Tracking Crime in Emerson-Garfield

Tracking Crime in Emerson-Garfield

At the neighborhood potluck at the beginning of this month, we were pleased to be told by our resident Spokane Police officer that Emerson-Garfield had one of the city’s lowest neighborhood crime rates this summer.

But that doesn’t mean crime doesn’t happen here. The image below shows crimes that have taken place in the last month in the general area of our neighborhood. Darker areas = higher reported crimes.

Crime Map

This isn’t top-secret information — it comes from City of Spokane’s very useful, interactive, up-to-date crime map. You can find it here. (And, by the way, many more informative maps can be found on the city’s GIS page.)

On the crime map, you can view a street or satellite map of the entire city with colored overlays that represent the relative number of reported — and the key word is reported — crimes. You can view problem areas (i.e., hot spots) within the past month or the past year. You can also view crimes according to category: assault, burglary, drugs, malicious mischief, robbery, theft, vehicle prowling, and vehicle theft.

If you’re experiencing problems with crime, we encourage you to call the police and report it, regardless of whether or not you think they will do anything about it. As we are often reminded, the police can’t address crimes that we don’t report.

Once you’ve reported your crime, make a point of attending the next Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council meeting (as of this posting, the next one is scheduled for September 12). That’s where we can come together as a neighborhood — and likewise rise to any trending problems as a neighborhood too.

N. Monroe Business Meeting, Aug 29

N. Monroe Business Meeting, Aug 29

This month’s North Monroe Business District meeting is scheduled for next Wednesday, August 29 at 6pm. It will be held at Petunia’s Marketplace [map].

Prior to the meeting, the NMBD is asking business owners to take the following short multiple-choice survey that will help focus their efforts.

1. What is your business focus?

  1. Customer service
  2. Community outreach
  3. Public service
  4. Retail
  5. Other: ___________

2. What is your primary business goal?

  1. Increase revenue
  2. Increase public awareness
  3. Generate interest from the city/state
  4. Other: ___________

3. What are your concerns about the N. Monroe Business District?

  1. More foot traffic
  2. Better signage
  3. Better pedestrian access
  4. Easier parking (on-street or off-site)
  5. More events that promote the business district
  6. Other: ___________

You can e-mail your survey answers to petuniasmarketplace@yahoo.com, fax them to (509) 328-4259, or better yet, bring them to the meeting.

Depending on turnout, they’re hoping to plan some upcoming autumn events and think of ways to make the holiday shopping season even more successful.

Questions? Connect with Petunia’s on Facebook or call Stacy Blowers on (509) 328-4257.

COHBC Parking Lot Party, Aug 26

COHBC Parking Lot Party, Aug 26

Christ Our Hope Bible Church (COHBC for short) will be hosting a party in their parking lot [map] on Sunday, August 26 from 6 to 8:30pm. It’s the church’s first event of this kind. And if it goes well, it’s possible that there will be many more.

There will be live entertainment, fun activity booths, and food. Singer/songwriter Eric E will be laying down electro-acoustic grooves, and magician — sorry, illusionist— Matthew Light will amaze and astound with his legerdemain.

You don’t have to be a member of the church to take part. In fact, you can come from any religious or nonreligious background. The point of this Parking Lot Party is to give people in the neighborhood a place to come together and socialize. COHBC has already become a big supporter of Emerson-Garfield by hosting garage sales and events like this one, as well as taking part in other neighborhood-wide events.

COHBC could use more volunteer help for this parking lot party. If you’d like to offer a hand, please contact Bob DeLateur via e-mail or at (509) 893-8644.

N. Monroe Vintage, Hearts and Flowers Family Event, Aug 24

N. Monroe Vintage, Hearts and Flowers Family Event, Aug 24

Several neighborhood businesses on North Monroe — including The Heart of Spokane, The Hub Tavern, Destiny Floral, TheRetroVixen, Blackwood Designs, Paint in my Hair, and Fabulous Finds — are holding a family-friendly event called North Monroe Vintage, Hearts and Flowers to help raise money for the Women’s and Children’s Free Restaurant.

It will take place on Friday, August 24 from noon to 6pm along the stretch between 2901 and 3036 N. Monroe [map].

The flyer for the North Monroe Vintage, Hearts & Flowers family event on Friday, August 24 from noon to 6pm.

The event centers around a canned food drive but will also feature face-painting, a small vintage fashion fun with al fresco modeling out on the sidewalks, barbecued hot dogs, and more. All they’re asking is a donation of two cans of food.

You’ll also have a chance to make a small donation in the form of a $3 raffle ticket. The prize is an original artwork donated by local artist Cecile G. Charles.

Beyond all that, it will be a great opportunity to browse the shops that help make North Monroe unique. There will be a few vintage cars and motorcycles, and the Spokane Humane Society will also be there with dogs and cats in need of a good home.

Someone from the Women’s and Children’s Free Restaurant will be on hand to answer questions about their organization. The WCFR is a great resource for many low-income families across Spokane and a huge supporter of our neighborhood.

Check out the Facebook page for the event to see who’s going. For more info about the fundraiser, get in touch with Cecile or Susan at (509) 443-4799 between 10am and 5pm, Mon-Fri.

New Sidewalks Along Madison

New Sidewalks Along Madison

Lest it seem that our neighborhood requests routinely fall on deaf ears or get nixed due to lack of available funding, allow us to draw your attention to Madison Street, where construction crews are currently putting in new sidewalks.

The channel has been dug for the new sidewalk.

We’re hoping that these sidewalks will ultimately run all the way down Madison to Emerson Park. This tends to be the principal route that families and older children take toward Emerson Park, and it will be better for both them and drivers if they no longer have to be on the road.


View Larger Map

Unfortunately, the construction crews had to cut down very old and distinctive black locust trees in at least one block to make way for the sidewalk. We hope these will be replaced with new street trees — with more added to the parking strip along the way where they’re lacking.

We’ll keep you updated with photos of the new sidewalk as installation progresses.

What’s next for Madison? A bike lane, maybe?