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Last Name 1 Student Name Research Essay ENGL&rd Avenue and Pine Each morning I begin my trip to work from Renton to Downtown Seattle by taking the Tukwila International Boulevard Light Rail to Westlake Station. I get to enjoy the morning darkness as I stroll the quiet 6th Avenue streets, watching businesses flick their lights on to soon bring in the customers. My morning is typical and unexciting, unless I forget my breakfast. In that case, I’ll make my way to 3rd Avenue and Pine. Here, a popular McDonald’s sits.

I don’t particularly enjoy the food, but it’s open at six in the morning and on the way to work. Interestingly, there seems to be a dramatic shift in mood once I’ve grabbed my breakfast and begin to walk the streets of 3rd Avenue. Policemen are often parked and waiting, some people are curled up in alcoves trying to sleep on the cold pavement, others are seen injecting themselves with needles, and it’s not uncommon that I’m asked for spare change. While we’ve all seen these things before throughout Downtown Seattle, what about the surrounding blocks make this area such a hot spot? The atmosphere is similar on the weekends, as I frequently make my way from Westlake Station to Pike Place Market to view the shops with my girlfriend.

At times, we’ll opt to take a detour as it’s sometimes easier to avoid the loud yells of a wobbling homeless person high on a powerfully addictive drug. I truly don’t mean any disrespect to those stuck in an awful situation, but we need to make the blocks of 3rd Avenue feel safer for everyone in Seattle. The effects of crime on 3rd Avenue aren’t specific to those who must walk through the area, it has an effect on local businesses too. Bartell Drugs, a well-known pharmacy chain to Last Name 2 many in Washington will be closing one of its locations’ doors before the end of their lease because of the high cost of crime. KOMO News’ Tammy Mutasa reports “Police have stepped up patrols in the downtown core in recent months to address crime, but Bartell Drugs decided not to stick it out†(Par.

2). The article describes the crime as “senseless†as a video of security camera footage shows a man destroying the store shelves and throwing items for seemingly no reason at all. If a chain of stores, while not the largest at sixty-four total locations, can’t survive the crime, what’s the likelihood that a small local business that many people desire will come up in its place? Losing a business at that location destroys jobs, creates less taxes paid by those that may have never shopped at all without the presence of Bartell Drugs, and makes it harder for the owner of the building to pay their property taxes with no tenant. Dereck Rich, interviewed in Mutasa’s article comments, “I’m like a decent sized guy and even I feel worried sometimes†(Par.

6). Further, some of my co-workers, particularly those that get off late at night, prefer to take alternate transit to avoid the area. 3rd Avenue, being a couple blocks away from the company I work for, is often the topic of workplace chatter as most of us get the opportunity to pass by on our commute. It’s not uncommon that we’re in awe of having just missed some sort of deadly altercation we may have accidentally become involved in. Just months ago, Asia Fields at The Seattle Times reported, “A 31-year-old man was taken to Harborview Medical Center after being stabbed in downtown Seattle on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Seattle Fire Department†(Par.

1). This incident took place at the McDonald’s I frequent just half an hour after I typically leave work. Not only do the locals and local businesses have opinions on 3rd Avenue, but the crime may have an impact on tourism as well. Graham Johnson of KIRO 7 writes of a tourist that had Last Name 3 attempted to visit the Space Needle, only to be attacked by a homeless person that had come from tent on 3rd Avenue. The thought of spending your time and money to visit a city you’ve long since admired all to be struck in the head by someone you’ve never met sounds terrifying.

It’s awful that an individual would have to waste their valuable time dealing with having to file a police report during their vacation. One can only hope that these events don’t cause tourism to drop and cause any potential budget cuts for the city. Graham writes of the officer involved, “In the police report for the tourist assault, an officer wrote that the area around the encampment on Third Avenue has high drug use and criminal activity†(Par. 16). Various articles, locals, and personal experience can certainly create some validity when forming the opinion that Third Avenue, or even Seattle as a whole, is slowly crumbling.

KOMO News returns to that idea after having produced their hour-long TV special “Seattle Is Dying.†The issue is in the name. The special dives into homelessness, crime, and drug use, but not everyone agrees that the city is an as bad of shape as KOMO News makes it out to be. Gene Balk, a Seattle Times columnist, asks, “Is Seattle a city in its final throes of life?†(Par. 1). Balk speaks with Former Seattle Police Chief John Diaz as well as provides actual data to back up his argument.

The article provides reported crimes per 100,000 residents for violent and property crime, with violent crime dropping from a peak of nearly 1,500 in the nineties to 633 in 2017. Property crime, on the other hand, also saw a dramatic drop from around 12,000 in the nineties to 5,259 in 2017. Balk comments, “I can’t help but wonder if folks are romanticizing Seattle’s past a bit†(Par. 5), and it’s difficult to argue with his data. I believe it’s important to take into account Balk’s findings and not necessarily form such a strong opinion over 3rd Avenue or Seattle as a whole until fully understanding the situation, but let that not blind you from the problems that Last Name 4 exist in front of you today.

We can always strive to have more of an impact to those in need. Let us ask the question, what is it about 3rd Avenue that makes it such a hot spot? First, let’s look at what about the corner of 3rd Avenue and Pine that may be attracting individuals in unfortunate circumstances. Perhaps the high tourist traffic is beneficial to potentially receiving some desperately needed money? The Visit Seattle website states Seattle had 40 million tourists visit in 2018.

That’s a lot of potential people walking from Westlake to Pike Place Market. The cheap food at McDonald’s may have a small role to play in the contribution of nearby homeless. A few dollars can go a long way for a hot meal. Additionally, the tobacco store across the street could potentially play a role as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention government website explains smoking remains high among the lower educated, those below the poverty level, and the uninsured. These are all struggling groups that may include the homeless.

Another business that may have an effect could be the MoneyTree just a few hundred feet nearby. Pew Charitable Trusts, self-described as evidence-based and nonpartisan, reports that their research shows 72 percent of payday loan borrowers have a household income of less than ,000. While it would be unrealistic to ask all of these businesses to spread out to lessen the likelihood that a local or tourist be frightened, or in the unlikely event be harmed, having a better understanding of the possible contributions to homelessness and crime in the area may better help to solve the issue. The issue of not only the safety of tourists and locals, but the safety of the individuals that personally deal with having to be homeless.

The Seattle government website provides information regarding what is causing the homelessness crisis with their article titled, “The Roots of the Crisis.†At the top of the list, the article cites mental health and addiction as the leading cause of death for the homeless. Last Name 5 Fortunately, there appears to be some awareness regarding why this problem exists as a portion of the paragraph reads, “...our region’s lack of treatment capacity leaves more than 150 people on a waitlist each day†(Par. 2). Other causes include poverty, unaffordable housing, racial disparities, and the lack of services for youth. The Seattle government being aware of situations that create homelessness is an incredible first step in not only improving the blocks along 3rd Avenue but improving Seattle as a whole.

While being aware of a problem’s existence is crucial to solving that problem, it’s clear just knowing isn’t enough here. Why, if Seattle sees and understands the issue, isn’t it solved? Marc Stiles and Coral Garnick of Puget Sound Business Journal dive into the issue with an extensive journal written on how the Seattle area spends one billion dollars a year on homelessness. The piece begins with an incredibly heartbreaking reason an interviewee is homeless, “This is the third time Elliot Godwin has been homeless. Each time it has been for the same reason: The rent went up and his paycheck did not†(Par.

1). Stiles and Garnick continue to interview people that are homeless throughout the journal while breaking down where each dollar is spent on homelessness, and interestingly find, according to Plymouth Housing Group, “It would cost 2 million per year to house and care for all the people experiencing homelessness in King County…†(Par. 14). Well then where is the rest going? Throughout the journal, it’s mentioned multiple times that the resources aren’t the issue, it’s the communication.

The coordination between groups and the government is one of the largest issues. Seattle’s “The Roots of the Crisis†cites the same issue, “The lack of coordination among governments and other stakeholders has limited the effectiveness of those investments†(Par. 7). So, how can we, as individuals, make a dent into solving the homeless problem if the cause feels so out of our control? Last Name 6 As a member of the Seattle community, it’s easier than one may think to express concern over 3rd Avenue.

Making it known that this specific area poses a safety risk to both locals and tourists as well as those suffering in the streets is the first step in solving this major community issue. Countless articles already present that fact but talking about it one thing - taking action is another. The Seattle government website makes it easy to identify the elected officials that pride themselves in caring for the people of Seattle. Our mayor, councilmembers, attorney, and judges are listed along with their goals and accomplishments. Most importantly, each person has easily accessible phone numbers, email, and mailing addresses making it easy to give your opinion on the urgency that is 3rd Avenue and Pine and the proceeding blocks.

Sally Bagshaw for example, our District 7 representative, lives downtown and is more than likely familiar with the area. Her firsthand knowledge as well as a push from the community to help the area may have the significant impact we need. In fact, on December 5th, a meeting will be held to select a committee for homelessness and housing affordability. With this fresh in our councilmember’s minds, there is no better time than now to reach out to them. If one wishes to have a more direct impact, one where you can see and feel the changes you're making, United Way of King County (UWKC) provides extensive opportunities to those interested.

UWKC is one of many volunteer organizations in Seattle, but their website provides an easy to use search tool that allows you to narrow down the topic and area you'd like to help. In this case, homelessness in downtown Seattle. Once you've located an opportunity that may interest you, the UWKC website even provides a map showing the location of the effort. Then, one can focus their energy on improving areas in need such as 3rd Avenue and Pine. The individuals there suffering from homelessness, mental illness, or addiction may now receive the Last Name 7 assistance they needed to get through another night in the cold or, even, finally attain the housing they so desperately need.

Admittedly, it's difficult for us as individuals to make a significant difference, but the more eyes and ears there are on an issue the better. With more of us writing about, speaking about, and directly helping the issue on 3rd Avenue, there may be a greater likelihood that our representatives see the efforts that we've put in and take a higher level of action such as providing additional treatment facilities, more affordable housing, and create better coordination between governments. Together, we can successfully change 3rd Avenue for the better. No longer will tourists fear our beautiful streets as they and their children walk to their destination. No more will you, your friends, and coworkers be wary as you wait for transit.

New and old businesses won’t have to reconsider their location because of potential theft and property damage. And most importantly, the individuals sleeping in the streets may finally get the help they need. This isn’t a case of ridding the streets of thugs and crime, this is about safety for all and rehabilitation for those in need. Last Name 8 Works Cited Balk, Gene. "Is Seattle ‘dying’?

Crime Rates Tell a Different Story." The Seattle Times, 4 Apr. 2019, rates-from-the-80s-and-90s/. Beckett, Katherine, et al. "Drug Use, Drug Possession Arrests, and the Question of Race: Lessons from Seattle." Society for the Study of Social Problems, 2005, pdfs.semanticscholar.org/1d00/d44fe118d2727ce127acd966d2e.pdf. Bourke, Nick, et al.

The Pew Charitable Trusts | The Pew Charitable Trusts, 2012, portpdf.pdf. "Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adults in the United States." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 17 May 2019, Fields, Asia. "Man Stabbed in Downtown Seattle Taken to Harborview." The Seattle Times, 15 Oct. 2019, in-serious-condition/. Government, Seattle.

"The Roots of the Crisis - Homelessness | Seattle.gov." Seattle.gov, Horcher, Gary. "KIRO 7 Investigation: Pike-Pine Downtown Corridor a 'magnet' for Career Criminals." KIRO, 5 July 2018, pine-downtown-corridor-a-magnet-for-career-criminals/. Last Name 9 Johnson, Graham. "Downtown Seattle Tourist Says He Was Attacked by Homeless Man." KIRO, 19 June 2018, attacked-by-homeless-man/. Johnsons, Eric.

"KOMO News Special: Seattle is Dying." KOMO, 14 Mar. 2019, komonews.com/news/local/komo-news-special-seattle-is-dying. Mutasa, Tammy. "Bartell Drugs Closing in Downtown Seattle over Crime Concerns." KOMO News, 21 Sept. 2019, komonews.com/news/local/bartell-drugs-closing-in-downtown- seattle-over-crime-concerns.

Robinson, Kauilani, and Chantelle Lusebrink. "Seattle Celebrates Record-Breaking Tourism Season with More Than 40 Million Visitors in 2018." Visit Seattle, 4 Mar. 2019, visitseattle.org/press/press-releases/seattle-celebrates-record-breaking-tourism-season- with-more-than-40-million-visitors-in-2018/. Styles, Marc, and Coral Garnick. "The Price of Homelessness: The Seattle Area Spends More Than Billion a Year on This Humanitarian Crisis (Video)." Puget Sound Business Journal, 16 Nov. 2017, homelessness-seattle-king-county-costs.html.

Paper for above instructions

Title: Crime and Homelessness at 3rd Avenue and Pine: A Community Perspective
The interplay between urban decay, crime, and homelessness in urban settings can provide critical insights into community dynamics. One such area is the 3rd Avenue and Pine corridor in Seattle, Washington. My daily commute through this location reveals a stark contrast between the thriving business district and the visible signs of societal distress. The atmosphere shifts dramatically as I approach popular spots such as McDonald's, which serve as critical gathering points for the vulnerable while serving their purpose as quick service joints for the working populace. This paper explores the complex interrelation between crime, homelessness, and local businesses at this iconic intersection.

The Atmosphere of 3rd Avenue and Pine

My morning commute from Renton to Downtown Seattle reveals the stark reality of urban life. Within a short walk from the bustling Westlake Station to 3rd Avenue and Pine, I encounter individuals facing the harsh conditions of homelessness and addiction. This area has become a hotspot for crime, amplified by drug use and transitory lifestyles. Reports indicate that many individuals seek refuge near McDonald's, a regular stop for many early risers seeking breakfast (Mutasa, 2019).
Despite the enduring vitality of businesses nearby, the sense of safety is undermined by crimes integrated into everyday life. High levels of drug-related activities coupled with visible homelessness deter potential customers and inhibit local businesses' operations (Johnson, 2018). It raises essential questions about the social responsibility businesses have toward communities facing these challenges.

Impact on Local Businesses

Local businesses convey the economic implications of crime firsthand. Bartell Drugs, a pharmacy chain, announced plans to close its downtown location due to the “high cost of crime." This closure resulted from persistent theft, vandalism, and fear amongst employees and customers (Mutasa, 2019). When even relatively robust businesses like Bartell cannot sustain operations in compromised environments, it poses a critical concern for small local businesses that have fewer resources to cope, eventually leading to job losses and decreased tax revenues—not to mention fewer amenities for residents.
The repercussions of crime extend beyond a mere economic assessment; they foster a cycle of decline impacting the very essence of community spirit. Fear among consumers and employees alike has shifted perceptions of safety, prompting many to avoid areas around 3rd Avenue and Pine altogether. Traffic diminishes, leading to further economic depletion in a location already burdened by the weight of homelessness.

The Human Side of Homelessness

Notably, homelessness is not merely a background feature of the urban landscape; it embodies complex narratives of individuals. The experiences of those who find themselves in such unfortunate circumstances reflect broader social issues, including mental health, addiction, and economic hardship. According to the Seattle government, the leading causes of homelessness include mental health disorders and addiction, compounded by a lack of treatment options (Seattle Government, 2023).
The need for comprehensive solutions is evident. Elliott Godwin's story—an unfortunate repeated experience of homelessness due to rising rents that outpace wages—illustrates the profound human cost behind the statistics (Stiles & Garnick, 2017). With the government keenly aware of these root causes, the apparent inaction begs the question: Why isn’t change more expressively manifested?

Analyzing Crime Data

While the visible symptoms of homelessness and crime depict a neighborhood in distress, perspectives vary on the severity of the issue. Gene Balk (2019) contends that Seattle, when evaluated against factual crime statistics, reveals a different narrative. Although reports of certain crimes (such as property crime) have witnessed impressive declines over the years, it necessitates context—the rise of gentrification coupled with a devastating homelessness crisis. The complex nature of crime in urban environments complicates discussions, as emotional reactions can overshadow data-backed evidence.
Contrasting narratives highlight the city's position: Is Seattle indeed dying, or is the problem being romanticized? Comprehensive analysis indicates a divergence between public perception and actual crime rates, emphasizing that fears often exceed the scientifically substantiated truths.

The Role of Businesses and Tourism

The economic potential of urban spaces is intrinsically linked to perceptions of safety and community. Tourists are increasingly wary of unsafe zones. Their experiences reflect concerns for personal safety, as exhibited in the unfortunate encounter of a tourist who was assaulted near 3rd Avenue (Johnson, 2018). As Graham Johnson reports, visitors to Seattle should enjoy its beauty and culture without unnecessary threats.
The tourism sector, central to Seattle's economy, underscores the importance of a safe urban environment. According to Visit Seattle, approximately 40 million tourists visited in 2018—each carrying economic weight that local businesses rely on (Robinson & Lusebrink, 2019). Thus, crime impacts not only locals but all who interact with the city.

Seeking Solutions

While identifying and understanding the significant issues associated with 3rd Avenue and Pine is crucial, it is equally essential to explore viable solutions. Awareness of the community's needs is the first step toward change. Local representatives, particularly those who reside within the impacted sectors, require input from constituents to enact transformative policies.
Organizations such as United Way of King County (UWKC) enhance community engagement by providing direct opportunities for residents to make a difference through volunteerism to ease homelessness and advocate for local reforms (United Way of King County, 2023). Combined efforts could lead to coordinated resources and strategies focused on addressing homelessness comprehensively.

Final Thoughts

Addressing crime and homelessness, particularly in areas like 3rd Avenue and Pine, transcends mere policing efforts. It calls for empathy and a commitment to rehabilitation rather than criminalization. Recognizing the confluence of social, economic, and institutional factors will assist Seattle in rebuilding its community spirit among residents from all walks of life.
A holistic approach combining community initiatives, supportive housing, and comprehensive treatment for mental health and addiction should lay the groundwork for change. Sustainable solutions emerge when the community collectively voices concerns and engages local governance and services accordingly. With community investment, Seattle can reclaim a safe urban environment that fulfills the promise of its vibrant neighborhoods for residents and visitors alike.

References

1. Balk, Gene. "Is Seattle ‘Dying’? Crime Rates Tell a Different Story." The Seattle Times, 4 Apr. 2019.
2. Johnson, Graham. "Downtown Seattle Tourist Says He Was Attacked by Homeless Man." KIRO 7, 19 June 2018.
3. Mutasa, Tammy. "Bartell Drugs Closing in Downtown Seattle over Crime Concerns." KOMO News, 21 Sept. 2019.
4. Robinson, Kauilani, and Chantelle Lusebrink. "Seattle Celebrates Record-Breaking Tourism Season with More Than 40 Million Visitors in 2018." Visit Seattle, 4 Mar. 2019.
5. Seattle Government. "The Roots of the Crisis - Homelessness." Seattle.gov.
6. Stiles, Marc, and Coral Garnick. "The Price of Homelessness: The Seattle Area Spends More Than Billion a Year on This Humanitarian Crisis." Puget Sound Business Journal, 16 Nov. 2017.
7. United Way of King County. "Volunteer in Our Community." UWKC.
8. Fields, Asia. "Man Stabbed in Downtown Seattle Taken to Harborview." The Seattle Times, 15 Oct. 2019.
9. Beckett, Katherine, et al. "Drug Use, Drug Possession Arrests, and the Question of Race: Lessons from Seattle." Society for the Study of Social Problems, 2005.
10. Bourke, Nick, et al. "The Pew Charitable Trusts." The Pew Charitable Trusts, 2012.