Inhabitants of a luxurious island in Washington state, known for its high-end properties, are expressing concern over the upcoming arrival of a light rail station. They worry it might introduce the social challenges prevalent in nearby Seattle to their pristine neighborhoods.
Starting Saturday, Mercer Island, where the average home price reached $2.4 million last year, will be connected to Seattle through a newly constructed light rail link and station.
This development has left local residents troubled, fearing that their peaceful sanctuary might face an influx of crime from the city.
Seattle, particularly its downtown district, has recently become notorious for its visible drug issues, with streets lined with encampments and individuals openly using hard substances.
The city is under the leadership of a new, progressive mayor, Katie Wilson, and a forward-thinking city attorney, Erika Evans, who has publicly stated her intention to avoid prosecuting open drug users.
Concerns about the rail project, known as The Crosslake Connection, have been simmering since before construction began in 2016, with residents vocally opposing the idea.
Lawsuits were brought by some of the 25,000 residents raising a whole host of concerns over the project.
One group Moms 4 Safe Mercer Island (M4SMI), banded together to strongly oppose the plans citing public safety, crime and congestion as potential issues.
Co-founder Olivia Lippens previously told Mercer Island Reporter: ‘This is troubling. This is insane.
‘I see this as a significant risk from a public safety perspective, a tax perspective, and a lifestyle perspective. I am hugely concerned.’
The picturesque Mercer Island is seen here with downtown Seattle seen across Lake Washington in the background
Seattle, has in recent times become an open-air drug market littered with encampments and users abusing hard drugs on the street
The light railway is seen here crossing over Lake Washington, it will be officially unveiled on Saturday
Victor Raisys, who co-owns a book store on the island, also told the outlet: ‘As an Island resident and a business owner, I see no upside and only downside.’
Raisys specifically voiced concerns over the increase in people on the island which he feared would lead to an increase in violent crimes.
He added: ‘I’m concerned about the increased crime and the impact on my business and the increased costs on my business.’
Maretta Holden, a retiree, also previously told The Seattle Times: ‘It won’t help me in any way, shape or form. I don’t go anywhere it’s going.’
After plans were eventually approved, locals have turned their attention to the lack of parking spaces for the railway station.
The train stop sits beside a 447-spot park-and-ride garage at the north end of the island which replaced a lot with only 257 that would be filled by most early mornings.
Sound Transit, who is running the train project, brought in plans to again increase the size of the parking garage, which the city council shot down over fears more people would come to the island.
They instead backed a smaller two-story garage to protect the neighborhood it is based in, The Seattle Times reported that it is packed out daily by commuters.
The Mercer Island train station is seen here in images released by Sound Transit, who built out the project
Lawsuits were brought by some of the 25,000 residents raising a whole host of concerns over the project, yet it will be formally opened on Saturday
At a City Council meeting in February, Councilmember Lisa Anderl pressed officials at Sound Transit over crime and drug use on the train.
She asked executives how they planned to cut down on crime and substance abuse onboard.
In response, they told her that security officers would be stationed at every stop on the light rail, but stopped at having an officer on every train.
She was also told that a cell number would be made public where train users could call or text to alert workers to any issues onboard.
City Manager Jessi Bon also added that Mercer Island had deployed two permanent positions in the local police department due to the light rail being brought in.
On a visit to Seattle earlier this year, the Daily Mail found its downtown, Beacon Hill, South of Downtown (SODO) and Chinatown neighborhoods were all filled with drug users on street corners, in bus stops and huddled in doorways.
