I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reade . Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.

Here i wanna tell you one thing. Truly I trust that we are all in uncharted territory both economically and socially. And this is true. You are not absurd. Very clear you are.
Disability Insurance Quotes

No one should EVER leave the cash register closed at night. ALWAYS leave it open and empty; the cash drawer itself goes in a safe, which is part of the floor.

To clarify for Ballard Girl, nor sure why really…

I work full time. I am VESTED in a defined pension, have health and disability insurance if I need them. Not rich e.c. and in fact I live quite far below my means since I save a great deal to supplement that pension. I comfortably support myself and a teenager. I suppose that is possible since I don’t do a great deal of recreational shopping. You asked I answered.

JM, I was told there were 2 break ins at ballard businesses on Monday night, but not told where, by the alarm company.

I got puke spattered on my pants and shoes last time I was in the U. Thanks street kids! I will go there, but because of good deals. They are able to have stores that have smaller profit margins, and people who are looking for Bargains, like buffalo exchange. This is because the neighbor hood is dated and rents are lower.
As I have stated, I am not against anyone. But I like having a job, and working in Ballard. I would like to be able to continue that. If where I work goes out of business, I couldn't even start my own, in a smaller space, because rent is just more that doable unless I am way off the beaten path.
Unfortunatly (sp?) only chains can afford these high rents, because they can make bulk purchases, at great discounts.

I don't want ballard to be filled with chains.

Can't there be a balance?

Small doable businesses, where people can shop local and not be harassed or crapped on? A few stoned kids at the Chai house, and a bum sleeping at a park, without a yuppy/homeless/old people rumble in the streets? Should we schedule a rumble at the corner of 24th and Market? see ya there at noon?

Yikes. Things are sure getting ugly around here.

Here's the thing about this whole crime/druggies on the street issue...if it looks like a neighborhood is full of bums middle class shoppers will stay away. It might be perfectly safe but the perception of danger is just as powerful a deterrent as real danger. If these same people only knew the level of crime and truly horrible things that happen at shopping malls they'd never go there no matter how good the parking might be.
Bums on the street don't scare me since I'm perfectly capable of protecting myself. But my mom? Your grandmother? Your kids? You can't always take the narrow view of yourself and apply it to everyone. This goes for the actual crime as well. Just because I don't climb up on the roof of Ballard Camera to check doesn't mean they don't have a problem up there. Just because I haven't been beaten to death with a pipe last spring by a homeless guy doesn't mean it didn't happen to another guy.
Having a smelly homeless guy get in everyone's face and spew jibberish on a Sunday afternoon on Ballard ave isn't helping business. I don't go to the U district anymore because I just don't feel like dealing with that kind of thing when I don't have to. Ballard isn't there yet, but it could be for a lot of people.

The U District has been in decline for years and the community had a meeting last month with the police about all the recent violence. A friend has a business on Roosevelt Way and the area has lots of problems with the homeless.

Have there been anymore break ins or are the crooks too busy blogging on old/new MyBallard.com?

Nordic Woman, please post sources about these murders that have happened on the Ave recently.

I'm pretty sure at least half of what you say is complete shit.

"The main thing people associate the u-district with is street crime."

This is just one more example of you pulling things out of thin air. You are truly absurd.

BHO...you realize a MyBallard party could result in some fatalities? hahahaha

#190 - I think that Nordic Woman is just trying to prove her point about how she feels that the homeless affect Ballard. It's just been drawn out for a long time now. I don't always agree with anyone 100%, but I think NW deserves a little defense. She's only trying to make the neighborhood better.

Maria..not sure anyone want to be a serf, why would you compare this about employees? Is that why you don't work? Smoking is never good for anyone,and $6 in this economy could be spent on a much better past time, especially if you are already disabled. Just a thought.

definition of serf:

Serfs were sort of slaves who normally couldn't be sold away from the land. Putting it another way, they were tenant farmers who, in addition to paying a percentage of their crops as rent, owed a number of other obligations to their landlord. Among these are the duty to work on the landlord's private lands so many days a month and pay fees for things like getting permission to marry or for one's children to marry. Most important of all, the serf could not leave the lord's land without permission, making him one step up from a slave. While the serf had access to the courts, he could only seek justice in the manoral court (run by the landlord) not the king's court

Yes I do have health insurance thank you, and a pension and disability insurance also. All of these things still exists but not if employees act like serfs.

smoking?? thats great $6 a pack..you must be rich Maria...got health insurance??

I will meet you Black Helicopter. You sound cute. Whats your email address?

Wow this sure had gone from homeless to "hip stores" quick. If we are going to throw out stores I like Second Ascent. Sure wish it would warm up so I could climb and backpack.

Sadly I’m neither hip nor high quality. I’m just a working stiff who enjoys my life in Seattle.

Helicopter man I doubt anyone cares who you are enough to want to meet you. And Lucy, it might surprise you to know that Nordic is my oldest and dearest friend who I love like a sister. We not only know where the bodies are buried, we helped bury them. Never ever trust assumptions you make on the internet.

Maybe we should have a myballard party. I will show up wearing my camoflauge

Everyone knows Susan. She rides around in a red scooter all day. She is a Ballard fixure

I say we follow Henery's advice and wear our screen names on nametags and walk around Ballard. Susan outed herself about how to find her. It's time for Nordic Woman to pony up. I suspect however, that she will never "come out" becausee she can't back up what she says.

Picking on homeless people as the cause of all of the woes of a community? Classy. Now SHE is not a quality human being.

Only high school kids care about what is "hip." I care about what is high quality.

I agree with Ballard guy...feed the pigeons, and you will have pigeon poop...and more pigeons.

"They have all left the neighborhood for the U District in search of food it would seem."

Just like pigeons,ready to go sh*t on some other neighborhood silly enough to throw seed out.

I was just riding my special Spring Burgundy scooter up and down Market Street just now. I noticed that there are hardly any homeless downtown Ballard today. The street was practically empty. So, much for finding some workers for you.

Strange... almost nobody around anywhere, even in Bergen Park. Totally empty.....

Probably since there is no soup kitchen any more, thanks to some people.... I won't mention any names.... (Nordic Woman and I saw It go Down)

Happy? They have all left the neighborhood for the U District in search of food it would seem.

Seattle is the local economy, and that is where I like to shop.

The bus runs from Ballard to the U District quite often, no need to drive and park.

I buy my Hanky-Panky drawers at a Ballard boutique and I don't need no stinkin' makeup.

I very RARELY capitalize entire words. Do it often enough and it loses meaning.

Peace out.

Places like Yankee peddler and Millard Pollard are no longer hip. Nordstrom is not hip. You can shoot cannon through to flagship store and only those in burbs still make money. Burbs are not hip. Nordic the only reason for YOU to go there is the book store but plenty of other people feel different. Change happens. I don’t see boarded up places there. I feel quite safe day or night. In fact the last time I was there at night for a party in a bar/restaurant I spent most of the evening outside in an alley smoking with sis, niece, daughter and a few other guests. We had little kids with us. Change is life and I like life.

I wish every Ballard business good financial health. I would buy more in Ballard if they had more of what I need or want. I also admit I am no longer a constant recreational shopper. When I do feel the need I go downtown because I prefer that ambiance. I like a few of the restaurants but find none entice me regularly except good old Totem House. If others like them and they do well that’s great.

susan, please just unplug your computer....
this is WAY out of control. Its hard to even read and follow whats going on here. geez!

Nordstrom's original shop in the U-District was on the corner of 45th and University; then they built the big store across the street from the U-Bookstore. (where the old Washington Bookstore used to be.)

When I do get out of Ballard, I usually go to University Village. Parking in the U-District is hellish, and frankly, the only reason to go there is to go to U-Bookstore. I also like to support Ballard businesses; I try to buy EVERYTHING in Ballard and support the local economy. I fiugre, if I can't buy it in Ballard, then I really don't need it. (the only exceptions are makeup, and underwear. )

I was just IN Ballard Camera, in fact, today, and they said that they used to pick up a lot of needles on the street between them and Golden City; now they clean them off their roof. Gross!

Hi! I work in the U District, I'm in my forties, and I still think I'm hip. I had pad thai on the Ave for lunch today, and bought a pair of awesome boots afterwards. Lots of shopping here. Perhaps Nordic hasn't been out of Ballard in a while, but there is a lot of good stuff happening in Seattle!

Sorry about the break-ins. Small biz tends to cheap-out on security systems, hence making them easy targets. I hope the problem does not continue, but it is a bit of a national trend right now. Just cuz this is a Ballard Blog, let's not get myopic

Hey Susan could you get apicture with your cell phone for proof??? Maybe a group picture of all your buds who you claim to know so much about...it's called "evidence"

Susan
Susan
Suan share your scooter and disability check since you don't work and have lots of time on your hands..takes a lot of free time to be a "know it all" even though your scope and view is fairly limited...you seem to be queen of your own castle

ACTUALLY, this is a teeny bit off-topic, but I Nordstrom had a Place II store in the U-District, not an actual Nordstrom store. Several Place II stores were closed before the division itself was discontinued in 1994. So in this case, I don't think we can blame the local homeless or street kids.

But thanks for the memory - I hadn't thought about that cute little U-district store for many years.

Yankee Peddlers? Jewelry stores? Miller Pollard? If that's your idea of "hip", then you really have been here since the 1890's!

The U-District is hardly "hip" any more, and more than just students USED to shop there. (how many students bought suits at Yankee Peddlers, or jewelry, or high-end furniture at Miller Pollard? Very few.) The U-district and surrounding neighborhoods (Wedgewood, Ravenna, Montlake) residents used to shop there- now there is nothing there for them to buy. I think the word Maria is looking for is "skanky."

The U-District was interesting because, like Ballard, it became a destination shopping place in the 1970s and 1980s for people other than students, like the 30,000 people who work at the UW. Landlords raised rents (not unlike Ballard) and simultaneously transients moved in, mainly below 42nd. Suddenly shops closed up like the towns in the Midwest Maria is talking about. Next thing you know, there are transients everywhere (and not just teens), Nordstroms leaves, and one by one the stores moved to University Village.

No one from Wedgewood, Ravenna, Laurelhurst, or Montlake does their shopping in the U-District anymore. And 18 years olds, let's face it, don't have the discretionary income of 40 year olds.

It used to have some pretty cool restauarants as well...now, the main thing people associate the U-District with is street crime. (there have been a couple murders on the Ave fairly recently.) I worked in the neighborhood for over 20 years, and I saw it slowly disintegrate.

People want to feel SAFE on the streets of their neighborhoods. You ought to feel safe going to a restaurant after dark, or a movie, without running the gauntlet of vagrants peeing in the bushes, or as a couple people have mentioned, defecating in the bushes.

Thank you for making my point Susan, there are none. You spill veil matter about everyone and praise the homeless but when put on the spot you can not back your claims. You say fix it, but then won't say how. You say there are good homeless wiling to help but won't say who. You are a wolf in sheep's clothing wishing nothing more than to derail any community conversation to promote your own twisted views. You are worse than a crackhead, atleast we know who they are. You are also support by everyone on this blog. Weight is not a disability it is a personal choice to not control your eating habits and exercise routine. It is no wonder you have such a soft spot for the homeless and druggies, you are one just of a different accord. If the words of JFK "Ask not what your country can do for you but ask what you can do for your country" What have you done? Do you serve soup, pick up trash, work towards ANY greater good? You live in a society which supports you and you should try your best to support those who support you. I have never talked to anyone filled with as much hate and BS as you. When put on the spot you back peddle and can answer no questions. My only hope is you are a teenager acting as a troll and not an adult expressing your true views. I rarely let my emotions affect my words but now is the time

The U District is still a hip place to go and there is still good shopping there for those who are. Nordic face it, no one in his or her 50s is hip. The businesses in the District cater to their audience. Rents have always been sky high as you well know. Places change as so do businesses and even some people. Change is good. If you think it is not ask those in boarded up towns in the Midwest. Without change there is only stagnation. Change is also here which I suppose is Susan’s point, badly made certainly. This is not the 1890s and I say thank god it is not. That was a terrible time.

Please do not feel that I am equating the current downturn happening around us to the Great Depression. While there are certain parallels, as there are in any panic, but there are also many different issues. Really I believe we are in uncharted territory both economically and socially. If I had to compare this time to any other I would prefer a comparison to the time after the Napoleonic and Peninsular wars, a period of dramatic changes in the world both socially and economically AND a period of close to 100 years of stagnation and widespread misery for a huge percentage of world population while we adjusted politically and culturally to these changes. This ain’t our mama’s or our grandma’s downturn.

Carry on with the homeless issue now. : 0

Saw it Go Down -

If you're looking for me to post names of neighborhood people, and post personal information about them, in order to convince you that they are not all the lunatics you think, it's never going to happen. If you have a specific job or community project, many homeless would love some work. Making a joke of this, or mocking good people who happen to be homeless, is not something I will engage in.

Susan
Susan
Susan
Susan

Still waiting on the master know it all list.

Thanks again again in advance

Nordic Woman @149
Are you blaming the homeless, the greedy landlords, or the existence of the U-Village for the decline of the U-District?

Based on just about everything you write in this forum, I'll assume you're blaming the homeless. However, based on your evidence, I'd say the homeless were the least of the problems for businesses on the Ave.

Well, the guy who sits in frount of Peoples Pub, would probably keep an eye on every business and car on that block, if you asked him nicely or brought him a Burger out from inside the Pub. Interesting fellow. I know him well.

I really don't understand how this became an "us vs. them" argument(re: non-homeless and homeless). I think that EVERYONE here raises valid points. Everyone has a different perspective and instead of attacking each other, why not respectfully respond to posts. You know, I wish we lived in a Utopian society, we don't. I think that there will never be a resolve to the Old Ballard vs New Ballard argument. Watch out for yourself and take whatever action YOU feel is appropriate. It's just common sense. However, I do take issue with the insinuation that the "trinket shops" have contributed to the collapse of this part of the city. I work at one of those said shops, I LIVE in Ballard, for many years as a matter of fact. I do not consider myself a hipster nor do I look down upon my customers, no matter who they are. I have seen people from all walks of life walk into the store I work at, we welcome them. BUT if you are acting in a suspicious manner, you will be watched, profiled as homeless or not.
I am just getting by. I thank my lucky stars that I can afford to keep a roof over my head and food on my table. It breaks my heart to see people living on the street. On my walk home, I have stopped to have a conversation a time or two with the gentleman who sits and reads in front of the People's Pub. Does that make me a saint, no. It makes me human. That's besides the point (gee, that never happens here) The fact that anyone wishes that another loses their job because of where they chose to work or what they sell for a living is quite callous. No matter what the current economic situation may be.

You sure like typing Susan. Maybe you could get a job as an admin assistant.

One last time, then I must go out into the sunshine. If you have a worthwhile product, that people still want during a depression, great. If you have something that was based on the premise, that the housing and stock bubble would provide endless paper wealth, you will go under and will be replaced by a business that is more in line with consumer spending habits of 2009. If every boutique in Ballard survives, great. It's never going to happen, however.

Now, as for a list of key people in the homeless community who are fed up with the crime themselves? That is rather easy for me to put together, and many would gladly help maintain order and assist in community projects. There are many people who live right in Ballard who are homeless, that are college educated, clean and sober and responsible. However, I would never post of list of those names here, out of respect for thier privacy and saftey. These people have no idea who these new transients are, and are frankly want them out of here.

But, rather than attack the homeless, you may want to think of ways to have them police the frount of your store. If they walk by and see transients, they are the ones who would probably say "Hey, so and so... the owner is paying me 10 bucks a week to keep this area clear. Could you move out of here?"

God forbid you hire one, rather than a hipster to help out in your shop. If you cant tell a person who has a drug or alcohol problem by now, what can I say? Some of these guys would keep the sidewalks clear for cigarrettes every day, for Gods sake.

Very simple.

Pay someone 10 bucks to keep them off the Ballard Camera roof, if what you say is true. Give them a sandwich, shirt, free latte, or a damn trinket for helping out. They are not all the maniacs you seem to think and many have been on Ballard streets for 20 years and know everything that goes on, and could probably solve every crime in 30 seconds if they wanted to.

It's like the old days. People helping other people in the neighborhood. If you own a business, talk to the old time Ballard guys who are homeless. You know who they are.

As for the condos and apatments, they are still empty. When they fill up, chaos on the streets is what we have, unless we rely on ourselves rather than 911.

If you want to have a name of a homeless person that may be willing to work with you in some way. Post a message here, and a responsible will contact you. I will talk to some guys in the neighborhood about it today.

I wish I had a $200 people for the headache Susan has given me! I agree, ignore her, do not respond to her drivel.

I think we have given Susan the perception of power..she thinks she has the "in" on whats going on, and it seems the prejudice is against those who may be property owners, merchants, and tax payers..at any rate she not worth my energy..I only wish Officer Haag was my personal police officer...

susan posts:

"You keep dropping this name of Officer Haag, like we are supposed to be frightened, because you have your own private cop on the case. I am sure he is a good officer, but proof of a crime is what the police follow up on. It’s called evidence. "

Yeah...I think we should feel protected, not frightened...he is a member of a task force dedicated to the issues of Ballard and transiets issues... he is paid by the tax payers of King County, and although police cannot be everywhere, calling him, or just speaking to him may give you an education on what is being done behind the scenes,

Susan I think you probably have a right to be afraid, and I can see why you would not want to call him, even to educate yourself...it may change your mind! That would be a biter pill..

I for one am no longer responding to this white noise from Susan, and suggest the same to the rest of you whose buttons she is pushing with illogical, and ill validated "susan facts"..the continued bashing of our hard working merchants, and her opinion that she is in the "know" of pricing on items is enough for me...maybe she's never worked or had to support a family or business? Actually...could care less at this point...

Nordic woman...you only keep her posting by responding...the less attention she gets the less power she may feel...

The U-District still has 4 theaters.

Metro
Varsity
Grand Illusion
Neptune

I am Old Ballard, per se, since my family has been here since the 1890s. Fix it? Love to. First, Close down the Golden City. Second, make it illegal to panhandle. Thirdly, give all the vagrants a one-way bus ticket to Chicago. Fourthly, have beat cops in Ballard, walking the streets, and arresting anyone urinating or defecating in public, panhandling, or drinking in public.

Businesses DO make a neighborhood. Safe streets, CLEAN parks, nice schools, nice houses, that's what makes a nice neighborhood. Not skany smelly bums, tweakers, crimes, and crack whores. That's what makes a slum.

BTW, the vagrants don't pay INCOME TAX.
Do they pay taxes on the drugs they buy? I thought not.

Filthy rich? Hahhaha. Try "middle class." I think from the standpoint of a homeless person, making over $20K a year would be "filthy rich". I know my friend who used to own a bookstore here never took home a paycheck for a YEAR and lived off her savings.

We don't owe these hums ANYTHING except a one-way ticket out of here.

You keep saying businesses, I agree about condos. Most are poorly planned and in no way is the company does the company care about where they build. But that is not a boutique selling items. If you are going to say boutiques and fine, if you are talking about condo developers I have a feeling quite a few more people might agree with you. Not all are bad but alot are built with disregard for the neighborhood. A lot of home developers are like Dollar Stores they just want the money.

A $200 pillow sounds like a good remedy to the headache I got from reading the posts here.

It's a terrible problem and until we have different laws, budget to enforce the laws and budget for substance abuse rehab and mental health, this is not going to get much better. The only people we can really help are those that are homeless due to the economy but do not have addiction and mental health problems. The rest are unfortunately either too far gone or have no interest in bettering themselves or finding work.

Although I think the price is closed to 8 but I would want facts to get in the way.

I thought you hated Zaks and their 10 buck burgers?

I asked for names Susan. I want a list. You sound so sure of what you say, now please provide a list.

Thank you again in advance

Susan-

That sounds like the little skit on SNL when they ask the guy about fixing the economy he said it's two words FIX IT and that's all he says. FIX IT!! FIX IT!! makes me laugh, thanks. But what about the people who didn't get filthy rich and it is still broke, where do we stand? Hell I can't even afford to buy a house in this neighborhood, barely can afford rent.

Zaks I support. It's a useful product and fun place. Boutiques and condos nobody would buy, because they are crashing in value, must be stopped. The mess the developers left, must be cleaned up. Even if we need to do it ourselves. Good day

Final thought -

Nordic woman writes above

"The U-District used to be a very nice shopping area. They had Miller-Pollard, Yankee Peddler, Carter’s Deli, Porter-Jensen Jewelry, Nordstroms, at least 4 other jewelry stores, and a ton of clothing and specialty shops".

Nordic Woman, this is where we part ways and the point. These shops do not make a neighborhood and are not how you measure whether or not it's a neighborhood you want to live in. Your type are exactly why Ballard is practically collapsing. "New Ballard" did not work, as most locals new beforehand. It was never designed to benefit anyone but a select few, who wanted to get filthy rich. It can't support this growth any more.

Again, you broke the place, now you fix it.

Susan-
Please name all these horrible stores so we can all be educated about the businesses which have ruined Ballard. Prove it as you always like to say, the burden is on you. Prove it since you say it is so. BTW: who are the key homeless that I need to befriend so that I may. You seem to have all the answers so now please provide the proof. I do agree there are a lot of businesses in Ballard which have and will close because of the present times, some have poor product, some the owners are like you say just out to make a quick buck, or so they think. I just want to know which businesses are so horrible so I can decide for myself and see how you base your statements.

Thank you in advance.

Again, homeless pay all sorts of taxes Nordic Woman. Gas taxes, sales taxes, inflation, which is a hidden tax hurting poor the most... Small business' pay very little in taxes, if any, because they can write most things off a tax deductions. If you are paying taxes and own a business, you might want to find a better accountant.

Yes, the U District has some grubby people problems. The U Village sort of stole the shopping from the Avenue.

Sorry Nordic Woman. People do not have the money to spend in the "New Ballard" boutiques, any more. They are dropping like flies... There is no mono- rail to Ballard, no Ballard Landing, or anything else you figured you would have when you planned this "New Ballard".

Ballard was just fine until this pipe dream was schemed up by a few "Neighborhood Leaders" to make this place a cash cow for a select few. You ruined the place, now fix it. You hire the private security, since you created the problem.

When you plastered the city with your "Visulize Ballard" stickers, you might have had them read,

"Visualize Ballard - But, put some money aside, to hire a couple of private security officers to walk around the neighborhood, once you turn it into Grand Central Station."

You wanna get rich of other peoples backs and comfort? Deal with the crowds you have created on the streets of Ballard. Nobody I know wanted the new stores, condos and other nonsense you dropped on us.

You being the "get rich quick off Ballard" people. Take your trinket money, and hire two private security officers to walk the beat.

susan does

BTW, if the Columbia City analogy does not work for you, the other one is the University District. (I used Columbia City because it was a community virtually identical to Ballard in every way except one, the Italian rather than the Nordic ethnic population.)

The U-District used to be a very nice shopping area. They had Miller-Pollard, Yankee Peddler, Carter's Deli, Porter-Jensen Jewelry, Nordstroms, at least 4 other jewelry stores, and a ton of clothing and specialty shops. In the 1970s, it was a hip place to go to shop, eat, and hang out. There were lots of nice bars and restaurants, and four movie theatres.

In the 1980s, the rents got raised sky-high (tripled in fact) and the next thing you saw was a bunch of boarded up businesses. You also had a bunch of homeless teens sitting on the sidewalks panhandling. One by one, ALL of the stores mentioned above moved to University Village, except Nordstrom, who just closed up shop.

The U-District, which had been a "destination" shopping area, had really only the University Bookstore left, t-shirt shops and cookie stores, ice cream parlors. One by one most of the restaurants left.

At the time, I worked at the UW...what used to be a fun, safe place to shop became a DMZ of boarded up buildings and vagrants. People who worked at the UW no longer had any reason to shop there. Students and neighbors transfered their shopping to University Village as well. That affected the businesses that were left. No one wanted to run the gauntlet of homeless kids and just general vagrants...it didn't feel safe, and it wasn't safe.Today, it's making a little comeback, but the U-District will never be the vibrant business community it was from oh, the 1920s to the 1980s.

Is this what we want for Ballard?

Crap ... link doesn't work, so here's another. Same story, different source:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesst...

Nordic Woman, did you make up the 5% unemployment number, or are you just reminiscing about better times again?

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009...

From the article:
"In January, an estimated 303,570 people were jobless and looking for work in Washington – the largest number ever in the state."

Where does this $200 pillow come in? I haven't seen any $200 pillows? BTW, with the advent of something called the automobile, people come from all over Seattle to shop in Ballard. It is certainly a big shipping draw for people from Queen Anne and Magnolia.

Susan is right about ONE thing...the homeless in Ballard DO have some power. They intimidate residents, and they have the power to turn this neighborhhood into a slum.

BTW, homeless does not equal carless.

But I disagree that the homeless "add" anything to Ballard, or Seattle. They are a drain on the social services (paid for by taxes) but also a huge drain on police and fire resources, as well as emergency room services.

One other thing, to people who compare our current economic situation to the Great Depression: unemployment is currently at about 5%. During the Depression it topped out at around 30%. What further skews the numbers is that in 1930 most women were not in the workforce, whereas today, most women are. The Depression also coincided with catostrophic weather conditions, ie: The Dust Bowl that send thousands of farmers into the cities to look for work. We are not laboring under those same conditions today.

Lots of vitriol being spewd here. I admit I only glossed over the long posts. Too windy for me.

Screw new vs. old. The problems in Ballard are present now and we should work together to solve the problems before they fester and boil over into crime. Not sure how to go about doing that, but maybe we should start by walking around Ballard wearing nametags with our screen names on them so we can have face to face conversations regarding these issues instead of anonymous posturing. It seems to me that we are reading this blog because we all care, on some level.

XXOO,
Henery (not my real name)

$200 dollar pillows nobody wants"

Really? I have some, they super soft. I sleep like a dream at night.

"Who is the dummy here"

You're a friggin' idiot Susan.

ec - You keep dropping this name of Officer Haag, like we are supposed to be frightened, because you have your own private cop on the case. I am sure he is a good officer, but proof of a crime is what the police follow up on. It's called evidence.

You can get every friend of yours in town to flood the 911 switch board with frivolous calls. It means nothing. If it did, the police would have made arrests. You can't pester police into arrests, when there is zero proof of any crime being committed. They won't/can't do it. Naturally you are all "too busy" to take a single picture of any crime you allege. OK.....

There is no law against sitting in Bergen Park or the library, no matter what your bank statement reads. You can be a broke serial killer just out of prison and sit there legally.

You also don't have to sit in Bergen Park with a bag full of gift shop trinkets or a 10 dollar Zaks hamburger, be a Ballard business owner, or even a tax payer. You don't even have to be a US citizen, in fact.

The idea that the business owners of "New Ballard" (the ones selling $200 dollar pillows nobody wants or needs.) make the rules, is absurd and getting old to the folks in the neighborhood. You don't....

Nordic woman keeps acting as if "hard working people, contributing to the economy" run the show around here. In reality, the people on the street have more power power over what goes on in Ballard than you do. That is why I suggested making some allies, with the key ones.

The reality is, the economy you're so entralled with is fake and based on fiat currency, and collapsing before your eyes. In 12 months, after all these years of hard work as business owners, you will probably have the same amount in the bank, as these people who sit in the park all day sunning themselves. You will also owe more money to creditors than they do, and more than your home is worth.

Who is the dummy here. You, who are spinning your wheels year after year and getting nowhere, but more into debt running trinket shops? Or, the people sitting around reading and sipping coffee all day, who are "not contributing to the economy".

I would argue, you're the chump, not them.

maybe this blog should be susan.com

or paranoidballard.com

either way it is a sad state of affairs that you folks engage in angering each other so everyday. have you ever tried happiness? or, imagine this--trying to be cool or nice to others?

....utterly insane in the membrane.

Who said ban? Just make panhandling and sleeping in parks illegal. Add more cops to stop petty crimes ( urinating) and bingo, the vagrants will find another community of fools to 'tolerate' their lifestyle.

Mahtli69
Thak for the tips...I am not of the mind to take a part time job filming every illegal act in Ballard...Officer Haag has a good handle on what is going on in Ballard, and knows all about the drug activity and the roof of Ballard camera being used as a drug and drunk fest. They recently just moved a bunch of folks from sleeping in their cars by Fred Meyer..trouble is they just move back and forth and keeping up with that is a full time job...if you read the posts about why the soup kitchen was closed you will see ther eis plenty of reason to suspect inappropriate behavior among those that may be appreciating what our community is doing form them...it must have been pretty bad to close a soup kitchen...

Correct, and as stated MANY times this is not about the "homeless" as a blanket statement, it is about those who engage in illegal or inappropraite behavior that damage our community and create safety isssues by those who conincidently also may be homeless..there is a distinct difference. Those individuals are ruining it for the homeless who actually can benefit from our help!

Ballard Guy, I did not call "bums" the "new blacks", which is what Vagrant claimed.

The only comparison I made was regarding the sense of entitlement exhibited by you and others on this board. You do not have a right to ban the homeless from Ballard. Homelessness is not a crime.

Mahtli69, how did Vagrant make stuff up? You made a direct comparison with discrimination against blacks and the fact that people don't like bums and vagrants in the neighborhood and all the associated problems that come with a decline in safety and vagrancy. Trying to back away from your own theory now you've been called on it?

Vagrant, get a clue. Read my post. Stop making stuff up. Oh yeah, have you tried banging your chest harder yet? Any results?

e/c - It is important to provide photo or video documentation of the problems if you want the city to take action. Only the city can put more cops on the beat in Ballard, and that is the only realistic solution to this problem.

If the stories of drug dealing and aggressive panhandling are as prevalent as everyone claims, this shouldn't be too difficult. You claiming that you saw a drunk homeless guy peeing on a building from your car is not exactly a compelling story, and it will not do squat to change the situation.

On the other hand, video of an open drug market or people being harassed? That will force the city's hand. Make your case!

Hey Maht, have you ever tried sharing your theory that bums are the new blacks with a real black person? I know you chose live in lilly white Ballard because you're so tolerant and into diversity, but you may have to drive a bit to share your amazing comparison.

iloveseatown - I thought it was a relevant subject since Nordic Woman was equating Ballard with Rainier Valley and Columbia City (and how those neighborhoods have become the "hood").

I agree that it's a stretch to compare segregation with the current situation. However, I think the sense of entitlement exhibited by some of the posters on this board is appalling, and that is where I see some parallels with the racist attitudes of the past. Nobody has a right to ban the homeless from Ballard. We do have a right to fight crime, but homelessness is not a crime. Just look at the comment by jm @ 132, who, I believe, is advocating forced busing to Eastern Washington.

And, it is too easy to blame the homeless for every problem. Robberies? Blame the homeless! Ignore the fact that the stolen safe from a robbery last week was found up on Phinney Ridge (carried there by an army of homeless men?), and recent surveillance video from other property crimes in the area do not appear to be perpetrated by the homeless. Business is down? Blame the homeless scaring away customers! Ignore the fact that the country is in the worst financial mess in two generations, and virtually every business in the region is suffering. I can say with certainty that I've been saving extra money and cutting down on frivolous spending, and it has nothing to do with the homeless in Ballard (other than I'd like to not become one myself).

Susan...oh judgemental Susan..you must have the power cord to your scooter misplaced....your post #120 is inane, and not well thought out, not to mentionw ithout any merit at all...

First and foremost who is "WE" is it the royal "we" or do you have a list of people you are representing that allow the use of this term? Once that is established...who do we owe this proof to? I want to know my audience.

Additionally, what data or stats do you have on Officer Haag's reports that may only reflect 911 calls, did you not read the part where this is his territory that he oversees for these type of problems. Are you afraid what he may have to say..so the "no thank you" in your typical hostile tone.

You say the homeless do not lie...do you have proof or stats on that I can verify? Did you know that these discussions are not actually about the "blanket term" homeless, but rather those indiduals who engage in illegal activities, and are either drug or alcohol addicted who also happen to be homeless?? Do you know the difference? It is these individuals we want out of Ballard so we can extend help to those homless who actually can benefit from our assistance as a community. It's not about whatever pals you have made in Bergen place who may or may not have drug or alcohol problems, but the stance is that they may or may not be abusing our public places and parks...did ya read through that?

in your statement:
"Snap a photo with your camera phone next time. Should be rather easy, since we seem to have a sudden urination epidemic in Ballard."

You and the "we" must be assuming everyone has a camera phone up and ready to use..did you read the part that I was driving my vehicle, and was on 24th and Market...Hello! hands free device in place! I am not in the habit of using my phone, camera or not to suddenly seize the day with pictures...but I do know, that you have essentially called me a liar for making a statement you have decided is not true...? Seems kinda unfair...I know what I saw, and I could easily describe the man (30's about 5'8 long dirty blond hair, wearing brown, pants, and an oversized gray jacket, beard, obviously impaired, as he staggered)

Susan, oh smart, and hostile Susan..is angelatini lying too in her post #130...as the countless others who have witnessed these issues?? Are you and the "we" the only ones who know the truth...?
Prehaps a call to officer Haag can give you more information (knowledge is power ) and you cna actually put some stas where your power cord is....

The street people should be bused to Eastern Washington help in the orchards. There must be thousands of job openings and there's work to be done. There's no future in wandering around Ballard drunk as a skunk.

this is pretty entertaining listening to all the psychos around here.
yes there are more homeless, but I think silence.kit and susan are mostly right--the rest of you are blowing this out of proportion.
there are many different groups in our little part of town--homeless, gang-bangers, and just plain low-lifes looking to steal. they are all unsavory, but you can't lump them together.
for all you know, I committed the robberies that got this thread going.

OK, this blog is way out of hand. Deep breaths, everyone.

To Susan...

#1) I was screamed at during broad daylight, by a homeless man because I wouldn't give him change. He started following me down the street, screaming at me, too. I honestly didn't have any. I was with a 5 year old at the time and another female friend. I do have a witness, not that I need to prove anything to you. Were I not with the child, the homeless man would have had more to fear from me than vice versa. I am not scared of them, but it was extremely inappropriate while with a small child.

#2) I have personally witnessed a homeless man defacate in the bushes near my home, and on the side entrance/stoop of the Optometrist on the corner of 53rd and 14th while out walking my dog. I don't think my eyes were playing tricks on me, and it was pretty gross having to tear my dog away from it.

#3) I don't know Susan and I don't know Nordic Woman, but as a business owner (and I am not one...I am a customer service phone rep...I don't own Zak's, either) I can't imagine I'd be too excited about the transients driving business away, especially in this economy, or the prospect of being broken into. I think that any business owner would be insane to not be worried and think that the influx might have SOMETHING to do with increased crime. Of course, it hasn't been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, and of course the homeless aren't the only members of society capable of such action. In fact, it's been proven with the photos of the young kids doing the garage break ins around here. But I can certainly see the worry over the *possibility* of such a connection.

For the love of God will someone please take away Susans internet access and put her in a nice cozy home where she can get her regular medications!

Mahtli69,

I am not agreeing or disagreeing as I don't have enough education on this issue but to me it looks like there are dots in the 1920 MAP on that link you posted

http://depts.washington.edu/civilr/display.cgi?...

what an ugly history we have.

However, I think it is a stretch to equate policies on skin color with the desire to avoid people who have made certain life choices.

I do feel for the mentally ill but those who choose to live a drug hazed lifestyle made some life choices which were are not equatable to something that is really irrelevant to a person as a whole like the color of ones skin.

I fully support treatment services like we have at Swedish but to say that people need to roll over and enable these peoples lifestyle choice is pretty silly.

Nordic Woman, no matter how many times you say it (three separate posts now), you are still wrong (and clearly defensive about the subject).

http://depts.washington.edu/civilr/segregated.htm
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/295504_se...

Based on the attitude I hear from a few posters on this board about "kicking out the homeless", I believe this ugly chapter in Ballard's history is relevant to this discussion. I wonder what lengths some of you would go to to accomplish your objective.

Well, if you listen to Black Helicopter, he makes it seem like Night Of The Living Dead over at the parking lot of Safeway.

Transients, climbing up from shallow graves all around the parking lot, ready to pull you down into the depth of Hell, only to inject you with Crystal Meth against your will and urinate and defacate on you. (Not to mention, hide in your shower at home, ready to attack with carving knives at any moment)

I believe the technical term is "dog mess"

Being friends with someone who has been stuck with a used needle left somewhere, I beg to differ, those things do exist.

And if you have never smelled urine in the doorways in Ballard, breathe more deeply, I assure you, it is there.

I never once said Ballard wasn't a normal neighborhood. I would just rather not have to worry about stepping in human waste in a neighborhood park, and I don't think that is too much to ask.

But Nubbee I DO enjoy public places without fear of coming across those things. We are NOT facing a serious problem. If you are not seeing things Nubbee it is because they are not there. Really. It’s just not that bad out there. I have n ever smelled urine on the street.

I have never been approached at Safeway and I am there at least 5 times a week. I usually see a street person selling papers at Bartells but none has ever accosted me. Nordic tells me maybe it is because I am tall but I am barely 5ft 8 not exactly NBA material here. Bartells seems to do fine even with these folks outside. It’s busy all day every day.

The ONLY time anyone in my family has ever been accosted was by a Ballard business owner who left her shop across from WAMU to scream at my then 14 year old daughter because she objected to what the child was wearing. Go figure. (Yes I was with her that day)

Ballard is pretty normal for a neighborhood in a city. No better or worse. It’s not a ghetto nor is it a walled burbite hell. It’s just fine. I feel safe and enjoy living here.

Once again, there has NEVER been ANY law or policy forbidding "blacks" from being in Ballard "after dark." Someone just made that up.

e/c, I guess we missed the memo.

If Susan hasn't seen it, we are all liars and it isn't true.


I am so sure that my taking a photo of a person urinating with my non-existent camera phone wouldn't cause the person to say or do something to me? I have my own safety to consider, sorry.

I find it interesting that the only correct opinion on this blog must be the one that supports the homeless person, the drug user, the robber, the burglar, the drunk co-eds and not the victims.

If anyone dare speaks otherwise we are mean business owners who drink lattes and yell at customers.

Call this officer and let him read off a list of made up 911 complaints? No Thanks. We will await proof from those making the calls.

The burden of proof is on you, not the homeless. There is nothing to gain for them to lie. In the case of the business owners and Friends Of Bergen Park, there is. You made the calls, now put up, or shut up. It's call evidence, which I am sure the officer explained to you. Where is a single shred of proof to all these claims?

Snap a photo with your camera phone next time. Should be rather easy, since we seem to have a sudden urination epidemic in Ballard.

Susan...oh, judgemental Susan....
No I am not a business owner..I am, however, a law abiding, tax payer and property owner here in Ballard. I care very much about each merchant in Ballard, and feel badly whenever one has to close their doors. I do want you to know that all your venting and negative response about being a business owner was wasted on me, but unfortunate that you obvioulsy feel that openly hostile about those that are....how do you know what their business plans are, or the reasons they may be forced to close their door..kinda arrogant of you ya think? I am not sure who put you in charge of "speaking the truth" and I have no idea if you are in a wheelchair or not...doesn't really matter, could care less. It does sound like you have some great ideas for opeing businesses in Ballard (Fruit stand laundermat etc) so I certainly encourage you to do so, and see what it may be like to be a busines owner so you can better speak to the reality of it all.

As far as your purported view of the world from your wheeled device, it is simply untrue that your eyes can speak for the actual events others, including myself have seen...so be humble enough to realize you are not the only person in Ballard who can actually know it all. I did see a man urinating on Kitchen and Things on the 24th street side at 8:30am on a Tuesday morning, but I was not of the mind to take a picture...and need not prove it to someone who may be short sighted as yourself. As Nubbee said so well:

"It is within our right, as a community, to feel safe when we walk down the streets, to not be harassed by beggars, to be able to enjoy the parks and libraries with our children and friends without having to worry about used condoms, needles, human AND dog waste, and excessive trash. "

Susan, do waht you want within your own means to help whomever you want, but do not limit our freedom of speech to protest the huge popul;ation of homeless that has decended on Ballard and the increase in drunks, durg addicts and crime in the area...it si true and there are stats to prove it..just call the policed officer who is in charge of the transient issues in Balard...go ahead call him and educate yourself....

Officer Devlin Haag
North Precinct Community Police Team
Seattle Police Department
10049 College Way North
Seattle, WA 98133-9462
(206) 233-3733 Desk
(206)684-0742 FAX

This is what I said: "It is within our right, as a community, to feel safe when we walk down the streets, to not be harassed by beggars, to be able to enjoy the parks and libraries with our children and friends without having to worry about used condoms, needles, human AND dog waste, and excessive trash."

I never ONCE inferred WHO was leaving the trash. I never said that I saw needles in the library, what I said was I didn't think the community should have to worry about enjoying public places without the fear of coming across those things.

I am not about to stalk the streets of Ballard take photos of these things. You can simply walk by doorways of businesses in Ballard and SMELL the urine, you don't need photographic evidence of that. The few times I have unfortunately witnessed a person urinating on a wall in Ballard I was not about to run home to get my camera to take a picture! Never mind that I am sure our blog owner, GeekySwedes would NOT allow such pictures to be posted. (AND NO that would not be because she has something to hide, but because it is inappropriate.)

Just because you do not see these things doesn't mean they are not there. Just like you don't need the $200 pillow doesn't mean someone else does.

That is NOT the issue at hand here. The problem is whether it is the homeless population, the 20 somethings, the high schoolers or some other group we want to lay blame on, our community is facing a serious problem.

Nordic Woman @84 and @99, you are wrong:
http://depts.washington.edu/civilr/segregated.htm
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/295504_se...

MJ @109 - I agree that Ballard's past history is a bit off-topic, except that Nordic Woman keeps going on about how great the neighborhood used to be, and she doesn't want Ballard to turn into another Columbia City or Rainier Valley. I think that she has a narrow view of our history, and maybe Ballard wasn't such a great place for everyone. Given her candy-coated opinion about the Ballard of yesterday, and her comments about homeless people in the area today, it also makes me wonder to what lengths she would go to make Ballard a "nice place to live" (again, by her narrow definition).

Ballard Guy @105 & 107, I'm not sure what your point is, or if there is one.

Again, prove your claim. I have not seen a single needle or condom or any human waste, and I am out every single day. They seem to suddenly be just dropping out of the sky onto a handful of bloggers with a financial interest in making things up.

Prove, that if you find a condom, it was not left by some drunk 20 somethings who met in a Ballard bar. Show us a photo of a homeless person actually going to the bathroom outside.

Where is your proof? Needles in the library now? It's simply untrue, and you know it.

1. I am not a business owner in Ballard, but I shop in Ballard. NOT at the Dollar Store.

2. I never once called you "crazy." I have however stated that I am offended you seem to use your wheelchair/scooter as an excuse, because it should not be.

3. There is a fruit stand in Ballard, and also the Sunday Market.

4. Not everyone on this blog is a .commer or New Ballard. The sweeping generalizations are ridiculous.

It is within our right, as a community, to feel safe when we walk down the streets, to not be harassed by beggars, to be able to enjoy the parks and libraries with our children and friends without having to worry about used condoms, needles, human AND dog waste, and excessive trash.

It is our CHOICE to spend money on $10 hamburgers and $200 pillows. This has NOTHING to do with what our businesses are selling AND everything to do with the SAFETY of our community.

Susan, If you'd like a laundromat in Ballard, there is a nice big space for lease in the old King's Flag shop that would be a good location. You should call the leasing agent! It would allow you to check out the neighborhood, visit with your friends and do your part, and your disability wouldn't stop you.

Yes, but if nobody wants your $15 trinket or $200 throw pillow, because that economy no longer exists, and millions of people are facing lay-off and foreclosures, please don't pass the blame on people who have nothing to do with it. Or, don't blame me for speaking truths that any economist will tell your are reality and call be "crazy" because I am in a wheelchair.

Just close up shop and let someone selling things folks actually NEED take over. The Dollar Store is getting a bad rap ONLY for other business owners who are selling similar items practically next door, for ten times the cost. The rest of us like a good value.

We could use a Laundramat in downtown Ballard. Open a fruit stand, why don't ya? Vegatables... You know, things people actually need? You would have better luck with that than $10 handburgers or trinkets.

I am sure that the numerous posters whose cars were broken into and vandalized were all making it up.

I am sure that the woman who was screamed at by a beggar was making it up.

I am sure that the homes and businesses were making it up.

How else are all of these people going to get attention on a neighborhood blog.

The false accusations are really tiring, wishing bad karma on people is tiring.

Obviously life cannot be unicorns and rainbows, but saying that the people who live in and own businesses in Ballard "get what they deserve" because they don't help the homeless, drunks, drug addicts and beggars of Ballard is getting old fast.

Not everyone is destitute, and its within their right to buy the $15 fair trade trinket instead of the $1 plastic trinket.

Making up stories in order to get police to respond to endless frivolous 911 calls is the dispicable thing going on here.

And yes... if you are seeing all this urinating and defacating, where is your photograph or video of this. I am out every day, and have NEVER seen this. Prove your claim. A single picture would be fine. I won't hold my breath.

EC, your a business owner, I take it. Call it dispicable if you like. The truth is, if you have nothing that can be supported in a bad economy to sell, you go under. It's basic business. Sell what people need in a bad economy and you stay afloat. Like, the Dollar Store....

You don't speak for every person in Ballard. Most would hardly notice, or even care if a business went under here and there. New ones replace them.... It's not that shocking to the rest of us, a life or death situation, or worth getting into personal attacks over. To blame the homeless for your lack of business experience, is passing the blame.

Sure, I will talk about homeless issues. But, why do I have to pretend to be losing sleep over your bad business plan. It's a totally different issue, which I dont care about.

Why do I have to pretend the homeless are the cause for your financial problems to have an opinion here? Why am I called "Crazy" because I speak the truth, that the homeless are not to blame for your personal problems.

Poor planning is most likely the reason. If you can't adapt to a changing economy, you go out of business and are replaced by one more suitable, which offers a better value. If you maxed out your credit cards, home equity, and stocks to pour into a trinket shop nobody can afford, you go under. You will learn next time.

Jeez, alot has happened in our history we are not proud of, whether it be blacks not allowed certrain place, or through certain doors, women who were not allowed to vote, Irish who were portryed as monkeys, and the Jews, and the Danes who did not get along with the Nordics ('cept in Ballard..) why in the work are we dwelling ont hat part of history , when we have the present issues to deal with???

The real problem is a lack of burglar alarms on these small Ballard businesses. Many of the houses and cars on my block have alarms, so not much happens.

"black people were not allowed north of the ship canal after the workday ended”

BTW Maht, Obama stickers on Subarus don't count as 'black people north of the ship canal'.

Susan...your attitude and remarks about hoping businesses go under is despicable! You complain loudly and bitterly about those that do not allow you your opinion, but turn around and insult those that may have opinions themselves. I personally have witnessed on more than a few accassions a man urinating on a public building in Ballard in broad daylight, drunks drinking from bottles of booze on the steps of the old librabry, and falling down imparied folks in Bergen park...and seen defacation on the streets... thats with porta pottys everywhere they could use instead of bushes and the street. There is a team leader in the north preceint who can be contacted for any illegal activinty on behalf of the homeless, I posted it earlier, so call 911 may not be necessary.
Susan if you don't like the blog than just go about your business and offer showers to artists living in cars, and do whatever you want to support the homeless you think are worth your time and effort..than main goal here is a definite concern resounding about the increase in homeless, which has also increased crime and our community's ability to feel safe in our own town...day or night!

"black people were not allowed north of the ship canal after the workday ended"

Yes, and look how much things have changed since all the liberals moved in.

99% of these claims of needles and defacating in parks are from two people. You "Nordic Woman" and "Saw it Go Down". Just because you endlessly post these claims on this blog, all day, every day, does not mean they are true.

I have never seen a needle in Bergen Park or anyone using it as a bathroom. Those making these claims, in every single case, have an agenda. Financial, as in your case (and based in predudice), or territorial as in the case of Freinds Of Bergen Park.

Making cliams under a fake internet name is not evidence of a problem. It simply demonstrates you have a lot of time to waste on- line, creating hysteria based in hatred for all sorts of folks. Show me one photograph of such events. Show me one "transient" with a needle in hand. Any evidence at all....

This is why the police think you're a joke and the busybody who owns Zaks. Get a life and the police will respond to an actual emergency. Tie up 911 all day, every time you see a person not dressed to your standards or in a wheelchair on Market Street, and you will simply be taken as crying wolf every time.

For the record, I am far from disgruntled and have a wonderful life. I am also not "Unwelcome" by Ballard businesses as Nordic Woman claims. For what? Posting my true feelings on a blog? You don't have that much power Nordic Woman. Sorry to bust your bubble.

Who said I have kids?

I'm too young for kids.

Susan, I do not own this blog. And if you were so educated, you know it is "toeing the line", not "towing"

Who di you think is using Bergen Park as a giant toilet? Who do you think is leaving needles in the parks? Not the residents of Ballard, that is for sure.

It's all pretty academic until you get your car broken into, step in human waste in the doorway of your dentist, or have the parking lot of your gym used as a urinal. I'll bet silencekit won't be so laizze faire when his kid gets jabbed by a discarded needle in a public park.

I think I'll go right down to Zak's right now, and order some food.

Susan, you are off your rocker if you think the businesses in Ballard are responsible for the health and happiness of vagrants. IF you feel so strongly, why don't YOU take them home for showers?

I assume Nordic Woman owns this blog, or is in charge of making sure we are all working to her satisfaction and towing her corporate line? My understanding was we were allowed opinions, including ones other than Nordic Womans, without having to be personally attacked.

Is this not the case with this blog? If we are supposed to be, nothing more than a mouthpiece for the Ballard Chamber Of Commerce, please let me know. I will go elsewhere.

But, shouting "Silence!" at me, makes you sound like a dictator, and frankly, a bit off your rocker honey.

At no point did I say I was a fan of the homeless population. I get annoyed by them as well, but I don't think they pose a massive problem for the neighborhood. It's relatively easy to say, "sorry, no change."

I'm simply saying that sounding like a paranoid lunatic isn't helping anything. It makes it very hard to take anything you say seriously. All I picture when I read your posts, is a sad, old woman, peeking out her curtains with a phone in hand ready to dial 911 at the first sign of a minority.

I do not agree with everything Susan is saying, but in her defense, a college degree isn't a guaranteed job any longer. It hasn't been and it's especially not in the current economy. Just one more comment to make you sound out of touch, Nordic Woman. Kudos.

There was NEVER any law or policy saying "backs could not be above the Ship Canal after Sundown. " That is absolutely a lie.

Susan, if you have a college degree, why aren't you WORKING and helping the economy? (I would doubt you are more educated than I.)

I am not alone in being sick of transients defecating in our parks and streets, the huge increase in crime and car prowls (I have been burgled twice) and the drug addicts and drunks in Ballard. I am sick of the panhandlers, the vagrants hanging out in the coffee shops, the needles in the parks. This is a new phenomenom in Ballard, and reisidents and business owners are sick of it.

Susan is obviously a nut who is disgruntled at businesses in Ballard for not welcoming vagrants with open arms. I for one welcome all the new businesses that have come to Ballard in the last few years! They are good for the economy and good for the neighborhood.

Silence kit and Susan; why don't you two get toghether for lunch, and then invite all the bums hanging around Ballard home for a hot shower and a nice meal?

What ever happened to survival of the fittest?

I believe there were two and one half black families in Ballard in the 70s but redlining existed BIG TIME and this demographic was not by accident. Seattle is by far the most segregated city in which I have ever lived.

It is not 1906 or 1930 or even 1975. It’s 2009 and Seattle faces major growing pains locally and also what could easily become a long era of major economic and social upheaval. Dwelling on a long gone moldy past makes little sense to me.

Ah, you just happen to constantly talk about your crystal clear view of all the "Transients", you watch all day at work that gather at the Chai House and Bergen Park.

Yea, sure you don't own Zaks....

Maybe you should spend less time trying to "See It Go Down", so you can then waste the time of the 911 switchboard operator, and and more time running your business and minding your business.

Just a thought...

To make it clear I do not own Zaks.

Not you Susan.

You sound old, out of touch, paranoid and sad.

Yes, I pay plenty of taxes. They are called sales taxes and inflation, which is a tax which affects the poor more than the rich.

Nordic Woman, I believe you to be insane. Don't you get sick of being so fucking scared all the time? Do you look out your windows for suspect minorities that are up to no good?

"Columbia City was it’s own town, like Ballard, until it was annexed into Seattle. CC and Rainier Valley became “the hood” and until very recently, someplace no sane person would go …in broad daylight."

Something tells me you and I have different definitions of what safe is considering you're frightened of Ballard's homeless population that have NEVER threatened me or my girlfriend or anyone I know. Sorry but for me, "Would you like to buy a dream catcher? doesn't constitute a threat.

"I know quite a few long time residents (third and fourth generation) who tend to do their shopping at Northgate. Why? A. parking is easier B. less chance of having to run the gauntlet of street people."

You're friends are cowards, then. If that's all it takes to dissuade them from shopping here, that's pretty pathetic.

"a. scruffy street people whose main crimes include shoplifting, agressive panhandling, public drunkeness, defecating in alleys and bushes.
b. Tweakers/druggies, who are frequently also homeless, whose crimes include all of the above, breakins of businesses, and attract other less savory aspects of society, like crack hos.
c. career criminals looking for easy marks. "

YOU CAN'T PROVE ANY OF THIS! They haven't been caught. You're making this up. YOu sound insane... literally insane. For all you know, it's some high school kids looking for a thrill! What category do those two that were breaking into condo buildings fall in?
Let's all be afraid of high school kids!!!

Yes, ignore anyone who is handicapped or low income, but does lots of work for the poor. Kitchen and Things is what life is all about. The poor and handicapped are useless eaters afterall... Money generators, are the only ones who are not crazy, or able to put a coherent thought together. Thanks for making my point. You don't need that crap during a depression and you will go out of business. My wheelchair and those who's clothing on Market street you don't approave of, will not be the cause.

This Zaks owners elitist attitude toward the locals, is exactly the point of why Old Ballard feels no pity for New Ballard. Trust me, nobody wanted you in the first place, and the Old Ballard Businesses will be here long after you go back to Bellevue. His issue, is apparently that I am in a wheelchair. Trust me, my mental state is fine, and so is my self esteem.

MOST of the business owners in Ballard LIVE here! True, they are not hanging out at the Chai House or Golden City. Many of them can be in fact found on Thurdsays at the Norwegian Commercial Club meetings. (formed during the Depression to have business owners support each other.) The rest of the time they are trying to make a living, pay their taxes and their employees, and keep vagrants from shoplifting and vandalizing their businesses.

My grandfather in fact started the Ballard Commercial Club, for all businesses in Ballard. Trust me, most employees in these stores either live in ballard are wish that they did. Here are the ones that I know of:
Ballard Home Comforts
Classic Consignment
Mandrakes
Ballard Blossom
Epilogue Books
Scandinavian Specialties
Olsens Foods
Kitchen N Things
Carnelian
Bop Street
Ballard Camera
There are many, man more.
Susan does not understand basic economics, because she is part of the disenfranchised. Its really quite simple: businesses employ people, who pay taxes to supprt social services. Other people purchse those goods and services, which in turn pump money into the economy, making employment possiblle, AND pay sales taxes, which also fund social programs. When the economy is good, there is more tax money in the public coffers for social programs.

Ignore Susan. She is a disgruntled person who is not part of the neighborhood per se; she pays no taxes, and is not part of the economy.

Ok, well as the economy implodes, we shall see how your cocky attitude does as well. Let's see, in fact, if Zaks and Fair Trade Imports are here in 12 months. I would bet anything, the answer will be no. But, if you hold these up as crucial services to people in a Depression and perfect business models, we will see who is right and who is wronge in 12 months. You can bash the Dollar Store All You like. In a Depression people will flock there, and pass on your 8 dollars hamburgers and New Ballard cocky attitudes, trust me. We are over it, and you are free to leave now. It did not work, and you ruined the neighborhood. Don't let the door hit you in the ass as you go.

Susan,
I have tried hard not to post but cannot help it. The reason you 'think' your being sneared at is because of how you feel about everyone else. I have seen you and am sure you draw a lot of looks but maybe it is just your feelings about these "hipsters" and the dislike you have for them that causing them to act that way towards you. 2nd you blanket statements show your lack of knowledge about, well everything. I am pretty sure Zaks burgers isn't selling chinese import junk, movie threate, Fair trade imports or any of the other shops which sell LOCAL made art such as Monster. I think you are confusing all stores with the dollar store. If you would stop hanging about with drug addicts and drunks you might find people are more friendly with you. You might also consider counseling of some sort, anger management, you also might be suffering from disillusions and that can be very serious.

Just another business owner who gives up time with his family so I can snear and mock people all day. I must return to yelling at customers now as I see a few enjoying themselves.

Oh really? You employed people? All I see is hipsters from capital Hill and other neighborhoods, come out of your shops after each shift, walk over to the bus stop and leave after work. They snear at the old time Ballard folks at the bus stop. The buses are full of these spoiled brats, and I know because I take the bus with them. You hardly employ ANYONE from Ballard and most of you high and mighty "shopkeepers" selling trinkets don't even LIVE HERE.

Now, we are all supposed to feel bad, because the economy does not support your Chinese import junk? No Way... If every "New Ballard" business goes under, and we are stuck with the same winos that have been here 30 years, I will not shed a tear. Good riddence, is what I say.

That is absolutely NOT trude, Hahtli69. There were in fact black families living in Ballard from the 1930s onward. I went to Ballard High with several black kids: the Bush and Wims families spring to mind. For an interesting story on growing up black in Ballard, turn to "Voices of Ballard." That tidbit is specious and racist. There were Asians here as well, and there was never any law, or policy as you suggest. You may be thinking of someplace in the South.

Parking is a completely separate issue.

Nordic Woman, as long as you're studying Ballard history, did you know that, until the late 1960's, black people were not allowed north of the ship canal after the workday ended? So, if you're going to wax about Ballard and Fremont's glorious past, and attempt to draw parallels with Columbia City and Rainier Valley, please keep things in perspective.

Also, I don't suppose you're blaming the homeless for the lack of parking spaces, so I will assume that your 3rd and 4th generation buddies would continue shopping at Northgate even if there wasn't a single homeless person within 5 miles of Ballard.

But Nordic, its not enough! In addition to paying for the crack house behind the Sip and Ship, they should be inviting the homeless back to their homes for showers, tea and crumpets!!

They should be buying the artists supplies just in case they are the next Da Vinci instead of paying their employees and drinking coffee!!

How you can be so silly to think they have a job to do!

:)

Susan does not understand that the business owners of Ballad EMPLOY people and pay taxes, which includes paying for HER disability check. Business owners in Ballard are quite literally hanging on by the skin of their teeth to make ends meet. They are not under any obligation to help out the homeless, who drive business away, and shoplift from them. On the contrary.

We need to fiigure out how to get them OUT of Ballard, not enable them to come here!

I know quite a few long time residents (third and fourth generaton) who tend to do their shopping at Northgate. Why? A. parking is easier B. less chance of having to run the gauntlet of street people.

What is interesting is that I have studied what happened to Ballard in the Depreassion. Ballard was particulatly hard hit- the mills laid off people, and the shipyards quit makeing boats. It wasn't until WWII when the shipyards started making minesweepers that Ballard's economy started up again. They did have two food banks...for residents OF Ballard. It was a blue-collar neighborhood of hard working folks. But because it was a neighborhood of mainly single-family homes, people knew each other and took care of their neighbors. And by neighbors, I don't mean ex-cons bussed in from Portland.

JM, you are right, there are some separate groups of miscreants lurking around Ballard.

a. scruffy street people whose main crimes include shoplifting, agressive panhandling, public drunkeness, defecating in alleys and bushes.
b. Tweakers/druggies, who are frequently also homeless, whose crimes include all of the above, breakins of businesses, and attract other less savory aspects of society, like crack hos.
c. career criminals looking for easy marks.

My family owend the Red Door until 1978. The 1960s brought hippies. (the Safeway in Fremont, long gone, now the video store, closed because of the incredibly high rate of shoplifting. )and homelss people. My dad got sick of the homeless and quasi homeless in the building, who set two fires during the 1960s, and he finally sold it. it took over 30 years for Fremont to loose it's repuration as a crime magnet and recover.

Columbia City was, at the turn of the century until the 1940s, a neighborhood very similar to Ballard. (one of the main differences was it was largely Italian, not Nordic.) Columbia City was it's own town, like Ballard, until it was annexed into Seattle. CC and Rainier Valley became "the hood" and until very recently, someplace no sane person would go ...in broad daylight. Property values plummeted as gangs and street people moved in. Is this what we all want for Ballard?

I found out the police officer who is the team lead for the transiet issues in Ballard. You can contact him with any quesations or concerns, as well as find out their plans for controlling it.

email from him:

I am the Community Police Team Officer for the Ballard area. I deal with the transient issues discussed in your e-mail. I would like to further discuss your concerns. I work M-F daytime hours. If you send me a daytime phone I will contact you to talk further. I am looking forward to talking with you. ThanksDevlin Haag

Officer Devlin Haag
North Precinct Community Police Team
Seattle Police Department
10049 College Way North
Seattle, WA 98133-9462
(206) 233-3733 Desk
(206)684-0742 FAX

PT - Read The Ballard News Tribune story from last week. They agree.. We have artists living in Bergen Park and Olsens parking lot, who have no shelter aside from The Chai House. The artist mentioned could not even take a shower. These people must be taken care of by the community at large, because they measure wealth in terms you business owners will never understand.

Everyone here agrees, "we are all for helping the homeless" (A phrase most posts begin with). But, put your thoughts online into real life ACTION....

Instead of standing around your shops sipping coffee, glaring out your shiny windows at the locals, waiting for people to just throw cash at you, get off your lazy butts and do something for the neighborhood. Go over to Bergen Park and see if any one needs something, like a shower for an art show, before you judge them. The next Da Vinci could be in that park, and a hundred years from now, history will judge you harshly.

We need showers, not 200 dollar pillows and stores full of trinkets and junk. The days of people throwing cash at anyone who cashes in thier dotcom stocks or uses Daddys trust fund to set up a trinket shop in Ballard are over. It's a depression we are in, so think outside the box and become part of the REAL community. It's grow up time people. The free ride is over, and the dotcom and housing bubble or gone.

Does anyone know where I can find a Susan Voodoo Doll?

The midnight burglars could be coming into Ballard from just about anywhere. There definitely are two different issues on this thread. I’d guess the burglars are separate group from the scruffy desperate street people.

Vagrant, bang on your chest harder. Maybe that will help.

Maht and the Thought Police are on the case!

Have the police caught anyone lately?

"Well, go cry into your chai tea down at the coop with your other friends who think like you. " Ha ... I rest my case.

JH @69 - "Or are you OK with what you see day in and day out in Ballard ?"
It seems to me that Ballard has a crime problem, not a homeless problem. Are some of the homeless criminals? Yes, they are. However, it is counterproductive and misleading to blame every problem in Ballard on the homeless.

So, why is there a crime problem? There are two reasons that I can think of, only one of which has an immediate solution: 1) There are over twice as many unemployed people in Seattle as there were just last year. High unemployment = Higher crime rate. And, 2) There are no cops in Ballard. Ballard is not a law enforcement priority for the city. Until that changes, then the problem will continue. As I've mentioned numerous times on related threads, this is an election year at our City Council, which is an opportunity to get action. Don't let it go to waste.

As for the posters who blame everything on the homeless? I think they are doing their cause more harm than good by lowering the level of discussion. Fear mongering is a turn-off to intelligent people. It would be refreshing if they'd shut their yaps and let the adults discuss a workable solution to the problem.

#64.

That was hilarious. Thanks for that.

>>They both sound like horrible people

Well, go cry into your chai tea down at the coop with your other friends who think like you.

Personally, I have friends from the left to the right. One who reads Ann Coulter and insists on sending me her crap, but I still love him dearly. I have one sibling who's a Marxist, one who's a Republican, one who's an alien (I think). My parents? Split and always arguing.

Myself? Moderate Democrat and always voted that way. But not a member of the wacky, let's hold no one accountable for their choices in life, lefty. More of a libertarian, I guess, but one who understands we need good government for stability.

And you Mahtli69? You sound like a predictable bore, which, for your information, is worse than 'horrible'.

Well Mahtli69, then you have added a nice counterpoint to their (BHO, Ballard Guys) point. Maybe you are the "Air America" to their "Fox News".

I like angelatini's POV, there will be a spectrum of opinions and non-opinions and we can agree or disagree as we choose. I personally enjoy hearing all POV's. It adds spice to the debate. How boring would it be if we all agreed?

But more to the point and to the poor business owners who are taking the "hits", something has to change in Ballard. Look at all the businesses that have folded or are moving out for one reason or another. That can't be healthy. Or are you OK with what you see day in and day out in Ballard ?

"I can’t understand why anybody would be for more homeless people, more drug users and more drunks inhabiting Ballard. Can you explain why you are for that?"

Did I say I was for that? No, I did not.

However, what I read on this blog is idiocy. It is EXACTLY like Fox News on here ... That Helicopter psycho is the worst. She does nothing but stoke fear, and offers zero workable solutions. Ballard Guy is a close second. They both sound like horrible people, and I have zero interest in being on their "team".

I think if you don't like the comments, then you shouldn't read them. You aren't a moderator and this is a public forum, so people can voice their opinions. Yes, there will be exaggerations and probably more than a few untruths...just learn to recognize them, or correct them in a respectful manner. (My one exception is if someone is threatening violence...then it's open season.)

I don't like or agree with everything I read on here, but I just try and get over it.

I find it funny that a lot of people are inferring only bums are buying and using drugs (other than pot) in Ballard. Whoever it was that pointed out the crimes that have been caught on video around here...that proves it's not all homeless people. I have been verbally attacked by a crazy homeless man while with a 5 year old, broad daylight, on Market Street (not to re-hash), and I live quite near that awful 7-11 so I have no love for them, but I don't blame all of Ballards ills on the homeless.

Mahtli69 - You and others that share your same opinion seem to think that those with a vested interest should compromise their quality of life in deference to a flood of drug users, drunks and transients.

You ignore the fact that Ballard has become a magnet for this element of society. I can't understand why anybody would be for more homeless people, more drug users and more drunks inhabiting Ballard. Can you explain why you are for that? The more of them, the lower the quality of life in Ballard sinks. I think this is what has everybody ramped up. That and the feeling of helpless in the face of this influx of vagrants of all forms. There are no police on the beat, there are homeless organziations targeting Ballard. Its a perfect storm in its own little Ballardian way. Why are you a proponent?

whoa.. Black Helicopter Operation.. you TOTALLY exaggerated that story. you sound just like fox news.

Fox News mentality? No, its called shopping smart. A woman posted something cryptic here last week about Safeway. She was loading her groceries into her trunk, totally alone in the parking lot. She sensed in her bones something was just not right.

She then heard a creepy sound behind her and knew she was in trouble bigtime. She was almost frozen in terror, but mustered the courage to turn around slowly, only to find herself face to face with...

A Transient.....

No thanks, I will go with Trader Joes, after that story. The have plenty of security. That could have been anybody. Imagine if it were your wife or daughter?

Whats next? You open your shower curtain and out jumps a transinet with a knife, like in the movie Psycho?

Mahtli69- are you really interested in Ballard??? What an inane comment.
Trizzle says it all! If anyone has a "vested interest" in Ballard they woudl want to take steps to make sure they can support the homeless that need to be her and no the throngs who keep migrating here from god knows where! Get real folks! I worry about our small businesses who are trying to make aliving and doig the best they can to be part of the fabric of what we love about Ballard. I live here and do the best I can to support my community, and try to allow my kids to walk the streets in peace in the day light and even so bold as the early evening ours..it's not happening..you are right Ballard should not be the "mark" for the violent and drug and alcohol addicted homeless who do not respect the community who is trying to help them..not rocket science, just fair.

How come it is so black an white for everyone?
I could care less if some hippies hang out at chai cafe smoking weed on a friday night. I also don't care about having some salty town drunks wandering around.

But I do care when vagrants are harassing people for money and taking a crap at the park and library. I have seen them do it and seen the present left for us all to walk by. Disgusting and not something for a family town. It is also another sort of depravity, that goes hand in hand with the kind of depravity that puts other, often innocent, people in harms way.

I also care when small businesses are struggling to stay open, and I am worried about having a job for too much longer, and the situation is made much worse by getting broken into. I am a hard working homeowner with kids in Ballard. I am doing my best to pay my bills and do my part.

I am sorry for those who have had misfortune, and am glad for the ballard food bank, and it's ability to help Ballardites in need. I am against word on the street being that Ballard is the place to come. Homelessness is everyones problem, not just ballard. If vagrants and hooligans are looking for a mark, I don't want it to be Ballard.

It's a city-wide problem. There aren't enough cops, and too many of them are chasing non-violent crimes, largely drug use. Now...we could hire more police, of course. So, who's willing to ante up for their salaries? Fine citizens, property-holders, people with a stake in the neighborhood--let's hear it!

BUT THEY SELL TOP POT!

Anyway, it sucks that source spa keeps getting broken into. I know they are having a hard time getting enough busy to stay open. It makes me sad. :(

I have a vested interest in Ballard, and I wish that all of the reactionaries would get the hell out of town. Move to the suburbs where you can fear the city like the rest of your neighbors.

in case you need more information wbout those poor folks who need a needle exchange program... here is where they can get it, and we sure as hell don't need on ehere in Balalrd

http://www.scn.org/crisis/needle.html

no..we do not need to provide showers to artists who live in cars in the Olsen parking lot..what about that does not make sense..Susan you gotta a home and shower, knock yourself out...help him out...no car camps, are you kidding me???

Chai House enables a lot of crap going around.

Walk in any time and find the baggies tweakers leave behind in the chairs (yes, you know the little kind of baggies folks tie up when distributing).

The broken needles are also a nice treat to see around too.

Clean house, start with the Chai House.

One year ago, right near the new Trader Joes, a homeless man was beaten to death. The suspect was another homeless person living in a vehicle parked nearby. There is a problem and it needs to be fixed.

Yoppies didn't ruin Ballard. Homeless vagrants and drug addicts are ruining Ballard. Instead of enabling them, let's set up homeless camps in Harbor Island. Then they can shoot up to their hearts content.
I agree wth post #23. WE have a vested interest in Ballard. We are taxpayers, and the homless vagrants , bums and twaakers are NOT.

We don't "all agree" we have to help the homeless. I for one think that we should do what they did in NYC. ..put them to work. Why not bring back the CCC? Oh, that is right, some of them are unemployable.

Bums hanging out in Tullys means that actual customers get driven out. No one wants to sit next to smelly bums. ALL of the business owners in Ballard have noticed a sharp increase in shoplifting that has coincided with the increase in the homelss of Ballard. Who do you think is perpetrating the rash of burgleries in businessses and homes, and car prowls? Tweakers.

I say we quit enabling these people, and get them out of Ballard NOW.

I stand corrected, it wasn't the first post. But there are a couple in there. You'll know who to search for.

Don't feed me that, JH. I'm a parent and a property owner in Ballard, so I'd say I'm vested. What compromise are you suggesting? All I hear on this board are a bunch of paranoid internet trolls jerking their own chains.

There was a post yesterday about the new Trader Joe's opening. Good news, right? Well, the FIRST post in that thread was yet another diatribe by one of the regular haters about the homeless.

The Fox News mentality is not welcome here.

Well, whatever. This is about quality of life and making compromises regarding quality of life when people have a vested interest (i.e. Business owners, property owners, parents, etc....you know the conformists). All you people who think its just fine to have 150% increase in the homeless population over a couple of years and open drug use and drunkeness need to get a grip. If you were somehow vested into the communtiy in a real way your tune/perspective might change a bit.

.........The threads are dominated by 3 or 4 people who post the same thing repeatedly and, frankly, seem like they’d be more comfortable living in the sticks with a stockpile of ammo and canned food..........


Actually I like having a stockpile of food and ammo in Ballard.

These people are probably just jelous they are not accepted by the inner core that hangs at the Chai House. I agree, dont go to the side of the street if you dont like it. Yuppies ruined Ballard.

I agree 100% with elenchos @21.

Every time someone so much as cuts a fart in downtown Ballard, we get a 100+ post thread about how the homeless should be kicked out and how the neighborhood is going to hell.

The threads are dominated by 3 or 4 people who post the same thing repeatedly and, frankly, seem like they'd be more comfortable living in the sticks with a stockpile of ammo and canned food.

Quite the contrary Nordic Woman. Almost every post begins with "I am all for helping out the homeless". The question is how. We all agree we need to help them out, but lets get down to business.

The needle exchange program the Chai House people posted about is a start. Teens need to play safe if they use IV drugs for sure. Hepatitis is a real rick in ballard with the kids now. We have artists with no shower there too living in the Parking Lot of Olsens, which we agree that we need a shower set up til the car campground next to the library opens.

Think people... use your brains. Get the stuff in place quick before these nuts wont allow it at all. Even The Ballard News Tribune agrees. Lets get busy....

Chop-chop, thanks for confirming what we already knew, that Chai House and the losers hanging out there, are part of the problem.

You don't see bums and drug addicts hanging out at Verite or Than Brothers, they'd kick their a**es out. We need more businesses like these and if Tully's goes bankrupt, hopefully one less bum hang out.

i used to work at the chai house Tesla.
i know whats up. just because you go there a few times a month doesnt mean you know it all.
AND im not wrong THEY HANG OUT THERE! THEY SHOOT UP IN THE BATHROOM! THEY EVEN SHIT ON THE FLOOR!! but yeah you know and I dont. I do think the chai house is part of the problem. all we need is just one lazy cop to just PARK his car out front and im sure it will change.
oh yeah they serve top pot donuts now!!

When Ballard was its own town it DID have a Sheriff; and it's own police force.

I say we have a No Tolerence Policy on bums. "Susan" is not representative of the majority of people who live and work in Ballard; she is on public assistance, and apparently divides her time between the homeless bums in Bergen Park, the Golden City (a notorious hangout for career alcoholics and tweakers) and the dollar store.
IF we get rid of the things that make Ballard attractive, they will go elsewhere.

"Yep, anything to get high. Including murder, which is bound to happen by summer are this rate."

You sound crazy.

Hear, hear, elenchos.

The comments section have become nothing but paranoid, pathetic speculation and fear mongering.

The transients are elevated to rock star status these days in Ballard. Why not rent them limos and luxury hotel rooms. They can have autographing parties there. Maybe tell use some rail road jumping or prison break stories too.

I encourage all of those who support the Market street bums to invite them into your homes and get them off the street. Feed them, clothe them, give them spending money, and make them more comfortable. What could possibly go wrong?

Helicopter man has friends?

I agree with Nordic Woman.....Ballard needs cops on the beat, a regular enforcement prescence on bicycle that would know the neighborhood, the businesses, the people good or bad. Or how about a Sheriff?
Sheriff of Ballard, has a nice ring!

Tesla is another fascinated by the stories transients tell. Maybe we should put them to work doing story time for the kids in the libray. I give up for today. I have never seen a neighborhood so "entralled" as Susan calls it, with transients. They are drunk, HIgh con men. That is why they ramble on with stories for the teenagers like you at Bergen Park. Try going to college if you want stories and study literature. I for one, dont want to here the damn stories and am not going to say "Obviously, we all support the transients" like the rest of you. I dont... Goodbye!

Tesla, maybe they can't get work because they are thieves not the other way around? Afterall, most poor people don't turn to crime.

Not my friends. If your an expert, explain to us old folk how needles are showing up in Bergen Park. Falling out of your pot pipes and microbrew containers?

Please waste your time worrying about real crimes and not what half the city smokes in their off time.

"Herb" is illegal dummy

And btw, the chai house is awesome! No hard drugs around... just some herb, microbrews, good people, and even better music.

"These are not “Crazy Kids”. They are tweekers and Meth Heads. You can tell by the crime. Desperate for anything of value. I mean, trying to steal a bolted down computer in a wild frenzy? No kid from Ballard High would do that."

Oh, really? Its cute that you think Ballard kiddies are so naive, but you need to be slapped up with a reality stick. Now, this is not to say that this exact crime was necessarily perpetrated by HS kid, but having spent four years there recently I'm pretty aware that they aren't all the little angels we would hope for. And what exactly would taking away soup kitchens and food banks do?!? People need to eat. If theres no money to put food on the table, and no jobs to be had what do you suggest might be done? If I were out there starving with no job, no money, and no caring people to help me on my feet I would be much more likely to steal money or food, or both. I agree, some of these "bums" are just alcoholics and junkies, but so many of them are kind, caring people who just took a wrong turn and need some TLC.

If there was a needle exchange program in Ballard, you would probably find a lot less needles laying around parks/wherever. People would actually hang on to them and exchange them instead of chucking them and buying a new pack for $5 at bartells/fred meyers.

Chai House is little more than a pre-school for future vagrants.

The problem is it just takes one jackass to suggest a needle exchange program at Bergen Park, and suddenly we have one. The inmates have take over the asylum it seems.

post #21..please feel free to exit this blog...I read your profile, you are clearly too brilliant to bother.....

"Elenchos is a public intellectual who works to advance discourse in many areas of inquiry. He is unspeakably grateful for all the support you have shown him over the years"

We need less "artists" and more cops.....

Most ''artists'' at bergen place are just fuck ups from the chai house.....i guess doing smack helps you be more artsy!

Calgary is still serving once a week. Its a myth they stopped the free lunches all together. Just a 30 freeze on all free lunches around Ballard, is all we ask. If crime goes down, we know the cause.

If not, fine. Three course dinners for every transient from here to Capitol Hill. We will even give out wine as a door prize.

Susan, these so called "counterculture" members seem to be shooting up, drinking, leaving syringes and beer cans in the bushes, and using Bergen Park as a giant toilet.I wold sincerely doubt that they are "smarter than people on this blog." If so, then why are they sleeping on benches? Defecating in the bushes? Doing drugs? (I am in fact a card-carrying member of Mensa; I doubt I'd find many of my fellow Mensans shooting up in Bergen Park or Marvin Gardens.) (for those reading who are not familiar with Susan, she is disabled becasu of her weight, and only hangs out at the Golden City drug den and the dollar store, and is a champion of Ballard vagrants.She is not a taxpayer, BTW.)

I say it is time to take back our parks, our library, and our streets! The answer is to REMOVE the "attractive nuisance" factor in Ballard; get rid of the food bank, the soup kitchens, and the homeless shelter. Bring back beat cops and lock up vagrants and drug addicts. This is a :lifestyle choice" and I think Ballardites are sick of the crime, the druggies, the breakins, the car prowls, the bums on the streets, the panhandlers, shoplifters, and all the other dregs of society that have found a niche in Ballard.

I agree, no soup kitchens should open or shelters until we can get a handle on this..if it is meth heads and tweekers, lets get calls in to the police until the get tired of hearing us call. We do have to do something to take our town back.

I get so tired of reading nothing but paranoid wingnut comments on blogs like this. It just isn't a good use of anyone's time to attempt to follow a conversation dominated by nonsense.

Kyle - we understand Meth is a problem for families. But, we are not running a treatment center, but a family neighborhood. Just because there were murders in Ballard before, we are all being hysterical and should just figure it's a natural way of life in Ballard? The neighborhood is over-run with transients being shipped in from Portland (The most dangerous that the city wants gone at any cost) and downtown for free lunches. Drug dealers sell openly outside 7 11 all night and in Bergen Park....

Stop the free lunches until this crime wave ends. Whats so hard to get? These transients eat lunch at noon and spend the other 23 hours creating crime, sleeping in Bergen Park, panhandling, shoplifting, selling stolen goods, drinking, using meth, until the next free lunch. It's abusurd.

Move to Pioneer square if you love drug addicts and transients so much.

A needle exchange in Bergen Park is not the answer.

Bergen Park is fine. Its just a bunch of counterculture people. The future artists, musicians and politicians of tommarrow. Maybe if you spoke with them, you would find the are smarter than most of the people on this blog. Sorry, but it true. This is sickening!

I suggest we STOP putting out the welcome mat. It is illegal to panhandle in Tacoma...why not in Seattle? We have provied an "attractive " area (according to the P.I.) by providing soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and plenty of places for "urban camping." I say we ban panhandling, get rid of the shelters and soup kitchens, and stop beling so tolerant of bums defecating in the parks.

The Friends of Bergen Place are a little sick of hosing down the vomit and picking up the needles and even less savory items out of the bushes.

“I would like to see the community rally around taking back our neighborhood” Ballardite what are you recommending. Last time I called 1-800-RENTAPANZER there was no answer. Of course psycho helicopter man required no response.

Nobody remembers the video of the 2 kids breaking into the apartment building? Nobody remembers the video of the woman stealing the package off that person's porch? Nobody remembers the video of the 2 guys breaking into the place on Market street?

Where is all this homeless hating coming from? Has there been any evidence that they're involved or are you people just scared of the big bad men asking for change?

Ballard = easy target

That must be the word on the street these days. All of the copycat burglaries are either a single prolific group or multiple independent thieves. Either way, Ballard must have earned a reputation as a low-risk area to steal from businesses. Check out West Seattle Blog for a comparison. I don't recall reading about a business break-in there for quite a while.

Crowbar to a register? Definitely tweakers. Time to start doing our family shopping walks in Fremont and Wallingford.

Our current mayor hasn't been just mayor in Seattle. In other words, he's been around awhile. He has to know Ballard has issues. Remember it was Belltown the complained AND got action. What are we waiting for then? Not sure what bike lanes and red-light-cameras are doing to "curb crime"? How many children do THEY feed anyway? Born here in 58 and still here, barley, I am just wondering what the "exit strategy" is for the schlubs without purpose. Google " Seattle fire real time 911" and witness the daily deluge on yer PC at the same address over and over for these people.

I don't necessarily "like" the idea of down and out folks - there's a lot I regret about our culture and about how hard it is to be a flawed human being (like 100% of us). A lot of meth heads are people we know, members of the "normal" looking families next door. Meth and heroin are big problems for a wide range of people. Many aren't as visible because they have homes and families, or places to go. Remember the security tape of the apartment break ins that shows a young white couple? What about all the talk of the car break ins with the african american guy (or magazine salesman)? I'm not saying people are wrong to be upset about crime in the neighborhood. It just doesn't seem to be any one set of people responsible for crime in Ballard.

I've lived here since 1992 and remember when there was no grafitti anywhere, not even in the public bathrooms. I also know there have been plenty of crimes in Ballard since 1992, but we didn't have blogs and constant twittering of breaking events, which frankly adds to the alarmist quality so prevalent in the news these days. A lot has been said about how contemporary news delivery manipulates people into being frightened.

The Bike Shop on 24th has been broken into many times since it opened years and years ago; I know the owner. It just didn't hit your computer on a daily basis, or even make the paper.

BHO, I don't disrespect your feelings, but you do seem to be gunning for a murder here in Ballard any day. You've mentioned it a number of times. We've already had murders by "strangers," as have the other neighborhoods. If it happens again it won't be the first time.

The main drug dealer homeless guy is the fat grey haired native american looking guy with his belly hanging out of his shirt and who usually hangs out at the bell tower park in old ballard. He has been caught many times by shop owners dealing to other homeless and there's nothing being done about it. I think he would be a might fine start in cleaning this mess up.

I understand that they caught some people, but could only charge them with possession of stolen goods. Breaking a window at the salon is not low profile, those are big windows, on an open and busy corner. Desperate is for sure. Seems like they know what they are doing.

These are not "Crazy Kids". They are tweekers and Meth Heads. You can tell by the crime. Desperate for anything of value. I mean, trying to steal a bolted down computer in a wild frenzy? No kid from Ballard High would do that.

Happens every night in this city. Just not Ballard, until now.

such a scary thought.....

Yep, anything to get high. Including murder, which is bound to happen by summer are this rate.

Geez! I dont know if it is a tweaker or junkie bum. If its the same guy that has gotten the coffee shops and hair salons in the area, I would imagine they or he have a car. Or maybe its just some stupid ass kid whos trying to be like the last guy and rob a ton of places because he knows he can get away with it for awhile. I dont know. it is scary and i would like to think Its not the homless guy I pass everyday on the street.

Well, it's the rich that are the problem. Maybe she will use the stolen money to plant flowers and draw peace signs in chalk on the ground in Bergen Park... Jazz the place up a bit.

BHO, Hallelugah! My wife and i have been in ballard since 2000 and we have noticed a "change" in the type of homeless people. We could handle the "drunks" and were actually pretty friendly with most of them, they did not harm anyone and kept to themselves and wanted to be left alone. This new type is strungout and a lot more dangerous. They will do what ever it takes to get high and that is bad for our neighborhood. I would like to see the community rally around taking back our neighborhood and let these folks know that there drug dealing, stealing, and unlawfulness will not be tolerated by us. I feel this will requres police intervention and I am very skeptical of the SPD and the lack of resources they claim to have.

Where was Hippy Tea Girl last night?

If anyone does anything more to condone or encourage the new influx of transients to Ballard, especially the meth/crack type, you're feeding the problem, and those of us with brains, blame you. Blunt enough? This place will become pioneer square in 12 months at this pace. They have to be driven back out of here.