Belltown's New Stigma....

These past few days have awakened some new concerns for me about Belltown. Recently the crime levels in Belltown are rising. The ratio between G's and Gents has been upset. This summer there have been 3 shootings around Bell and 1st and 2nd Ave, including a shooting last night on 1st between Bell and Blanchard.

Last night I talked to some locals who witnesses the shooting. Around 9:40ish PM last night 7 shots were fired aimlessly by a drunken African American gunman as he stumbled down the middle of the road on 1st between Amber and List. According to local restaurant management and staff: after the impaired gunman holstered pistol in his waistband he was promptly tackled by a 6+ft former linebacker who just so happened to be taking cover on a patio. According to an eyewitness as soon as the gun was holstered the gentleman instinctively hoped the fence and tackled the gunman mid stupor and continued to restrain him until the authorities arrived.

Luckily nobody was hurt due to the gun being fired into the air(from what i heard), but still this is our 3rd or 4th shooting in my neighborhood in the past few months. Past shootings took place across the street from Shorty's on 2nd and Bell/Blanchard only a handful of weeks ago. More recently there was a bouncer from the Copper Cart who had his hand shot off by a drunken client that was going 2 "shoot up this place" after being thrown out of the club. Luckily the security chased the gunman to his car and the bouncer was shot in the hand while wrestling the gun away from the moron.

These scary thoughts have been running through my head recently. Honestly I have to say that the Copper Cart between 1st and 2nd on Bell is bringing the Thugs/Ballers/Gangstas into my neighborhood and I don't like that! We know how Belltown is already filled with the crackheads and the tweekers but why would our community allow this new stigma to thrive in our quiet upscale neighborhood. Belltown have been talking for months about cleaning up the streets and building a new park and such, but if we are cleaning up the streets then I feel we should be cleaning up the neighborhood and kicking that vendor away from the safety of our neighborhood.

This sleazy establishment is not only bringing Thugs/Gangstas/G's into our community, but assisting the increase of crime in our neighborhood. This establishment is supposedly "Owned" by Kauser Pasha, a former club owner of Tabella which was personally shut down by Mayor Greg Nickels who asked the state Liquor Control Board for an emergency suspension of Tabella's liquor license. Nickels was quoted saying "the history of violence and irresponsibility surrounding the club" endangered public safety. If I am not mistaken the Copper Cart is being fronted by business partners, in which the owner can sit back off the radar. I along with many local business owners dislike this establishment and have had numerous bad encounters with it's owners. If you really enjoy $5 pitchers in a shady and dangerous club and a pat down at the door then be my guest. Don't forget the fact that a bouncer was shot within Copper Carts opening week. Come on Belltown, we are better than this! I want to see this place gone before real problems start forming!