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Addressing Street Disorder
to Preserve Jobs and Improve Our Quality of Life
Excerpts from Correspondence
Received by City Council Members
“I would like to address the issue of panhandling in the streets of Seattle….As a
downtown working mother of both a newborn baby and sixteen year old daughter, I have many
concerns about my safety. As a female worker, I try to dodge panhandlers at every intersection
while I make my way to our different locations. I avoid those panhandlers I know to be
aggressive, vocal and intimidating while also being compassionate to the plight of some of the
Real Changes sellers whom I respect for their hard work and devotion….It seems to me that over
the years panhandling has become more aggressive, personal and intimidating in Seattle. I
simply avoid going places if I know that I have to walk by someone who will treat me
aggressively and rudely.”
-Devony Boyle, Rainier Beach Resident
“. . . I am taking the time to let you know the importance of my take on public safety in
Seattle. (Not getting any better, but largely getting worse.) Being in the hospitality industry, I
have seen deterioration of our streets, [in]filtrated with intimidating characters, blatant drug use,
and solicitation. . . . I deal with hundreds of guests and visitors to our city every day. I . . . listen
to what they are saying about what’s going on in our streets, both day and night. They tell me
what a beautiful city Seattle truly is . . . with one exception, ‘the street people.’ The visitors do
not feel comfortable walking from their hotels, to the market, or catching the bus without being
approached by many different panhandlers and street people along their route.”
-Louise Smith, Downtown Hotel Employee
“I have lived in Seattle for 11 years and never have I felt more unsafe living and working
in this city as I do today. I work downtown and my 18 month old daughter attends a childcare
downtown….Yesterday (Jan. 26 at 10 a.m. on 1st Ave. between Spring and Madison) I
wa