It's Gee and Ursula, everybody. What is happening? What is happening with crime in downtown Seattle? Yesterday, I told you guys a story about what I saw when I was down on Fourth Avenue and one of you had reached out.

It's Gee and Ursula, everybody. What is happening? What is happening with crime in downtown Seattle? Yesterday, I told you guys a story about what I saw when I was down on Fourth Avenue and one of you had reached out.

This came from Marc McCann, who owns Butler Parking, a valet and self parking business. Quote. He reached out and said,

This came from Marc McCann, who owns Butler Parking, a valet and self parking business. Quote. He reached out and said,

"I am on Fourth Avenue right now painting over graffiti that hits my business every week. I've been in Pioneer Square, in the SoDo district since 1987. It's never been so bad." So we wanted to hear what Marc has seen, and he joins us now. Good morning to you, Marc.

"I am on Fourth Avenue right now painting over graffiti that hits my business every week. I've been in Pioneer Square, in the SoDo district since 1987. It's never been so bad." So we wanted to hear what Marc has seen, and he joins us now. Good morning to you, Marc.

Good morning, nice talking with you.

Good morning, nice talking with you.

Yes, sir. So Marc, can you start out by taking us back to the 80s or the 90s? What kind of issues were you dealing with downtown at that time?

Yes, sir. So Marc, can you start out by taking us back to the 80s or the 90s? What kind of issues were you dealing with downtown at that time?

Oh, wow. Well, I mean, uh, when I started in 87, uh, about the biggest issues we had were there were pay centers where people would come pick up their paychecks

Oh, wow. Well, I mean, uh, when I started in 87, uh, about the biggest issues we had were there were pay centers where people would come pick up their paychecks

and some of my garages were right next door to them and the lines would be pretty long and people would sometimes be a little bit disrespectful. And there were a lot of uh, I don't know, people trying to uh grab the checks or grab money from whoever catches their checks and, you know, that, just silly stuff. Everybody always moved. Everyone was always pretty respectful, and honestly it didn't really affect our business.

and some of my garages were right next door to them and the lines would be pretty long and people would sometimes be a little bit disrespectful. And there were a lot of uh, I don't know, people trying to uh grab the checks or grab money from whoever catches their checks and, you know, that, just silly stuff. Everybody always moved. Everyone was always pretty respectful, and honestly it didn't really affect our business.

Right. And what are you seeing now?

Right. And what are you seeing now?

Well, now -- now, so the biggest issues have been the tents. And you just saw a piece of it because

Well, now -- now, so the biggest issues have been the tents. And you just saw a piece of it because

what you saw in probably that back alley, 3rd Avenue, that gravel lot from where you were picking up your supplies. That alley used to be full, even going north, all the way to Safeco Field. And they had tents on both sides.

what you saw in probably that back alley, 3rd Avenue, that gravel lot from where you were picking up your supplies. That alley used to be full, even going north, all the way to Safeco Field. And they had tents on both sides.

I've seen fires that I had them uh, that I've sent pictures to the city, City Council actually, just saying, hey, this is what's happening. Fire Department, I've called them. Fire department to come put them out. We've had stuff stolen

I've seen fires that I had them uh, that I've sent pictures to the city, City Council actually, just saying, hey, this is what's happening. Fire Department, I've called them. Fire department to come put them out. We've had stuff stolen

from our lots even uh not too long ago, a couple of our metal garbage cans. Somebody used bolt cutters -- where they got those, I have no clue -- but to cut the garbage cans. And then I walked up and down the alley and I found them inside one of the tent villages there and they were using it, one, for trash, I guess that's all right. And the other one they were using as a fire pit.

from our lots even uh not too long ago, a couple of our metal garbage cans. Somebody used bolt cutters -- where they got those, I have no clue -- but to cut the garbage cans. And then I walked up and down the alley and I found them inside one of the tent villages there and they were using it, one, for trash, I guess that's all right. And the other one they were using as a fire pit.

And so I grabbed a parking enforcement officer and asked her if she could help me uh empty out the trash cans and reclaim them. And she did. And, you know, they didn't say anything when I took it, but still I knew that, you know,

And so I grabbed a parking enforcement officer and asked her if she could help me uh empty out the trash cans and reclaim them. And she did. And, you know, they didn't say anything when I took it, but still I knew that, you know,

we can't even leave them out anymore. We don't leave those things out.

we can't even leave them out anymore. We don't leave those things out.

The graffiti is at least once or twice a week, not just there, but in Pioneer Square too. I have a garage right over between Washington and Yesler,

The graffiti is at least once or twice a week, not just there, but in Pioneer Square too. I have a garage right over between Washington and Yesler,

on third avenue, right by the courthouse, which, you know, there's a million tents. And um, I feel for Ursula, what she was talking about yesterday, where the neighborhood her mom lives in, you know, it -- just nobody cares. They're just not doing anything about it. They've had

on third avenue, right by the courthouse, which, you know, there's a million tents. And um, I feel for Ursula, what she was talking about yesterday, where the neighborhood her mom lives in, you know, it -- just nobody cares. They're just not doing anything about it. They've had

plenty of time to try to fix it. And the city council seems to be just spinning their wheels or maybe playing to their constituents and people that yell the loudest. I don't know.

plenty of time to try to fix it. And the city council seems to be just spinning their wheels or maybe playing to their constituents and people that yell the loudest. I don't know.

Marc, you have, um, a business, a valet and self parking business. And I'm sure in, in downtown Seattle's heyday, um, it was, and, and by the way, I moved here in 1988. So I remember how you remember downtown Seattle as well. How has this impacted your business?

Marc, you have, um, a business, a valet and self parking business. And I'm sure in, in downtown Seattle's heyday, um, it was, and, and by the way, I moved here in 1988. So I remember how you remember downtown Seattle as well. How has this impacted your business?

Well, so honestly, before March, um, before Covid really hit, our business was pretty strong. But when we did lose customers, uh, it was, it was almost always somebody saying, hey, you know, I can't do this walk anymore. There used to be,

Well, so honestly, before March, um, before Covid really hit, our business was pretty strong. But when we did lose customers, uh, it was, it was almost always somebody saying, hey, you know, I can't do this walk anymore. There used to be,

um, there used to be right by us in Pioneer Square, there used to be a sort of a tent village between Washington, right on Washington between 2nd and 3rd Avenue.

um, there used to be right by us in Pioneer Square, there used to be a sort of a tent village between Washington, right on Washington between 2nd and 3rd Avenue.

And I happened to be down there when a KIRO reporter was doing a live show or whatever and I got on with him and,

And I happened to be down there when a KIRO reporter was doing a live show or whatever and I got on with him and,

and said a few things, and just basically complaining that the city wasn't doing anything about it, and there were a lot of drug users in there, and that I could point out who the drug users' tents were. I could point out where the prostitutes were coming out and propositioning people as they walked by.

and said a few things, and just basically complaining that the city wasn't doing anything about it, and there were a lot of drug users in there, and that I could point out who the drug users' tents were. I could point out where the prostitutes were coming out and propositioning people as they walked by.

And so obviously that didn't help our business a whole lot because people had to walk through there to get to their offices.

And so obviously that didn't help our business a whole lot because people had to walk through there to get to their offices.

And so they ended up a couple, about a week later, clearing the place out.

And so they ended up a couple, about a week later, clearing the place out.

They found $60,000 in cash, a bunch of uh, drugs. So, you know, I wasn't, I wasn't making it up. And so, and for a little while business improved. Business picked up. We weren't losing people as often. And uh,

They found $60,000 in cash, a bunch of uh, drugs. So, you know, I wasn't, I wasn't making it up. And so, and for a little while business improved. Business picked up. We weren't losing people as often. And uh,

and it was easy going. It's been a real struggle, especially in front of the courthouse right now because so many of our customers are jurors, judges, and lawyers. And so, they've closed the Third Avenue entrance right now, which I don't disagree with because I get it. But

and it was easy going. It's been a real struggle, especially in front of the courthouse right now because so many of our customers are jurors, judges, and lawyers. And so, they've closed the Third Avenue entrance right now, which I don't disagree with because I get it. But

uh, I don't understand why they can't clean up that park right now. And by the way it was, it was empty coming into spring, summer. So everybody had a place to live before that. And then all of a sudden they've decided to now just put up all their tents there.

uh, I don't understand why they can't clean up that park right now. And by the way it was, it was empty coming into spring, summer. So everybody had a place to live before that. And then all of a sudden they've decided to now just put up all their tents there.

And so right now because it's nice and warm and, I don't know, it seems like, I guess, a nice place to hang out if you're in a tent.

And so right now because it's nice and warm and, I don't know, it seems like, I guess, a nice place to hang out if you're in a tent.

Marc, we only have about a minute. We know that city leaders do listen to our show. What message do you have, in the minute that we have remaining, what message do you have to them as they listen?

Marc, we only have about a minute. We know that city leaders do listen to our show. What message do you have, in the minute that we have remaining, what message do you have to them as they listen?

You know, it's tough because all these -- whatever I say, I've said to them in emails and I try to be, I try to be polite, I try to be respectful and I only ever get, you know, one response back from um Andrew Pedersen, is that right? Andrew Lewis? It was one of those two, by the seventh district. And

You know, it's tough because all these -- whatever I say, I've said to them in emails and I try to be, I try to be polite, I try to be respectful and I only ever get, you know, one response back from um Andrew Pedersen, is that right? Andrew Lewis? It was one of those two, by the seventh district. And

and, you know, he thanks me and uh and I appreciate that, but the rest of them, they don't, they just don't listen. So I mean it's --

and, you know, he thanks me and uh and I appreciate that, but the rest of them, they don't, they just don't listen. So I mean it's --

I don't really have to tell them anything, right? All they have to do is walk out their door and see the problem and figure out a way to fix it.

I don't really have to tell them anything, right? All they have to do is walk out their door and see the problem and figure out a way to fix it.

That is true. It's Andrew Lewis. Marc, we appreciate your time. Thank you so much for reaching out and hang in there. I mean, I do feel a lot of sympathy for businesses in downtown and and hopefully downtown will come roaring back, but it's going to take some work. Thank you so much.

That is true. It's Andrew Lewis. Marc, we appreciate your time. Thank you so much for reaching out and hang in there. I mean, I do feel a lot of sympathy for businesses in downtown and and hopefully downtown will come roaring back, but it's going to take some work. Thank you so much.

Yeah, let's hope so. Yeah, I appreciate you both. Thank you.

Yeah, let's hope so. Yeah, I appreciate you both. Thank you.

Yeah.

Yeah.