Where to call for help!
911 Supervisor / 798-4721
Abandoned Vehicles / 591-5926
Adolescent Services, Pierce Co. / 502-5470
Adult Protective Services (State) / 475-7212
AIDS Foundation / 383-2565
Alcoholics Anonymous / 474-8897
Alley Grading / 591-5496
Alley Lighting / 502-8618
Animal Care & Control / 627-7387 (PETS)
Building Inspector / 573-2320
Catholic Community Services / 383-5526
Call-2-Haul (Trash Pick-up) / 573-2468
Cart Recovery (Grocery Stores) / 1-866-906-CART
Centro Latino SER / 572-7717
Child Abuse Hotline / 1-800-363-4276
Child Care Referral / 591-2025
Child Protective Services / 983-6100
Child Reconciliation Services (teens) / 983-6100+2
Community Centers
Portland Ave Community Center / 591-5391
South End Community Center / 591-5098
Comprehensive Mental Health / 756-9960
Consumer Protection, State / 593-2904
Crime-Free Housing / 591-5160
Crisis Line, Pierce County (24 Hrs) / 1-800-576-7764
Disability Employment – TACID / 565-9000 X25
Dispute Resolution, Center for / 572-3657
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Crisis Line (24-Hours) / 475-9010
YWCA Hot Line (24-Hour) / 383-2593
Domestic Violence Help Line / 798-4166
(Good Referral Service)
Protection Order / 591-7455
Dump (Landfill), City / 591-5543
Earthquake Preparedness / 798-7470
East Side Boys and Girls Club / 474-2266
Election Office / 798-7430
EMPLOYMENT
Private Industry Council / 591-5450
Job Corps / 572-7140
Work Source (Placement—+3or4) / 593-7300
EORC (Education/Jobs) / 572-5960
Energy Conservation Office / 582-8363
Garbage Violations / 591-5543
Gardening / 472-7264
Grandparents Raising Children / 565-4484
Grief, Acquainted with / 272-5558
Hate Crimes / 594-7843
Hazardous Waste Disposal / 591-5418
Health Department, Pierce Co. / 798-6440
Hilltop Action Coalition / 383-3056 X112
Homeownership Center of Tacoma / 627-6560
Human Rights / 591-5151
Humane Society /383-2733
Indo-Chinese Cultural Service Center / 473-5666
Junk Vehicles / 591-5015
HEROS (Outreach to Seniors) / 445-8120
LEGAL SERVICES
Columbia Legal Services / 572-6000
CLEAR Legal Advice / 1-888-201-1014
Library, Main (Quick Info) / 591-5666
MLK Housing Development / 627-1099
MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCIES
Comprehensive Mental Health / 756-9960
Crisis Line, Pierce Co. (24 Hrs) / 1-800-576-7764
Suicide – Crisis Line / 1-800-576-7764
Narcotics Anonymous / 531-8792
PAAYS / 572-1129
Power outage, fallen wires / 502-8602
Property Owner (Taxpayer) Info / 798-6111
Puyallup Tribe of Indians / 597-6200
Recycling / 565-5955
Refuse (Garbage) / 591-5543
Restraining Order / 591-7455
Safe Streets / 272-6824
SCHOOLS
Birney ES / 571-4600
Blix ES / 571-1380
Boze ES / 571-4688
Fawcett ES / 571-4700
Fern Hill ES / 571-3888
Larchmont ES / 571-2092
Lister ES / 571-2900
Lyon ES / 571-2090
McKinley ES / 571-2070
Mann ES / 571-6300
Roosevelt ES / 571-4400
Sheridan ES / 571-2076
Stafford ES / 571-4300
Whitman ES / 571-2077
Baker MS / 571-5000
Gault MS / 571-1405
Stewart MS / 571-4200
McIlvaigh MS / 571-2080
Lincoln HS / 571-6700
Sex Offender Releases pso.co.pierce.wa.us
Sexual Assault Hotline / 474-7273
Sexual Assault Crisis Center / 597-6424
Shared Housing / 272-1532
Sidewalks hazardous / 591-5270
Speed Reduction Applications / 591-5269
Street Sweeping, Pot-Holes / 591-5495
Streetlighting, Burned-Out / 591-5287
Streetlighting, Upgrading / 591-5278
Suicide – Crisis Line / 1-800-576-7764
Tacoma CARES / 591-5001
Tacoma Community House / 383-3951
Tacoma Housing Authority / 207-4400
Teen-agers in trouble / 1-800-422-7556
Traffic Engineering / 591-5269
Traffic Infractions (leave message) / 594-7873+0
Trash, Curbside Pick-Up (Call-2-Haul) / 573-2468
Trees in Planting Strip, Recommendations / 591-5495
Truancy Center / 571-2123
Urban League, Tacoma / 383-2006
Urban League Academy / 597-6436
Skills Training / 272-8288
School-to-Work/MASAI / 597-6435
Unemployment Info (Work Source) / 593-7300
United Way HELP Line / 572-4357
Voter Registration / 798-7430
Water out, leaks (after hours 502-8344) / 502-8384
WSU Coop. Extension County Office / 798-7180
Master Gardener / 798-7170
Youth-At-Risk (Becca Law) / 798-7944
Youth Outreach (Campfire) / 597-6234
Y.M.C.A. / 597-6444
ELECTED OFFICIALS
TACOMA
Mayor, Bill Baarsma / 591-5100
City Council Member Rick Talbert / 591-5100 (office)
PIERCE COUNTY
County Executive
John Ladenburg / 798-7477
County Council Member
Tim Farrell / 798-7590
Barbara Gelman / 798-6653
Dick Muri / 798-3308
Assessor-Treasurer
Ken Madsen / 798-6111
Auditor
Pat McCarthy / 798-3189
Prosecutor
Gerald Horne / 798-7400
STATE OF WASHINGTON
Governor Christine Gregoire / (360)753-6780
State Representatives - 29th Leg. District
Representative Steve Conway
(Olympia) / (360)786-7906
Legislative Hot-Line / 1-800-562-6000
Representative Steve Kirby
(Olympia) / (360) 786-7996
State Senator
Senator Rosa Franklin / 253-759-9674
(Olympia) / (360) 786-7656
Attorney-General
Rob McKenna / (360)753-6200
NATIONAL -- U.S. Representative
Norm Dicks / 593-6536
(Washington, DC) / (202)225-5916
NATIONAL -- U.S. Senators
Maria Cantwell / (206)220-6400
(Washington, DC) / (202)224-3441
Patty Murray / (206)553-5545
(Washington, DC) / (202)224-2621
TACOMA POLICE DEPARTMENT
Emergencies / 911
Non-Emergency Line / 798-4722
Chief of Police / 591-5901
Sector 4 Substation / 594-7947
Commander Lt. Shawn Stringer / 594-7948
sstringe@cityoftacoma.org
Community Liaison Officers (CLO)
Officer Robert Luke / 573-2562
rluke@ci.tacoma.wa.us
Officer Don Williams / 594-7945
dwilliam@cityoftacoma.org
Officer Diana Judge / 573-2556
djudge@cityoftacoma.org
Community Based Service (CBS) Officer:
Officer Roland "Bert" Hayes / 594-7877
rhayes@cityoftacoma.org
Sex-Offender Violation (TPD detective) / 591-5937
Traffic Infractions (lv. message) / 594-7873+0
C.R.A.K. Hotline / 475-2725
Crime Stopper / 591-5959
Drug House Elimination Team Officer Greg Hopkins / 591-5883
Detective Follow-up
Crimes against Persons / 591-9940
Juvenile Crimes / 591-5933
Property Crimes / 591-5934
Tip-Line / 594-7867
Gang Activity, Vehicle thefts, etc. (Confidential recording)
Complaint about an officer / 591-5990
Showing posts with label Resources. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Resources. Show all posts
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Problem Solving Ideas
Ideas about how to deal with problem properties in your neighborhood
below is a compilation of a recent training, and many years of experience, it's a lesson I have to work on almost every time I use it, because my first reaction is to REACT appropriately to a situation with the seriousness of it on my life, my family's lives and the neighborhood's lives, it's a good lesson to learn and keep practicing (also attached for those who want to print it out)
Jeanie Peterson
Director of Community Initiatives
Hilltop Action Coalition
1224 S. I St.
Tacoma WA 98405
253-383-3056 ext 112
also hilltopactioncoalition@yahoo.com
----------------------
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has." – Margaret Mead
Problem-solving as the Lowest Level
I rec’d the following message from a community member:
Jeanie, any suggestions regarding how to approach my neighbor about his dogs getting loud every night between 1 AM-3 AM? I wanted to talk to him when I dropped off the neighborhood stuff, but he is never at home when I am. I want to start off on the right foot, and would rather talk to him first before Animal Control gets involved.
The ideal plan is to meet a neighbor before you approach them with an issue, so you have a name, etc. to use when you talk about other things, and have a few facts you can include in your next conversation (i.e. “John, how is your wife’s schooling going?”, etc.). Somewhere in your first or second conversation with a neighbor, you should have the “you-can-contact-me-if-there-are-issues” talk. This can be done by saying, “what we try to do in this neighborhood is to contact each other directly if there are issues, it’s one of the best ways to remain neighborly and address things at the lowest level. So, tell them: “if my dog is ever barking (or my kids are a problem, etc.) feel free to come to me directly”. IF they don’t reply the same way, you can then ask if that would be okay with them if you contact them directly, also.
If that conversation has happened you can contact them and remind them that you had that talk and then discuss the dog, although even then it’s best to do it in a friendly, non-accusatory fashion.
On general principal I usually use the "I'm concerned about you approach", in which you find a chance to talk to him (or leave him a note if you can’t talk directly) with an expression of concern. [Handwrite the note if your penmanship is readable].
"Has there been something happening at your house that would have disturbed the dog last night?”
“I hope everyone is fine. When the dog woke me up, I thought about checking on you, but I looked out the window and didn’t see any lights on…etc.”
This takes them off the defensive (usually) because you are making it about their welfare while at the same time letting them know that the barking woke you up. Most people will say something apologetic back, like: “no, the dog was barking and I should have gotten up,” or “I’m sorry, I was so tired I must have slept right thru it”, etc.
If you want you can include something about the other nights, like:
"The previous two nights the dog was barking during this same time period, (you could ask him if his shift has changed, or if there was something happening in the alley [etc.] over the past 3 nights that might have alerted the dog), this way you are giving him a valid excuse for why the dog HAD been barking, and letting him know that you are aware of the issue.
You can offer your assistance, if he has the dog out for security reasons, you could help him with security tips that would help him secure his house a little better [use the sheet we distribute about making your house more burglar-proof]. But you also need to ask yourself, why the dog is just barking the past 3 nights. IS SOMETHING GOING ON IN THE ALLEY? Did he just get the dog?
Also, while you are awake, you might notice which direction the dog is barking in. Maybe there is criminal activity on the other side of their house that the dog can see but you can’t, the dog may be witnessing something you and your neighbor need to report. But other ideas include: You said you don’t see him when you are home, does he work a strange shift, and could the dog be barking when he comes home [in that case, you could mention something about calming dog anxiety after a master comes home, etc.] Is it a new dog? You could talk about how to quiet down new dogs, and share that with him (again in a helpful way). If you don’t know about any of this you could check out something on the web or do some research and find out what’s suggested by experts, if money is not an issue, you could buy a book on the subject, and offer to let him borrow it/have it, etc..
One of the things I do [and I know it's annoying that we should have to do this (but if a dog is going to keep me awake anyway…)] is that I get up and find out what the dog is barking at. That way the wasted sleep accomplishes something. The same would apply to other things that wake you up: people often say "a [noise] woke me up" (loud party, people on the street, booming car, etc.) or something like that, and they “couldn't get back to sleep”. If you can’t get back to sleep you might as well make the time productive. I always ask if they checked out the ‘thing’ that woke them up, if they called 911 or the non-emergency number, etc. It may be a small issue, like the car, etc. but if it woke you up, it might have woke others. If officers are doing nothing, and happen to be in the area, at least they have something to respond to, and who knows the people in the car could be wanted for something, etc. You may even describe a car they have been looking for, and end up getting a know thug off the streets, etc.
Either way, keep track of the time the dogs barked, I always try to have a pad and paper near my bed, that way I record the exact time, and any details. Then, as that last straw, I use the animal control ordinance and I have the required details:
· 15 minutes of continuous barking in a 1 hour time period
· 3 times in a 7 day period of time
This same principal can apply to most neighborhood situations, the important thing is if possible ‘connect’ with the neighbor, if they are a difficult person, at the very least you can connect on the basis of “wouldn’t you rather have me talk to you and you address this than for me to call the authorities.”
I’m glad you asked this question, I myself need to be reminded that a friendly conversation should always be my first response, today I met the new neighbors who moved in behind me, and as I’m introducing myself, and giving them the “feel free to contact me if there are issues” talk, I also couldn’t stop myself from reminding them that we have several ordinances that will deal with many, and we’d hate to involve the authorities. I felt bad afterwards, and am going to work on that.
A *John Campbell story…
At the training on Saturday (*John Campbell, who is SO KNOWLEDGEABLE about how to handle things of a neighborhood nature) we talked about ‘that problem house on the block’:
He explained there was a house that was trouble, the kids were terrible, the parents didn’t seem to know anything about parenting, and their activity was consistently negatively impacting the block. He decided he needed to do something…the only problem was that they had lived in the neighborhood for over a year and he hadn’t even introduced himself, yet.
And even though he was fuming inside and wanted to talk about all the bad behavior he had been witnessing, he went over, and just introduced himself and apologized for not introducing himself before (he had gotten in the habit, and his kids were so accustomed to it, that when new neighbors moved in they’d automatically bake brownies for him to take over to the new person’s house). The parents introduced themselves, and he left it at that. He went home and wrote down the names immediately (he’s bad with names) so he’d remember them.
The next day and in the days that followed when he’d see them outside he’d ALWAYS say hello and used their names, and greeted them kindly.
A few days later their kids were raising hell on the block, and the following day he saw the parents, and talked to them about children (I think he said he talked about his kids, but it doesn’t really matter, he kept the short conversation friendly and said nothing about the issues that were still VERY FRESH in his mind) during which he learned the names of their children. Over the next few weeks he made a point of talking to the kids and addressing them by name, as well as continuing to speak to the parents every chance he got, always friendly.
Then one night they kids were exceptionally bad, and he saw the parents the next day, he mentioned something about kids being kids and the parents said that if he ever had problems with them he could talk to the parents about it, and though he wanted to unload a whole years worth of issues he didn’t, instead he said okay, and left it at that.
But as the weeks/months went on he began to talk to the parents about the behaviors, a little at a time and always kindly.
A few years later every house on the block got burglarized except his.
I questioned that though this made it better for him, in effect, all he had done was made friends with felons, and though that saved his house, things didn’t get better for the neighbors. As an individual you did a good job of protecting you, but many of us think as Block Leaders and we need to also help the rest of the block, so on houses like this I usually try to find the biggest hammers I can and then use them on a house like this. John agreed. He said that there was much more to the story, that things did get better on the block for him and the rest of the neighbors, but that eventually it led to them suing the family; they lost the house over it, etc.
Problem-solvers:
John talked more about problem-solving. Normally, if we have a problem, we think about police, because police ARE supposed to help solve problems, but police aren’t the ONLY problem-solvers, in fact, they shouldn’t be the first people we think about when there’s a problem (unless it’s a major crime).
Sometimes you and your neighbors are the best problems solvers:
Honking Horns:
John is great, he talked about how some people think that the thing in the center of you steering wheel is a door bell, they pull up in front of a house and honk the horn. So, if it keeps happening treat it accordingly. Normally (if we weren’t SO AWARE of knuckleheads and their behaviors), if someone were repeatedly honking like that, people would assume it’s an emergency, so treat it that way. Arrange with your neighbors to have as many of them as can (and can do it sincerely) come out to the car, and say “Are you okay? We thought something was terribly wrong because you were honking like that, are you okay?” It usually will stop them from doing it again, but if it doesn’t do it again. These types of methods work with most cases. But make sure that participants can pull it off, or it could turn into a worse situation.
Sometimes it’s someone you wouldn’t normally think about:
John is from Portland OR, and their equivalent of our Community Liaison Officer (Police, chronic-issue specialist) had called a landlord about a house that had been suspected of being a drug house. Before he was even done telling the landlord what had been witnessed the landlord cut him off and said that he resented the officer’s assumptions about his tenants, and that the officer was never to call him again. So, the officer thought, who else is a problem-solver in this situation, and he checked the tax rolls and learned that the house was mortgaged. So, he called the mortgage company and talked to a person there about the issue.
He told them the house’s location, and the name of the landlord, he said “isn’t there a clause in the mortgage contract that says that the house has to be used for ‘legal purposes’. And asked them if they “wanted to be known as the Mortgage Company that finances drug houses.” After he hung up, within 30 minutes he received a phone call from the landlord, “I’m sorry, officer, we must have had a bad connection during that last phone call…” and they worked together to get the tenants out. Turns out the landlord didn’t know about the crime-free housing program, and many other things he could do to insure that he didn’t end up with these types of tenants. They never had trouble with his house again.
There are other problem-solvers, just think of EVERYONE involved in a situation. “Break it down” was the term John uses, take a situation and break it down into it's many parts and look at each part to see who/what else is involved/could be involved.
One of the lady’s (older, grandmother-looking) from the East Side of Tacoma, who lives near an area that’s experienced prostitution goes out and talks to the prostitutes herself:
“I’m sorry, are you okay?” She’ll asks in all sincerity. “People say this is an area of prostitution, and I wanted to make sure you were okay.” “Can you imagine people having sex on this corner? Are you okay?” etc. It helps encourage them to move along.
Submitted September 16, 2008 by Edwina
below is a compilation of a recent training, and many years of experience, it's a lesson I have to work on almost every time I use it, because my first reaction is to REACT appropriately to a situation with the seriousness of it on my life, my family's lives and the neighborhood's lives, it's a good lesson to learn and keep practicing (also attached for those who want to print it out)
Jeanie Peterson
Director of Community Initiatives
Hilltop Action Coalition
1224 S. I St.
Tacoma WA 98405
253-383-3056 ext 112
also hilltopactioncoalition@yahoo.com
----------------------
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has." – Margaret Mead
Problem-solving as the Lowest Level
I rec’d the following message from a community member:
Jeanie, any suggestions regarding how to approach my neighbor about his dogs getting loud every night between 1 AM-3 AM? I wanted to talk to him when I dropped off the neighborhood stuff, but he is never at home when I am. I want to start off on the right foot, and would rather talk to him first before Animal Control gets involved.
The ideal plan is to meet a neighbor before you approach them with an issue, so you have a name, etc. to use when you talk about other things, and have a few facts you can include in your next conversation (i.e. “John, how is your wife’s schooling going?”, etc.). Somewhere in your first or second conversation with a neighbor, you should have the “you-can-contact-me-if-there-are-issues” talk. This can be done by saying, “what we try to do in this neighborhood is to contact each other directly if there are issues, it’s one of the best ways to remain neighborly and address things at the lowest level. So, tell them: “if my dog is ever barking (or my kids are a problem, etc.) feel free to come to me directly”. IF they don’t reply the same way, you can then ask if that would be okay with them if you contact them directly, also.
If that conversation has happened you can contact them and remind them that you had that talk and then discuss the dog, although even then it’s best to do it in a friendly, non-accusatory fashion.
On general principal I usually use the "I'm concerned about you approach", in which you find a chance to talk to him (or leave him a note if you can’t talk directly) with an expression of concern. [Handwrite the note if your penmanship is readable].
"Has there been something happening at your house that would have disturbed the dog last night?”
“I hope everyone is fine. When the dog woke me up, I thought about checking on you, but I looked out the window and didn’t see any lights on…etc.”
This takes them off the defensive (usually) because you are making it about their welfare while at the same time letting them know that the barking woke you up. Most people will say something apologetic back, like: “no, the dog was barking and I should have gotten up,” or “I’m sorry, I was so tired I must have slept right thru it”, etc.
If you want you can include something about the other nights, like:
"The previous two nights the dog was barking during this same time period, (you could ask him if his shift has changed, or if there was something happening in the alley [etc.] over the past 3 nights that might have alerted the dog), this way you are giving him a valid excuse for why the dog HAD been barking, and letting him know that you are aware of the issue.
You can offer your assistance, if he has the dog out for security reasons, you could help him with security tips that would help him secure his house a little better [use the sheet we distribute about making your house more burglar-proof]. But you also need to ask yourself, why the dog is just barking the past 3 nights. IS SOMETHING GOING ON IN THE ALLEY? Did he just get the dog?
Also, while you are awake, you might notice which direction the dog is barking in. Maybe there is criminal activity on the other side of their house that the dog can see but you can’t, the dog may be witnessing something you and your neighbor need to report. But other ideas include: You said you don’t see him when you are home, does he work a strange shift, and could the dog be barking when he comes home [in that case, you could mention something about calming dog anxiety after a master comes home, etc.] Is it a new dog? You could talk about how to quiet down new dogs, and share that with him (again in a helpful way). If you don’t know about any of this you could check out something on the web or do some research and find out what’s suggested by experts, if money is not an issue, you could buy a book on the subject, and offer to let him borrow it/have it, etc..
One of the things I do [and I know it's annoying that we should have to do this (but if a dog is going to keep me awake anyway…)] is that I get up and find out what the dog is barking at. That way the wasted sleep accomplishes something. The same would apply to other things that wake you up: people often say "a [noise] woke me up" (loud party, people on the street, booming car, etc.) or something like that, and they “couldn't get back to sleep”. If you can’t get back to sleep you might as well make the time productive. I always ask if they checked out the ‘thing’ that woke them up, if they called 911 or the non-emergency number, etc. It may be a small issue, like the car, etc. but if it woke you up, it might have woke others. If officers are doing nothing, and happen to be in the area, at least they have something to respond to, and who knows the people in the car could be wanted for something, etc. You may even describe a car they have been looking for, and end up getting a know thug off the streets, etc.
Either way, keep track of the time the dogs barked, I always try to have a pad and paper near my bed, that way I record the exact time, and any details. Then, as that last straw, I use the animal control ordinance and I have the required details:
· 15 minutes of continuous barking in a 1 hour time period
· 3 times in a 7 day period of time
This same principal can apply to most neighborhood situations, the important thing is if possible ‘connect’ with the neighbor, if they are a difficult person, at the very least you can connect on the basis of “wouldn’t you rather have me talk to you and you address this than for me to call the authorities.”
I’m glad you asked this question, I myself need to be reminded that a friendly conversation should always be my first response, today I met the new neighbors who moved in behind me, and as I’m introducing myself, and giving them the “feel free to contact me if there are issues” talk, I also couldn’t stop myself from reminding them that we have several ordinances that will deal with many, and we’d hate to involve the authorities. I felt bad afterwards, and am going to work on that.
A *John Campbell story…
At the training on Saturday (*John Campbell, who is SO KNOWLEDGEABLE about how to handle things of a neighborhood nature) we talked about ‘that problem house on the block’:
He explained there was a house that was trouble, the kids were terrible, the parents didn’t seem to know anything about parenting, and their activity was consistently negatively impacting the block. He decided he needed to do something…the only problem was that they had lived in the neighborhood for over a year and he hadn’t even introduced himself, yet.
And even though he was fuming inside and wanted to talk about all the bad behavior he had been witnessing, he went over, and just introduced himself and apologized for not introducing himself before (he had gotten in the habit, and his kids were so accustomed to it, that when new neighbors moved in they’d automatically bake brownies for him to take over to the new person’s house). The parents introduced themselves, and he left it at that. He went home and wrote down the names immediately (he’s bad with names) so he’d remember them.
The next day and in the days that followed when he’d see them outside he’d ALWAYS say hello and used their names, and greeted them kindly.
A few days later their kids were raising hell on the block, and the following day he saw the parents, and talked to them about children (I think he said he talked about his kids, but it doesn’t really matter, he kept the short conversation friendly and said nothing about the issues that were still VERY FRESH in his mind) during which he learned the names of their children. Over the next few weeks he made a point of talking to the kids and addressing them by name, as well as continuing to speak to the parents every chance he got, always friendly.
Then one night they kids were exceptionally bad, and he saw the parents the next day, he mentioned something about kids being kids and the parents said that if he ever had problems with them he could talk to the parents about it, and though he wanted to unload a whole years worth of issues he didn’t, instead he said okay, and left it at that.
But as the weeks/months went on he began to talk to the parents about the behaviors, a little at a time and always kindly.
A few years later every house on the block got burglarized except his.
I questioned that though this made it better for him, in effect, all he had done was made friends with felons, and though that saved his house, things didn’t get better for the neighbors. As an individual you did a good job of protecting you, but many of us think as Block Leaders and we need to also help the rest of the block, so on houses like this I usually try to find the biggest hammers I can and then use them on a house like this. John agreed. He said that there was much more to the story, that things did get better on the block for him and the rest of the neighbors, but that eventually it led to them suing the family; they lost the house over it, etc.
Problem-solvers:
John talked more about problem-solving. Normally, if we have a problem, we think about police, because police ARE supposed to help solve problems, but police aren’t the ONLY problem-solvers, in fact, they shouldn’t be the first people we think about when there’s a problem (unless it’s a major crime).
Sometimes you and your neighbors are the best problems solvers:
Honking Horns:
John is great, he talked about how some people think that the thing in the center of you steering wheel is a door bell, they pull up in front of a house and honk the horn. So, if it keeps happening treat it accordingly. Normally (if we weren’t SO AWARE of knuckleheads and their behaviors), if someone were repeatedly honking like that, people would assume it’s an emergency, so treat it that way. Arrange with your neighbors to have as many of them as can (and can do it sincerely) come out to the car, and say “Are you okay? We thought something was terribly wrong because you were honking like that, are you okay?” It usually will stop them from doing it again, but if it doesn’t do it again. These types of methods work with most cases. But make sure that participants can pull it off, or it could turn into a worse situation.
Sometimes it’s someone you wouldn’t normally think about:
John is from Portland OR, and their equivalent of our Community Liaison Officer (Police, chronic-issue specialist) had called a landlord about a house that had been suspected of being a drug house. Before he was even done telling the landlord what had been witnessed the landlord cut him off and said that he resented the officer’s assumptions about his tenants, and that the officer was never to call him again. So, the officer thought, who else is a problem-solver in this situation, and he checked the tax rolls and learned that the house was mortgaged. So, he called the mortgage company and talked to a person there about the issue.
He told them the house’s location, and the name of the landlord, he said “isn’t there a clause in the mortgage contract that says that the house has to be used for ‘legal purposes’. And asked them if they “wanted to be known as the Mortgage Company that finances drug houses.” After he hung up, within 30 minutes he received a phone call from the landlord, “I’m sorry, officer, we must have had a bad connection during that last phone call…” and they worked together to get the tenants out. Turns out the landlord didn’t know about the crime-free housing program, and many other things he could do to insure that he didn’t end up with these types of tenants. They never had trouble with his house again.
There are other problem-solvers, just think of EVERYONE involved in a situation. “Break it down” was the term John uses, take a situation and break it down into it's many parts and look at each part to see who/what else is involved/could be involved.
One of the lady’s (older, grandmother-looking) from the East Side of Tacoma, who lives near an area that’s experienced prostitution goes out and talks to the prostitutes herself:
“I’m sorry, are you okay?” She’ll asks in all sincerity. “People say this is an area of prostitution, and I wanted to make sure you were okay.” “Can you imagine people having sex on this corner? Are you okay?” etc. It helps encourage them to move along.
Submitted September 16, 2008 by Edwina
Tacoma Nuisance Ordinance
City of Tacoma Nuisance Ordinance
In January 2007 the City Council voted to strengthen and enforce the revised nuisance codes by abating (cleaning up) nuisances that property owners do not clean up on their own. The nuisance code amendments include, but are not limited to, the following features:
• A call is placed to report a code violation
• Once the call is taken, a code enforcement officer will drive to the address, take a picture of the violation and post a notice with the picture on the violator’s front door.
• A letter to the property and the property owner will be sent with details of the violation.
• Eighteen (18) days will be given the property owner to amend the violation.
• IF, after 18 days, the violation has not been addressed by the property owner, the City will send a crew to clean up the violation.
• The property owner will be charged for the clean up; which generally runs about $1,700.00 and up. (so far, the experience is that most property owners clean up on their own property once they get the notice.)
As of January only 3% of violations have been cleaned up by City staff.
The nuisance code amendments address issues related to the timely removal of nuisances such as (but not limited to):
--------------------------
Yard
• Animal waste/feces or parts which are improperly handled, contained, or removed from the premises; including bones, meats, hides, skins, or any part of any dead animal, fish, or foul.
• Animal manure or excreta in any quantity which is not securely protected from flies and the elements and which is likely to become putrid, offensive, and injurious to the public health.
• Overgrown, uncultivated, or unkempt vegetation of any type, including, but not limited to, shrubs, brush, trees, weeds, blackberries, and grasses over one foot in height or length.
• Where a single parcel is undeveloped and over one acre in area, elimination of the fire hazard presented by vegetation may be accomplished by removing the vegetation from the area within 20 feet of abutting, improved properties.
• Inappropriate disposal or accumulation of vegetation waste, including, but not limited to, grass clippings, cut brush, cut trees, and/or cut weeds.
• Weeds, foliage, grass, shrubs, or other vegetation which constitute a fire hazard, or encroaches on sidewalks, alleys or neighboring properties, is damaging public improvements, or subjects neighboring residential properties to weed growth.
• Storing of flammable junk on any real estate, including but not limited to old rags, rope, cordage, rubber, boxes, or paper.
• Storing outside a completely enclosed building items that constitute a threat to the public health, safety or welfare, including but not limited to: old or scrap rope, batteries, paper, trash, rubber debris, tires, waste, used lumber or salvaged wood, machinery or appliances or parts of such machinery or appliances, vehicular component parts, iron, steel, old or scrap household goods or hardware, medications, medical supplies, or medical devices, cut brush or wood including dead or decaying plant material except s contained in a compost pile or orderly stacked firewood if cut in lengths of four feet or less.
--------------------------
House
• The existence of any screening which is in a falling, decayed, dilapidated, or unsafe condition.
• Any unsightly, abandoned, or deteriorated building or structure, or any building or structure constructed with inappropriate materials or improperly fastened together of anchored against forces of nature.
• Any building or structure where construction was commenced and the building or structure was left unfinished.
• Missing and/or broken gutters; broken and/or missing windows; peeled, blistered paint; foundation has holes and cracks; railings and/or steps are broken; missing siding; chimney falling apart parts of roof is missing and has holes in it.
• Burning or disposal of refuse, sawdust, or other material in such a manner as to cause or permit ashes, sawdust, soot, or cinders to be cast upon the streets or alleys of the City, or to cause of permit the smoke, ashes, soot, or gases arising from such burning to become annoying or to injure or endanger the health, comfort, or repose of said persons.
--------------------------
Parking of vehicles on residential property
The primary function of yards on single-family residential lots is to provide access to light and air and to provide circulation, recreation, and landscaping around the primary single-family dwelling building, which are beneficial to the general health and welfare of the community. This section establishes standards by which parking vehicles on single-family residential lots are allowable.
• Vehicles parked in the side or rear yard area of single-family residential lots shall be limited to those lots which have legal access from the adjacent street or alley and shall be limited to four vehicles or to no more that 60 percent of the combined side and rear year area, whichever is less.
• Vehicles parked in the front yard of single-family residential lots, although discouraged where alley access is available, shall be limited to those lots which have legal access from the adjacent street or alley. Parking of vehicles in front yards shall be on a properly prepared and contained all-weather surface, including, but not limited to, concrete, asphalt, gravel, approved permeable paving materials, or other material approved in accordance with TMC 2.02.
• The total number of vehicles parked or stored in the open on a single-family residential lot shall be no more that six (6).
• Inoperable vehicles stored on single-family residential lots shall be limited to the rear yard area. Screening shall be provided between the inoperable vehicles and adjacent properties or rights-of-way.
• All private vehicles which are fully enclosed within a legally constructed garage or other structure are not considered as part of the allotted number of vehicles for purpose of this section.
--------------------------
Abandoned Autos
What is an abandoned vehicle?
Abandoned vehicles are ones that have been left on City street and may have one or more of the following characteristics:
• Dismantled
• In a state of disrepair (broken windows, sitting on blocks, etc.)
• Stripped of major parts
• Missing license plates
• Filled with garbage
• Sitting in the same sport for seven or more days and appears non-operational
• In front of a residence in which owners have moved away. Most abandoned vehicles are left by people unknown to those living in the neighborhood.
How do I get rid of abandoned vehicles in my neighborhood?
The City of Tacoma will help if the vehicle is considered an abandoned vehicle. Call the abandoned vehicle hotline at (253) 591-5926. The abandoned vehicle enforcement officer will not respond to neighborhood parking problems, including:
• Vehicles parked illegally
• Vehicles with expired licenses
• **Recreational vehicles parked on City rights of way.
Please call the Tacoma police Department non-emergency number (253) 798-4721 and choose option 1 (one) for those types of vehicle problems.
**City Ordnance (per Terry Rucker; road use compliance officer City of Tacoma) states that RVs, Trailers, Utility Trailers, and/or trucks w/trailers attached MUST be driven and/or used every 7 (seven) days and currently licensed.
It is a violation if any vehicle is parked on sidewalk, alley, etc.
--------------------------
Telephone Numbers
To report an unkempt property 591-5001
Dumpster and Disposal 591-5634
Household Debris Removal 573-2468
TAGRO Mix 502-2150
Abandoned Vehicle 591-5926
Neighborhood Parking Problem 798-4721 option 1 (one)
(Police Non-Emergency number)
In January 2007 the City Council voted to strengthen and enforce the revised nuisance codes by abating (cleaning up) nuisances that property owners do not clean up on their own. The nuisance code amendments include, but are not limited to, the following features:
• A call is placed to report a code violation
• Once the call is taken, a code enforcement officer will drive to the address, take a picture of the violation and post a notice with the picture on the violator’s front door.
• A letter to the property and the property owner will be sent with details of the violation.
• Eighteen (18) days will be given the property owner to amend the violation.
• IF, after 18 days, the violation has not been addressed by the property owner, the City will send a crew to clean up the violation.
• The property owner will be charged for the clean up; which generally runs about $1,700.00 and up. (so far, the experience is that most property owners clean up on their own property once they get the notice.)
As of January only 3% of violations have been cleaned up by City staff.
The nuisance code amendments address issues related to the timely removal of nuisances such as (but not limited to):
--------------------------
Yard
• Animal waste/feces or parts which are improperly handled, contained, or removed from the premises; including bones, meats, hides, skins, or any part of any dead animal, fish, or foul.
• Animal manure or excreta in any quantity which is not securely protected from flies and the elements and which is likely to become putrid, offensive, and injurious to the public health.
• Overgrown, uncultivated, or unkempt vegetation of any type, including, but not limited to, shrubs, brush, trees, weeds, blackberries, and grasses over one foot in height or length.
• Where a single parcel is undeveloped and over one acre in area, elimination of the fire hazard presented by vegetation may be accomplished by removing the vegetation from the area within 20 feet of abutting, improved properties.
• Inappropriate disposal or accumulation of vegetation waste, including, but not limited to, grass clippings, cut brush, cut trees, and/or cut weeds.
• Weeds, foliage, grass, shrubs, or other vegetation which constitute a fire hazard, or encroaches on sidewalks, alleys or neighboring properties, is damaging public improvements, or subjects neighboring residential properties to weed growth.
• Storing of flammable junk on any real estate, including but not limited to old rags, rope, cordage, rubber, boxes, or paper.
• Storing outside a completely enclosed building items that constitute a threat to the public health, safety or welfare, including but not limited to: old or scrap rope, batteries, paper, trash, rubber debris, tires, waste, used lumber or salvaged wood, machinery or appliances or parts of such machinery or appliances, vehicular component parts, iron, steel, old or scrap household goods or hardware, medications, medical supplies, or medical devices, cut brush or wood including dead or decaying plant material except s contained in a compost pile or orderly stacked firewood if cut in lengths of four feet or less.
--------------------------
House
• The existence of any screening which is in a falling, decayed, dilapidated, or unsafe condition.
• Any unsightly, abandoned, or deteriorated building or structure, or any building or structure constructed with inappropriate materials or improperly fastened together of anchored against forces of nature.
• Any building or structure where construction was commenced and the building or structure was left unfinished.
• Missing and/or broken gutters; broken and/or missing windows; peeled, blistered paint; foundation has holes and cracks; railings and/or steps are broken; missing siding; chimney falling apart parts of roof is missing and has holes in it.
• Burning or disposal of refuse, sawdust, or other material in such a manner as to cause or permit ashes, sawdust, soot, or cinders to be cast upon the streets or alleys of the City, or to cause of permit the smoke, ashes, soot, or gases arising from such burning to become annoying or to injure or endanger the health, comfort, or repose of said persons.
--------------------------
Parking of vehicles on residential property
The primary function of yards on single-family residential lots is to provide access to light and air and to provide circulation, recreation, and landscaping around the primary single-family dwelling building, which are beneficial to the general health and welfare of the community. This section establishes standards by which parking vehicles on single-family residential lots are allowable.
• Vehicles parked in the side or rear yard area of single-family residential lots shall be limited to those lots which have legal access from the adjacent street or alley and shall be limited to four vehicles or to no more that 60 percent of the combined side and rear year area, whichever is less.
• Vehicles parked in the front yard of single-family residential lots, although discouraged where alley access is available, shall be limited to those lots which have legal access from the adjacent street or alley. Parking of vehicles in front yards shall be on a properly prepared and contained all-weather surface, including, but not limited to, concrete, asphalt, gravel, approved permeable paving materials, or other material approved in accordance with TMC 2.02.
• The total number of vehicles parked or stored in the open on a single-family residential lot shall be no more that six (6).
• Inoperable vehicles stored on single-family residential lots shall be limited to the rear yard area. Screening shall be provided between the inoperable vehicles and adjacent properties or rights-of-way.
• All private vehicles which are fully enclosed within a legally constructed garage or other structure are not considered as part of the allotted number of vehicles for purpose of this section.
--------------------------
Abandoned Autos
What is an abandoned vehicle?
Abandoned vehicles are ones that have been left on City street and may have one or more of the following characteristics:
• Dismantled
• In a state of disrepair (broken windows, sitting on blocks, etc.)
• Stripped of major parts
• Missing license plates
• Filled with garbage
• Sitting in the same sport for seven or more days and appears non-operational
• In front of a residence in which owners have moved away. Most abandoned vehicles are left by people unknown to those living in the neighborhood.
How do I get rid of abandoned vehicles in my neighborhood?
The City of Tacoma will help if the vehicle is considered an abandoned vehicle. Call the abandoned vehicle hotline at (253) 591-5926. The abandoned vehicle enforcement officer will not respond to neighborhood parking problems, including:
• Vehicles parked illegally
• Vehicles with expired licenses
• **Recreational vehicles parked on City rights of way.
Please call the Tacoma police Department non-emergency number (253) 798-4721 and choose option 1 (one) for those types of vehicle problems.
**City Ordnance (per Terry Rucker; road use compliance officer City of Tacoma) states that RVs, Trailers, Utility Trailers, and/or trucks w/trailers attached MUST be driven and/or used every 7 (seven) days and currently licensed.
It is a violation if any vehicle is parked on sidewalk, alley, etc.
--------------------------
Telephone Numbers
To report an unkempt property 591-5001
Dumpster and Disposal 591-5634
Household Debris Removal 573-2468
TAGRO Mix 502-2150
Abandoned Vehicle 591-5926
Neighborhood Parking Problem 798-4721 option 1 (one)
(Police Non-Emergency number)
Important City Telephone Numbers
City of Tacoma Services
General Information: (253) 591-5000
8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday – Friday
[Deaf, hard of hearing or speech disabled persons may contact us through Washington Relay Services 1-800-833-6388 (TTY or ASCII) 1-800-833-6386 (VCO) or 1-877-833-6341 (STS)]
Police (emergency)
911
Police (non-emergency)
798-4721
Abandoned vehicle (City streets)
591-5926
Abandoned vehicle complaints (Private Property)
591-5001
Call-2-Haul 573-2468
E-mail: Solid waste
Streetlights (burned out)
591-5287
Tacoma CARES
591-5001
Graffiti hotline
591-5001
Traffic signs
591-5276
Street repair and Potholes
591-5495
Street flooding
591-5585
Overgrown vegetation
591-5001
Alarm compliance
591-5252
Parking tickets
591-5357
Animal control
627-7387
TAGRO biosolids products
502-2150
E-mail: Tagro
Building & Land Use
591-5015
Police information (recording)
591-5950
Building inspections
591-5004
Building permits
591-5030
Power outages, fallen wires, etc.
502-8602
Business licenses
591-5252
Public Assembly Facilities(Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center)
830-6601
Public Works Information Center
594-7879
Child care referral
591-2025
E-mail: Child care
Recycling schedule
565-5955
E-mail: Solid waste
Beacon Senior Center
591-5083
Lighthouse Senior Center
591-5080
Sewer backups (24 hour)
591-5585
Clean Bay Car Wash kits
591-2246
Sidewalks (hazardous)
591-5270
E-mail: Sandra Guffey
Click! Network
502-8900
City Clerk's Office
591-5171
Community & Economic Development (Gen. Info)
591-5364
Construction drawings & maps
594-7879
Tacoma Dome 24-hour event line
572-3663
Tacoma Dome
272-3663
Fire (Gen. Info) (Emergency)
591-5737911
Traffic signals
591-5287
Garbage
591-5543
E-mail: Solid waste
govME Web site info.
594-7879
Tacoma Public Library
591-5666
Hazardous waste
591-5418
E-mail: Solid waste
Hearing Examiner (Gen. Info)
591-5195
Trees in right-of-way
591-5500
Housing discrimination
591-5151
Utilities customer service
502-8600
Human Resources (Gen. Info)
591-5400
Yard waste
591-5543
E-mail: Solid waste
Water outages. leaks, etc.
502-8384
Illegal parking
798-4721
Water outages, leaks, etc. After business hours)
502-8344
Neighborhood Councils
591-5229
E-mail: Elton Gatewood
Human Rights & Human Svcs. (TTY)
591-5151591-5153
Community Relations Office
591-5054
E-mail: Rob McNair-Huff
Long-range Planning
591-5373 or 591-5210
City Manager's Office
591-5130
Land use planners
591-5577
Mayor / City Council
591-5100
E-mail: Cindy DeGrosse
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Tacoma CARES
What is Tacoma CARES?
The power of partnership. . .YOU and Tacoma CARES
A cleaner neighborhood is a safer neighborhood—that's the spirit behind Tacoma CARES (Cleanup And Revitalization EffortS.) Since 1995 Tacoma CARES has worked with people like you to strengthen and preserve the livability of the City of Tacoma. What does Tacoma CARES do for you?
Community Activities
Cleanup and beautification projects
Whether it's cleaning up litter from a gulch or helping to arrange a beautification project, Tacoma CARES can help you. Solid Waste Management's "Blight Mobile" can help you dispose of litter and debris on streets, alleys and other public right-of-ways.
Code enforcement
The Tacoma CARES program enforces the following:
Nuisances (primarily litter and debris)
Junk vehicles on private property
Minimum Building and Structures Code (dealing with the condition or existing buildings)
Graffiti
Overgrown vegetation on private property
Abandoned Autos
To report any violations please call 591-5001. To report graffiti please call our 24-hour graffiti message line at 591-5691.
To read more about Tacoma CARES and how they can help you, visit their website:
http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?hid=1768
The power of partnership. . .YOU and Tacoma CARES
A cleaner neighborhood is a safer neighborhood—that's the spirit behind Tacoma CARES (Cleanup And Revitalization EffortS.) Since 1995 Tacoma CARES has worked with people like you to strengthen and preserve the livability of the City of Tacoma. What does Tacoma CARES do for you?
Community Activities
Cleanup and beautification projects
Whether it's cleaning up litter from a gulch or helping to arrange a beautification project, Tacoma CARES can help you. Solid Waste Management's "Blight Mobile" can help you dispose of litter and debris on streets, alleys and other public right-of-ways.
Code enforcement
The Tacoma CARES program enforces the following:
Nuisances (primarily litter and debris)
Junk vehicles on private property
Minimum Building and Structures Code (dealing with the condition or existing buildings)
Graffiti
Overgrown vegetation on private property
Abandoned Autos
To report any violations please call 591-5001. To report graffiti please call our 24-hour graffiti message line at 591-5691.
To read more about Tacoma CARES and how they can help you, visit their website:
http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?hid=1768
Safe Streets / Community Resource
What does Safe Streets do?
The Safe Streets Campaign connects you with necessary community resources to tackle your community’s challenges. When you form a Safe Streets block group, you will become a part of a larger network that works, solves and prevents community problems together. As a part of Safe Streets, you’ll learn how to entice your neighbors to help and get out into the community. Together, we’ll create active and involved neighborhoods.
They have a very good website with information about getting involved, youth action, resources, and news and events. Be sure to look at the "Tips and Advice" section located under resources. In that area, you will find the following:
When to Call 9-1-1
How calls receive priority
Join a Community Group
Neighborhood Councils and Associations
Clean-ups
Blighted/Abandoned Properties
Abandoned and Junk vehicles
Vehicle Prowls
Mail and Identity Theft
Burglary
To learn more about this important community resource please visit the Safe Streets website: http://www.safest.org/
The Safe Streets Campaign connects you with necessary community resources to tackle your community’s challenges. When you form a Safe Streets block group, you will become a part of a larger network that works, solves and prevents community problems together. As a part of Safe Streets, you’ll learn how to entice your neighbors to help and get out into the community. Together, we’ll create active and involved neighborhoods.
They have a very good website with information about getting involved, youth action, resources, and news and events. Be sure to look at the "Tips and Advice" section located under resources. In that area, you will find the following:
When to Call 9-1-1
How calls receive priority
Join a Community Group
Neighborhood Councils and Associations
Clean-ups
Blighted/Abandoned Properties
Abandoned and Junk vehicles
Vehicle Prowls
Mail and Identity Theft
Burglary
To learn more about this important community resource please visit the Safe Streets website: http://www.safest.org/
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