Seattle parks aim to crack down on late-night parties
Seattle will have more police patrols and new gates installed at some of its busiest parks this summer, as city officials seek to crack down on overnight partying and noise complaints.
The big picture: The changes are part of a summer safety plan the mayor's office announced this week, which will also include shorter summer hours at two of Seattle's most popular waterfront parks, Alki Beach and Golden Gardens.
What's happening: New gates will go up at Magnuson Park and Gas Works Park by the Fourth of July, blocking vehicle access and closing off the parking lots once the parks shut down at night, Callie Craighead, a spokesperson for Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, told Axios.
The city will also have dedicated Seattle police patrols that will help clear out popular parks at closing time, a change from past years that is designed to prevent overnight trespassing, Craighead said.
Zoom in: Starting Friday and continuing through Labor Day, Alki Beach and Golden Gardens will close at 10:30pm instead of 11:30pm.
That means slightly less time to enjoy those stunning Puget Sound beaches (a perk of living here that helps get us through Seattle's dark, gray winters).
The city piloted those earlier summer closure times in past years, but has now decided to make them permanent, Craighead said.
Some city boat ramps will also close from 10:30pm to 4am, instead of being open 24 hours per day.
What they're saying: The changes aren't designed to prevent overnight camping as much as late-night partying, vandalism, illegal fires and noise, Craighead said.
"We still want people to enjoy our parks, but once they close, they are closed — and people are then trespassing," Craighead said.
The city also is trying to reduce the potential for violent incidents in and around parks at night, she said.
Last June, a fatal shooting occurred near Alki Beach, while last month a man was arrested after police said he brandished a knife in the area.
Yes, but: Not everyone thinks reducing hours will help.
told KING 5.
"But they really prevent people from actually enjoying the experience at the beach."
What's next: City officials are also installing concrete barriers in some park parking lots to prevent reckless driving.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Axios
3 days ago
- Axios
Aflac caught in string of cyberattacks on insurers
Aflac, a U.S. insurance provider that covers millions of policyholders, warned some of its customers' most sensitive data may have been stolen in a recent cyberattack. Why it matters: Aflac warned that a "sophisticated cybercrime group" was behind the intrusion and said many insurance providers are currently battling the same group. Driving the news: The insurance provider told investors in an SEC filing Friday that it detected unauthorized activity within hours on its networks on June 12. The incident didn't impact Aflac's operations and the company noted it also was not the victim of ransomware. Aflac said its initial investigation suggests that the hackers used social engineering techniques to gain access to the company's systems. From there, they likely stole an undetermined number of files from the systems, potentially including customers' claim information, health information, Social Security numbers and other highly sensitive personal details. Aflac is still investigating the scope of the breach and hired third-party investigators to assist in the matter. Between the lines: A source familiar with the investigation told Axios that the characteristics of the attack are consistent with those of the English-speaking cybercriminal gang Scattered Spider. Google's cybersecurity experts warned earlier this week that the cybercriminal gang was turning its attention to the insurance sector after a month-long hacking spree against retailers.
Miami Herald
4 days ago
- Miami Herald
FWC chair: Miami Herald misrepresented 2022 boating tragedy investigation
In recent months, media coverage, most notably from the Miami Herald, has cast doubt on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) investigation into the tragic boating accident that occurred at Cutter Bank in Biscayne Bay on Labor Day weekend in September 2022. This devastating accident resulted in the heartbreaking loss of a young life. Our deepest sympathies remain with the victims and their families. Regrettably, I believe much of the Herald's reporting has been one-sided, misrepresenting the diligent and comprehensive efforts undertaken by FWC officers. The FWC is firmly committed to conducting thorough, impartial investigations of all boating accidents within its jurisdiction. This case was no exception. The investigation was led by seasoned professionals who followed all protocols. Investigators collected physical evidence, analyzed GPS data, interviewed witnesses and consulted experts. These findings were reviewed in coordination with the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office. Allegations that key evidence was ignored or mishandled are not supported by facts. Contrary to the Herald's portrayal, the investigation was transparent and rooted in forensic analysis and eyewitness accounts. I feel that the Herald downplayed or buried critical context, favoring narratives that mislead the public and undermined the professionalism of our officers. All individuals with potentially relevant information were ultimately spoken to. Many declined to speak with investigators the night of the accident, and others either did not come forward or offered information unrelated to the core findings. The vessel's operator, George Pino, was interviewed on-site by a certified drug recognition expert who observed no signs of impairment. None of the officers on scene reported any indicators of intoxication; however, in the deposition of an FWC officer taken more than two years later, he said Pino had bloodshot eyes and smelled of alcohol. Let me note that the officer had failed to mention this to the onsite investigator or include it in his initial report. Despite no signs of impairment, the lead investigator requested a voluntary blood draw, which Pino declined. As clarified in the U.S. Supreme Court case Missouri v. McNeely (2013), officers cannot compel blood or breath tests without probable cause. The Herald's misinterpretation of training materials to suggest otherwise is legally incorrect and purposefully misleading. Even the Herald's own cited legal experts support FWC's approach. Tampa-area attorney Leslie Sammis stated that officers would have needed reasonable suspicion of impairment to request field sobriety exercises — and probable cause to obtain a warrant for a non-consensual blood draw. Miami attorney Michael Mirer echoed that sentiment. FWC's final report concluded that the accident was caused by Pino's failure to maintain control and operate his boat safely. This determination was based on GPS data that contradicted his claims about evasive maneuvers. The presence of alcohol containers, which were only discovered after the submerged vessel was recovered, does not alone constitute probable cause. Nor does Pino's admission to consuming two beers earlier in the day. The determination of impairment requires multiple indicators — none of which we feel were present. I believe the Herald has also wrongly suggested that the absence of body camera footage from four officers indicates misconduct. In reality, under FWC's prior policy, supporting officers categorized their videos as 'incidental,' which triggered automatic deletion after a set retention period. No officer deleted footage. While we acknowledge the policy was not aligned with our intent, we are actively revising it to ensure proper retention and supervisory review in the future. The Herald further attempted to link this incident to a recent reconfirmation hearing where I was reappointed to the FWC Commission. Despite not a single Florida senator raising any concerns about the investigation, the Herald misleadingly implied a connection. Any suggestion that I influenced the investigation-based on my professional relationship with Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle is baseless. From the outset, the Herald's coverage has relied on speculation, mischaracterization and selective omission of facts. This undermines public trust and disrespects the seriousness of this tragedy. FWC officers have remained focused on uncovering the truth and ensuring that justice is served for the victims and their families. I stand by the integrity of our investigation and welcome scrutiny rooted in facts — not sensationalism. I'm committed to transparency and will continue to work with the affected families. Justice belongs in a courtroom — not in headlines. Rodney Barreto is the chair of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Axios
4 days ago
- Axios
Scoop: Democrats probe FBI handcuffing of Padilla
The top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee is scrutinizing FBI agents' forcible removal and handcuffing of Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) at the agency's Los Angeles headquarters last week, Axios has learned. Why it matters: It is the latest salvo in an escalating tit-for-tat between Democrats and the Trump administration over federal law enforcement's use of physical and legal force against elected officials. In a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) labeled the Padilla incident "the most recent in a string of increasingly flagrant abuses of power by the Trump Administration to deter congressional oversight and intimidate Members of Congress." The FBI declined to comment on the matter. Driving the news: Raskin, the Judiciary Committee's ranking member, is asking Patel for a "detailed accounting of the FBI's operational involvement" in Padilla's forcible removal, according to a copy of his letter first obtained by Axios. That includes a timeline of the incident, information on the chain of command involved in authorizing or overseeing the FBI agents' actions and the "specific justification" for the use of force against Padilla. He also demanded all internal documents and communications related to the incident, as well as a statement from the FBI about whether its agents violated federal law prohibiting assault against a member of Congress. Zoom in: Raskin is also asking the FBI to conduct its own investigation into the incident and to arrange a briefing for him. The briefing, he wrote, should address whether an internal probe is underway and if any disciplinary action has been taken against the agents involved. Patel, a loyalist to President Trump, is highly unlikely to accede to any of Raskin's demands. What he's saying: " Can you explain why asking government officials to answer basic questions is such a threat to this Administration that it would resort to such tactics against a United States Senator?" Raskin wrote to Patel.
