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Backpack full of needles found across from Ballard’s North Beach Elementary
Sep 10, 2018, 10:01 PM
A homeless tent blocks a doorway at Ballard's Whitman Middle School in April. (KIRO 7)
(KIRO 7)
Erika Nagy, who has previously spoken to KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson about the rampant drug use and tents in Ballard, reported that a rather disturbing find was made across the street from her son’s elementary school.
A backpack full of used hypodermic needles, as well as goods that Nagy said looked to be stolen, was discovered steps from Ballard’s North Beach Elementary School. She said that there are encampments “all over the place,” including the North Beach Park ravine.
“There are used needles right around where kindergartners — 5-year-olds — are stepping to get in and out of cars from pickup,” she said.
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Earlier this year, Nagy alerted Dori that a tent was set up in front of the door at Ballard’s Whitman Middle School.
“Who is protecting our children in all of this if children cannot even safely go to and from school?” Nagy said. “How do you tell a child, how do you tell a kindergartner, what to do or not to do with a used hypodermic needle? I mean, it’s absolutely insane that we are having to have these conversations with our children.”
She noted that Councilmember Mike O’Brien has not shown up to any recent community meetings to discuss the problems with open drug use and encampments throughout Ballard.
Although she said that the area has become dangerous, Nagy stays in Ballard because she wants to aid in the fight to change political policies in Seattle so that the city can become a safe place for families.
“If we all just roll over and give up, then they’re going to be able to continue to enact the policies that they’ve been doing for the last few years … We need to stand up and say, “Absolutely not, this is insanity, it has got to stop, and put our foot down,” she said.
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She believes that next year, when seven Seattle City Council members come up for re-election, the “silent majority that is really fed up” will make its voice heard on the ballots.
“What we have to do is continue to beat the drum about all the issues that our city is facing, but also get people motivated and engaged so they come out and vote … I’m very hopeful that we are swinging back to a more moderate stance,” she said.
