Local group demands action on public safety in Ballard

A local group is demanding the City to take action to end the growing public safety crisis in Ballard and surrounding neighborhoods.

Safe Seattle, a group of neighbors, business owners, and homeless advocates, will be hosting a community meeting on crime and public safety this Wednesday, January 6, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at United Church of Christ in Magnolia (3555 W McGraw St).

Check out more from the organizers below:

No one wants to spend a Wednesday evening at a meeting. But this one is shaping up to be the most important gathering of residents to demand the city take appropriate action to end the growing public safety crisis in Ballard and surrounding neighborhoods.

The meeting was organized by Magnolia resident Cindy Pierce to address growing issues of drug dealing and use, illegal dumping, theft, illegal encampments, human waste, needles and other public safety problems that are increasingly impacting residents and business owners in Ballard, Magnolia, Queen Anne and other neighborhoods. These problems have reached crisis levels in our communities, and the goal of the meeting is to bring residents together to talk about possible solutions and demand action.

People from various neighborhoods will be speaking at the meeting, and representatives from city hall are expected to attend. We anticipate a potentially big turnout, given the interest and response so far on social media sites.

Additionally, there is a petition circulating to urge the city to do more to address criminal activity in our neighborhoods. More than 1,100 people have signed it so far, and the comments are illustrative of the types of problems neighborhoods have been dealing with.

Register your attendance and support on the event’s Facebook page.