CONDO GARAGE BURGLARS ON CAM: A condo resident at Alki and Bonair [map] shares the report and images:

After using bolt cutters to steal a key storage lockbox, burglars repeatedly gained access to the Alki Bonair Condominium parking garage over 4 days before we became aware and were able to change the entry locks. This resulted in the theft of several items. One of the thefts was recorded on video at 11:45 pm Sunday 10/16 and photos are attached.

Please be on the lookout for two white males mid-20’s with reddish brown hair and beards. One was photographed with bolt cutters clearly protruding from the top of his backpack and wearing an oversized letterman’s jacket.

CAR BREAK-INS: If you’re looking for more proof of the police declaration that car prowls remain the top problem around here – Keri e-mailed tonight to warn people that the area around the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) in The Triangle is still getting hit. She mentioned at least two recent incidents, one that police were investigating when she left tonight, plus “last Friday, a friend of mine had her window broken and a bag with personal information, etc. taken.” Police reiterated again just last night at the WS Crime Prevention Council, don’t leave anything in your car, anywhere. Busy parking lots are far from immune from car prowlers, who manage to do what they do without much notice.

Meantime, partly good news (though it would be better if the thefts had never happened) – a stolen boat and stolen car, both found:

STOLEN BOAT FOUND, ONE MONTH LATER: Last month, we published this report of a boat stolen near 14th and Elmgrove. Last night, we heard from Alyssa, who reported that “our boat was found on Delridge. Both motors and battery were gone… but thankful to have it home. Hitch was still locked when it was recovered.”

STOLEN CAR FOUND TWO BLOCKS AWAY: Tuesday morning, we received an e-mail report about a car stolen in Sunrise Heights. Before we got the chance to publish it, we found out the owner located her own stolen car – spotted two blocks away while she was out walking her dog.

We hope crime doesn’t happen to you … but if it does, after you’ve reported it to police, please let us know so we can share a community alert – editor@westseattleblog.com (if urgent, text/voice 206-293-6302).

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@ West Seattle Crime Prevention Council: Trends & training

October 19, 2016 5:38 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Council | West Seattle news

From last night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting:

(Past week of reported car prowls, from SPD police-report map)

SOUTHWEST PRECINCT UPDATE: Car prowls remain “the crime of the day,” and “we attribute it to the drug use that’s out there,” began Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis. A resident of an apartment building north of Morgan Junction said that they’ve had two car prowls in the past month and have found needles in the alley – “what are we supposed to do?” A discussion ensued about whether, if spotting a car prowl in progress, residents should try to detain the prowler themselves. With the caveat that “we’re not your lawyer,” the general advice was no – “you never know who you’re dealing with,” Capt. Davis observed.

Another attendee said her area of Puget Ridge has been hit “19 times in two weeks,” including bicycle thefts, emergency kits stolen from porches. But she said most probably hadn’t been reported.

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YOU CAN HELP: Clothing/textiles you don’t need? Donate!

October 19, 2016 4:34 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Though basketball season is still more than a month away, the West Seattle High School girls are busy with something else – this donation drive:

West Seattle HS Girls Basketball is holding a clothing/textile drive through November 29th. We are filling garbage bags with gently used clothing, shoes, belts, drapes, towels, and bedding.

If interested in donating, please text/call Jaci at 206-909-7669 or Izzy at 206-947-4131 or email jacit@workhouse.cc. We are happy to come pick up the bags!

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ELECTION 2016: If you can’t wait to vote …

October 19, 2016 2:34 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

… the marquee at The Admiral is already reminding you that the waiting is almost over: King County Elections says it has sent ballots on their way today, so as soon as you get yours, you can vote. You can mail your ballot OR drop it in West Seattle’s new permanent ballot drop box at High Point Library (SW Raymond just east of 35th SW) – deadline is Tuesday night, November 8th. If you don’t see your ballot by next Monday (October 24th), KC Elections says, call them at 206-296-VOTE. In the meantime, you can see exactly what and who is on your ballot by setting up the customized voter guide via the KC Elections website.

P.S. The county has accessible voting centers to help voters with disabilities. Locations and dates are here – the one in Renton opened today.

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FOLLOWUP: Appeals filed in ‘tree or house?’ at 3038 39th SW

October 19, 2016 12:33 pm

| 40 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

(June WSB photo of Ponderosa Pine at 3038 39th SW)

Two weeks after the city announced it would grant a “special exception” permit for a house to be built on a 3,166-sf lot at 3038 39th SW [map], taking out a Ponderosa Pine acknowledged as an “exceptional tree,” two appeals have just been filed with the city Hearing Examiner. This one is from a neighbor, making the argument that the lot previously used as a “side yard” had not been established as a buildable lot:

(If you can’t see the Scribd embedded version, here’s a direct link to that document on the city website.) And this one is from the Seattle Green Spaces Coalition:

The online file for that one is here.

We first reported in June about the neighborhood’s campaign to save the tree. Since the appeals have just gone into the system, no hearing date is set yet.

SIDE NOTE: While working on this, neighborhood advocates have been talking with Councilmember Lisa Herbold about a larger issue – the city’s requirement of a minimum payment for staff time to work on requests for interpretations, saying the resulting multi-thousand-dollar minimum can be onerous; as discussed briefly in today’s morning session of the Budget Committee, her proposal for a rule to require that requesters are charged only for the time needed:

Accompanying the budget, SDCI has submitted a bill that would adjust fees and charges (see the introduction for more details). This action would amend the bill to reduce the minimum number of hours charged for a code interpretation letter. A code interpretation is a process whereby someone can request a formal decision on the meaning, application, or intent of any development regulation in the Land Use or Environmentally Critical Area code. Examples include questions of how structure height or setback is properly measured, or how a proposed use should be categorized. Failure to request an interpretation can preclude raising the issue on appeal. Today, a request for a code interpretation letter is charged, at minimum, for 10 hours of work; hours worked beyond the minimum are charged the Land Use hourly rate (currently $280/hour; proposed to increase to $315/hour). The average number of hours charged for interpretations is 31.25 hours, however, in the rare case where the number of hours is less than 10, this change would ensure that the requesting party is only charged for time needed to produce the letter.

The proposal is not specific to this case; its fate will be determined when the budget is finalized in November.

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West Seattle Wednesday: Debate-watching; Morgan Community Association; Delridge District Council; WordsWest; more…

October 19, 2016 10:12 am

| Comments Off on West Seattle Wednesday: Debate-watching; Morgan Community Association; Delridge District Council; WordsWest; more…

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Fishing at Seacrest on Tuesday – photo by Don Brubeck)

Much happening today/tonight. From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

COWORKING MEETUP: Wednesday means it’s the weekly 12 pm-1:15 pm meetup at West Seattle’s only coworking center, WS Office Junction (WSB sponsor) – drop by, bring your lunch, meet new people! (6040 California SW)

(added) DINE-OUT BENEFIT: Shelby’s Bistro and Ice Creamery in The Junction is hosting “a fundraiser for Holy Rosary today from 2-9 pm and donating 10 % of sales back to the school (excluding gift cards, gratuities and taxes).” Shelby’s adds that they “would love to assist other schools or school organizations raise funds as well.” (California/Edmunds)

DEBATE WATCHING: Don’t want to watch the third and final presidential debate (6 pm our time, live from Las Vegas) at home? You have at least four options in West Seattle:

Parliament Tavern (4210 SW Admiral Way) – they advise arriving early (5:30ish) to get a seat – Happy Hour prices throughout the debate
Sound & Fog (4735 40th SW) – Coffee, beer, wine, pizza.
OutWest (California/Brandon) – Happy Hour until the debate is over
Admiral Bird (California/Admiral) –
Anyone else? Please let us know so we can add to the list!

DEBATE ALTERNATIVE AT WORDSWEST: As previewed here earlier this week, WordsWest Literary Series offers you a night of “Literary Citizenship” at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7 pm. (5612 California SW)

DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: The City Council hasn’t yet finalized the mayor’s plan to cut ties with, recognition of, and support for neighborhood district councils – it got some discussion in Tuesday afternoon’s budget deliberations. But the DNDC is going forward. What’s the plan for next year? That’s on the agenda tonight, 7 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: MoCA’s quarterly meeting has a BIG agenda. In the downstairs community rooms at The Kenney:

If you own property inside the Morgan Junction Urban Village, your land is proposed to be rezoned. Please come to the meeting for more details, or watch for the posting of the maps and additional information on the City’s HALA page.

INTRODUCTIONS & MORGAN MINUTE UPDATES
2016 NSF applications – what’s next
California at Juneau – pedestrian and bike safety project
Morgan Junction Mural status
35th Ave SW – Phase II update
New Web Host

OLD BUSINESS
Lowman Beach Seawall
SW District Council updates
Murray CSO Update
HALA Focus Group Update
SW Precinct Advisory Group

NEW BUSINESS
Westside Neighbors Network
Survey results for 37th Ave SW Greenway
Morgan Park Expansion Planning Committee
Morgan Festival 2017
Beyond MoCA Boundaries
New secretary

(7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)

SIGGIE THE VINTAGE MAN: Live music! Now at 7 pm Wednesday nights at Whisky West. (6451 California SW)

THE TIKIGRAPHS: 8 pm, right after presidential-debate viewing, at Parliament Tavern. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

MUCH MORE … for today/tonight; just check our complete calendar page.

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VIDEO, PHOTOS: #BlackLivesMatterAtSchool + #CloseTheGaps on local campuses

October 19, 2016 9:16 am

| 9 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

A video posted by West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) on Oct 19, 2016 at 8:20am PDT

ORIGINAL REPORT, 9:16 AM: Our Instagram video is from outside Chief Sealth International High School this morning. Sealth is just one of the schools around the district where there’s a show of solidarity today – as described in a message from the CSIHS Black Student Union: “Educators and Students across the city will be wearing ‘Black Lives Matter’ T-shirts to Support the struggle to affirm the lives of Black students in Seattle Public Schools.” The CSIHS Race and Equity Team‘s message, “We are committed to the ongoing work of calling attention to and addressing the injustices experienced every day by people of color – in our society and in our schools.” That message also noted related social-studies lessons are planned this afternoon – it’s a differently configured school day at Sealth today because of PSAT testing in the morning. (added photo) Here are the students who participated:

Today’s district-wide action also coincides with the district’s week of conversations about eliminating opportunity/achievement gaps. SPS Superintendent Dr. Larry Nyland‘s announcement of that focus included a note about today:

During our #CloseTheGaps kick-off week, Seattle Education Association is promoting October 19 as a day of solidarity to bring focus to racial equity and affirming the lives of our students –specifically our students of color. In support of this focus, members are choosing to wear Black Lives Matter t-shirts, stickers or other symbols of their commitment to students in a coordinated effort. SEA is leading this effort and working to promote transformational conversations with staff, families and students on this issue.

(Added) Scholars from adjacent Denny International Middle School and joined in adding their thoughts/names to one of the banners:

It’s the only #BlackLivesMatterAtSchool gathering we got advance word of, but if others happened at school(s) in West Seattle and you have a photo, please consider sharing – editor@westseattleblog.com.

11:02 AM: Thanks to the texter who sent this photo from Sanislo Elementary:

And, just south of West Seattle, Sarah Fox sent this photo from White Center Heights Elementary:

We’ve also added photos to our Sealth coverage above.

ADDED 12:35 PM: Thanks to Jennifer Hall for this photo from West Seattle High School:

ADDED 3:12 PM: Thanks to the PTSA at Louisa Boren STEM K-8 for sending this photo from their before-school resource table:

ADDED 3:59 PM: And we’ve received a photo from Gatewood Elementary:

Teacher Mason Skeffington explains, “I wanted to let you know that Gatewood Teachers were also united today in the #SPS #Closethegaps #EOG movement going on this week. Here is the Gatewood Staff, T-Shirts reading Change is Possible, which aligns with the last sentence of our School Vision Statement ‘At Gatewood we believe changing the world is possible’.”

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