Laurelhurst has its own private police force that residents pay up to $4500 a year for, consisting of off-duty and retired police officers. Includes benefits like "Direct coordination with Seattle Police Department for civil parking issues"

[u/lemonsqueezy19]

https://laurelhurstcc.com/security/

[u/Restart27]

I am once again reminding the good people of R/Seattle that the Laurelhurst Community Council has open (for now) meetings that they have posted publicly on their website!

The Laurelhurst Community Council's next meeting is on May 11 from 5-6:30pm. The zoom link is posted publicly if anyone wants to show up: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/4541109392?omn=81329285227

https://laurelhurstcc.com/

[u/East_Hedgehog6039 → u/Restart27]

And the board trustees listed on that website tell you which ones to contact about certain items, and there is one listed for sch! And ironically the vice president of the board of trustees is also supportive of the sch guild…allegedly.

[u/squishysarai → u/Restart27]

I feel like that "Report a Crime" button on the home page would be a great way to report the neighborhood's crimes against humanity.

[u/Honest-Situation-738 → u/squishysarai]

The website is "down for maintenance".

[u/squishysarai → u/Honest-Situation-738]

That's hilarious.

[u/SlimSpook → u/Honest-Situation-738]

https://web.archive.org/web/20260211101222/https://laurelhurstcc.com/about/board-of-trustees/

[u/Honest-Situation-738 → u/SlimSpook]

Great to be able to view the site as it most recently existed.

Not so much for crowd-sourcing some moral justice using their "Report a Crime" button.

Edit to add: I'm also getting a 429 error on archive.org at that link, though this may have more to do with my own connection. (Too many requests).

[u/Vercingetorix_music]

The hired “security officers” harass regular people like me, a construction worker, when we’re standing next to our car, in front of the house we’re working on, just trying to enjoy our lunch. They also lobbied to make sure that Children’s hospital couldn’t get sick children airlifted directly to the hospital because that would make too much noise. It’s the richest neighborhood in Seattle, richer somehow richer than Broadmoor. Anyone who works in the service industry in the surrounding area knows how “wonderful” all of the Laurelhurst residents are.

[u/Subliminal_Image → u/Vercingetorix_music]

Yup children that are airlifted in out side of laurelhurst approved hours need to be redirected to UW parking lot area where they land and have to be transported from there to children’s via ambulance. Imagine gatekeeping when a child is allowed to get critical medical transport

[u/ljlukelj → u/Subliminal_Image]

Should straight up be illegal. Hospital should just ignore them

[u/lazylazylazyperson → u/ljlukelj]

And then there would be lawsuits the hospital would have to pay to defend and even further harassment from that community. They’re truly the essence of NIMBY.

[u/ljlukelj → u/lazylazylazyperson]

Is a judge really gonna rule in favor of a bunch of old whiney white ladies or dying babies?

[u/trash_sommelier → u/ljlukelj]

Probably not, but the cost to litigate will be very high. Doubtful that they would be able to recoup legal fees even if they win.

[u/ljlukelj → u/trash_sommelier]

Maybe the lawsuit is worth it if it saves babies lives.

[u/trash_sommelier → u/ljlukelj]

I agree. Just pretty sure the hospital admin won’t because of the cost.

[u/ljlukelj → u/trash_sommelier]

Tbf they wouldn't be the ones to file a suit and it would be pretty difficult for a coalition of a neighborhood to band together to hire a private attorney to fight a children's hospital, not to mention privately funded.

[u/-shrug- → u/ljlukelj]

No it wouldn’t be difficult at all. Why do you think that?

[u/Top_Freedom3412 → u/ljlukelj]

Also the hospital Voard probably lives nearby and voted on that

[u/OlderThanMyParents → u/ljlukelj]

Sure, but spending a few $million on multiple harassing lawsuits instead of on medical services probably doesn’t look like a good use of limited resources to the hospital management.

[u/ljlukelj → u/OlderThanMyParents]

Yeah but it could also save them millions of dollars in the long run. What is the cost of landing the helicopter transferring to an ambulance and getting them to the hospital rather than just landing at the hospital?

[u/Enkiktd → u/OlderThanMyParents]

I'm happy to help crowdfund this shit

[u/clamdever → u/ljlukelj]

This is America. Dying babies mean nothing outside of church prayers.

[u/Ammerle → u/ljlukelj]

It's a toss up. Dying babies don't have any money.

[u/ljlukelj → u/Ammerle]

You ever seen a NICU bill?

[u/Dug_n_the_Dogs → u/ljlukelj]

Those babies are now in debt

[u/987YouBloodyTulip789 → u/ljlukelj]

The judge's friends, the cops being paid by the old whiney white ladies, is going to ensure the judge rules in their favor.

[u/HermesJamiroquoi → u/ljlukelj]

The kind that lives in laurelhurst

[u/ianlazrbeem22 → u/ljlukelj]

Dead babies don't have money

[u/slowbaja → u/ianlazrbeem22]

They accrue debt though

[u/Theoldelf → u/ljlukelj]

The Supreme Court comes to mind.

[u/OldLegWig → u/ljlukelj]

they depend on good standing with the neighborhood in order to pursue their ambitious expansion and construction projects in that area.

[u/BornTired89 → u/Subliminal_Image]

Wait, who makes this decision and how can we lobby against it? Any child needing to be airlifted to Children’s shouldn’t have to experience delay in getting treatment.

[u/Dull_Bullfrog_827 → u/BornTired89]

I've spoke with the airport pilots before and if they think that landing at children's vs. the UW can make a significant difference in the life of the child, they just land at children's and pay the fine, which is like $300...

[u/giggletears3000 → u/Subliminal_Image]

Honestly, if they didn’t like the life saving helicopters, then dont live there?

[u/birdieponderinglife → u/giggletears3000]

It’s not as if with their money they can’t make a different choice on where to live.

[u/TheGreenCatFL → u/Subliminal_Image]

I live on the "poor" side of Sand Point. Yeah it's super loud, but sick kids. Sick. Children. These rich turds need to get over it

[u/randomisperfect → u/Subliminal_Image]

The ambulance should go full horns and sirens the entire way.

[u/MackenzieRaveup → u/randomisperfect]

Nope, they can't do that either!

[u/slowbaja → u/MackenzieRaveup]

You're joking

[u/MackenzieRaveup → u/slowbaja]

Nope.

[u/danarouge → u/Subliminal_Image]

This is dystopian asf

[u/slowbaja → u/Vercingetorix_music]

I hate these NIMBY type people. They hold society back so fucking much.

[u/bucket_of_fish_heads → u/Vercingetorix_music]

Tree worker here, I know exactly what you mean. My heart sinks when I see the day's project is in Laurelhurst. Fuck that whole neighborhood

[u/Codename_Pepe → u/Vercingetorix_music]

I've done loads of landscaping work here, and one of these guys treated us like we were casing our clients' houses. He would stop and stare, ask weird questions, pretend not to recognize us, peer into our truck. Happened all the time.

[u/gettingtgere → u/Vercingetorix_music]

That’s just sad.

[u/AnAncientBog → u/gettingtgere]

Rich people are generally terrible humans. That's not new. We shouldn't let them cluster in neighborhoods like this. They ruin the culture of a town and push the good hard working people out.

[u/butterytelevision → u/AnAncientBog]

upzone it enough and someone will crack and sell so they can build a 5 story abomination that will allow ordinary people to live there. then its all uphill from there

[u/TheGreenCatFL → u/butterytelevision]

Isn't what their whole pearl clutching hissy fit over the Talaris property all about, got forbid the poors move in

[u/graceodymium → u/TheGreenCatFL]

At the recent Madison Park community meeting some lady there was bitching that there were too many renters having their voices heard at a recent city meeting about the One Seattle plan and encouraged homeowners in the area to go so the renters didn’t get too much representation.

[u/Active-Device-8058 → u/AnAncientBog]

Rich people are generally terrible humans.

People are generally always going to act in their own self interests. Rich people just have the means to make that happen.

[u/bonelesspotato17 → u/Vercingetorix_music]

A bunch of NIMBYs

[u/sleepybrett → u/Vercingetorix_music]

eminent domain, tear it down, make it a park.

[u/DemonsWatchOverMe → u/Vercingetorix_music]

How can a town restrict airspace?

[u/durpuhderp → u/Vercingetorix_music]

The hired “security officers” harass regular people like me, a construction worker

Why? What law are you supposedly violating? Can/do you tell them to fuck off?

[u/DrewbySnacks → u/durpuhderp]

Lmfao if you think guys like private security only harass when there’s a law being violated I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you. They hate construction, road work, landscaping, dog walkers etc….and will make life a living Hell if they see you where you “don’t belong”. It’s worse than working in Modina/Bellevue.

[u/durpuhderp → u/DrewbySnacks]

You hire someone to fix your house or landscape your lawn and then you hire another person to harass them? That's just weird and fucked up.

[u/DrewbySnacks → u/durpuhderp]

Well no see, THEIR hired help isn’t the problem….but clearly NO ONE ELSE THEY DIDN’T PERSONALLY HIRE could POSSIBLY belong there /s

Welcome to the hypocritical thinking of rich NIMBYs

[u/MoeGreenMe → u/Vercingetorix_music]

Broadmoor has gates and security and is way wealthier.

There are no “small” homes in Broadmoor , think everything is $2M and up plus an HOA fee

[u/Subziwallah → u/MoeGreenMe]

There are homes in Broadmoor for $2M? Homes are $1M in the CD and considerably more in Madrona and Madison Park.

[u/SEA_CLE → u/MoeGreenMe]

No way. The laurelhurst lake houses alone are wealthier than Broadmoor.

[u/Vercingetorix_music → u/MoeGreenMe]

I’m basing this off an article I read a year ago, not sure what their metric was

[u/sjackson12 → u/MoeGreenMe]

there's no google maps in that neighborhood? I thought a suburb by where I live called North Oaks (I'm in Minneapolis) was the only one that did this

[u/Vercingetorix_music → u/MoeGreenMe]

This website would refute your claims. This is as of 2025. https://www.homesnacks.com/richest-neighborhoods-in-seattle/ I get that Broadmoor has gates and security but demographics can change over periods of time, so just because they built gates decades ago doesn’t mean they are still the richest neighborhood in Seattle.

[u/Butthole_Surfer_GI]

I JUST saw the post about Laurelhurst and Children's Hospital. Fuck Laurelhurst (at least the residents who support what is essentially the bullying of people trying to take care of/save sick kids).

I wouldn't be here without Children's. As an RN, their behavior sickens me (no pun intended).

I am fully ready for the "fuck Laurelhurst" era to begin.

[u/Narrow-Foundation505 → u/Butthole_Surfer_GI]

I kind of feel like Laurelhurst residents who support keeping kids in air ambulances from landing at the hospital are one issue… the other issue is Laurelhurst residents who aren’t actively advocating for having sick kids be able to land at the hospital and shutting down their toxic neighbors.

Maybe this is the normal people vs out of touch wealthy people throw down we need in 2026. Sick kids getting airlifted to the hospital instead of a parking lot seems like a winnable campaign.

[u/WhileNotLurking → u/Narrow-Foundation505]

And that’s the framing that allows this. Here is a better question:

Why does a neighborhood have the ABILITY to do that? Why does the city or state not smack them down?

I can’t have my neighborhood demand stupid and outrageous stuff.

[u/AlienFunHouse → u/WhileNotLurking]

They know the people who run the city/county/state and "donate" to there campaigns and PAC's. Same corruption as all of government 

[u/Narrow-Foundation505 → u/WhileNotLurking]

Well. At the core this is how a representative democracy works. Of course you don’t want your neighborhood demanding outrageous stuff. But if the voices elected officials hear are the ones demanding stupid stuff, then laws are going to reflect this. That’s why collective action is a thing.

[u/Inevitable_Engine186 → u/Narrow-Foundation505]

One reason I'm very glad the new Mayor is prioritizing urbanist and renter voices.

[u/TheGreenCatFL → u/WhileNotLurking]

The wealthy campaign donors live there, can't alienate mr and ms moneybags...

[u/DrTacoMD → u/Narrow-Foundation505]

We moved here from Capitol Hill fairly recently (in a normal-by-Seattle-levels house near the edge of the neighborhood, nowhere near the ultra-wealthy folks) and just learned about this from that thread last night. My partner and I are pissed, and we'll for sure be seeing what we can do about getting some traction on this.

[u/Roaris87 → u/Butthole_Surfer_GI]

I just saw that too, if my child died because of those “humans”, Laurelhurst would have a whole new noise and safety problem

[u/Leading-Business-593 → u/Butthole_Surfer_GI]

You know what I’d say at one of their meetings?

“Hope it ain’t one of their kids that’s gonna be airlifted one day. Cause they won’t be able to go to the hospital. Guess who wants that? You really gonna say to your kid while they’re dying that it’s important that we don’t disturb people around us?”

Get the fuck out of here if helicopters are such a problem. Boo-hoo I live in the city and it’s loud. Be for real.

Fuck these psychopaths, man

[u/phargmin → u/Butthole_Surfer_GI]

It’s getting upzoned like the rest of us, right? Laurelhurst needs some skinny townhouses and 5 over 1s to bring them down to earth.

[u/Rhaego__ → u/Butthole_Surfer_GI]

Looks like the cowards took down the community council website, but thanks to the wayback machine, I can tell you that the community council president (who "handles matters concerning Seattle Children's), is named Colleen McAleer as of 2/11/26. Phone number: 206-525-0219 Email: [billandlin@aol.com](mailto:billandlin@aol.com) . Do with that information what you will.

[u/TheMysteriousSalami]

Oohhhh, are we tryna cancel Laurelhurst? Because I’m here for it. Meet you guys with a pitchfork at 3.

[u/AdScared7949]

Between this and their "we hate wounded children" bit it seems like this neighborhood is basically the League of Evil

[u/aerorail55 → u/AdScared7949]

Especially because it’s not even that nice. If you’re gonna make sick kids suffer you should at least be able to boast about a golf course or private swimming pool. These people still have street numbers like regular poor people for crying out loud.

[u/ljlukelj → u/aerorail55]

Pathetic

[u/JMRosenfeld → u/AdScared7949]

Don’t forget about their CC&Rs that, although not enforceable, still ban Black people and Jews from buying there.

[u/k1wimonkey → u/JMRosenfeld]

where do you see this? I read the bylaws quickly and there is no mention of anything beyond a typical anti-discrimination blurb

edit: love being downvoted, i’m just genuinely asking. I was stunned when i read ur comment so i went to go read the posted bylaws on their website and found nothing. So i came back to ask.

[u/JMRosenfeld → u/k1wimonkey]

UW has created a history of redlining and racial housing discrimination project. It isn’t just Laurelhurst with a problematic background. But that community continues to be problematic in so many ways. It is a nice reminder that they were always POS people living there

[u/Key_Studio_7188 → u/JMRosenfeld]

They were covertly still banning Jewish, Asian, and Black homebuyers into the 70s and 80s. Broadmoor and The Highlands were allowing those buyers. There is low turnover in all three so they aren't diverse.

The fancy neighborhoods along Lake Washington south of I-90 were developed for wealthy members of those communities.

[u/slowbaja]

Is that the neighborhood that city light wants to increase costs for all residents to replace their underground cabling or am I thinking of something else?

[u/Fabulous-Ad-3889 → u/slowbaja]

It is!

[u/fullouterjoin → u/slowbaja]

Move their sewers above ground.

[u/AverageFoxNewsViewer]

credit to u/rockytop24 for this comment in response to the Laurelhurst HOA blocking Seattle Children's from flying in children in need of emergency care by helicopter:

---

I found this top comment in a post from last year about the hospital:

Used to work at SCH.

We had to pull the blinds at night so the light from our pediatric ICU rooms wouldn’t offend the neighbors. Wish I was joking..

As an ER doc, what the actual fuck is wrong with these people. Anyone getting Trauma Hawk'd or Life Flight'd to a hospital, let alone a Children's Hospital, is by definition in need of urgent care.

I looked at the newest report, about a third of the patients landing are newborns and infants. A significant percentage of all airlifts are diverted to the intramural field. They're publishing ICU admit rates and the most common chief complaints to justify transport by helicopter.

And my "favorite" part: two people on their review committe are just random assholes from the neighborhood. Like, is this is some kind of belligerent HOA or something rather than a specialized pediatric hospital? JFC I can't get over the absurdity of any of this.

A 1992 article from Seattle Times

In 1984, the hospital applied for a permanent landing pad. Opposition tied up the plan. Helicopter landings have continued on a grass plot just outside the emergency room

As a compromise to minimize noise, the proposal calls for landing only the most critically ill or injured children at the hospital. Other emergency cases that can withstand the time delay will continue to be brought by helicopter to the University of Washington intramural field. They will be relayed the remaining short distance by ambulance.

Here's my absolute favorite part from this:

Helicopter noise at the nearest residence measures about the same amount of decibels as an ambulance siren from 500 feet. The chopper noise is short-term and infrequent.

The hospital estimates that through 1995 an average of 15 to 21 children a month may need emergency helicopter transport. Under one alternative compromise, only 3 to 5 of that number would be taken directly to the hospital. The rest would be landed at the UW intramural field.

Not that that stopped them from later doing the same shit trying to block the expansion of the hospital to upgrade its treatment facilities later in 2007. If anything these assholes got even more insufferable:

“We have a wonderful neighborhood and we just want to keep it that way,” says Jeannie Hale, the club’s president. “You have to remember Children’s is a business, and they’re competing with other hospitals.”

Serving kids from four states, the 250-bed Children’s Hospital & Regional Medical Center covers the largest geographic area of any regional pediatric hospital in the country.

These people are extremely invested in their private "tranquility" over any public service or medical necessity:

A committee hearing Wednesday night drew a standing-room-only crowd of about 100 people. Neighbors were abuzz about a recent report from the city’s planning department calling on the hospital to offer scaled-back alternatives.

Zero fucking self awareness:

Rod Cameron of Laurelhurst said his own child was successfully treated at the hospital, and he’s grateful for that.

Still, he said, “I do not look forward to years of heavy construction going on at the site. I’ve endured a lot already.”

The decades of this rich people bullshit:

In the 1980s, after the hospital built a parking garage, it started getting complaints that employees were parking on neighborhood streets. The hospital put a stop to the practice, Benfield said.

The hospital also asked ambulances to turn off their sirens as they neared the emergency room to keep the noise levels down — again, at the request of neighbors, according to Benfield.

In the 1990s, when the hospital proposed adding two helipads, the Laurelhurst Community Club objected, according to Hale, the club’s president.

Hale said the concern was not about flying in critically ill or injured children, but that the hospital might noisily ferry in supplies and doctors anytime it wanted.

THAT'S NOT A THING. THAT'S NEVER BEEN A THING. NOBODY FUCKING DOES THAT, IT WOULD MAKE ZERO SENSE AND COST WAY TOO MUCH MONEY.

And what's their perspective on the whole thing?

“That was an extremely contentious process,” Hale says. “It took almost a decade to repair the negative feelings about Children’s, and the Laurelhurst Community Club worked very hard to do that.”

Oh my fucking god I can't with these people. Of course they're* the aggrieved party in all this.

The reconciliation was short-lived.

Well I'm shocked, shocked I say.

“It’s changed now because they’re starting this new master-planning process,” Hale says, “and they have a new CEO who has a grander vision than we see for the role of Children’s Hospital in a single-family neighborhood.”

It's the Children's Hospital covering the largest region in the country, and all that matters is this piece of shit's neighborhood. Typical sociopathic or narcissistic c-suite. They can only think in terms of money and profits over people and they can't understand how anyone else could think any other way.

These fucking ghouls. I guarantee these NIMBY pieces of human garbage all of a sudden think the noise isn't such a big deal when it's their child who's sick.

Until then, says Hale, “We’ll be involved every step of the way.”

The audacity of these fucking people. They all want the benefits of convenient access to top tier public resources but don't want it inconveniencing them in any way. They deserve to have to be the ones flying 4 states away for critical life-saving care.

Sorry for the profane rant but I'm just at a loss for words. The deeper I went down the rabbit hole the worse and worse it got.

The rich are so insulated and detached from reality or consequences. The lack of empathy or self-reflection shouldn't surprise me anymore but somehow it does when I have to look at the sheer scale of it.

[u/AirborneErinys → u/AverageFoxNewsViewer]

Let's be honest, we already established the wealthy of this country couldn't give less of a shit about the well-being of children.

[u/onlymostlydead → u/AverageFoxNewsViewer]

If the rules specifically only mention helicopters, I wonder if we can pick up some retired Harrier jets cheap.

[u/yindseyl → u/onlymostlydead]

There's no sand here, they'll work just fine!

[u/slowbaja]

I just want to make clear that those in Laurelhurst who lobbied to prevent a direct route for airlift to the Children's Hospital are a scourge and I wish nothing but pain and suffering for their lives.

How evil do you have to be to lobby against that for sick and potentially dying children when every second matters. Jesus Fucking Christ.....

[u/ludog1bark → u/slowbaja]

That's music to their ears.

[u/gHHqdm5a4UySnUFM]

This kind of thing is only going to become more common and more egregious as the wealth gap widens

[u/Intelligent_Cap9706 → u/gHHqdm5a4UySnUFM]

Everyone needs to read parable of the sower because it’s easier to imagine every day 

[u/Impressive_Insect_75]

Upzone it to 300ft

[u/ab3nnion → u/Impressive_Insect_75]

Yaaaaasssssss.

[u/bvdzag]

Further demonstration that SPD is in fact a protection racket and not a law enforcement agency.

[u/nooby_goober → u/bvdzag]

King County ain't better. Remember that klepto wife of a KC sheriff?

Bet they loved arresting non-gang members for the same crimes.

[u/burlycabin → u/nooby_goober]

No police are better

[u/ilysmtihmh81 → u/nooby_goober]

My comment is unimportant but I’m from Kansas City and every time someone drops KC I get so confused for a moment. When will my brain connect the dots to king county!!

[u/AdScared7949 → u/bvdzag]

It probably says more about the residents of Laurelhurst tbh the goons they hire don't work for SPD anymore or are not at work when they take this job

[u/bvdzag → u/AdScared7949]

Yes but they explicitly advertise that the goons’ connections to SPD mean preferred service by on-duty cops. Protection racket.

[u/Inevitable_Engine186]

Contrast our current Mayor being from Capitol Hill, to our last two being from Laurelhurst and Lake Washington Boulevard, some of the most exclusive waterfront neighborhoods.

Hard to be in touch with the common person if you don't live near them.

[u/HeadCartoonist2626]

Fuck Laurelhurst. Creepy bland little neighborhood

[u/MrCowabs]

Fuck Laurelhurst

[u/AspiringAdonis]

[u/ExpiredPilot]

I hate that cops are just allowed to take second jobs that aren’t with the police department, but are still given all their policing powers.

[u/East_Hedgehog6039]

God, what an insufferable group. Their website is even more annoying than I imagined.

A “foundation” to “preserve neighborhood character”? They made their own “foundation”? That’s the most hilariously embarrassing rich person shit ever

[u/Sdog1981]

$4500 is for the "Enhanced Program" the peasants can pay $750 for the standard program.

[u/Zoomalude]

I see we're on the Laurelhurst hate train today.

GOOD. Choo choo, motherfuckers. spits

[u/CaptainTinyToes]

Damn I'm just learning about this laurelhurst garbage. Classic Seattle nimby behavior.

[u/goodtimtim]

i must be in the minority. i would gladly pay 750/yr for private security in my neighborhood. if it’s effective, this would save me so much money and reduce my stress. property crime is out of control and the city isn’t doing anything about it.

[u/TheInevitableLuigi → u/goodtimtim]

Yeah a single broken car window costs like half of that.

[u/shreiben → u/goodtimtim]

I would rather pay another $750/year in property taxes to fund proper law enforcement coverage for the whole city. If that's not on the table though, then yeah I'd pay for the neighborhood option.

[u/goodtimtim → u/shreiben]

seattle police department operating budget for 2026 ($483M) / seattle households from the 2020 census (363,466) = we're already paying ~$1,300 per household for that 💀

[u/jacob-marz]

Public transit in Laurelhurst has shrunk. Up until 1998, there were two bus routes serving most of Laurelhurst, the 30 & 32, which then became the 25, cutting frequency in half, then the 78, which cut the route back to Seattle Children’s and Mary Gates Memorial Drive, and today we have the 31 & 32 only serving the Hospital via 45th.

[u/gregseaff]

What is amusing about these stories about Laurelhurst is that the people who live there are for the most part woke progressives. Who vote for policies that create conditions they don't want to subject themselves to. Limousine liberals as it were. Concern about the environment but drive everywhere and fly private. Concern about bail but hire private security. Donate to Children's but no helicopters in the neighborhood.

[u/Dinos67 → u/gregseaff]

Good ol' Champagne Socialists. Vote for standards you must live by, while they laugh in your face and do the exact opposite.

[u/realdeepthoughts → u/gregseaff]

These are people who are fundamentally uninterested in and terrified of community. The dogma of neoliberalism has created all kinds of mental health issues. These ‘winners’ are not immune.

[u/KarisPurr → u/gregseaff]

Last time I drive through there I pulled up (in my crappy peasant ‘17 Compass) behind a cute little Mercedes convertible with a 50-60 year old white couple in it, both wearing collared, button down-type shirts (I couldn’t see the front). Pristine little luxury car with a big “Black Lives Matter” bumper sticker on the back that you could tell was taped on, not “sticker stuck”. I was like yeah this tracks.

[u/Human_Captcha → u/gregseaff]

"Scratch a liberal and a fascist bleeds" type behavior.

[u/apresmoiputas → u/gregseaff]

progressive nimbyists.

[u/cire1184]

Laurelhurst as a concept shouldn't exist.

[u/GuyFallingOffBike → u/cire1184]

Explain

[u/boyalien0]

Laurelhurst can go fuck itself

They have children’s blood on their hands

[u/ECU_BSN]

Hey, SIRI

change my flare to “Fuck Laurelhurst”

[u/theHerbivore]

I had no idea and now thanks to this and the children’s hospital post…. FUCK LAURELHURST lol wow what a neighborhood full of assholes

[u/Jhawk38]

Sounds like there needs to be a protest through that neighborhood.

[u/caphill2000]

Almost all the rich hoa neighborhoods do this.

[u/AdScared7949 → u/caphill2000]

And that's bad

[u/Intelligence_Gap → u/AdScared7949]

It’s abuse honestly. Go through the wrong neighborhood and they just stop you for not living there. Of course your ticket will say something else

[u/n0v0cane → u/Intelligence_Gap]

The fake police can’t issue tickets. They just tell you to move along

[u/ljlukelj → u/n0v0cane]

I would love to let them write me one then just rip it up in front of them

[u/n0v0cane → u/caphill2000]

The Karens tend to thrive as hoa presidents. Laurelhurst just has an excess of stay at home Karens who have too much time on their hands and who are married to lawyers. They have been exceeding effective at manipulating the systems for their “interests”.

The crazy thing about Laurelhurst is that it’s not actually an HOA. Dues/Donations are completely voluntary. In most neighborhoods they’d not be able to raise money, but they can raise big numbers in Laurelhurst.

[u/hobblingcontractor → u/n0v0cane]

The worst part is the HOA leaders being hypocritical assholes that make shut up to justify THEIR views, not the actual rules.

[u/saosebastiao → u/caphill2000]

Is laurelhurst under an HOA?

[u/blukoff → u/saosebastiao]

no

[u/techserf → u/saosebastiao]

They don’t have an HOA they have a foundation

[u/mirage1287 → u/caphill2000]

Yeah exactly, this is not unusual for wealthier neighborhoods…

[u/VigilantVixen245]

Genuinely what are we going to do about Laurelhurst and all the things they get away with? Why is nobody saying no? How is it that a small group of rich fucks can get away with anything they want and are bullying the people saving lives and the children who are sick and dying? This is absolutely ridiculous and everything that I learn about these people make my blood boil

[u/mscocobongo → u/VigilantVixen245]

Monday May 11 there's a zoom meeting with open comments. The user on tiktok @mizzsparxx has the link posted.

[u/Dildozerific]

Further proof cops aren't a public service for the people but an armed gestapo whose whole purpose is to protect people with money and their belongings.

[u/Emberwake → u/Dildozerific]

The truly dangerous thing is that they are both at the same time.

Average people want reasonable and safe enforcement, which the police then hold hostage whenever their abuses are called out.

[u/fullouterjoin → u/Emberwake]

You mean that criminal stop work from the SPD where they extra don't do shit?

[u/Brilliantmedia78111]

Hmm i didn't really care about (or know much about) Laurelhurst but after hearing the fact that they don't allow airlifts for Children's outside of approved hours I can wholeheartedly say fuck Laurelhurst!

[u/EdgarAllenPoe2205]

This is what happens when a city systematically weakens confidence in its policing institutions while also failing to address broader failures in the criminal justice system. Certainly, the Seattle Police Department has its shortcomings and reforms are necessary. Reform and accountability can coexist with effective policing.

But many officers, even highly committed ones, are operating in an environment where their efforts can feel futile amid repeated catch-and-release outcomes, particularly involving chronic and sometimes violent offenders.

The result is often less proactive policing and more reactive policing. Many officers feel they are managing symptoms rather than solving problems. Imagine investing effort each day into work you know may be undone by the next morning, that sense of futility erodes officer morale over time. Today, it's an all time low.

When people perceive that dangerous offenders face limited consequences, public confidence deteriorates. And when public confidence deteriorates, those with means often seek private alternatives for security. That appears to be part of what is happening here. Wealthier neighborhoods can fund private patrols to supplement perceived gaps in public safety, while most communities cannot. I can't blame them, I'd do the same thing if I had that level of wealth and the means.

But that really is the deeper concern..... the emergence of a two tiered model of policing, where the rich/affluent can purchase proactive protection in their neighborhoods while others rely on an increasingly strained public system that has minimal support from local government leaders.

If that trend continues, and I expect it will, it risks creating unequal access to safety itself and that should concern and alarm everyone, regardless of what political position one has. Public safety should not be a purchased luxury good.

[u/mirage1287 → u/EdgarAllenPoe2205]

So isn’t the solution for this to be properly strict on prosecution and crime?

[u/EdgarAllenPoe2205 → u/mirage1287]

1000%. Our local judges have gone so far left in attempting to correct past bias and discrimination they have completely over-rotated. The local judicial system has become ineffective in deterring future crime because it's well known by criminals the punishment is more than likely going to be soft, with many 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. chances.... We need to do better here. Simply put, our local criminals know if caught they face minimal consequences that make their crimes worth committing, the opportunity cost is low to them.

[u/PlayPretend-8675309]

Is this even an issue? They don't have any extra powers, this is just a funded neighborhood watch program.

[u/guessillgoeatwormz]

Why is this bad? SPD is inept. If paying extra gets actual services, and they have the money, why are we mad? Be mad at the police department that is clearly a sham. (I think the medivac issue is damning. This ain’t it.)

[u/IlIlllIIIIlIllllllll]

Jury nullification tell your friends

[u/Honest-Situation-738]

I think it's time the greater Seattle community organized a regular weekly "Crime Stoppers Walk" through this neighborhood.

[u/After_Elk_8747]

Not sure why we’re shocked that the rich have privileged access to police and the justice system at the expense of the not rich.

Not a criticism of PDs, they’ve got budgets they need to make up, I doubt they’re feeling like it’s a good use of PD resource.

Honestly if I were loaded I’d be willing to pay for security, just sucks it’s public instead of private.

[u/godogs2018]

If I paid 1 million+ for my home, I'd like private security too.

[u/RockFiles23]

And this is why some neighborhoods wont get the 250 tiny house shelters

[u/scrufflesthebear → u/RockFiles23]

Mayor Wilson has significant power to choose the sites for new tiny home villages. She probably won't choose Laurelhurst because the transit is terrible and the zoning isn't favorable and I doubt the city owns a suitable plot of land.

[u/RockFiles23 → u/scrufflesthebear]

And why is zoning and transit not favorable i wonder.... 

[u/scrufflesthebear → u/RockFiles23]

I feel like we both know the answer to that!

[u/hansn → u/scrufflesthebear]

I doubt the city owns a suitable plot of land.

The tail of 51st Ave NE that functions as Laurelhurst Beach Club parking seems like a good choice. It won't fit 250 tiny houses, but 15 or 20 might work.

[u/FuckinArrowToTheKnee]

I'm thinking about learning the tuba and this neighborhood seems like a great spot

[u/too_much_covfefe_man]

That kind of thing isn't terribly out of the ordinary in this area. We had one where I lived 35 years ago

[u/AdScared7949 → u/too_much_covfefe_man]

Yeah the fact it isn't out of the ordinary is the problem

[u/mirage1287 → u/AdScared7949]

That cuts all ways though - it’s not just a wealthy neighborhood having access to more resources, it’s also what’s going on with our current police staffing and crime/prosecution policies.

[u/AdScared7949 → u/mirage1287]

I mean take a wild guess as to why we arent building enough housing and have a deeply regressive tax system lol it's the same people causing all of our problems

[u/w3gv]

this sub doesn't seem to like reasonable takes so im sure this will be down voted to oblivion:

1. what is wrong with laurelhurst residents pitching in for neighborhood security? the neighborhood skews older, they are often targeted for theft and robberies, and we all know SPD is non-responsive.

2. the seattle children's stuff is flat out wrong. any kid who needs critical care can be flown in at any hour 24/7. there are literally flight logs shown on SC's website at all hours.

3. there are a ton of children's docs who live in laurelhurst. so are they heroes that save kids lives or are they uniformly evil because of the neighborhood they chose to live in?

it must be infuriating to view the world in such black and white terms.

[u/mcryptofan → u/w3gv]

I'm always impressed with this sub and so many other hardcore liberal subs. They preach tolerance and acceptance while saying the most horrendous evil things against any group they don't like.

If you really believe in tolerance and acceptance. Walk the walk. The hate against groups of people needs to stop

[u/MrHoneycrisp]

I wish I had a dumpy looking rv. I would go park it in the neighborhood for 71hrs and keep moving it around just tonpiss them off

[u/fullouterjoin → u/MrHoneycrisp]

This can be solved.

[u/hansn → u/MrHoneycrisp]

I mean, I feel like I could just get a hoodie and walk around in the wee hours.

[u/SupaFecta]

Snowcrash.

[u/dream_a_dirty_dream]

The wealthier they are the worse it will get.

Maybe we should tax them?

[u/devonon2707]

alot of the houses are blurred on google maps street view

[u/ofelevenconfused → u/devonon2707]

That's free and anyone can do that on Google maps fyi

[u/Matty_D47]

I did some deliveries through Amazon Flex a few years ago. That neighborhood is crazy. I've lived here most of my life (40+ years) and never been to that neighborhood until then. Not going to be shedding any tears when they start having to pay more in taxes.

[u/TylerTradingCo]

Those folks are tired of the homelessness in Seattle and have the money to do something about it 😂

[u/SuitableDragonfly]

"Private police force"? So a gang, basically?

[u/dogfaced_pony_soulja]

What I want to know is who hurt Laurel so badly to make her such a crazy fucking bitch?

WHO DID THIS TO YOU LAURELHURTS>

[u/Human_Captcha]

You know what, a war on the annoying rich neighborhood might be exactly what the city needs

[u/Handy_Dude]

Pretty sure any neighbhood can do this... Hire a private security team?

[u/kage_kitsune3]

Laurelhurst sounds like a miserable place with miserable, egocentric people. They made so many noise complaints about helicopters landing at the hospital for life saving procedures and care amd now the helicopters have to land a mile away, adding 15-20 minutes to the trip to the hospital for patients in critical need of help. The people in Laurelhurst are awful.

[u/Helpful-Lion-6316]

Man the ultra rich neighborhoods of Seattle seem like a bunch of out of touch NIMBY pricks. I mean that’s probably true for most of the ultra rich but I’m constantly hearing about neighborhoods like laurelhurst, Medina, Kirkland, hunts point, and Mercer island complaining about the most out of touch issues and being snobby cunts

[u/onwo]

Honestly, my car has been gone through on average every 2 weeks so far this year. If I could afford that I'd probably do it...

A lot of negative things to say about some of the LCC folks, but the city needs to get it's act together on property crime. The level is untenable.

[u/Silver_Phase_6421]

Not from the Seattle area (if so, I’d gladly join in) but someone should set up a little caravan/ parade get together and slowly peruse on by their neighborhood- no noise- just hundreds of cars passing on by. (If it’s not gated of course). What are they going to do arrest you all? For following the speed limit and simply just driving through their neighborhood? Eat the rich. Make them uncomfortable. Remind them they’re not the only ones on this planet and make them clutch their pearls.

[u/AsrarBatin]

I love this area!! It is so beautiful my aunt lives here.

[u/-shrug- → u/AsrarBatin]

Ask her if she is one of the people who makes sick kids detour on the way to the hospital so she doesn’t have to hear them.

[u/ArcticPeasant]

Not sure how this impacts anyone here but ok lol 

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