Seattle officials vow no Mardi Gras repeat

Associated Press

SEATTLE — Mayor Greg Nickels and Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske promised Wednesday that there will be no repeat of last year’s Mardi Gras violence that left one man dead, 70 people injured and a police department in disarray.

They said they planned to attend each night of the weeklong celebration, starting Wednesday, to ensure things go smoothly.

"We are not going to have a repeat … of what happened on the streets of our city one year ago," the mayor said.

Kerlikowske said the department will increase staffing levels and won’t allow partying in the streets.

Last year, the event was heavily promoted by clubs and radio stations and drew thousands to the city’s historic Pioneer Square district. On Friday and Saturday nights, police dispersed rowdy crowds with tear gas.

Things calmed down Sunday and Monday before the celebrations of Fat Tuesday itself, when a combination of heavy drinking and a free-for-all attitude snowballed.

Groups of young men attacked people at random — dozens were later identified from videotape and arrested — leaving Kristopher Kime dead. More than 70 people were injured, many struck with skateboards or brass knuckles.

Police, vastly outnumbered, stood along the perimeter of the crowd and watched as the wounded pleaded for help. Commanders feared that if they tried to disperse the crowd, they’d only incite further violence and endanger the officers. The Seattle Police Officers Guild was infuriated by the decision.

A review of police tactics, commissioned by the guild, found the department had handled the event terribly.

This year, clubs and radio stations agreed not to promote Mardi Gras, but Nickels said he was encouraging people to go out and have a safe time in Pioneer Square.

A big difference this year will be a crackdown on underage drinking, which was prevalent at last year’s event, Kerlikowske said.

Underage drinking is a big problem in the city at large, he said, with 28 percent of the 312 bars, restaurants and stores surveyed last year selling to underage people without asking for identification.

Bar owners in the area said they have faith that no one wants a repeat of last year.

"It’s going to be a very safe, happy time," said Kathy Noriega, owner of the Old Timer’s Cafe. "The police and the mayor have everything under control."

Copyright ©2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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