By Liz Steen

Less than a week ago, residents packed the Delridge Community Center to complain about gun violence, open-air drug use, and property crimes in West Seattle.

At one intersection on SW Alaska, where a neighbor reported a “gigiabyte of visuals” of “open-air drug use… you name it,” complaints rose from 180 two years ago to 649 last year, and are on track to meet or exceed that number by the end of this year.

West Seattle is represented by Rob Saka, vice chair of the City Council’s public-safety committee, who campaigned on public safety three years ago. Faced with skyrocketing safety complaints during his three year term, the city reminded community leaders today of one public safety initiative that is in place: teaching residents how not to become victims.

The Crime Prevention Coordinator regularly sends community leaders a link to a class offering area residents “common sense safety tips to decrease the odds of being a victim” of crime.

The class promises to “Know the important role your instincts and gut reactions play,” and, “Learn to make a safety plan based on different environments.”

Recent high-profile incidents that neighbors raised with Saka’s public safety committee and other city leaders include the gun homicide at High Point on Monday, which was the fourth shooting shooting and the second fatality in High Point in the last two years.

Jennifer Satterwhite, the Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator, said the class, titled “Personal Safety Training,” will teach “proactive tips and steps you can take to enhance your personal safety taught by Seattle police officers and employees.”

The upcoming classes will be offered Tueday August 25th 9 am to 11 am online via Teams and Thursday September 3, 2pm -4 pm also online via Teams. https://www.seattle.gov/police/crime-prevention/personal-safety-training