Safe Auburn: Community Conversations

Did you miss the Tuesday, Jan. 28 meeting at Mountainview High School? Not a problem! Watch the discussion around crime, infrastructure, and more in Part 2 of the Safe Auburn: Community Conversations series.

Did you miss the Thursday, Jan. 23 meeting at Mt. Baker Middle School? Not a problem! Watch the discussion around crime, infrastructure, and more in Part 2 of the Safe Auburn: Community Conversations series.

Did you miss the meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 14th, at West Auburn High School? Not a problem! Watch the discussion around crime, infrastructure and more at Part 2 of the Safe Auburn: Community Conversations series.

We heard you and we're back with answers, strategies, and resources. If you missed the first series of meetings, be sure to check out the latest post on this site. It's not too late to share your thoughts. Take a look at the above dates; invite your friends, neighbors, and colleagues to continue these important conversations. See you there!

Some of the issues discussed include:

• Gang activity
• Teen violence
• Traffic, running red lights, dangerous driving (Auburn Way North, 15th, Harvey Road)
• Homelessness
• Lack of community
• Speeding
• Non-licensed and/or insured drivers
• Courts and prosecution of crimes

Some of the solutions discussed include:

• Hold parents accountable
• Community service
• More police presence
• Referrals to services
• Funding opportunities for community youth service organizations
• Block watch
• Photo enforcement
• More community events like NNO

Issues:

• Safety of children walking to and from school
• Children feel unsafe walking home due to homelessness and lack of supervision
• Children witnessing or hearing about crimes they shouldn’t
• Increase in gang activity and violence near schools, leading to school lockdowns and trauma
• Unhoused individuals using drugs and lacking support, especially around schools and parks
• Youth lack supervision, and parents aren't held accountable
• People living in vehicles off B St.
• Gun violence, hearing gunshots at night
• Car prowling, property crimes, stolen cars, bike theft, and retail crime
• Increase in low-grade violations (loud car mufflers, expired tabs)
• Speeding on major streets like A St., M St., and near crosswalks
• Safeway and other areas (like parks) feel unsafe due to loitering, drug activity, and lack of lighting
• People knocking on doors late at night, causing unease
• Lack of accountability and follow-up for crime
• School fights, lack of discipline for fighting, vaping in bathrooms
• Bullying towards LGBTQ+ residents
• Youth afraid to report incidents due to fear of retaliation
• Suspicious activity and fighting at parks, especially at night
• Issues with pedestrian safety in crosswalks
• Lack of police presence and community connection
• Homelessness contributing to public safety issues

Solutions:

• Share positive safety measures and success stories through city websites and news
• Increase "clean sweep" events to improve public spaces
• Positive messaging and more gratitude around the city
• More involvement with youth—listening to their safety concerns
• Host more community meetings and create YouTube content that highlights good in the community
• More accurate and accessible communication about issues, including school lockdowns
• Enhance police presence, especially in schools, with better relationships with the community
• Hold parents accountable for juvenile crimes and enforce consequences for all violators
• Establish neighborhood watch programs and community response sessions
• Increase crosswalks, lighted paths, and emergency stations in parks
• Add speed bumps, roundabouts, and speed cameras to manage traffic and improve safety
• Ensure security measures in schools, including ID checks and security cameras
• Improve lighting in neighborhoods, parks, and pedestrian areas
• Develop prevention strategies, education resources, and deterrent programs
• Increase police and security presence where needed, especially at schools and events

District 4 most pressing issues:

• Youth, gang, & gun violence
• Late-night gunfire
• Lack of accountability and prosecution
• Lack of communication and transparency from the police after a crime has been committed
• Vandalism and tagging
• Fear of walking around at night
• Speeding
• Homeless activities – theft and drug use
• Dumping of trash

Some potential solutions that were brainstormed include:

• Block watch support
• Promoting city programs that are already in place
• Continue Safe Auburn: Community Conversations
• Emailing councilmembers and the Mayor
• Police driving around more to make their presence known
• Enforcing the law and holding people accountable
• Increase street lighting
• Community building between students and the police
• Ease of access on city website (removing barriers such as several links to get to information)

District 3 most pressing issues:

• Shootings
• Traffic safety
• Refugee communities -- What resources are they being given? How do we communicate that?
• Car prowlers
• Lack of staffing and police activity at Lea Hill precinct
• Theft at Dollar Tree store General safety at public places, parks, stores
• Police response

Community Solutions:

• More community-based events like community conversations
• Community Patrol (volunteers)
• Community boards, committees, working groups
• Teach youth anti-bullying situational awareness in schools
• Neighborhood block watches
• More transportation options for after-school activities
• Youth and family involvement and activities for families
• Anti-bullying, special awareness
• Volunteer to help paint over graffiti and provide a space where people can be creative
• More speed bumps to reduce speeding

On October 12, community members from all districts gathered at Auburn High School to talk about youth, driving, and community-related issues. Community members also brainstormed solutions to combat some of these issues.

Top concerns:

• Youth discipline issues
• Road rage and reckless driving
• Open drug use
• Littering
• Holding parents accountable
• Theft
• Peer pressure and self-esteem issues among teens
• Feuds within the community

Solutions suggested include:

• Programs to keep kids busy
• More volunteering
• Partnering with the YMCA
• More support for parents
• Increasing block watch
• Resources to meet your neighbors
• Gang prevention partnerships with King County organizations
• Police building relations

Neighbors near Dick Scobee Elementary came ready Thursday, Oct. 10 to chat about youth violence, access to resources for families new to the area, and community-based solutions.

The most pressing public safety issues in their community were:

• Gun violence
• Burglary and assault
• Homelessness around highways, freeways and off ramps
• Youth access to guns and alcohol
• Gang activity
• Car break ins and theft
• Lack of community and place
• Speeding on highways and residential streets
• General feeling of being unsafe, especially at night

For solutions, the group talked about:

• More police – in numbers and in presence
• Home security solutions
• Connecting families with resources for safety at home
• More opportunities for youth to connect with other youth after school
• Coordinated resources across the city with better funding
• More resources for outreach, shelter and food for the homeless
• Coordinated access to block watches and community service