HOLLYWOOD HILL
NEIGHBORHOOD TROUBLE WATCH
Unfortunately, even on Hollywood Hill life is not always perfect. Litter, dangerous animals and trees, malfunctioning utilities, and crime can make our days just a little less bright. However, we can do something about our problems to help mitigate their impact. Below you can find actions to take and numbers to call to help solve the big and little problems you see around your neighborhood.
- 2010 Census
- Crime
- Traffic safety
- Problem Animals
- Flooding and blocked drainage
- Litter and illegal dumping
- Power outages and gas leaks
- Leaking septic systems
2010 National Census
The 2010 National Census is upon us. Most of us will receive census forms in the mail, which we can mail back. However, for whatever reasons some people will not receive or may not return their forms. In these cases the Census Bureau will send a census taker to the houses from which forms have not been received. In order to provide census information but avoid impersonators, the Census Bureau website gives several tips to protect you:
- All census takers will carry an official badge. Ask to see it.
- Ask to see a photo identification in addition to seeing their badge.
- The census takers will have a list of addresses they are supposed to go to. Ask to see the list. If your address is not on the list, send them on their way.
- The census taker will have a list of questions they are supposed to ask. Ask to see the list. It should match the questions you received in the mail (but did not return).
- If you have any doubts as to the identity and legitimacy of the census taker, you can call the Census Bureau to confirm the identity of the census taker. These numbers are:
Regional Census Center: 425.908.3000
Regional Partnership Group: 425.908.4050
- If the “census taker” doesn’t have your address on their list, or if you did send in a form, or if they behave in any way inappropriate for a census taker, ie, impolite, asking to come in your home, being pushy, or asking questions that aren’t on the form, close the door, lock it, call 911 and then the census numbers listed above.
Thanks to Jim Meusey for researching this information.
Crime
The major source of crime these days is burglary. Most of these burglars are seeking money for drugs. They are almost always unarmed, and prefer to break into unoccupied houses. Their typical modus operandi is to determine that a house is unoccupied by stakeout, or to knock on the door to see if someone is at home. If no-one answers, they go around back, enter the house and take what they can, usually cash, jewelry, and laptop computers, although other items are sometimes taken.
Hollywood Hill has become known as an area of easy pickings for these burglars. In order to help drive them away we need to make it less easy. A neighborhood meeting in February resulted in several actions you can take to help prevent burglaries.
- If you see or suspect that there is any crime in progress, call 911 immediately.
- The King County Sheriff's Department has a non-emergency number that you can call to report suspicious activity, vehicles, or persons: (206) 296-3311.
- If you see a suspicious vehicle, take down the description and license plate number, or even ask the driver what their purpose is in your neighborhood, and call (206) 296-3311.
- It is perfectly appropriate to ask strangers in your neighborhood to identify themselves and their reason for being there. If there is a suspicious person, call (206) 296-3311.
- Alarm systems can be very effective if clearly marked, with a control panel visible from the front door.
- Let your neighbors know when you will be away from your house. If they see suspicious activity they can call (206) 296-3311.
- Let your neighbors know if you will be having contractors or service people at your house. If they see people at your house that are not supposed to be there they can call (206) 296-3311.
- Lock your house whenever you leave.
- Lock your vehicles and garages, especially at night.
- Since some of the burglars actually reside on Hollywood Hill, it is wise to vary your scheduled out-of-house trips to keep your presence unpredictable.
- If children are left alone at home and someone comes to the door, they should not answer the door, but look out a window to identify the person. If the child sees someone they do not expect or know, they should let the person know that a parent is home, but occupied, and that the person should leave or the police will be called.
- A "Block Watch" program can be set up for your street. The manual is located on the KCSD web site here: Block Watch Manual
Traffic Safety
Enforcement
- Report consistently bad driving in your neighborhood, especially speeding, to the Sheriff's Department, (206) 296-3853.
- For dangerous road conditions, such as pot holes, call King Co. Street Maintenance, (206) 296-8100 or 1-800-527-6237.
- For missing or damaged street signs, call King Co. Traffic Engineering, (206) 296-6596.
Problem
Animals
- Report problem animals to the King County Animal Control department, (206) 296-PETS (206-296-7387).
- For other animal controls issues see the KC Animal Control web site.
Flooding
Consult the King County Flooding Services page to determine the appropriate agency to contact.
Litter and Illegal
Dumping
Litter is a constant irritant on Hollywood Hill, but aside from the never-ending need for public education to dissuade people from littering, there are two major ways we can combat unwanted trash, pick it up ourselves, or in the case of illegal dumping, have the authorities deal with the crime.
- Two or three times a year the Hollywood Hill association organizes a roadside cleanup of the major thoroughfares on Hollywood Hill under the King County Adopt-a-Road program. If the volunteers are particularly energetic, they may also clean up some side streets. If you wish to participate in keeping our streets clean and your name is not in our email database, email John Snow to get your address added to our notifications.
- To report illegal dumping, which is a crime, call the King County Department of Public Health, (206) 205-4394. See the illegal dumping web site for more information.
Power Outages
and Gas Leaks
Report power outages or gas odor Puget Sound Energy, call 1-888-225-5773 (select menu option #1).
Leaking Septic
Systems
If you notice that a drain field is leaking, the first and best approach is to contact the owner so that they can have the problem fixed. However, if the owner will not fix the problem, you should contact the King County Department of Public Health. Call (206) 296-4932 for the "Sanitarian of the Day" for more information, or go to the KC Dept. of Public Health web site.