<p>Our neighbor- who works on local boats doing welding and repair work- comes in contact with the “less desirable element” quite a bit. Many men, are hired as day workers and no questions are asked about their background or even legality as long as they can do their job-Theft and fights are a huge problem- so he apparently decided that meant he needed to have several weapons, and he has argued that when he goes to register them- he sees * everyone* from grandmas to gangstas ( although would gangsters register their guns?)
<a href=“http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003334233_uwcrime01m.html[/url]”>http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003334233_uwcrime01m.html</a>
A recent shootout outside a UW frat seems to prove his point :(</p>
<p>What I believe the Times tiptoed around is that non student black males are coming up to campus and trying to get into the frat and off campus parties. When they get rejected at the door they often start fights or shooting. There have been similar problems in Madison where gangs of black non students have been showing up around campus and mugging kids coming home from the bars.</p>
<p>barrons:
I read the article and missed the part where the “tiptoed around is that non student black males are coming up to campus and trying to get into the frat and off campus parties” Do you have some information about this?</p>
<p>The article says non-students are coming from outside the area to find parties/activities on or near campus. No racial info is given or appears relevant from reading the article. As a parent (even tho my kids aren’t at this school), I don’t consider it unusual that kids who are not students go to or near campus to find out what’s happening on or near campus. Don’t believe that’s new (that was happening in the 70s when I was in college)–just the violence & GANGS & guns are making the situation more dangerous.<br>
The gang aspect wasn’t an issue at our U back then & would definitely increase the danger factor. I don’t know enough about the communities mentioned to know demographics but would definitely be concerned.</p>
<p>The TImes did mention that non students were coming from Tacoma - which does have many admitted gang members who have moved north from LA ( Hispanic gangs as well as Crips & Bloods)but non students were coming down from Bellingham as well-
I admit I am not that familar with B-ham anymore- but somehow gangs & Bellingham aren’t going together in my head</p>
<p>I work with several recent UW grads who filled in the details. Also around Seattle coming from Tacoma with guns pretty much means what I said.</p>
<p>And Bellingham? Black or Hispanic or Asian?</p>
<p>if this is something that has been ongoing- I think there should be more public outcry about the need for more police protection in the area
My daughter school also attracted those from outside the school community who targeted students- and we had several meetings with the police dept ( which are still ongoing) to increase awareness and safety
I realize that we supposedly have fewer officers per capita than other major cities- and I would argue that we can’t afford to continue-</p>
<p>“Compared to other cities its size, the Seattle Police Department is drastically understaffed,” says David Dillman, Vice President of Operations and Services for the Downtown Seattle Association, which represents 430 member companies. Federal data bear out his contention. According to the FBI’s “Crime In the United States - 2004,” cities of 250,000 or more have an average of 2.8 sworn police personnel (officers, and other, higher-ranking non-civilian staff such as detectives, sergeants, lieutenants, captains) per 1,000 residents. Seattle’s ratio, based on the city’s own 2006 authorized sworn personnel levels of 1,277, factored into the city’s estimated population (572,600), is 2.23. If Seattle brought sworn staffing levels to the national average per 1,000 residents for cities of 250,000 or more, there would be 326 more sworn personnel deployed.</p>
<p>Hmmm, the bad element coming down from Bellingham must be…Canadians??? :D</p>
<p>The only bad element I know of in Bellingham is the Bandidos MC gang. I doubt they are interested in crashing frat parties. Oh, and the DC snipers spent some time there.</p>
<p><a href=“http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/92652_fbi24.shtml[/url]”>http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/92652_fbi24.shtml</a></p>