Seattle downtown really dodgy (Bellevue, Redmond: live, homeless, ordinances)

[Kayela]

Funny there seems to be a lot more panhandlers in downtown Redmond. There was a policeman working construction traffic about 10ft from a panhandler with a cardboard note at a traffic light. I watched out of the window for a good hour and the police turned a blind eye to it. So if they won't do anything what hope is there?

What would you want the policeman to do? What was the panhandler doing wrong? Was he chasing families with children to their cars and shouting at them to give him money? Or was he just standing there with a sign?

It's not illegal to ask people for a handout. But there's been controversy in Seattle about how aggressive some panhandlers are. The OP should definitely write the city council and let them know about this incident and how it will impact when/where they spend their money. The city tried to pass an ordinance that would allow police a means to step in, but unless it escalates to assault - there's not much they can do. The mayor veto'd it.

[secret_squirrel]

I've never been accosted or aggressively panhandled DT for years, at least since I was a young, fresh-faced teenager that looked like an easy mark. I got chased across the street once, really freaked me out. I quickly learned not to make eye contact and walk purposefully. I'm aware of my surroundings, will cross streets if caution warrants it, but have never felt unsafe in Seattle, including a stint in my 20s when I used to go out at night quite a bit, often leaving alone and walking to my car.

My spouse commutes downtown daily. He has some stories to tell - in a coffee shop one morning, a mentally ill guy walked up to him and threatened to punch him. He left. Something like that happens once a year, it seems.

[eskercurve]

I have never been aggressively accosted either while downtown.

Just one or two examples of this behavior does not make downtown "dodgy." Perhaps those eastsiders should just stick to their facade of manufactured happiness and cleanliness. The adults will stay on this side of the lake, thankyouverymuch.

[RunTheDistance476]

Looks like someone is jealous of the prosperity and cleanliness of their eastside neighbors, surprise, surprise.

Someone give me the name/address of a city council person and I'll write them a letter. Although, I think sending it to the mayor himself would be a waste of time. Something does need to be done. Having to constantly be on guard and worry about who may be following you isn't how life should be lived.

[tigerwu]

The homeless people around Bellevue downtown are much nicer and less aggressive. Sometimes I even doubt they are really homeless! If it weren't for the kids, I would have no problem going to seattle at night. In general I find people here very nice. Its a shame that this is the biggest impression visitors get.

[eskercurve]

Originally Posted by wlw2009

Looks like someone is jealous of the prosperity and cleanliness of their eastside neighbors, surprise, surprise.

Someone give me the name/address of a city council person and I'll write them a letter. Although, I think sending it to the mayor himself would be a waste of time. Something does need to be done. Having to constantly be on guard and worry about who may be following you isn't how life should be lived.

Let me know when your materialism and fake culture allow you to be happy. I'll be waiting for when you do something truly original. Not jealous whatsoever.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by tigerwu

We moved to Bellevue a few months ago and went to seattle downtown a few times after dark. Every time, getting back to the car, we were accosted by homeless people asking for money in threatening manners. One time around 7pm in front of the Westin Hotel, 2 very aggressive guys approached us from the front and the back of the car. I had a really tough time getting my 2 small kids into the car safely. One was yelling at me for some reason and the other came right up to my kids. I cant believe the city is not doing anything about this problem. I understand the live and let live liberal attitude here. But this is ridiculous. NYC was like this in the early 90s until mayor Jiuliani cleaned it up. Now the city is thriving. When is Seattle going to do the same??!

There's a law against aggressive panhandling. Or there used to be. Check with police next time you go into town. If there is a next time.

[Beenhere4ever]

Originally Posted by tigerwu

We moved to Bellevue a few months ago and went to seattle downtown a few times after dark. Every time, getting back to the car, we were accosted by homeless people asking for money in threatening manners. One time around 7pm in front of the Westin Hotel, 2 very aggressive guys approached us from the front and the back of the car. I had a really tough time getting my 2 small kids into the car safely. One was yelling at me for some reason and the other came right up to my kids. I cant believe the city is not doing anything about this problem. I understand the live and let live liberal attitude here. But this is ridiculous. NYC was like this in the early 90s until mayor Jiuliani cleaned it up. Now the city is thriving. When is Seattle going to do the same??!

Well, I'm not going to argue with this, but there is a problem. Haven't experienced it on every visit, but I did have one unpleasant walk up from the waterfront to reach the train. Now I don't know if it is purely aggressiveness or in some cases mental illness that caused the behavior I encountered. I am pretty sure some of it is mental illness. The fact is that all kinds of classes of people are being just abandoned to the streets and then ignored. To a large extent, America no longer will judge those who've lost control of their lives and provide them structure. So they are left to mix with everyone else. They are never going to be able to fend for themselves, but you only need to monitor politics to learn that a large minority tending toward a majority says survival is an individual thing. I think it is possible to take this stand because you merely have to shape your life to never encounter the people who are failing as individuals. Isn't good for tourism, but if I'm not living off tourism, "it aint my problem". I suppose Scrooge today would ask if the poorhouses still exist. I'm no Scrooge, but even a poorhouse would beat today's solution. Frankly, jail is a step up for a lot of these people. The people who pour hundreds of millions into politics may hope more of these people remove themselves by dying since even a poorhouse might nick them a penny or two in taxes, but heaven forfend that any sort of maintenance program be established.

So I guess a word to the wise, the unsolved social problems of American lurk in downtown streets (or even Aurora Avenues) of America's cities. You can look the other way and pretend not to hear, you can give them a coin if you want, or you can be like the rich and simply not walk downtown. Don't expect society to solve your problem.

[RunTheDistance476]

Lol my fake culture and materialism. Right. haha. You must be a very sad person.

[pwright1]

Originally Posted by wlw2009

Looks like someone is jealous of the prosperity and cleanliness of their eastside neighbors, surprise, surprise.

Someone give me the name/address of a city council person and I'll write them a letter. Although, I think sending it to the mayor himself would be a waste of time. Something does need to be done. Having to constantly be on guard and worry about who may be following you isn't how life should be lived.

Oh brother! You've got to be kidding.