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Story Published: Feb 25, 2010 at 12:09 PM PDT
Story Updated: Feb 25, 2010 at 1:31 PM PDT
A police officer stands watch at a corner near Pike Place Market.
At a forum Thursday morning in Pike Place Market, a whole smorgasbord of ideas were presented to tackle the problem - everything from more police to limits on where people can panhandle.
Officials want to make sure every option is considered to improve safety downtown before even more people are scared away from the heart of the city.
Nationally known as a bustling area with an eclectic mix of culture, food and fun, the urban core of Seattle increasingly is becoming known for its crime.
From drug busts in Belltown to the most recent images of violence - like the Metro bus tunnel beating - the problem has led to a rise in safety concerns for many residents.
In fact, a recent policing assessment survey conducted by the city of Seattle found that one in four greater Seattle residents avoid downtown due to fear of personal safety.
A survey by the Downtown Seattle Association found that panhandling is a concern among 66 percent of those polled, while open-air drug sales are a concern to 75 percent. Nearly 40 percent said they simply do not feel safe downtown.
And statistics show their fears are not misplaced. Police records show a 22 percent increase in major crimes in downtown and South Lake Union from 2008 to 2009.
"Obviously we have to do something different, and we're going to have to do it with existing resources," says Kate Joncas, president of the Downtown Seattle Association.
The main concerns voiced at Thursday's forum, hosted by the Downtown Seattle Association, were open-air drug dealing and aggressive panhandling.
Tim Burgess, a former police officer and Seattle City Council member, unveiled a number of proposals to curb crime and bring people back to downtown.
But the primary goal is to get more police patrolling the streets.
"Cops matter - they are a deterrent to crime," said Burgess.
King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg, agreed.
"That makes a tourist feel safe, it makes a resident feel safe, someone working feel safe," he said. "Seattle needs more police officers, period."
Downtown leaders say that more police foot patrols would also help stop aggressive panhandling.
Burgess proposed a new ordinance that would prohibit panhandling near ATMs and parking meters, and at the same time increase housing and services for the homeless.
"This is a reasonable, balanced proposal to help make our city safe for everyone," he said.
Bill Block of the Committee to End Homelessness agreed that more needs to be done for the transient population downtown.
"There is, across the board, a housing crisis and a lack of housing creates instability," he said.
The ideas and solutions may be different, but the goal is the same - to make downtown a safer and more welcoming place for everyone.
"We've got to fight for downtown, it's the jewel of the Pacific Northwest, it's what brings people here, and we want them to be able to walk from Pike Place Market to Pioneer Square to the Convention Center to shop and to want to be here," Satterberg said.
Sally Clark, another Seattle City Council member at Thursday's morning said she believed the council would get behind any measure that would diminish crime and increase services.
Now comes the debate on what to do - and a vote could come as early as March or April.