By Staff
Northwest Asian Weekly
Over a hundred people showed up for Mayor Ed Murray’s “Find it, Fix it” International District community walk last Thursday. There was a combination of residents, business owners, community leaders, and media.
The orientation started at Hing Hay Park where both Mayor Murray and Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole addressed the public. Police Captain John Hayes organized the crowd and led the group tour, which traveled to 5th Ave. and Jackson St., progressed up Jackson, a pit stop at the Asian Resource Center, and then returned to the park. There were assigned stops with appointed speakers to address specific issues. Topics addressed included the excessive graffiti, especially along Jackson; the fate of the Bush theater (it will be demolished for new construction), and combining Yesler Terrace with Little Saigon.
There were also topics that weren’t on the agenda that many community members wanted addressed: drug-dealing, prostitution, issues of sanitation throughout the neighborhood (especially the alleyways), and general concerns about safety, particularly along the 5th Ave. corridor.
Mayor Murray and O’Toole were busy fielding questions during the entire walk. Community members were offered an opportunity to fill out comment sheets about what needed to be fixed. The response appeared to be substantial. (end)
Staff can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.