SoDo shop owners fighting back against problems plaguing area

Stabbings, stealing, drinking and littering are among the problems plaguing parts of Seattle’s SoDo neighborhood.Area business owners say they are fed up, and they’re fighting back.John Schofield says the area has been attracting a crowd he doesn’t want near his automotive business.”We’ll have people in our waiting room, and they’ll take a leak right on on the window in front of them, things like that,” he said. “Pulling knives on us out back.”Some homeless people living nearby say the area turns into a ugly scene once drinking hours hit.”They’re vandalizing cars, fighting, trying to rob people,” one person said.Schofield says he’s used crowbars to chase away aggressive drunks, but he doesn’t want to keep fighting.On Wednesday, he called a meeting of Seattle police, the Liquor Control Board, and city and county workers to clean up SoDo.Because SoDo sits outside Seattle’s alcohol impact zone, mini markets and gas stations can sell higher-content alcohol.”Twelve percent,” said one View full post on “drunk” News