Here’s a look at some of the past month’s crime incidents in the neighborhood. Information is from Seattle Police reports.

Robbery spree suspect arrested, 9:50 p.m. April 18

One of two men suspected of robbing two people in the area April 18 was arrested in the U District, according to the police report.

One robbery occurred near 24th and Olive Street around 9:50 p.m. While police were talking to the victim, they received a call of another possibly-related robbery at 22nd and E Thomas Street. Then, while searching the area, they received word that the suspects were being detained near 43rd and Roosevelt in the U District.

The first victim positively identified one of the suspects, and he was arrested. More details from the police report:

Continue reading →

A proposal to rename a 0.7 mile stretch of 19th Ave and 19th Ave E to honor a longtime leader of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church at 19th and Madison was announced by two members of the Seattle City Council late Wednesday night.

The proposed Rev. Dr. Samuel B. McKinney Avenue would run between E Union and Republican, crossing E Madison by the church where McKinney was honored earlier this month for his 45 years of service.

The first of two public meetings on the proposed change is slated for Wednesday afternoon. We’re checking to find out the status of scheduling the second meeting.

The area the street passes through was historically within the city’s black district where many African Americans raised families and built lives in eras of redlining and economic and cultural segregation in the city. Today, the area encompasses a steadily changing mix of community facilities, new developments and old homes and is still home to many African American Seattleites. Mt. Zion’s large campus itself is set to join the continued changes as it prepares plans for a redevelopment of its property at the 19th and Madison intersection. Continue reading →

Thanks to @Seattle_12s for the photo.

Seattle Fire wrestled a gas station blaze quickly under control Thursday morning after a car reportedly smashed into a pump near Terry and James.

According to Seattle Fire radio dispatches, the fire was reported just before 9:20 AM and was under control less than 10 minutes later as the car continued to smolder.

There do not appear to be any injuries associated with the crash and fire.

A Seattle Police collision investigation is also underway at the scene.

UPDATE: The crash reportedly involved a hit and run driver who left the scene westbound on James. Police are looking for a black, late 2000s Chevy Monte Carlo with “significant damage” to the passenger side.

Photo of the aftermath, from Seattle Fire: Continue reading →

City officials and community leaders in January announce the first gun buyback event at Mount Zion Baptist Church

Students of the Central District, what have guns done to your community, and what would a CD without gun violence be like?

The city is looking for your thoughts, which they will then turn into pieces of art using the steel from guns purchased during a recent gun buyback event.

This is all part of the Weapons to Words program, funded with the help of Chihuly Studio and Schnitzer Steel. Deadline to enter is June 7.

Details from the city:

Weapons to Words is a program for students in Seattle sponsored by the Office of the Mayor and Office of Arts & Culture in cooperation with Chihuly Studio and Schnitzer Steel that encourages a violence free future for Seattle. Metal upcycled from guns recovered from Seattle’s gun buyback program will be tuned into plaques featuring quotes from Seattle students.

Students are asked to submit quotes that signify what gun violence in their community means to them, and what we can do to stop it. This program encourages kids to think about clear, simple actions and attitudes that they can take to contribute to the elimination of violence in schools and in our city. A panel convened by the Office of Arts and Culture will select one entry per school to be engraved on a publicly displayed installation designed by Chihuly Studio.

This contest is open to students in the City of Seattle in grades 1-12. One winner per school will be selected by a panel of judges. Entry deadline is Friday, June 7th. More information about the contest, including rules, eligibility and participation requirements can be obtained online at seattle.gov/WeaponsToWords. You can contact [email protected] or 206-615-1446 with any questions.

Contest Topic:

We’re asking students to think about what gun violence in their community means to them, and what we can do to stop it. What would a Seattle free of gun violence be like? How can we get there? How would life for young people in our city be different without fear of gun violence? Continue reading →

Seattle Police will change how the department finds new officers in an effort to find cops that better reflect the communities in which they serve, officials said Monday.

As part of the program to overhaul the Seattle Police Department to live up to Justice Department requirements over policing and constitutional rights in the city, SPD will loosen its guidelines over everything from tattoos to drug use to driving records.

More substantive might be a planned increase in efforts at the community level to recruit and hire new police.

Policy changes and initiatives affecting recruitment include:

• · Elimination of $25 application fee
• · Partnerships with community-based organizations including Atlantic Street Center, Filipino Community of Seattle and El Centro De La Raza
• · Community based workshops to prepare candidates for testing
• · New advertising and recruitment materials based on community input
• · Changes to the minimum hiring standards policy including: Continue reading →