Pubdate: Tue, 30 May 2006 Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer (WA) Copyright: 2006 Seattle Post-Intelligencer Contact: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/408 DRUG DEALING - KEEP THE HEAT ON The city of Seattle is assembling new data tracking drug crimes. Some Seattle neighborhoods don't have to see the city's numbers to know about problems on their streets and sidewalks. As Pioneer Square residents have discovered, 911 comes up short as a magic set of digits to call for solutions. Neighbors are understandably unhappy with the city's failure to stop drug crime in Fortson Square, at Second Avenue and Yesler Way. Gutsy Pioneer Square neighbors are after the dealers and the city. The fun part of the residents' in-your-face approach is an ad in The Stranger with a map and a photo of the mayor and the city's top cop. The almost official-looking ad proclaimed: "Mayor Nickels & Chief Kerlikowske welcome you to Fortson Square's Open-Air Drug Market." In the harder part of the neighbors' campaign, they shot video of drug deals in the square for several days. Some dealers became angry, but the citizens stuck with their filming. While the public shouldn't have to be quite this much on the front lines, citizen involvement is a part of controlling drug problems. For its part, the city is out sharing newly developed data tracking drug arrests, which has led to a map of hot spots. The Narcstat data program can show where 911 calls about drugs are heavy, letting officials target areas for enforcement even if they can't make arrests after each call. Some Belltown residents, for instance, reportedly have noticed improvements from combined local and federal efforts to halt open dealing. But we suspect there are a lot of areas that share Pioneer Square's frustrations. The heat needs to remain on not just dealers but also public officials. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman