SPD Declares the Citadel a "Chronic Nuisance Property"
Yesterday Steve Rauf, the owner of a popular "rave" venue on Othello St and Martin Luther King Jr Way, the Citadel, told the DPD (Department of Planning and Development) that he is canceling Kiss My Bass this weekend. In turn, the DPD informed Rauf that the venue is now limited to holding one major event per quarter. Unfortunately the cost of attaining permits for this type of law is too great to continue producing electronic music events at the Citadel.
This comes after the chief of the Seattle Police Department, John Diaz, sent a letter to Rauf that announced that the department considers the Citadel a chronic nuisance property. According to the letter, the city could abate the property, or fine Rauf up to $25,000 if he fails to respond.
The Citadel has faced many battles regarding its less than prime location, and violence has been reported at the venue during some events held there recently. Many people are eager to point a finger and blame someone or something else, while they hold their hands up in innocence, insisting that they or their group is not to blame.
The SPD responded when community members made complaints to the city regarding events at the Citadel and the crime they supposedly brought to the area. However, statistics show that the crime rate has lowered in just the last few years. In November of 2009, records showed that there were 8 reported robberies and 22 assaults in that area. In December of 2009, there were 8 robberies and 24 assaults. November of 2010 coincides with the first event held at the Citadel. There were 2 robberies and 19 reported assaults that month. In December of 2010, records indicate there were 7 robberies and 14 assaults.
So what do these numbers mean? Who IS to blame? Are resources being pulled from a poor neighborhood by events at the Citadel?
SeattleCrimes.com listed some of the events that have occurred at the Citadel during recent events there:
It's easy to point fingers, but the fact remains that everyone involved is part of a community, and being party of a community means being a contributing member. A blow like this can affect all electronic music events. Being a part of that community means being a part of a problem solving process, and addressing the problems that face the whole of the community. Those who choose not to contribute to the betterment of the community are equally to blame as the individuals who are adversing it directly.
Earlier today Dance All Night NW was contacted by a reporter from Q13 FOX News asking to speak to someone from Phase 3 Events for an article. We thought it appropriate to mention that we are not affiliated with any venues or production companies. We are simply an independent, community supported website.
This comes after the chief of the Seattle Police Department, John Diaz, sent a letter to Rauf that announced that the department considers the Citadel a chronic nuisance property. According to the letter, the city could abate the property, or fine Rauf up to $25,000 if he fails to respond.
The Citadel has faced many battles regarding its less than prime location, and violence has been reported at the venue during some events held there recently. Many people are eager to point a finger and blame someone or something else, while they hold their hands up in innocence, insisting that they or their group is not to blame.
The SPD responded when community members made complaints to the city regarding events at the Citadel and the crime they supposedly brought to the area. However, statistics show that the crime rate has lowered in just the last few years. In November of 2009, records showed that there were 8 reported robberies and 22 assaults in that area. In December of 2009, there were 8 robberies and 24 assaults. November of 2010 coincides with the first event held at the Citadel. There were 2 robberies and 19 reported assaults that month. In December of 2010, records indicate there were 7 robberies and 14 assaults.
So what do these numbers mean? Who IS to blame? Are resources being pulled from a poor neighborhood by events at the Citadel?
SeattleCrimes.com listed some of the events that have occurred at the Citadel during recent events there:
Quote:
Police say on February 26th, officers were called to the Citadel--which was hosting an event called Kandy Land 7--after two patrons attacked security guards.
In one incident, police say a raver in "a drug induced state" took a swing at a security guard, and missed. The man was eventually taken to Harborview and treated for a drug overdose.
Another partygoer also ended up at Harborview after he tried to put a security guard in a headlock. Police say the man was also treated for a drug overdose.
On March 11th, SPD says undercover officers bought between $10 and $20 worth of ecstasy from three different suspects during a rave, dubbed Kiss My Bass. Police say one of the alleged dealers was 16 years old.
March 18th, police say undercover officers made four more drug buys, purchasing ecstasy from four different suspects.
The next night, at Gettin' Lucky 5, police made four more undercover drug buys, and witnessed 10-15 hand-to-hand drug deals in the parking lot of the Citadel. One suspect told police another dealer was on his way to the club with 500 ecstasy pills.
Police also bought $20 of ecstasy from a female suspect, and arrested another woman who introduced police to a dealer.
On March 26th, police say a raver was robbed in the 7100 block of 42nd Ave S by three suspects, who took $20 from the man.
That same night, police say someone was robbed at a bus shelter across from the Citadel. An event promoter followed the suspects to a Safeway across the street and called 911. When police arrested the suspects, one of them apparently said he "was going to beat the white man," referring to the promoter.
Another man was robbed after he was kicked out of the rave, because he hadn't paid the entry fee. The man went out to his car to get some cash, when he was confronted by a group of suspects, who tried to "sell stuff" to him. Police say the suspects punched the victim and hit him with a belt, before they stole $20 from him.
One of the victim's friends saw the robbery, grabbed a baseball bat from his car, and confronted the robbers.
The victim later told police Citadel security staff saw the incident, but did not come to his aid. Police claim club security also did not call 911 to report the incident.
Finally, several suspected gang members punched a woman and stabbed a man outside the rave. According to police, the stabbing victim was arrested at the Citadel one week earlier on a drug charge.
Police also purchased eight ecstasy pills in four undercover drug buys that night.
It's easy to point fingers, but the fact remains that everyone involved is part of a community, and being party of a community means being a contributing member. A blow like this can affect all electronic music events. Being a part of that community means being a part of a problem solving process, and addressing the problems that face the whole of the community. Those who choose not to contribute to the betterment of the community are equally to blame as the individuals who are adversing it directly.
Earlier today Dance All Night NW was contacted by a reporter from Q13 FOX News asking to speak to someone from Phase 3 Events for an article. We thought it appropriate to mention that we are not affiliated with any venues or production companies. We are simply an independent, community supported website.
