Public Safety and Civility Update:
February 9th 2022
The Alliance for Pioneer Square is working diligently to support the Pioneer Square community through the COVID-19 pandemic. We recognize this time have been extremely difficult for the district and continue to advocate for solutions to ensure Pioneer Square is safe and welcoming for all.

This update includes a statement on today's shooting incident, the Alliance's latest effort to address Public Safety with City leaders, summary on today's Small Business Panel with Councilmember Sara Nelson, a reminder to take the Pioneer Square Crime and Safety Survey, an update from the JustCARE team, de-escalation training opportunities provided by the MID and SPD and, how to report public safety incidents/who to report incidents to.

*NEW* Statement on February 9th Shooting and
Gun Violence in Pioneer Square

This afternoon Police responded to a shooting in the 200 block of James Street. Thank you to the Seattle Police Department and Seattle Fire Department for their swift response to today’s incident and to all our first respondents for their tireless commitment to addressing public safety events in the neighborhood. With respect to those involved today, and everyone who has been victimized in recent months, the Alliance persists in our call on the City for immediate action to ensure Pioneer Square is safe for everyone who lives, works, and visits the neighborhood.

We understand the pandemic has put additional pressures on many of our City systems, however, serious and volatile public safety situations have been allowed to exist with little or no response. What happened today cannot be normalized, or minimized. Pioneer Square has been home to the highest concentration of services for those in need in King County, and yet still lacks an adequate response to keep people safe.

Swift action is needed so that all feel safe in our neighborhood - those living on the streets or in homes, engaging in services, coming to work, visiting the neighborhood, and passing through. We ask the City to work with us to treat this public safety crisis with the urgency it demands.

Police are asking that if you have any information in today’s case to please call the tip line at 206-233-5000.
*NEW* The Alliance Advocates for Immediate Strategies
to Address the Presence and Impacts of Public Safety
This week, the Alliance for Pioneer Square's Executive Director, Lisa Dixon Howard, sent a letter to City of Seattle leaders urging them to develop immediate strategies to address the presence and impacts of a lack of public safety and civility within Pioneer Square.

The letter outlines the impact of public safety and civility challenges on the neighborhood's social and economic well-being, including business owners, residents, and property owners. The letter concludes with an ask to city leaders to continue to include the Alliance and other neighborhood organizations in critical conversations regarding the chronic challenges of public safety and civility in our neighborhood and beyond.

The Alliance will continue to vigorously advocate for Pioneer Square's needs in critical conversations to ensure our neighborhood is safe, welcoming, and all. Read the letter here.
*NEW* The Alliance and Other Neighborhood Business Districts Participate in a Small Business Panel Hosted by Councilmember Sara Nelson

Today, Councilmember Sara Nelson hosted a panel of business owners and business district leaders at the Seattle City Council Economic Development Committee to review and discuss public safety concerns, ongoing challenges to economic recovery and potential solutions the ongoing business disruptions being experienced across the city.

The Alliance was invited to participate in the panel discussion and noted the ongoing need for better resourced support for improved public safety and civility in the district. Pioneer Square business owner, Tariqa Waters also featured in the panel and shared her experience with concerns such as street cleanliness and personal safety.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, several individuals from across Seattle expressed their concerns regarding public safety challenges on the economic well being of their neighborhoods. Overall, today's panel recommended the following policies and/or programs to address public safety challenges in business districts across Seattle:

  • Dedicated Mayor’s Office Attention to Street Level Crime and Disorder
  • High-Visibility Foot-Beat Patrols (Trained/Unsworn) in Neighborhood
  • Crime Hub Coordinators in Neighborhood Business Districts
  • Broken Window Fund
  • Small Business Insurance Affordability and Access Study
  • SPD Emphasis Patrols

Listen to the full committee meeting recording here. The Alliance looks forward to working with Councilmember Nelson at future Seattle City Council Economic Development Committee meetings regarding solutions at the intersection of economic development and public safety.
Reminder: 2022 Pioneer Square
Crime and Safety Survey

The Alliance for Pioneer Square is asking business owners/managers to fill out this Crime and Safety Survey. The goal of the survey is to get an accurate understanding about the impacts of crime and the effects of safety concerns of Pioneer Square businesses. In order to track change over time, we will reissue this survey every other month.

The Alliance for Pioneer Square will use data collected from this survey in our advocacy efforts with City, County, and State representative as we advocate for a clean, safe, and inviting community for all people. Note, Specific survey responses are kept confidential and shared only in the aggregate unless a business owner had a specific story or incident they wished to share publicly.
Homelessness Response

*NEW* JustCARE Update

With community collaboration and intensive outreach, the JustCARE team was recently able to make lodging placements from 2nd and Main and from the King Street Station at 3rd and Main. Altogether, 18 individuals living on site were screened and found to be appropriate for JustCARE placements, 10 have moved in and have been assigned case managers. 4 additional individuals were approved but not on site during placements. The team will work to locate them and place them when found.

The outreach team will continue to work with the individuals who declined and voluntarily relocated, until appropriate shelter and services are identified for them. There were 3 new arrivals after the project commenced. These individuals were placed into shelter spaces through collaboration with the HOPE team. Both sites are clear of people and debris without displacements.


JustCARE is currently outreaching other sites in its operating area for placement. JustCARE is still managing the impacts of flooding at one of its hotels, as well as positive COVID cases amongst some participants and staff. With King County isolation and quarantine resources stretched thin, JustCARE is taking charge of safety precautions and working with diminished capacity until it is safe for staff and clients. JustCARE also still faces a funding cliff at the end of June 2022. Because the average time spent in JustCARE lodging before moving onto a permanent housing solution is 5 months, placements will likely end in February-March of 2022, unless JustCARE receives ongoing funding.

2022 De-escalation Trainings with the Metropolitan Improvement District and Seattle Police Department

Throughout 2022, the Alliance for Pioneer Square, in partnership with the Metropolitan Improvement District (MID) and Seattle Police Department, will offer 1.5 hour de-escalation and personal safety trainings to any interested business in Pioneer Square. The trainings will be held virtually, with the opportunity for participants to engage with the trainers.

The MID/SPD de-escalation training is an in-depth training program that teaches participants how to recognize, reduce and manage aggressive behavior. Over the course of the presentation, the MID will provide effective and compassionate methods of handling anxious or aggressive people, as well as increase confidence and introduce skills that can be used during threatening situations. Members of SPD will also present on personal safety techniques and field individualized questions from attendees.

If your business is interest in holding a de-escalation training, please reach out to chris@pioneersquare.org to begin the scheduling process.
City Outreach Resources on Homelessness in Seattle

Below is a list of city contacts for Seattle residents and businesses seeking assistance from the city, as well as a list of city services and resources for those experiencing homelessness. Being homeless is not a crime and vulnerable individuals living on our streets are deserving of empathy, care, and assistance from our city:

Reporting

How to Report

  • For in-progress criminal activity and emergency reporting: please call 911 and report what you have observed. 9-1-1 data informs police resource allocation at the City level.

  • (206) 625-5011 for non-emergency reporting.

  • If police need to be aware of on-going drug activity but doesn’t require immediate response can be reported online as a Narcotics Activity Report or by calling 206-684-5797.

  • The "Find It, Fix It" app allows users to report selected issues to the City of Seattle, including abandoned vehicles, clogged storm drains, graffiti and illegal dumping. Once downloaded, report an issue in the app by submitting a photo with detailed information and using the map's "drag and drop" feature to pinpoint the location. For more information and a full list of service request categories, visit the city's customer service bureau website.

Who to Report to

  • 2-1-1: an easy-to-remember phone number for people to call for health and human service information and referrals and other assistance to meet their needs.


  • The MID-funded Safety Team provides customer service and wayfinding, transit information, safety escorts, referrals to human services, coordination to clean debris from sidewalks, public safety information and crime prevention through environmental design services for ratepayers. Their eight-person Homeless Outreach Team provides case management, mental health services, housing and job placement and street-based outreach services.

Ambassador hours of operation will be as follows:
  • Clean Team: Monday-Friday 6:30 a.m-6 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
  • Safety Team: Monday-Sunday 7:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
  • Parks & Public Spaces Team: Sunday-Saturday 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • Outreach Team: Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

You can request service via phone at 206-441-3303 or submit a request online. If you see damage to private property or public infrastructure, report it using this form in addition to contacting SPD. You can leave a detailed message after hours or dial 911 in case of an emergency.

  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Resources



  • Vacant Properties: The City of Seattle has regulations and standards for maintaining vacant properties. These standards focus on keeping buildings closed to unauthorized entry and maintaining the structure and yard areas to prevent the accumulation of waste and deterioration of the building. Click here for more information.

  • Crime Prevention Coordinator: Crime Prevention Coordinators are experts in crime prevention techniques. You can talk to them about ongoing crime problems in your neighborhood, getting involved in Block Watch, CPTED Assessments and setting up a meeting to train you and your neighbors on crime prevention tips. Email Barb Biondo at barbara.biondo@seattle.gov or call (206) 233-0015.





Please let us know how we might best support you. Feel free to contact any of us with comments, questions, suggestions, or concerns.
Sincerely,

The Alliance Team

ALLIANCE FOR PIONEER SQUARE