There is an East Precinct Crime Prevention Coalition public meeting tomorrow night with a few interesting items on the docket.

• Recent Capitol Hill bias crimes and harassment
• Light rail construction

Why, you might ask, is a crime prevention meeting going to discuss light rail? From the meeting invite:

in preparation for construction of the Broadway station, Sound Transit is in the process of vacating buildings on the east side of Broadway from John to Howell street. These buildings will remain vacant through January of 2009- how will they prevent these vacant buildings from attracting negative activities?

One solution to consider that is likely more effective and better for the community than increasing patrols, etc. is putting those empty buildings to use for art and creative spaces until construction begins.

If you want to have your say, Thursday’s meeting starts at 6:30p in the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption at 13th and Howell, 1804 13th Ave.