Does Seattle have real issues, or are people just paranoid? (Tacoma: apartment complex, crime rate)

[branh0913]

I would like to say that I think Seattle is one of the safest cities in the country. Areas that have horrible reputations ended up not being that bad at all. Seems to a large degree areas with a large non-white resident base tend to get labeled as bad. I've been to south Seattle, Renton, and Everett, and the areas seem fine. Sure I haven't been through each of these areas with a fine tooth comb, and certainly haven't been in EVERY neighborhood in these cities, but they seem safe to me. Even a little dull and quiet. Certainly have never feared for my life anywhere in Seattle I've gone, and don't think I ever will.


So why do people constantly say "avoid this and that area", when statistics even show Seattle's crime rate is very low. I live in Bellevue, and a lady here once told me she refuse to take a job in Seattle proper. She said that it's too much traffic to drive her car, and she won't take the bus because she's afraid of being harassed in Seattle proper. But even in Seattle proper, some of the perceptions are still there. For example, many people I've met downtown will tell you to never go to south Seattle or Tacoma. I've never been to Tacoma, but considering people told me Everett was bad, I'm imagining Tacoma probably isn't as bad as the reputation people put to it.

I've even heard Crossroads in Bellevue was bad, except for a few potheads and some stray homeless people you may see every once in blue moon, the area seems safe. I think someone said that Crossroads was bad due to a mugging that happened 3 YEARS AGO!? Anyway, it just seem people in Seattle are more paranoid about the perceived crime in their fairly safe city. The attitude is worse in Bellevue, but it seems to be nearly everywhere in this metro area. Do you think people in Seattle are overly paranoid?

[Inkpoe]

Because those areas really were "bad" once upon a time.

Even Crossroads was rough, but went through such a transformation late 90s, and 00s. When I took my BIL to visit Crossroads mall, he had not been in the area for 20ish years and was astonished at how the place turned out. He said back in the 80s, there were drug dealing, and all that crap-- it wasn't a nice area.

Lots of communities and the police force have come together to improve their areas. Unfortunately, old reputations die long and hard. You'll notice most of these people who tell you to say away are also those who have never really investigated the area, never visited the area. A lot of times, they say they've "been through" or heard from others. That's actually one thing I don't like about Seattle (and in general I guess this is how it is for a lot of places)... a lot of people stay in their little corner (North, South, East) and just traveling to the "other" side is such a huge deal.

[Hemlock140]

Crossroads had problems due to Russian immigrants in the 90s, in fact that's why they put the police substation there. The problems were loitering, loud music, and public urination, certainly nothing that threatened life or even property. Seattle has nothing that compares to the crime in Oakland CA or other large cities.I can remember once at Skyway Bowl and once doing work at an apartment complex on Casino Rd in Everett that I was reminded of my days working in Oakland, but still not even close. If people are used to Bellevue, Issaquah, Redmond, Sammamish or Kirkland, they might consider Seattle to be sketchy or scary, but They have a far too sheltered life. It's really a safe, quiet city.

[CarlB328]

South Seattle and Tacoma seem seedy compared to other areas around here, and Everett has a lot of young people that do petty crime apparently, so that's why they have those reputations, but no they're not highly dangerous.

[swerver]

After moving here from Chicago, my wife and I often find the local news amusing due to the fact that there's usually not much to report on. That's a good thing.

[Ira500]

Seattle does have real issues, but there's not much in the way of violent crimes, especially for a city it's size.
Still, houses and cars get broken into. The U district, Ballard, Northgate, and Fremont are all relatively high(for Seattle) crime areas in terms of things like burglaries. But when asked about those neighborhoods, most people say things like " Oh yeah, those are great neighborhoods, perfectly safe."
Ask them about Columbia City, or Georgetown, or White Center, and they'll say things like " Hold onto your wallet and walk fast."
Does Seattle have real issues? Yes. We are not a crime free city, and some of the problems in those northend neighborhood get whitewashed.
Are people just paranoid? That too. Getting mugged in Seattle is extremely rare. Rapes and murders are very low for a city of it's size. But lock your car, and don't leave it in an isolated place. Lock you house doors and join the block watch. Get to know your neighbors.

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by CarlB328

South Seattle and Tacoma seem seedy compared to other areas around here, and Everett has a lot of young people that do petty crime apparently, so that's why they have those reputations, but no they're not highly dangerous.

I mentioned a while back about me moving to the Parkland area. Some asked why I would not want to step up. What they don't understand is that, it's an entire flight of stairs up from Richmond, CA! I lived in Oakland before this and while a large part of that city actually is really safe, as Hemlock said there are parts that are downright scary as hell. Seattle seems even better than San Diego on the ground although SD may be a bit safer. I think western WA just has a higher standard for safety which is both good and bad I guess. Bad because many who have lived there a long time don't have a real perspective on what truly is a bad area.

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by swerver

After moving here from Chicago, my wife and I often find the local news amusing due to the fact that there's usually not much to report on. That's a good thing.

When I was there last, I remember the news reporting about a string of armed robberies in Green Lake Park. That wouldn't even be newsworthy in the Bay Area.

[Blondebaerde]

(Chuckle): the old saw about "paranoia vs. they're really out to get you" applies here. Subtleties.

Yeah, that whole "culture of fear" thing stops so many from so much interesting experience in life. Agreed with most of what you wrote. Folks in a higher income bracket become isolated-from and fearful-of everyday folks. A staple of human behavior and society since...forever.

Robespierre and his buddies put an end to that in France, c. 1792...never mind. Let them eat cake, indeed.

After the big verdict Saturday night, first thing out of a pal's mouth was "Jeez, riots!" My response was: what, going to live in fear of people demonstrating, too? Exercising their rights? Worst-case, are you planning to either one, join a riot; two, start a riot; or three, go watch a riot from the sidelines (if there is such a thing)? Since answer is probably "none of the above," in my pal's case, on the mean streets of Seattle. I suggested he just get on with life minus the fear-part.

Some of us don't get out much, seems-like.

I grew up north of Detroit, Oakland County, in the 1980s. Few places in the U.S. have such economic disparity as Oakland (north) and Wayne (Detroit and surrounding) counties. Driving down Woodward Avenue all the way to the river (almost) just wan't a great idea. We did it, several times, and some pals got in trouble from the locals doing same, once. Point being, common sense keeps most out of trouble, most of the time. We weren't "afraid" to go there, we just didn't go there. Fine line between courting trouble and paranoia, I must agree.

To with: I personally wouldn't drive South Rainier on a hot summer evening at 1AM, unless I was looking to cause a ruckus. Odds of me being in a ruckus, regardless, are still statistically pretty low. To your point. But by being there, I just upped the odds from "very low" to "measurable" by choosing to be somewhere that has higher crime than average, at a time of night when crime peaks. Know what I mean?

[mkarch]

I can say from experience that even the parts of West Baltimore used for filming The Wire seem relatively safe if you visit them at 7 am on a Sunday.

Originally Posted by Gentoo

I mentioned a while back about me moving to the Parkland area. Some asked why I would not want to step up. What they don't understand is that, it's an entire flight of stairs up from Richmond, CA! I lived in Oakland before this and while a large part of that city actually is really safe, as Hemlock said there are parts that are downright scary as hell.

I can also say from experience that the only 3 people I know that have been shot outside of military combat all lived in Parkland at the time.