Here is a round-up of community initiatives around the East Precinct including a new City Attorney liaison assigned to the area and two upcoming community meetings on policing — including one tonight.
- The City Attorney’s office has announced it will again assign liaisons to the city’s police precincts to “to augment the City’s response to emerging and increasingly complex neighborhood public safety and regulatory issues.” The positions were an early cut as Peter Holmes took office in 2010. According to the announcement on the new positions, the new assistant city attorney will be good news for the East Precinct’s bars and restaurants as the role is intended to help streamline much of the regulation of the nightlife industry at the city level.
The precinct liaisons — Melissa Chin (South/Southwest), Jana Jorgensen (North), Sumeer Singla (West) and Matt York (East) — will provide critical legal services on the issues of high importance to their particular precincts. They also will be accountable for managing a number of regulatory provisions in a more effective and efficient manner because they will better understand the dynamics in the individual communities.
“It’s an opportune time to launch a completely reengineered Precinct Liaison Program 2.0,” said City Attorney Pete Holmes, “simultaneously bringing closer together SPD’s five precincts, the City Attorney’s Office and Seattle’s diverse communities to better address local problems and concerns. Relying on input from across Seattle government, we have retained what worked and rethought the challenges ahead. Our selection process was inclusive and yielded excellent candidates from whom we’ve selected some of our most promising attorneys. They represent a direct link to me and will be instrumental in helping Seattle to move forward during the work ahead with the Department of Justice.”
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With more than 2,000 liquor licenses in the City up for renewal each year and dozens of new license applications, a large part of the liaison attorneys’ time will be spent identifying and monitoring establishments with public safety concerns and helping formulate the City’s position when it files an objection with the Washington State Liquor Control Board. A precinct-based attorney will be able to identify potential problems earlier and attempt to work with the licensee to correct the problems before an objection is filed.
The precinct liaisons will also play a crucial role in the City’s comprehensive strategy to promote a vibrant nightlife and ensure public safety. Another component of that strategy is the proposal to allow for extended service hours. The liaison attorneys will be essential in monitoring compliance with rules and regulations and assisting SPD and other departments in responding proactively to possible problems before they occur.
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“I am very excited about the opportunity to work closely with the police and the community,” said East Precinct Liaison Matt York, who graduated from Willamette University Law School. “We all share the same goals of safe communities, protecting civil rights and creating an environment for local businesses to thrive. Having worked as a prosecutor for almost 10 years with King County and the City, I have witnessed that most disagreements are about how to accomplish these goals. I look forward to working with everyone in attempting to solve the problems of Seattle and helping to provide common ground.”
You can view the announcement in its entirety here.
- One of the first manifestations of SPD working with the community to make the changes recommended by the Justice Department and repair its image will take shape on the Seattle University campus:
COMMUNITY MEETING
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7th 6:30 – 8:30 PM
SEATTLE UNIVERSITY’S CAMPION BALLROOMA Collaborative Process for Seattle to Improve Community-Police Relations
Please join us for an open discussion about whether a community collaborative process can help ease tensions between the Seattle Police Department and Seattle’s varied communities, particularly communities of color. Set against the backdrop of the recent Department of Justice findings, experienced facilitator, Jay Rothman, will present a report and recommendations about ways to empower the community, open constructive lines of communication and implement a concrete plan using such a process in Seattle. Links to the report and other information about the collaborative process can be found at http://www.seattle.gov/council/oparb/.
Details:Campion Ballroom at Seattle University914 E. Jefferson St.
- The East Precinct Advisory Council community group meets Thursday night with Central District community leader Wyking Garrett on the agenda. The group meets monthly to discuss community issues in SPD’s East Precinct. You can learn more at http://eastpac.org/
Wyking Garrett of the UmojaFest P.E.A.C.E. Center (UPC) will be our special guest at this Thursday’s, (January 26) EastPAC meeting. A multi-purpose youth-centered cultural facility in the heart of Seattle’s historic Central District, UPC facilitates innovating and engaging programming designed to give community youth a positive and productive environment. Serving several youth each week, the center has become a popular destination. UPC has pans to expand, come and see how we as a community can support their valuable efforts!
EastPAC General Meeting
Thursday, January 26, 6:00 to 8:00 PM
Seattle University, Chardin Hall, Room 142
1020 East Jefferson (Enter at 11th and Jefferson, park free in front of building)
