Not even 24 hours ago, I wrote a post about the 2 very different Rainier Beach neighborhoods.
Here is the jist of it:
There is not 1 Rainier Beach, there is 2. Fascinatingly enough, they are not mutually exclusive, geographically speaking. In fact, one can be in the nice, quaint, dog walking Rainier Beach on one block, and then turn the corner only to find themselves in the other Rainier Beach, where thugs control everything, and the dogs being walked are on chains, and would rather rip your throat out than catch a stick or a ball in the park.
I lived in the latter. When I went to the community meeting after Paroline’s death, that divide was pretty clear. I expected more people from my old ‘hood to be there. They weren’t. Not because they didn’t care. Mostly because that wasn’t their neighborhood. Mostly because of a strong feeling that “white folks” in the nicer parts of the Beach don’t give two cents for the “black folks” living in the not-so-nice part.
So when I read the daily papers today online, I found myself severely irritated at the most recent article on RB I found in one of them. The view of the Beach described by the author could only be seen through rose colored glasses, and for those who don’t live in the nice parts of tha Beach, well, there is no access to those glasses, so I couldn’t see a damn thing the woman was talking about.
Redefining the Beach. Taking back the neighborhood.
Since when? I was just there a few days ago, right there on Rainier and Henderson. I saw what looked to be about a 14 year old with what looked to be like a real gun that he had no problem showing off to his friends. They scattered in a dozen directions when they realized I was paying attention. Right around the corner, some young idiots were engaged in a pretty serious fist fight, and all I could hear was “I’ma kill you nigga, I’ma kill you!” and the spectators urging them along with “get that nigga man, you ain’t no bitch, get that mutha fucka, nigga!”
Taking back the neighborhood? Oh I don’t think so. Securing a few precious blocks? That’s more like it.
Today I find this article, and keep in mind, this happened last night, when folks who live in the Beach were “taking back” the neighborhood (well their part of it anyway):
A 15-year-old boy walking with friends was shot and killed Tuesday night in Seattle’s Rainier Valley.
Police said the boy was shot in the stomach as he was on the sidewalk near Rainier Avenue South and South Graham Street. A passer-by called 911.
He was rushed to Harborview Medical Center, where he died, said police spokeswoman Renee Witt.
Another police source said the boy is Pierre K. LaPointe, and is a known member of the South Seattle gang “Down with the Crew.”
Police had taped off an area in the 6300 block of Rainier Avenue South in front of Rainier Auto Body to investigate. The boy’s friends talked to police but were not being forthcoming, Witt said. Officers from the gang and homicide units were investigating. They believe the shooting may have been in retaliation for a confrontation earlier Tuesday.
I rest my case. Again.
I can totally understand the 2 Rainier Beach areas. I did live in both at one time. But, Rainier and Graham is not Rainier Beach it is considered Columbia City.
Although I agree that they need to start doing something about ALL of Rainier Beach. My dad is still in Columbia City and he thinks that Rainier Beach is just falling apart.
Thanks
Graham is not considered the beach or Columbia city, it’s considered the Valley, which I lump in with the Beach.
Thanks for your comments. I love your blog. I didn’t realize you and I are geographically in the same place, that is, if you are still in the Pac. NW?
Thanks. You might be right. I was living off of Juneau and Rainier and that is considered Columbia city or the valley. I have seen it both ways when someone is sending neighborhood information. But, I lived in some apartments right off of Rainier beach. It felt like living in a quarantined area. Big fences and the place all rundown. When gun shots came through our window we moved ASAP. I couldn’t take it anymore.
I ended up in Kent on the east hill. Really nice and quiet. Had a great townhome right off of 216th. I hated to have to leave the neighborhood but I had a small son at the time and couldn’t afford to have the crime etc. right outside my home like that. Also, I actually am living in St Louis right now but wish I could get back to Seattle. I miss the mountains and water.
Thanks.
Wow, I think you and I used to live in the same place in RB. And funny enough, I moved to Kent as well, but down in the valley. East Hill can be really hectic, and yeah, violent. Seems like there’s a shooting a week up there.
Wow, I didn’t know that. I guess I was in at a time when it was still quiet. Well, actually if you drove further down it had a lot of apartment complexes and seemed a bit wild. I looked at the valley which was nice as well.
A lot of black people mention what you did- that white folks don’t seem to give a rat’s ass (you said it nicer) about them. But the reality is it is a no-win situation for white people. If you address and take concern you are demonized as interferring where you don’t belong and being patronizing. If you don’t then you are labelled a self-abosrbed white person who doesn’t know or care how black people live. One only has to look at the history in this country to see how whites who have gotten involved with the problems facing african americans often get domonized as either patornizing or a scapegoated. Whites are always blamed for not doing enough… but when they do do something they are blamed for not doing it right! It seems like a lot of african americans sit by the sidelines judging what whites do for them (and how they do it wrong) but are unwilling to get their hands dirty themselves.
We need a precinct on the corner of Rainier And Graham. Some police are racist and must be removed, but; many are good and work to help the community. We need more of the latter. We need more detectives and we need swifter action when officers are called. Back in the Day officers would show up within 15 minutes. Now they take 1 hour and that’s entirely too long. Hopefully, people will realize that we must pay taxes for these things and fund the police department. We also need to pay officers more and give them more breaks so that they don’t get jaded and start doing things that aren’t in line with helping the community. It’s a tough job! We need good, well trained, fair and racially sensitive officers.