National Night Out is Tuesday, August 5th. If your block has not yet planned something, there’s still time. If you haven’t heard of or participated in NNO, here’s some information to get you started.

http://www.nationaltownwatch.org/nno/about.html
http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/police/nightout/default.htm

I live near 23rd and Jackson and several blocks/block groups around here do a get-together. Most are casual potluck bbqs. The city lets you shut down the street as long as you register. Sometimes the fire fighters stop by to say hi to the kids. This is a good way to get to know neighbors and it’s more fun than a normal block watch meeting.

Hello everyone – Many thanks for this wonderful resource!

I’m a homeowner near the intersection of Bradner and S Judkins. Last night around 10:30 I observed an old-style sedan with at least four passengers – young black men (sorry if I offend anyone here but that’s what I saw). They stopped their car in front of my house, partially blocking the driveway. Two got out, and they hung there for quite a while. I called police because after the shooting in the neighborhood I’m not taking any chances – I did not get the sense that this car belonged in the neighborhood. I was told a squad car would come by but I did not see one, and the car eventually left. I tried to get the license number as they drove off but couldn’t get the full number. Just FYI – please be aware of groups of people, and of cars, that don’t seem to belong, and let the police know. The vibe I got from this group was not good.

I love, love summer.  It’s a slow crime day so far – here’s the update reported from the back deck of CDNews World Headquarters:

Since we seem to be dealing with a crime wave of residential burglaries in the area, I thought it would be good to focus on the proactive steps we can all be taking to help avoid being a victim.

So use this as an open thread to share all the things you’ve done or are thinking of doing to secure your home.  I’m particularly interested in people who have done something and felt like it worked.  For example, they installed an alarm, had a break-in, but thought that the screaming sirens reduced the amount of loss (or not).

• Burglar alarms – who’s the best?  who’s not?  is monitoring worth the monthly cost?
• Security cameras – anybody installed them?  caught someone in the act?  suggested systems or installers?
• Other physical security?
• General tips?

Today the PI reports that 2nd degree murder charges have been filed against Richard Judlin in the Inependence Day stabbing of his wife in their Central District apartment.

He’s blaming crack:

Judlin told police he’d been smoking crack cocaine earlier in the evening, according to court documents. He told officers he stabbed his wife several times on their bed, then lay on top of her face to stifle her screams.

Prosecutors say Judlin “told officers that he regularly smokes cocaine … and just ‘clicked’ and stabbed Earlycutt to death without provocation.”

Judlin is being held on a $1 million bail, and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Update: In regards to Elvis’s question below, I contacted Dan Donohoe from the King County Prosecutor’s office, and that they are still considering amending the charges to 1st degree murder, with a decision coming “at a later date”.   Judlin’s arraignment is scheduled for July 21st.

A link on CHS: Seattle sent me to  http://www.urbnlivn.com which somehow led me to:

“Redfin Real Estate Forums : Seattle : How safe is 23rd & Union”

http://forums.redfin.com/rf/board/message?board.id=Seattle&thread.id=2733

which I thought some of you might care to chime in on.

I spoke with Komo 4 news reporter Casey Norton this afternoon and it sounds like they are working on this story and trying to get information from police. I told him that while the break-ins have occurred on our block (27th & Pine) most recently, they are part of a much bigger epidemic of robberies throughout our area. He said they have been trying to get information from police but unless they have incident/case numbers they cannot discuss the robberies in broader scope.

Here is his information:

Casey Norton
Komo 4 News
206.795.9982

My husband also wrote an email to a series of precinct officers, City Council people and Komo 4 news. Here is the response he received from Casey Norton:

D…. –

Thanks for contacting KOMO 4 News. We are continuing our coverage today, and we’re still trying to get an idea of how many homes have been hit and during what times. Seattle Police asked me to find out the incident numbers and call them so they can compile the information. If you know of anyone who has filed a police report,
please have them contact me (via email) with the incident numbers.

I realize your neighbors don’t want to talk on TV, but if they would at least be willing to meet with us, it would bring greater attention to the story and a better response from police – a big help for those who are staying in the neighborhood.

Thanks again for the email. Please contact me directly if you have
any concerns, comments, or questions.

Casey Norton

KOMO 4 News

Anchor/Reporter

Desk: 206-404-4385

Cell: 206-795-9973

[email protected]

Please join friends and neighbors for fun and food at the Squire Park Community
Council’s Annual Barbecue on Saturday, July 12, noon to 2:00 p.m. immediately following the July quarterly meeting held at Langston Hughes. The Squire Park Community Council Board will do the grilling and provide the food. Special activities for children include a clown, a special art project presented by Pratt Fine Arts Center, a visit from a fire truck, bouncy play equipment, and other recreation.

Help bring the best of the new, old, and in between in our neighborhood together for a great event. Meet your neighbors and celebrate your community on July 12, 2008, at Langston Hughes Cultural Arts Center, located at 104 17th Ave S.

I was walking down Columbia the other day when I saw a small group of neighbors gathered in front of a property in the 700 block of 16th Ave.  They were looking at a pile of splinters that just a few hours earlier was a big, three-story, four-unit home.

The old house was built in 1901, and had almost 4,000 square feet of space across each of its four apartments.  It sold in June of 2007 for $1.25 million.

According to permits filed with the city, the owner of the property is planning to build a single three-story home with 1,962 square feet of living space and a 350 square foot garage.

That’s not a whole lot of house to fill an unusually large, 9,600 square foot lot, so I’m guessing there’s bigger plans in store for this property.  The key will be to see where they site the new home.  If it’s on one side or a corner, I’d expect to see a future application to subdivide the lot for townhomes.

And a quick note to developers:  when you’re tearing down an old house, can you at least try to salvage some of the stuff inside it?  The pile of rubble included all sorts of valuable stuff, such as classic 5-panel wooden doors that could have been easily saved.

Did everybody have a good 4th?  Here’s what’s shakin’: