I have gone there for the last time after getting totally creeped out on a recent visit. I felt like I had stumbled in to the new Ballard Hygiene Station... There was a line of dirty smelly drunks waiting to stink up the bathroom, a younger guy eating his McDonalds meal while ranting at various patrons about his paranoid delusions, another guy asleep in front of the fireplace who stank so bad I had to move, and finally (yeah, insensitive me) a quadraplegic guy in an electric wheelchair who was difficult to watch but who was essentially blocking the entryway inside. Oh, and another group of homeless looking men who were engaged in a very loud, boisterous chess game (2 playing, 4 watching).

The hapless teens working behind the counter were just ignoring all of this, and even when I asked them to remove the sleeping stinky guy, they said since he had purchased a drip coffee, there was nothing they could do.

I guess when the State finishes with the budget custs, every coffee shop in town near a homeless hangout will end up like this.

Is Bergen Place lit up all night long? Do the lights shut off at some point? I haven't been down there past midnight in a long time.

Homelessness has always been a issue in Ballard, it's funny seeing all the new transplants get all concerned about it now. Remember the ballard skatepark? The vacant Safeway? You probably don't but that was quite the hive for homeless people.

if you build it, they WILL come.

they're looking for the sustainable ballard portable sanitation station.....

LOL @ amused. Hmm a reference to trucker hats, the use of the term douchebags.. sounds like a disgruntled 40 something has logged on to the google.

The homeless are the most protected class in the City.

So, what are we each personally going to do about it?

A great response would be to form a neighborhood watch group. Do you value Ballard enough to volunteer to walk the market street coridoor a few times in the evening once a month, taking photos of anything concerning and phoning the police about problems?

Our neighborhood has had a huge change in population, both in density and composition over the past 9 years that I've been here and probably a lot more in the 10 before that. Host a block party, get to know your neighbors and then get some more things going to develop community.

If we were better connected, we could call all of our block party friends and have a group of 40 people to go tell the aggressive panhandlers that we don't appreciate that in this neighborhood.


Personally, I don't mind most of our panhandlers. Chat them up and find out about their life, they have some interesting stories, goals, and dreams. There are a few though who I'll keep my distance from, and that number seems to be growing a bit.

"douchebags at King’s Hardware"

The hipsters from Kings sit out at Bergen Square drinking, singing and doing drugs 24 hrs a day?

awesome.

"If you and your friends did this, you’d be arrested."

ha...if only. I find the double standard here slightly amusing. I don't see many of the claims here (drunk, dancing in the street, being loud) much different from what the majority of douchebags at King's Hardware do on a typical night. Apparently if you wearing expensive jeans and a trucker hat, it's okay.

I think it's shortsighted to assume that the cops will due all the work in stopping aggressive behavior by our homeless residents. Law abiding citizens like us need to step up and do our part as well. How we accomplish this remains to be seen. But we could certainly bounce some ideas around...

Yesterday in the parking lot of the Ballard business where I work we found a burnt spoon & several hypodermics. This in addition to the usual fare of empty beer cans, bottles of urine and piles of human waste. Thanks for the multiple opportunities for Hep C. Just saying....

I for one am shocked, SHOCKED I SAY, to find that the homeless are dealing drugs and drinking alcohol! I thought they were all innocent vicitms of society and no harm to others...

Atleast that was the general concensus during one of the other posts about the Ballard Homeless here on the blog:
http://www.myballard.com/2008/09/27/hygiene-sta...

The homeless reading lady seems to have been around for a year or two at least. Whats her story? Always see her on Market all wrapped up at night sleeping sitting up.

Ballard is growing up. With an increase in population comes an increase in homelessness. It is illegal for homeless to camp in the woods, so where do you expect them to go?

I do not support aggressive panhandling of course. There is just no place for these people.

I too hate taggers. They are the ones who make us looks nasty.

These drug-using folks have been in Ballard for a long while; hanging out in back of the Safeway, stealing veggies and dealing drugs in the P-Patch. Police get called and do little to nothing. They also hang out in the summer at several of the public boat launch places along the Ship Canal, making it unpleasant to launch from there. Some of these guys used to be in Fremont as well until they moved on after the bar owners stepped up security in the neighborhood last year.
Folks need to be willing to be persistent with the police, and to hold them accountable.

"Or how about the kids tagging and breaking into cars? Can we kick them out too?"

Sure.

As a kid growing up in Ballard and spending quite a bit of time roaming the streets especially as a middle schooler (but also much younger), I've always noticed the bums, but they have NEVER bothered me. I'd sit in Marvens Gardens with them, they didn't care! Now I'm not saying its right, because believe me I HATE "beggars", but sometimes you gotta learn to live with them, especially when there not harming anyone (except themselves I suppose). Live and let live. Many of them used to reside in the same building that Olsen Furniture was in before it burnt down. I guess there is no place like home. As for the drug dealing, I've seem more "hip" 25-30 year olds selling drugs in open daylight not even trying to hide what there doing in Ballard then I've EVER seen bums. Or how about the kids tagging and breaking into cars? Can we kick them out too?

We updated the last part of the post to clarify what we observed is not what the Friends of Bergen Place are concerned about. It was, however, the most aggressive panhandling we've ever observed at the park.

increased *police presence...

/sigh

The homeless referred to here are not homeless as a result of the economy. Most are the "professional" homeless that have been in Ballard for years. The numbers are increasing because their brethen from other parts of town are coming here - due to various reasons including the sweeps and increased plice presence in Belltown, lots of wooded areas to camp and an easy Ballard lifestyle with little interference from the authorities.

and I'll bet the over.

Has anyone seen the homeless Reading Lady lately?

Actually - I do remember partying in a park not too long ago.......me and my friends asked for money - but we had begged for icecream earlier, and served it to others before we did the ask.
It was fun.
So I guess I will quit bellyaching and head out to work.

Aren't we all hard working tax paying?.....to one degree or another. I mean this state has a rather regressive tax structure - and many many sin taxes......maybe these folks are doing their best given their capacity.
I wish I could go have fun with friends in the park.
Not that I want my fun to interfere with others basic needs..... Iwish I could just cut loose and take a chance to get in someones face and ask for something audatious.
Hostess - do you want to party?

Ever notice those folks who feed pigeons one day, complaining about bird sh*t on their homes the next day?

Blame it on the folks who want to turn Ballard in 'Berkeley North'.

I'm not sure I know what "aggressively asking people for money" means in this story. Did they yell at you? Were you in danger in some way? Or was it more like a real estate agent trying to make a sale in 2009?

b.1961 the reason you can't do it is because you are a hard working, tax payer. If you and your friends did this, you'd be arrested.

This is troubling.
It does not surprise me.
But sometimes these issues make me wonder.
Why can't I be the one laughing with friends having a party in the park?

Agree with jim. Why does this surprise anyone? There are drunks lining the streets, have been for a long time, nobody seems to mind them, so why shouldn't they take over? Duh.

Over. Way over. It'll hit 109 by 5pm tomorrow (Thurs).

nice. i'll put the over/under for the comments at 109.5 by 5:00 on Friday. any takers?

surprise,surprise! Its only going to get worst as long as the misguided do-gooders of ballard keep bestowing sainthood on thugs and druggies believing they here because of a dustbowl in the midwest.
Seattle has a rep as a soft touch full of marks and so get use to this until we show them otherwise.