Seventy-eight White Center business owners and employees recently signed a petition asking for help to stop under-age drinking, disorderly conduct, vandalism, loitering, harassment and illegal street vending in the White Center business district.

The petition seeks assistance from the King County Sheriff's Office, Seattle Police Department, the Washington Liquor Control Board and King County zoning code enforcement officials. It acknowledges that police cannot solve all of these problems alone and that other government agencies also must work with the public to find lasting solutions.

The petition was endorsed by both the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council and the White Center Chamber of Commerce. Copies were sent to Sheriff Sue Rahr, King County Councilman Dow Constantine and many other local officials.

"The whole goal is to get a long-term solution," said Savun Neang, owner of Sane Technology and organizer of the petition drive. His business is at a high-profile, after-hours spot, the corner of Roxbury Street and 16th Avenue Southwest. Young people congregate on the sidewalk there on Saturday nights.

Sunday morning accumulations of beer bottles are common, especially along 15th and 17th avenues, Neang said. Young people are frequently seen drinking inside parked cars before going into White Center establishments or roaming the streets, Neang added.

"People don't feel safe," he said.

Kim Pham, co-owner of the White Center Deli on 16th Avenue, said young people sit in their cars behind her store drinking beer on Saturday nights and they leave the bottles behind. It's been a problem for about six months.

"Not every week, but often," she said.

However there have been no break-ins, vandalism or graffiti at the store recently, Pham added.

Just up 16th Avenue is the store Chocolate Treasures. Manager Mark Scales routinely finds beer bottles and discarded takeout food just outside the store, usually after weekends. That's been going on for a long time, he said.

"I can't say who did it," said Scales, who arrives at work at early morning.

Littering and vandalism seem to have decreased recently, Neang said. But he and other White Center business owners are still hoping for more security.

Tim St. Clair can be contacted at tstclair@robinsonnews.com or 932-0300.