public safety priorities
As a downtown neighborhood, Chinatown-ID’s high traffic and residential population make keeping the streets safe a top priority. As part of the neighborhood’s public safety efforts, CIDBIA works closely with Seattle Police Department to monitor problem areas, provide camera footage as needed, and develop outreach strategies to coordinate with vulnerable populations.
CIDBIA works with local business owners to educate them on best practices and coordinate efforts with local government. With a large population of seniors, and an increasing number
of new residents and visitors to the neighborhood, the BIA is committed to ensuring Chinatown-ID remains a safe place to live, work, and play.
In the past few years, the community has identified top-tier priorities that we are beginning to tackle, including:
TRACK & REPORT ALL CRIMINAL ACTIVITY & CIVILITY ISSUES IN THE DISTRICT
- Oversee the C-ID Public Safety Committee, and directly coordinate with SPD to inform hot-spot patrolling
- Coordinate with CCI, MID and SPD to track all illegal activity and quality of life issues
- Develop baseline data to track over time to better inform effectiveness of public safety strategies
- Develop monthly crime reports to inform SPD hot spot policing of problem areas and other strategies
- Work with victims, SPD, and ratepayers (and call up footage when necessary) to assist prosecution of criminal activity
IMPROVE SAFETY & CIVILITY THROUGH STRENGTHENED PARTNERSHIPS WITH SPD, MID & THE CENTER CITY INITIATIVE
- Convene regular meetings with all relevant City departments to address public safety issues as needed
- Develop focused outreach to the most vulnerable and visible people struggling with homelessness, mental illness , or addiction issues—with a goal of getting people off the street and into housing and/or treatment
- Continue participating in the Center City Initiative developing strategies to address urban poverty and homelessness in Downtown and the Chinatown-ID
- Coordinate closely with the expanded LEAD and MDT programs as they integrate into the Chinatown-ID
PUBLIC SAFETY OUTREACH & EDUCATION
- Conduct ongoing education and outreach to neighborhood businesses to find opportunities to reduce window clutter, and create better street-level sightlines
- Coordination with neighborhood property owners to find opportunities to enhance exterior lighting and sightlines around building exteriors
- Regularly train and educate business owners and residents on personal safety precautions and the importance of calling 9-1-1—including trips to the 9-1-1 call center and workshops with SPD
- Train businesses in methods of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CEPTED)
- Arrange Needle/Sharps training, First Aid training, and emergency preparedness with SPU and the Int’l District Emergency Center (IDEC)
- Organize the weekly neighborhood block watch to collect data and check in with businesses
- Partner with SPD Crime Prevention Coordinator on ratepayer education and safety issues
- Work with SPD and Seniors in Action to educate neighborhood seniors about how to stay safe
ADVOCACY
- Provide strong and consistent advocacy for greater city resources devoted to the Chinatown-ID
- Use public safety and quality of life data to advocate for increased police resources in the Chinatown-ID
