Worried about safety in downtown Bellingham? Public campaign is seeking your help
A group of local business owners and residents have started a campaign asking local government for additional public safety solutions and investments amid growing concerns with crime, trash and safety issues in downtown Bellingham.
The community campaign is organized by the Downtown Bellingham Partnership and the Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce, and is already supported by a list of local businesses, including Aslan Brewing Co., Pure Bliss Desserts, Bellingham SeaFeast, Old World Deli, Carnal, Makeworth Coffee Roasters and Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro.
The campaign website calls for safety solutions for issues such as open drug distribution and use, vandalism, trashy and dirty conditions and general public safety issues.
“Since mid-2021, the Downtown Bellingham Partnership and the City of Bellingham recognized increasing public safety, property vandalism, and cleanliness concerns from the public and the business community. Since early 2022, new programs including Safety Ambassadors, Security Patrols, and Graffiti Abatement have been launched or expanded, totaling nearly $1M of services investment by the City of Bellingham,” the campaign website states.
In May and April this year alone, Bellingham has experienced a shooting in Lake Padden park, a fentanyl drug use crisis and $100,000 in graffiti damages, according to recent reporting by The Bellingham Herald.
“Because of this, we are urging the community to sign in support of additional action from our local government officials to prioritize the vitality of Downtown Bellingham,” the website states.
Bellingham residents, employees, business owners, property owners, non-profits, organizations, union workers and customers or visitors are encouraged to sign the campaign letter online, which will be collected by the campaign and presented to Bellingham’s mayor and City Council later this summer, according to the campaign website.
The campaign letter asks local government and city leaders for four requests:
▪ “Increase current security personnel and the breadth of their duties in the Downtown.”
▪ “Work with Whatcom County to pursue interim solutions to ease booking restrictions for repeat offenders posing a danger to our community.”
▪ “Increase investment in personnel and programs dedicated to cleaning Downtown’s streets, sidewalks, alleys, and public right of ways.”
▪ “Continue identifying, implementing, and enforcing solutions to interrupt the public use and distribution of illegal drugs on the streets of Bellingham.”
Signatures for the campaign letter will be collected for several weeks beginning Tuesday.
