Several neighbors have been recently experiencing an increase in criminal activities on their streets.  Drug dealing, prostitution, thefts and break ins have been commonly reported in the last few months.

We have provided plenty of time on our agenda this Thursday for you to identify your concerns. If your issues are requiring police attention, SPD command staff will be present and will respond.  If your concern indicates a prevention/ intervention action, we will support you in receiving attention from the appropriate community-based organization. Street lights? We’ll put you in touch with the right people.

So come and share your concerns and whatever issues may be compromising your quality of life…Feel free to give kudos also to those who have helped your neighborhood!… Continue reading…

Our East Precinct Advisory Council (EastPAC) meeting with Mayor McGinn is less than 20 hours away! The majority of the meeting will be dedicated to you…. Come and express your concerns, ask questions and make recommendations directly to the Mayor.

This is the time of year that budget decisions are made; it is critical that our voices are heard- we as citizens often know best what we need in our communities to ensure a better quality of life for all.

 East Precinct Advisory Council Meeting with Mayor Mike McGinn

Thursday, September 22, 2011, 6 PM to 7:45 PM.

Pigott Auditorium, Seattle University

1016 E. Marion St. 98122

Free parking in the Broadway and East Columbia campus parking garage

Please see www.eastpac.org

Posted on March 1, 2014 by communityofafricatown

Community supporters and customers rallied to support Waid Sainvil whose lounge faced a threat of closure.

You can view a majority of that EastPAC meeting here

A meeting was held on Thursday February 27 at Seattle U’s Chardin Hall Room 145 to hear comments regarding an attempt to close “Waid’s” Haitian Cuisine Bar & Lounge, owned by Waid Sainvil.

The EastPAC meeting was being held due to what the City of Seattle claims are various club ‘violations’, and the nightclub has since been threatened with closure.

Waid said “It’s a black thing,” and that “this is the only place in Seattle where black people from all over hang out.”

In attendance along with the lounge owner, were friends and community leaders and supporters of Waids, EastPAC,Officer David Stitt, the Washington State Liquor Control Enforcement representative, Bill Reddy, who coordinates the City of Seattle Nightlife Premises Regulatory Enforcement Unit.… Continue reading…

Approved by voters in November 2012, Initiative 502 allows the legal production and sale of marijuana for medical and recreational use.

The Washington State Liquor Control Board has developed rules to regulate the production and sales of marijuana ruling that ‘pot shops’ cannot be located within 1000 ft. in any direction from a school, park, childcare center, arcade, public transit facility, or playground. The city’s proposed locations for marijuana retail outlets that fall within the rules are identified in yellow in the attached map.  As you can see on the map, the area around 23^rd and Union is outside of the restrictions and could therefore be zoned for one, two, three or more pot shops. To my knowledge “Saturation” limits have not been addressed by the rule-makers.… Continue reading…

The Seattle Times reports that Mayor McGinn’s 2013-14 budget will include $1 million annually for ten additional police officers and $950,000 for 52 gunshot locators. He will unveil the details of his budget next week.

From the Times:

The city wants to install up to 52 mobile gunshot locator units, with each having a minimum 600-foot radius range and the ability to pinpoint a gunshot to within a 50-foot radius. The units also can stream video and determine the caliber of weapon that was fired with a 90 percent accuracy rate.

Hiring 10 new officers would bring the department’s total to 1,310.

East Precinct Captain Ron Wilson previously told the EastPAC group that he plans on requesting as many officers as possible if the city were to hire more officers.… Continue reading…

On May 30th, after a tragic few weeks of gun violence and homicides, the East Precinct Advisory Council and the Garfield Community Center sponsored a community gathering that drew over 300 people. Many were angry, frustrated, afraid and distressed.  Most attendees were neighbors who were very concerned about the increase in shootings.  The conversations evolved from anger about gentrification, racial inequity, disproportionate criminalization of minorities and other social injustices to the sharing of difficult circumstances and unfamiliar neighborhoods to the possibilities of healing. 

Some considered the meeting to be a failure.  I don’t agree, believing that this is a growing process toward some element of collaboration and support and understanding among neighbors and community.  Some of you signed up for a committee to do something about the violence.  Others met new neighbors and police staff. 

So where are we now?… Continue reading…