Saturday, July 11, 2015

Can We Get A Patrol Car Out Here Please?

The original Part 1 posting has been taken down in response to SPD sending three police vehicles to my neighborhood to talk with the residents who sell drugs out of their home, which until recently was frequented by a man who is now charged with attempted murder. 

Part 2 remains until drugs are no longer being sold out of this house and my neighborhood is returned to the safe place it has been for 28 years.  I will use this page to keep readers updated. 

July 12, 2015  

  • Can We Get A Patrol Car OUt Here Please Part 1 is posted
  • Communication sent to the Mayor's Office about the lack of police response to drug activity on our block.

 July 13, 2015

  • Police visit the trouble house. No arrests made.  Most likely a knock and talk as in we are watching you, a respectful action. 
  • Children and families outside enjoying the summer evening following the departure of the police.
  • Blog Entry Can We Get A Patrol Car Out Here Please Part 1 is taken down.  
August 25, 2015
The Bonnie and Clyde team that kept our neighborhood under siege for almost two years without police response appear to be out of business. I would like to say it was good police work but it was not. "Clyde" shot and seriously injured someone and will end up in prison. "Bonnie" not yet out of her 30's has had a serious heart attack. The mother who harbored them with her job of look out no longer needed is now being seen doing what she did for years of a more legal existence, walking to the bus stop.  

Even though an attempted murder, and extreme violence, and a poor health appears to have put a stop to the traffic on our quiet street, I still took down the Part 2 posting as promised. Our police have so much work to do as keepers of peace and law in this urban city.

The Year of 2017
The entire year was spent interacting with Seattle Police seeking help with a house that was without doubt a major connector for drug activity in Seattle. The traffic escalated after our seeking help from the police as if it was a signal to keep on doing what you are doing. On some days the car traffic was lined like a fast food drive through. One car occupant would get out go to the door return with their goods, drive off and the next would drive into the driveway and repeat. Walk ups opened and consumed their drugs while walking past our homes. We have video of this and shared with Seattle Police without any response. The South Precinct Commander was changed with unusual frequency, but these changes did not increase the SPD ability to stop this level of dealing drugs in a neighborhood that was willing to work with them. We became the enemy, word was out that Dawn Mason was being treated special, using up police resources. It was not me who caused the SWAT Team to spend 8 hours following a major shooting at the Valero gas station on Rainier and Othello. The person imprisoned for this crime resided at 4601 the house that the police once wrote even after this murder, that they could not find any evidence of criminal behavior. The neighbors knew the patterns of the perpetrators, we live on a cul de sac, we can see every house. Then in the Fall of 2017 another murder occurs, at the Smoke Shop at Rainier and Mead. The police described it as being at the Union Bar, but it was associated not with the bar, but the smoke shop, the residents of 4601 supplied illicit drugs to both the smoke shop on Graham and on Mead. If we knew this why did the police not know. So another murderer residing at 4601 is imprisoned. The neighbors collectively seek a meeting with the South Precinct command. They put in what I am told was hours of work on writing a report about their investigation of the house and came to the conclusion that they still could find no criminal activity. I cancelled the meeting.

The year 2018
The neighbors stopped believing SPD had any interest in cleaning up drug trafficking in this primarily African American and SE Asian and Pacific Island neighborhood. It was not yet White enough. This is the belief of non whites who are seeing a huge influx of White home owners in neighborhoods that were once owned by non whites.  With leadership from our non white diverse neighbors, we finally took things into their own hands, paid an attorney to represent our interest. A claim was filed against owners, Glen and Victoria Cabio, for creating and maintaining a nuisance and disallowing us the pleasure of our properties. We demanded the house be vacated of all renters, be sold and neighbors signing onto the nuisance claim be paid damages for loss of use and devaluation of our property.

As of this week, the terms have been agreed to by all parties, and the house is restored to one that aligns with the nicely painted homes with well kept lawns, and a safe environment for our children. The Summer began with a block party to welcome new and returning neighbors.

The Neighborhood that is Gentrified Proof
Valley Ridge is a neighborhood in SE Seattle, on a well maintained cul de sac, my family has lived here as one of the original owners for 33 years. We are  joined by others whose children are now grown with families of their own and have returned to claim their legacy.  We are not gentrified, because the children who grew up in this neighborhood over the course of the 30 years its existence are returning to to claim their legacy, standing on a foundation of being good neighbors. Some properties have sold to both non melinated and melinated owners. The G word is not spoken here.

So we close three years of the reign of terror in our neighborhood, show what can be done when neighbors are pro active over passive aggressive. We did not use violence or stand our ground, we had proof and even though we never got an officer who could do much for us, we took the matter to the courts and won.


Proclamations and Work Still Left to Do

On Wednesday, July 8, 2015 I was honored and humbled by a dual recognition of my contribution of my life and resources to bring justice to education, economic and human equity to Seattle, King County, WA.  King County Executive Dow Constantine and Mayor Ed Murray brought to the Annual Dawn Mason Fish Fry Proclamations for Dawn Mason Day.



There is everything right with getting public recognition from places of high respect. But recognition for what has been done, must be the launching place for the future. At age 70, I could with out guilt just sit down and say I have done enough. Or I could honor the health and well being that has been granted and go forward with wisdom and clarity. I have chosen the latter.

Thank you to my legislative colleagues Dow and Ed for this honor of a day to call my own.