Renton’s North Renton neighborhood, looking north. Photo credit Google Earth

A few weeks ago I asked if a few people impacted by crime in Renton would allow me to share their stories, to help illustrate the real human impact crime was having on our residents and our city, beyond the statistics.  Earlier posts in this series were from Tonya, who told her story about her family moving from Renton after an immense loss; and Melyza, about how her life was turned upside down by an attempted car theft.  I’m publishing these as a call to action by state and local lawmakers, and everyone else that might be able to do more to protect our residents and business owners from crime.

I’ve posted the third in this series today, submitted by a woman who asked to be called E.W. She lives in the North Renton neighborhood, between Boeing and downtown.  She and her husband bought a home in this neighborhood when they moved to Renton.

This is her story (in italics):

This is in response to your blog about how crime is affecting people here in Renton. My husband and I have three children in the North Renton neighborhood. We have lived here almost five years. The neighborhood and people here are delightful.

But we have gotten so concerned for the safety of our children, especially when they play outside.  We spent thousands of dollars constructing a long, tall fence. (We hated the separation this created between our yard and the many neighbors we enjoy greeting as they pass by on the sidewalk.). The fence wasn’t enough. There has been a steady drumbeat of gun violence.  I am afraid of one of my kids being shot while playing outside. There is also frequent loud shouting, cursing and altercations by people that are suffering behavioral issues, suffering from addiction, or unhoused passing on foot on a regular basis.

We intended to stay in this house forever, but are now in the process of moving to east Renton highlands in pursuit of safety for our kids.

This is a decision made out of privilege – most of the families in our neighborhood can’t afford to leave to a more expensive neighborhood and deserve more safety right where they are.

_____________________________________________________

Just 16 hours before publishing E.W.s story,  there was gunfire in her neighborhood at N. 3rd St and Park Ave North as assailants in a car with no license plates passed a group of teenagers, and both parties apparently shot at each other.  Three uninvolved motorists in two separate vehicles were injured by flying glass as bullets pierced their cars.  The police are currently looking for the suspects.  There have been increasingly frequent shootings in this area, combined with a record number of homicides.

Families with children like E.W.s are important to the future of our city. It’s critical that families are able to thrive in North Renton, one of our city’s oldest neighborhoods with our most distinctive and historic homes.   This neighborhood also hosts our city’s Don Persson Senior Activity Center and Sartori elementary school, in addition to highly utilized parks and trails. I’m grateful for E.W. for sharing her experience. It represents a call to action to those policy makers in charge of protecting this neighborhood from crime before more families feel they need to move out.  There are tens of thousands of Rentonites committed to making North Renton a safe and inviting neighborhood for all families.    Any elected policy makers that don’t have this responsibility near the very top of their priority list should step down and let someone who cares take their place.

City of Renton police photo

Crime is currently one of the biggest concerns of many residents in Renton and our region.  I’ve heard from countless Renton residents who are extremely worried about this issue, and sadly some of them have become so concerned they’ve either already moved or are making plans to move. While some elected officials are actively working the crime issue, others are still denying that crime is a significant problem.  I’ve asked permission from readers to share a few of the stories I’ve heard,  with the goal of ensuring a common understanding of the problem so that it may be worked seriously and productively.  A reader named Tonya generously offered to share her poignant story as she and her family begin a new chapter of their lives in Eastern Washington.

Here is Tonya’s story in her words (in italics):

READ MORE »