Squeezing out street toughs

Seattle police have increased their presence at beleaguered Victor Steinbrueck Park next to Pike Place Market. This is small comfort after a brazen shooting in a place that has been crime-ridden for too long.

Street toughs have dominated the park for years. Sending more police now, including the no-nonsense mobile precinct, makes sense, but it also was a good idea a few weeks ago — before three men were shot and wounded mere steps from the market.

Any city that fancies itself as livable cannot have constant pockets of trouble where police increase emphasis after the public's sense of security and comfort is shattered.

Last summer, Third Avenue between Pike and Pine streets was the problem spot with a shooting in broad daylight that also threatened public safety. Police moved in, street thugs moved on. This is the toothpaste phenomenon — police increase their presence and squeeze the problem to another location.

For the past year, police have patrolled downtown east of the market to deal with Third and Pine and other trouble spots in the Pike-Pine corridor. That may have left the market and park vulnerable.

Seattle has tried several steps to lessen the trouble at Steinbrueck Park, but none has worked well. Park rangers and officers on bicycles roam the park at times. Street people know the schedule of law-enforcement officers. The bike team that patrols the park had been leaving by 6 p.m. Last Sunday's shooting took place moments later.

This is not complicated: Cops leave, street toughs take over.

The City Council approved use of surveillance cameras at several parks, including Steinbrueck, and they are expected to be installed soon. Maybe the cameras will help.

Steinbrueck Park has been a trouble spot for a ridiculously long time. Mayor Greg Nickels, the City Council and police department owe it to citizens to use police resources efficiently and keep our parks and streets safe. Steinbrueck Park is an embarrassment to a civilized city.