Seattle considers crackdown on 'chronic nuisance' areas
SEATTLE -- The city is moving one step closer to cracking down on problem properties.
The Seattle City Council is considering a tougher law against crimes in chronically-plagued areas.
David Ellinger and his wife battled an eyesore next door to their home in West Seattle -- a rundown house transients have moved into.
The move brought in a number of problems for the Ellingers.
"Even though it's on your property, it's affecting my property," said David Ellinger to city officials. "So you're invading my property rights if what you're doing is so intrusive I can't live a happy life."
But help hasn't been come by for the Ellingers.
At a Seattle City Council meeting on Tuesday, Tim Burgess, head of the council's Public Health Committee, said the city's current nuisance law is so vague and ambiguous that it's rarely enforced.
And the Ellingers' complaints sound familiar to those who live and work around certain homes and businesses, like the Motor Inn on Aurora Avenue North.
"We have police officers at that motel three, four, five times a day for shootings, stabbings, assaults," said one area resident.
The new law would have more of a bite. It would allow for anonymous complaints by neighbors.
The police chief would be able to declare property as a "chronic nuisance" if it was the location of criminal activity three or more times in less than 60 days. And there would be hefty fines up to $25,000 for violators who don't take action.
Jessie Summa-Kusiak has fretted for years about a dilapidated house across the street from her bar and restaurant. She's anxious for action.
"People (are) obviously living over there, and we get burglarized. Then I'm very frustrated. I want it torn down, and I try to get something done. I contact the city council and police and ask them what can be done," she said. "There doesn't seem that there's much that can be done with laws and legislation as currently is."
"You need some way to deal with this that's not going to take up your life," said Dave Ellinger.
The full Seattle City Council will vote on the proposed law later this month.
The Seattle City Council is considering a tougher law against crimes in chronically-plagued areas.
David Ellinger and his wife battled an eyesore next door to their home in West Seattle -- a rundown house transients have moved into.
The move brought in a number of problems for the Ellingers.
"Even though it's on your property, it's affecting my property," said David Ellinger to city officials. "So you're invading my property rights if what you're doing is so intrusive I can't live a happy life."
But help hasn't been come by for the Ellingers.
At a Seattle City Council meeting on Tuesday, Tim Burgess, head of the council's Public Health Committee, said the city's current nuisance law is so vague and ambiguous that it's rarely enforced.
And the Ellingers' complaints sound familiar to those who live and work around certain homes and businesses, like the Motor Inn on Aurora Avenue North.
"We have police officers at that motel three, four, five times a day for shootings, stabbings, assaults," said one area resident.
The new law would have more of a bite. It would allow for anonymous complaints by neighbors.
The police chief would be able to declare property as a "chronic nuisance" if it was the location of criminal activity three or more times in less than 60 days. And there would be hefty fines up to $25,000 for violators who don't take action.
Jessie Summa-Kusiak has fretted for years about a dilapidated house across the street from her bar and restaurant. She's anxious for action.
"People (are) obviously living over there, and we get burglarized. Then I'm very frustrated. I want it torn down, and I try to get something done. I contact the city council and police and ask them what can be done," she said. "There doesn't seem that there's much that can be done with laws and legislation as currently is."
"You need some way to deal with this that's not going to take up your life," said Dave Ellinger.
The full Seattle City Council will vote on the proposed law later this month.