Andrew Steelsmith

Founder & CEO of @SteelsmithHaus Internet Marketing Company Seattle | Posts about Entrepreneur Life, Digital Marketing Seattle & Internet Marketing Technology

[Owen Gregorian @OwenGregorian]

Seattle residents call for National Guard after city fails to address pimp wars, open-air prostitution, sex trafficking on Aurora Ave | Katie Daviscourt, The Post Millennial

"The city has abandoned us," said Andrew Steelsmith, a resident who has spent years documenting the crime stemming from the city's decision to decriminalize prostitution in 2020.

The march drew roughly 300 people who took over Highway 99 on Aurora Avenue, holding signs reading "Stop the bullets" and "sex trafficking is not consensual."

"The city has abandoned us," said Andrew Steelsmith, a resident who has spent years documenting the crime stemming from the city's decision to decriminalize prostitution in 2020. "North Aurora belongs to the people of Greenwood, North Park, Licton Springs, Phinney Ridge, Bitter Lake, and Haller Lake," he continued. "Not the f*cking Johns, not the f*cking pimps!"

Residents shared stories of dodging bullets, hearing gunfire near daycares and schools, and finding shell casings in their yards. The protest stems from long-standing grievances about the city's policy, which residents and officials claim has fueled open-air sex trafficking, with pimps engaging in turf wars that have resulted in drive-by shootings, including incidents in which bullets ripped through homes and came within feet of sleeping infants.

The city of Seattle has repeatedly told residents that police cannot respond effectively to the issue because of low staffing. Despite the previous city administration adopting a "Stay Out of Area of Prostitution (SOAP)" ordinance in September 2024, which prohibits loitering for buying, selling, or promoting prostitution, the policy is not being enforced, residents said.

Former Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison, who helped organize the march and drafted the SOAP ordinance, called for a targeted public safety strategy. She believes the National Guard needs to respond to the crisis.

"We need the mayor to call the governor and the National Guard because, as we know, our city is low on numbers of police officers, and those low numbers that we do have are going to have to be concentrated at the games," said Davison to Center Square, referring to the upcoming FIFA World Cup matches in Seattle. Additionally, she warned of "turf wars with the residential pimps" and the heightened risk to women and girls already being exploited.

Davison is not the only one who believes the National Guard should respond. Residents told The Post Millennial that they want to see President Trump order a federal crackdown on the area, citing the city's failure to act.

"The city needs to be serious about enforcing the law. In fact, I think the city is in over its head. We're talking about Cartel trafficking. I think they should call in for federal help, honestly. Get some help from President Trump! Why not?" said Victoria, a Seattle resident.

King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion and senior deputy prosecutors also attended the march. Spokesperson Casey McNerthney told My Northwest, "I don't think I've ever seen a march like that on Aurora where neighbors have said, 'Hey, we're fed up, and we need help.'"

He highlighted the demand-side problem, noting that Washington law treats purchasing sex from an adult as a simple misdemeanor while pimps are quickly replaced due to ongoing buyer demand.

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, a socialist, was notably absent, which angered residents further. "Where is the mayor?" became a rallying cry, with one resident shouting, "Do your job! Why are you not here?" Some city council members, such as Public Safety Committee Chair Bob Kettle, were in attendance, as was City Attorney Erika Evans. However, also missing was city councilor Debra Juarez, who represents the impacted neighborhoods.

The situation has since drawn national attention, leaving residents hopeful that change could occur.

https://t.co/QlNGPZCMUg

[Andrew Steelsmith @CaptainDrew]

@SDOTtraffic Hope they made it

[Andrew Steelsmith @CaptainDrew]

@choeshow She was shot in the leg on 101st

[Andrew Steelsmith @CaptainDrew]

@dscannerchatter Wasn’t the shooting suspect though. Was described as a white male 200+ lbs. Sounds like the car was dumped and “reoccupied” by a fenti.

[Andrew Steelsmith @CaptainDrew]

@SerranoforAG @epiclifechurch @reichert4gov @GarciaForWA @kmmoreland @mericandavid Thanks for the invite!

[Pete Serrano @SerranoForWA]

On October 18, 2024, I held a Restore Public Safety Forum at @epiclifechurch in North Seattle. Panelists included @reichert4gov, @GarciaForWA, @kmmoreland, @mericandavid, Pastor Keith Carpenter, and Andrew Steelsmith.

Many community members, business owners, victims of violent crime and/drug addiction, SPD police officers, and other individuals running for office were also in attendance.

Thank you for attending and contributing to such an important discussion! Please like and share with your family, friends, and neighbors to help others find this video.

Total run-time is 1:45. Here are the key discussion points for your convenience:

OPENING REMARKS
00:00-3:00 - Pete Serrano
3:00-17:30 - Panelist Introductions

FENTANYL EPIDEMIC
17:30-26:30 - David Leon
26:30-33:45 - Dr. Raul Garcia
33:45-42:00 - Dave Reichert

HOMELESSNESS
42:00-50:40 - Kristine Moreland
53:00-59:30 - Pastor Keith Carpenter
59:30-61:00 - Dr. Raul Garcia

VIOLENT CRIME
61:00-69:00 - Dave Reichert

COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
69:30-73:00 - Kristine Moreland
73:00-76:30 - Andrew Steelsmith
76:30-78:20 - David Leon
78:30-82:30 - Dave Reichert

87:00-END - Questions & Comments

@reichert4gov
@GarciaForWA
@kmmoreland
@mericandavid
@epiclifechurch

#RestorePublicSafety
#ChangeWashingtonNow
#Service #Safety #Transparency

[Andrew Steelsmith @CaptainDrew]

@TheOmaBee @ericacbarnett All those disgusting beds for those disgusting sex trafficking victims getting away from their pimps. All these people not from my neighborhood trying to tear it down more.

[Andrew Steelsmith @CaptainDrew]

@ericacbarnett I’m still sitting here at the council meeting. She was invited by Cathy Moore after I heard her speak at a stolen youth luncheon and introduced her. I have no skin in the game. She’s helping people and is a survivor herself. And part of the solution.

[Andrew Steelsmith @CaptainDrew]

@666Palindrome @JeremyHarrisTV They already have a SOAP zone in shoreline. Now we will too.

[Andrew Steelsmith @CaptainDrew]

@jazzncatz @JeremyHarrisTV … that he just came from work at an ICU with a bunch of COVID patients? Yeah I think he was doing us a solid too.

[Andrew Steelsmith @CaptainDrew]

@ASwavely @JeremyHarrisTV One improvement is that you can’t prosecute the pimps that are shooting up our neighborhood without a willing victim working with police. This gives police the ability to get the victim away from their pimp (who’s usually 13-17 years old) as well as prosecution without testimony

[Andrew Steelsmith @CaptainDrew]

@deanns50174830 @cl4ireFF @seattleinfo She signaled to the kids waiting in the alley that the SUV was coming. I have that part of the video and her talking to them but it’s shitty everything so I snipped it. Thanks for reminding me that I didn’t explain it.

[Jonathan Choe @choeshow]

CITIZEN JOURNALISM IN ACTION: If you live in North Seattle's Greenwood/Bitter Lake hoods, follow Andrew Steelsmith(@CaptainDrew. ) He tells it like it is. Steelsmith's been documenting shootings, prostitution, and drug-related activities spilling over from Aurora Ave.
Councilmember Debora Juarez remains MIA as she prepares to depart.
Depending who wins the D5 council race in November, Cathy Moore(@CathyMooreforD5) or ChrisTiana ObeySumner(@CObeySumner) will be inheriting a hot mess.
Top issues here remain public safety, homelessness, and prostitution. With Seattle corporate media failing to consistently cover this area, Steelsmith believes he's gotta do it himself. Check out his latest piece. This type of journalism is the only way to expose failed public policies and keep elected officials accountable.
#Seattle
@MayorofSeattle @SeattlePD @SeattleCouncil @KCCKohlWelles @CMTMosqueda @CMSaraNelson @GovInslee @kcexec @KCCouncil

[Andrew Steelsmith @CaptainDrew]

@EmperorRiddick @lil_nothnks @choeshow Agreed, but if they WANT to be cum dumpsters like they do in the porn industry, society shouldn’t make them get a pimp in order to fuck in front of my house. I’m not making sense but you get the point

[Andrew Steelsmith @CaptainDrew]

@lil_nothnks @choeshow What your handle is no thanks and you said no thanks in your response. That was trippy for some reason. Anyway, “regulated” is the operable word for me. Legalized is better than decriminalized because regulation and taxes happen to fund the bullshit.

[Andrew Steelsmith @CaptainDrew]

@Politik206 @choeshow I watched that debate. If ObeySumner gets elected I’m throwing in the towel.

[Andrew Steelsmith @CaptainDrew]

@sirskippsalot @choeshow Socialists actually. Sawant killed the project to build a new precinct in North Seattle. Now we have less police per capita than most areas in the country.

[Andrew Steelsmith @CaptainDrew]

@MattEberle3 @choeshow Rapid City has some of the nicest people I’ve met in the country. But our neighborhood has been great until 2 years ago when our city council went nuclear. We’re working on it.

[Andrew Steelsmith @CaptainDrew]

@ReedinOK @choeshow That’s Pissed Independent Man actually. As I mentioned in the video, the laws were changed to allow this in 2020. If there were police patrolling, the judges wouldn’t prosecute. We’re improving one step at a time, but it’s not as easy as you’d think. Thanks for your support.

[Andrew Steelsmith @CaptainDrew]

@Stroonznyc @choeshow I was interviewed on King5 briefly about the recent spike in shootings, and most of the people interviewed brought up prostitution as a major contributor. But king5 cut it out of all of our interviews. This is why I made the video because it’s obvious to the people who live here.