why so many gangs in Seattle?....Washington? (Tacoma, Everett: lawyers, high school)

[Under The Clouds]

I think 9 months of rain would drive anyone to being a gang banger. It's a wonder we're not all in the hood!

[Under The Clouds]

Originally Posted by 20666

-It is.
-I grew up in Rainer Beach, Beacon Hill, and Hilltop Tacoma
-Those are all black and asian neighborhoods, I'm white
-I now live in Renton which is South of Rainer
-Not so much gangs but they do cause ALOT of violence
-If you don't mess with them and show respect to what they do.
-They won't mess with you.

I grew up in (old) Holly Park in the late '80's, taking the 42 and hoping I wouldn't become a statistic. I think most American cities are relatively safe compared to the late 80's. But maybe I'm overgeneralizing. Statistically, Seattle is still a very safe city, but I think Seattle is worse when talking about lifestyle crimes, such as graffiti or homelessness (open drug use, etc.), vs. actual physical danger. I do think we're due for a crackdown, though. Personally, I would love to see a Giuliani-type take over city government, but I don't know if that's on offer this November. It's disgusting that the Fremont Troll has been overrun with open drug use, for example.

[70Ford]

http://www.ofm.wa.gov/budget10/highl...blicsafety.pdf

Add three Neighborhood Partnership Officers who work with local law enforcement agencies to track down gang members, sex offenders and other dangerous felons. ($301,000 GF-S)

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by TaJasMi

Yeah, Tukwila is where I see the most ppl who at least look gangsterish, not sure if they are though. They seem nice enough, just maybe dress the part.

I laughed about what someone said earlier in this post about being told to stay away from West Seattle.... who would say that?! I actually only lived in W.Sea(Alki) for the first year that I lived here but spent most all of my time there and is was the quietest most safe feeling part of the city. IMO.
And as far as White Center goes I think it is a little run down with some odd characters here and there, but not much more than that.

That's what I was thinking. I don't even live in Seattle but still got the impression that West Seattle, if not upscale, was at least a very nice part of the city. I felt completely safe walking around Seattle, even at night. Safer than in San Diego and most of SD is pretty safe as well although we have our shady areas.

I just got back from the Bay Area; let me tell you the days I went to San Francisco, I always made sure to get back to the relative safety of Oakland (strange huh? lol) before dark. You have to have led a very sheltered life to think of Seattle as a gang city.

[SUSAN AMODIAS-HAYWARD]

I moved from the Kent area to SE Washington and it is nice. Where I lived in Kent I would hear gun shots at night. When I moved there back in 1988 it was the better part and really nice. Down hill the past few years.

[Danjohn3646]

I do not live in seattle, or even Washington State, but it is common sense that all major cities have street gangs. It is not a question of are there gangs in Seattle, or Washington, but rather how many and how violent are they? A group of friends hanging out on a street corner or in a parking lot is a gang but it does not mean they will harm you. Most shootings and drive-by's are usually drug related. I also have noticed that because minorities usually hang out in groups of their peers that many people think of them as gangsters when in reality they are just friends having fun and socializing. Get a grip people, I don't hear of the violence in Seattle that I hear about in NY, LA, Vegas, Chicago, or any of those other major cities.

[DavidKooh]

Today we are very frightened by everything, that occurs in the world and are ready to name the gangster of any people which cost in the street and have a slovenly appearance.
It is not absolutely correct.

[AlohaHuey]

The media tells us we have a gang problem, but "problem" is subjective.

[uclabruins]

There are gangs there? :?

[UrbanAdventurer]

The neighborhoods of S. Seattle can be pretty hood. (Rainer Beach comes to mind). More of the same in the right areas of Kent, Renton, Tukwila. These areas are all more or less adjacent to each other and of kind of run together in their craptastic-ness.

In general the communities North, North-East and East of downtown are much cleaner and safer than what you'll find along the I-5 corridor due South of downtown. That's where the gang activity and gangster/thug culture will be centered in Seattle.