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OPINION | Redmond Kiwanis Club focused on youth leadership [4] CRIME ALERT | Redmond Police Blotter [3]
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2014
SPORTS | Overlake School boys basketball team wins tournament title [12]
Community members discuss downtown homelessness SAMANTHA PAK spak@redmond-reporter.com
Concerns among some property owners and managers in downtown Redmond have been growing in the last two years as they have seen an influx of break-ins, thefts and other crimes on their properties and in their buildings. On Wednesday morning, a group of these individuals met with City of Redmond staff to share the issues they have been facing. Those in attendance said the problem stems from the opening of the Landing, an overnight emergency shelter for Friends of Youth (FOY), a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting youth and families in challenging circumstances — including homelessness. They said since the shelter opened two years ago, there has been a growing transient population in downtown Redmond and that has led to the crimes occurring on their properties.
SAFETY MEASURES
In addition to the break-ins and thefts, other issues attendees brought up included smoking in their hallways, restrooms being used by non-tenants and noncustomers and mattresses being dragged into hallways and stairwells overnight. While the meeting attendees were compassionate of people’s situations, they are reaching a breaking point as it is becoming detrimental to their businesses. Steve Scott, who manages commercial property downtown, said it has gotten to the point that people don’t feel safe. “They feel threatened,” he said about some of his tenants. Others brought up some of the measures they have taken to help assure people’s safety. Michelle Buehler, property manager at Red160 apartments, said her company has hired a full-time patrol person, which has been a hit to their budget. [ more HOMELESS page 7 ]
LWSD boundary options have Redmond-area parents concerned SAMANTHA PAK
Family fun at Redmond Lights Top: Redmond’s Billo family — from left, Gabriela, young Gabriel and Eduardo — are bathed in blue light as they get their photo taken at last Saturday’s Redmond Lights celebration at the City Hall campus. Live performances included a trombone band, chorus and handbell choir. There was also a luminary walk with light displays, bonfire, food and plenty of red blinkers that attendees received and wore throughout the event. Redmond Town Center featured an outdoor skating rink (pictured), ice sculpture, huge Christmas tree, holiday carousel, music and kids’ activities. The SmartRink features synthetic ice and will be open through January. More photos on page 2. ANDY NYSTROM, Redmond Reporter
spak@redmond-reporter.com
After a Lake Washington School District (LWSD) bond for new schools and buildings failed in February, the district has been working on solutions to address its growing enrollment and overcrowding. One of those solutions has been to hold a boundary process so that all classroom space throughout the district could be utilized. The process began with a survey sent to parents for input on the criteria that will be used to develop potential new boundaries. The district then formed a staff committee of district staff as well as elementary school principals to analyze the survey data to come up with the new boundaries. Residents in the Redmond Learning Community can offer feedback for the committee at www.lwsd.org and have until Dec.
15 to provide their comments. LWSD Superintendent Traci Pierce is scheduled to put forth her recommendation for the board of directors on Jan. 26, 2015. The board will then put the issue to a vote.
SHIFTING EAST?
With these dates only a month and a half away, some parents in the district’s Redmond Learning Community have grown concerned with how the most recently presented options have more students shifting toward schools in east Redmond, an area already dealing with overcrowding issues. “I don’t think it’s fair to the incoming families...as well as the existing families who have been dealing with overcrowding,” said Julianne Bogaty, who has two kids attending Rosa Parks Elementary School on Redmond Ridge. [ more SCHOOLS page 7 ]