On Saturday night, more than 100 people who live around Aurora Avenue North in Seattle marched to protest gun violence in their neighborhood. 

It was organized to call attention to the escalating number of shootings neighbors and law enforcement say are related to sex trafficking in the Aurora corridor.  

In desperation, some neighbors recently took matters into their own hands and put up makeshift street barriers to try to stop people from driving through neighborhoods. 

The city council has begun working on legislation that would allow the city to close off streets at the discretion of the chief of police. The hope is that this would help curb violence. 

But on Saturday, neighbors expressed anger that the city isn’t doing more to stop shootings and to help the victims of sex trafficking. 

So what’s happening on Aurora? And what is being done to fix it?

Guests:
Alex Voorhees, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for King County. 
Audrey Baedke, executive director of SAFE in Washington.
Amber with Green Light Project. 

Related links: 
Seattle officials introduce bill to help residents battle gun violence | The Seattle Times
Seattle City Council proposal would use street closures to curb gun violence | KUOW
Why Sex Trafficking Persists on Aurora | Seattle Met
North Seattle businesses demand action after Aurora Avenue shooting leaves community shaken | KING 5

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

On Saturday night, more than 100 people who live around Aurora Avenue North in Seattle marched to protest gun violence in their neighborhood. 
It was organized to call attention to the escalating number of shootings neighbors and law enforcement say are related to sex trafficking in the Aurora corridor.&nbsp;&nbsp;
In desperation, some neighbors recently took matters into their own hands and put up makeshift street barriers to try to stop people from driving through neighborhoods.&nbsp;
The city council has begun working on&nbsp;legislation that would allow the city to close off streets at the discretion of the chief of police. The hope is that this would help curb violence. But on Saturday, neighbors expressed anger that the city isn&rsquo;t doing more to stop shootings and to help the victims of sex trafficking.&nbsp;
So what&rsquo;s happening on Aurora? And what is being done to fix it?
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Alex Voorhees, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for King County.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Audrey Baedke, executive director of SAFE in Washington.</li>
<li>Amber with Green Light Project.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Related links:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/seattle-officials-introduce-bill-to-help-residents-battle-gun-violence/">Seattle officials introduce bill to help residents battle gun violence | The Seattle Times</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/seattle-city-council-proposal-would-use-street-closures-to-curb-gun-violence">Seattle City Council proposal would use street closures to curb gun violence | KUOW</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattlemet.com/news-and-city-life/2023/05/sex-trafficking-on-aurora">Why Sex Trafficking Persists on Aurora | Seattle Met</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/north-seattle-residents-battle-ongoing-shootings-aurora-avenue/281-16d1506f-175f-4ec0-9132-b61d60f077cd">North Seattle businesses demand action after Aurora Avenue shooting leaves community shaken | KING 5</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

Neighbors expressed anger that the city isn’t doing more to stop shootings and to help the victims of sex trafficking around Aurora Avenue North.   So what’s happening on Aurora? And what is being done to fix it?