EVERETT — A pair of Everett business owners within the latest designated “no sit, no lie” buffer zone by the city, which is meant to address chronic 911 calls for service, tell the EverettPost.com, they’re seeing improvement in that street level public safety.
Todd Stiger, owner of Abbey Carpet of Everett at 2601 Colby Ave. tells the EverettPost.com, “At the moment, it seems to be okay but you get used to it,” he says of people exhibiting signs of mental health crisis or homelessness, “and that’s unfortunate.”
The city of Everett designated the 2600 block of Colby and two surrounding blocks as a buffer zone, last week, under a city ordinance that says, “No person shall sit or lie down upon, or place a blanket, sleeping bag, backpack, chair, mattress, couch, stool, or any similar equipment, item, or furniture upon City property.” The ordinance is designed to address chronic locations involving documented public health and safety concerns.
For an area to be designated as a buffer zone, city code says a location must accrue six documented cases of public disturbance that could range from trespass to drug offenses, harassment, street obstruction, an encampment and/or assault, within six months.
Today, the EverettPost.com observed a newly installed city sign designating the buffer zone at 2625 Colby Ave. (see picture below for larger view)
Stiger noted, “The Port (waterfront business district) doesn’t experience what downtown does,” with the public safety, street level property crime or potential homelessness that prompted this new city designation. For Stiger, he says “door blocking has dissipated the last couple of years” at the egress points of his business, indicative of people sleeping under the cover of awnings or over-hangs at building doors as he or co-workers arrive to start the workday. Now, he notices, “the bigger problem is graffiti,” and the e-bike riders zipping around at high speeds.
Nancy Erickson, owner of Erickson’s Jewelers, 2625 Colby Ave #2B, tells the EverettPost.com, “It was pretty scary for a while”, but echoes Stiger’s assessment, “things are improving. That makes all the difference in the world.”
