Politics

Mayor Stays Mum on Rainier Valley Crime Wave; Lets Deputy Speak to South-End Peeps Instead

Posted on September 1, 2010 by

By Amber Campbell, RVP Editor/Publisher

Just when you thought Mayor McGinn might stop digging a public relations hole behind the Rainier Valley’s brutal on-again-off again crime wave and woefully understaffed South Precinct, somebody went and gave him the Columbia City shovel.

Without much more than a might-make-it-down-there-in-five-or-six-weeks and maybe-some-LED-lighting-in-a-couple-years, the Mayor finally just let Deputy Mayor and Columbia City neighbor Darryl Smith do the talking:

The Valley, as we well know, has over the years been maligned in the press. At times, we’ve felt ignored, humored, and frankly dissed by the City. I’m not here to say that those feelings aren’t based in some sort of reality. Like many of you, I’ve at times felt frustrated, and angry at my elected officials.

and…

We’re serious about walking our talk. If you would like to hear more about how we’re engaged or tell us what you’re working on, I hope you will call or email me directly. No one knows your neighborhood as well as you, and you are critical to our ability to lead in a way that ensures we are as responsive and as thoughtful as possible in times that are as complex and challenging as these. More.

Really?

‘Cause we tried that last week when we emailed Mayor McGinn and Deputy Mayor Smith with a friendly invitation to join the Rainier Valley Live Local Challenge, and didn’t get so much as a “thanks but no thanks” in response.

Then some of our homies, like KING5′s Tonya Mosely, Q13′s Amy Allen, the venerable Sable Verity and seattlepi.com blogger Craig Thompson tried to get answers to questions about South Precinct officers being tapped for drunk duty in Belltown, and so far, they too are gettin’ the hand.

Meanwhile, it may be another 30 days before the Mayor makes it down to Seattle’s most violent corner to discuss public safety, but tonight he’ll be in Capitol Hill for a nightlife forum.

Bad manners or bad governance? What do you think?

Deputy Mayor Darryl Smith has lived in the Rainier Valley since 1994. He is also one of only a few people of color in Mayor McGinn’s administration. Photo/Office of Economic Development

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