Dear drug dealers: Seattle shop owner writes letter to trouble makers
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SEATTLE -- A love letter it is not.
It is, perhaps, the anti-greeting card.
A Belltown business owner has written an open letter to drug dealers, and is handing the letter out near his store at Second Avenue and Bell Street.
"I could describe it as the center of the best restaurants in Seattle, or I could describe it as ground zero for the drug problem," said Bedlam Coffee co-owner Ben Borgman.
Borgman said he came into work on Monday, frustrated with what he saw in front of his coffeeshop.
“There was a lot of drug dealers and users and they were particularly high this morning,” Borgman said. "They stand in the doorway. Because of this, I don’t think I have the mornings that a coffeehouse should have.”
Borgman decided to fight crime with the clicks on his keyboard, and penned an open letter, from one businessman to the other, so-called businessmen.
“I’d like to propose a location compromise,” he wrote. “You see, your business and my business (do) not work very well together…my customers don’t like squeezing past some of your more unruly customers.”
“So here’s what we propose,” he continues, “You move to a safer place, a place that is free of our cameras, and free of the harassment [you’re] getting from the public. Third and Battery is a perfect location for you to conduct your business.”
“I guess it’s what you would call, ‘harm reduction strategy,’” said one local resident, laughing as he read the letter. “I could think of worse things to do. It’s obviously irresponsible (to ask the drug dealers to move to a nearby corner), but this is obviously someone who is fed up.”
“We were walking around here and someone had a used needle. It was on the floor,” added Nereida Maldonado, a Belltown resident. “[The letter is] kind of bold. Then they’d be pushing it forward to someone else. If he’s got an issue with it, he should just call the cops.”
Borgman said he’s worked with Seattle police in the past, but knows they don’t have the manpower for the foot patrols the neighborhood needs. He realizes the letters might be a tough sell, but if they convince one person to refrain from criminal activity, then he’s done his job.
"Someone said, 'It's not going to work. It's stupid.' It's like, 'So what? I'm doing something. What are you doing?"' Borgman said.
It is, perhaps, the anti-greeting card.
A Belltown business owner has written an open letter to drug dealers, and is handing the letter out near his store at Second Avenue and Bell Street.
"I could describe it as the center of the best restaurants in Seattle, or I could describe it as ground zero for the drug problem," said Bedlam Coffee co-owner Ben Borgman.
Borgman said he came into work on Monday, frustrated with what he saw in front of his coffeeshop.
“There was a lot of drug dealers and users and they were particularly high this morning,” Borgman said. "They stand in the doorway. Because of this, I don’t think I have the mornings that a coffeehouse should have.”
Borgman decided to fight crime with the clicks on his keyboard, and penned an open letter, from one businessman to the other, so-called businessmen.
“I’d like to propose a location compromise,” he wrote. “You see, your business and my business (do) not work very well together…my customers don’t like squeezing past some of your more unruly customers.”
“So here’s what we propose,” he continues, “You move to a safer place, a place that is free of our cameras, and free of the harassment [you’re] getting from the public. Third and Battery is a perfect location for you to conduct your business.”
“I guess it’s what you would call, ‘harm reduction strategy,’” said one local resident, laughing as he read the letter. “I could think of worse things to do. It’s obviously irresponsible (to ask the drug dealers to move to a nearby corner), but this is obviously someone who is fed up.”
“We were walking around here and someone had a used needle. It was on the floor,” added Nereida Maldonado, a Belltown resident. “[The letter is] kind of bold. Then they’d be pushing it forward to someone else. If he’s got an issue with it, he should just call the cops.”
Borgman said he’s worked with Seattle police in the past, but knows they don’t have the manpower for the foot patrols the neighborhood needs. He realizes the letters might be a tough sell, but if they convince one person to refrain from criminal activity, then he’s done his job.
"Someone said, 'It's not going to work. It's stupid.' It's like, 'So what? I'm doing something. What are you doing?"' Borgman said.
