West Seattle, Washington
15 Wednesday
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning and happy Friday! We start with project notes:
47TH/ADMIRAL SIGNAL: Concrete pouring could start on the south side of the intersection today, for new curbs and sidewalk, if the weather doesn’t interfere. The detailed update is here.
DELRIDGE/ORCHARD PROJECT UPDATE: In case you missed it – we published an update from Seattle Public Utilities, including added traffic effects at Myrtle next week.
And a transportation-news note:
LIGHT RAIL FOR WEST SEATTLE? After its Thursday board meeting, Sound Transit explained what’s next (“major public-involvement effort”) for its work toward the next ballot measure.
9:59 AM: If you’re headed toward 1st through SODO, you might try 4th instead, because of this:
Northbound 1st Ave S is currently blocked after S Lander St by a @SeattleFire response. Use alt routes &expect delays pic.twitter.com/p2w6qBPYTo
— seattledot (@seattledot) April 24, 2015
4:33 PM NOTE: SPU has e-mailed to say the Delridge/Orchard/Myrtle work mentioned earlier has been moved up: “The lane restriction on SW Myrtle St. at 24th Ave. SW has been rescheduled to Tuesday, April 28 and Wednesday, April 29 (as opposed to 4/29 and 4/30, as previously announced).”
2:14 AM: Police, including a K-9 team, are searching right now in the Highland Park Elementary vicinity (and beyond). We don’t know what preceded the search but they’re looking for someone who has an arrest warrant on record.
2:49 AM: Sounds like it started with circumstances including a car, a report of a fight, and two people fleeing, including the car’s owner.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Rather than starting with numbers and trends, this afternoon’s affordable-housing forum at the Senior Center of West Seattle cut directly to the heart of the crisis, with two women telling their stories.
They were introduced by the center’s social worker Holly McNeill: “I’ve had an incredible increase in the number of people coming to me each week telling me they’re homeless, or their apartments are being torn down, or they’re being priced out by the landlord or manager in order to upgrade the apartments and turn them around at twice the amount they’re currently being rented at … it’s just happening to so many people.”
First, Nancy:
Nancy got two months notice her studio was going up from 650 to 1590 a month. Had to leave. pic.twitter.com/4JdRIlLHF7
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) April 23, 2015
“I lived in a 9-unit mom-and-pop-type apartment complex.” She thought it would “be there forever.” They told her they were selling the building but “selling it to people just like us” – then, “the new owners who came in and bought the building raised the rents anywhere from 130 to 140 percent – “In a studio apartment, my rent went from $650 to $1500 a month” – the audience groans – “Each unit was going to be responsible for the common area utilities like electric and water,” which was another 93/month. They got two months’ notice. “My first reaction was to go into research mode – my kids always say, mom’s on a mission, get out of her way.” She worked to find out, “is this legal … what are our rights … to no avail, really.” She had had surgeries recently, ended up having to take early retirement. “I don’t really have wiggle room to go from $650 to $1590, that’s even more than I make per month.” So she started “an arduous process” to find someplace else to live – “day and night I was on the computer looking for a place to live.” She finally found somewhere, “not my ultimate, ‘isn’t this great,’ but I accomplished my goal. I had to be out on the 28th of February, or else pay $1590 on the first of March for rent. ”
They were going to make some changes, “lipstick on a pig,” she said, but not until the new rent kicked in. She found a two bedroom, one bath apartment with “some guy I don’t know” – she had “a pit in the bottom of my stomach … I took a leap of faith, and moved in, and I’ve been there two months and he decided this month not to pay his rent, and I just found that out two days ago, and I’m going to be homeless again …”
And now, the District 1 City Council race is down to nine candidates, three weeks from the filing deadline – 
Tom Koch has just sent word he’s withdrawing:
My decision is based on a number of factors including some personal considerations.
However, I am pleased to be able to look back at the past two months and see some good things that have come from this undertaking. First, I was lucky enough to meet a number of terrific people both via community organizations as well as during my doorbelling. Second, the thrust of my campaign has been pretty clear and I’ve been gratified to see many of the other candidates echo the feeling that impact fees must be adopted in order to more fairly fund public infrastructure.
Impact fees were Koch’s big issue during the two months he’s been campaigning since his February 19th candidacy announcement. So here’s who remains:
CURRENT D-1 CANDIDATES: David Ishii (back as of 3/9/2015), Pavel Goberman (declared 3/5/2015), , Lisa Herbold (declared 2/11/15), Shannon Braddock (declared 2/11/15), Brianna Thomas (declared 2/11/15), Phillip Tavel (declared 2/4/15), George Capestany (declared 11/11/14), Amanda Kay Helmick (declared 10/20/14), Chas Redmond (declared 12/20/13). Filing deadline is May 15th; primary election is August 4th. Along with voting on the D-1 position, West Seattle/South Park also will vote on the two “at-large” spots, Positions 8 and 9.
Also just in via SPD Blotter – a Highland Park burglary suspect caught by police in White Center while trying to sell what he allegedly stole. The story spanned multiple locations which we’ve just clarified with SPD’s Det. Drew Fowler, so we’re summarizing with added information, as well as quoting:
Police say the burglary happened in the 9400 block of 7th SW (map) around 7 pm last night – a resident saw a man go into his garage, steal an air compressor, and take it to a getaway car nearby. A plainclothes officer in the area went to Pawn Pros at 16th/102nd in White Center (map) and found a vehicle matching the description given to SPD. The officer checked the license plate and discovered it was a stolen car. A female passenger was inside, but the burglary suspect was nowhere in sight. Picking up the SPDB account:
Unbeknownst to officers at the time, the victim’s sister had the same suspicion and went to the same pawnshop. Inside the pawnshop the victim’s sister recognized the suspect and the air compressor. She took a cellphone picture of the man holding the air compressor, which prompted him to leave the store.
Officers saw the suspect exit the pawnshop still carrying the compressor which he loaded into the stolen car. Patrol officers attempted to stop the suspect, but he began driving recklessly, speeding through neighborhoods and stop signs alike.
This happened in White Center and Highland Park – finally, officers terminated the vehicle pursuit for safety concerns, and found the stolen car, empty, in the 11000 block of 18th SW in White Center. The burglary suspect and his female passenger were caught nearby. Police found drugs in his possession “as well as property taken in a recent car prowl,” they reported (that’s been returned to its owner). The 27-year-old suspect is jailed for “investigation of attempt to elude, auto theft, trafficking in stolen property, drug possession, and burglary.”
(MOST RECENT UPDATE 3:54 PM – scroll down)
2:35 PM: Another attack on a local student – this time in the Admiral area. From SPD Blotter:
Police are searching West Seattle for a man who groped a middle school student Thursday as she was on her way to school.
School officials called police around 11 AM after a student reported that a man had followed her off a bus near California Avenue and SW Stevens Street and grabbed her from behind.
The suspect is described as a black male, in his mid 20’s, with short dreadlocks, wearing a black sweatshirt and black jeans. He reportedly boarded a bus in the West Seattle Junction neighborhood after the incident. Seattle Police are working with King County Metro Police and school officials to identify the man and ensure the safety of students.
If you witnessed this incident or have any information about the suspect, please call 911.
This happened two days after an attack on a student at Westwood Village – here’s the report on that.
ADDED 2:51 PM: We’ve just obtained the letter sent home by the principal of Madison Middle School:
Dear Madison Middle School Families,
We want to share with you information right away regarding an incident that was reported this morning involving one of our scholars on her way to school.
At approximately 10:20am a female scholar was followed from the Metro bus stop at McDonalds and California west on Stevens by a man who approached her from behind and grabbed her. He was described as an African man in his early 20’s or 30’s, thin build, with short curly hair. Our scholar turned and yelled at him, and he ran back toward PCC on California. She proceeded to school and immediately reported the incident to school staff. Madison administration notified the family and the Seattle Police Department, who are actively investigating.
The safety of our scholars is our top priority. We are continuing to coordinate with the SW Precinct Captain to discuss the safety and their increased policing efforts. We will continue to collaborate with the Seattle Police Department and Seattle Public Schools Safety and Security to help monitor the surrounding area.
You can help your children stay safe by talking to them about personal safety. Tips to discuss are:
Walking in pairs or groups and being aware of their surroundings at all times.
Leaving for school at times where there are high levels of pedestrian traffic.
Immediately reporting anything suspicious to trusted adults (school staff and family members).
Keep earbuds off and expensive phones or other items out of sight.
More tips and information can be found on the Seattle Police Department website:
seattle.gov/police/prevention/child/default.htm.Sincerely,
Dr. Robert Gary, Principal
Madison Middle School
3:55 PM UPDATE: Just talked to SPD spokesperson Det. Drew Fowler. No arrest so far. He says police are aware that the descriptions in this incident and the Tuesday Westwood Village incident are similar, and the same detective is handling both cases – so again, if you have any information, please call 911.
Community safety isn’t just about the police, or about Block Watches. It’s also about individual community members, of all ages. Youth leaders included. As part of the city’s Youth Violence Prevention Initiative, one of its partner agencies, West Seattle-based Southwest Youth and Family Services presented a gathering on Wednesday afternoon at High Point Community Center.
It involved ideas, and suggestions, and youth leaders – like 19-year-old Marquese Sykes, who told us in this short clip what the gathering was about:
What happened last night was just a start – committees were being set up, with participants invited to decide which ones they’d join, and what they wanted to do:
Before the night’s end, names were to be added to each of those committees – and then, the next round of work would begin.
Updates today from Seattle Public Utilities on two sewer/drainage projects under way along Delridge. First, the project at Delridge/Orchard:
The daytime westbound lane restriction on SW Orchard St. just east of Delridge Way SW will continue through mid-May as crews complete demolition, paving and landscaping work. Over the next couple of weeks, crews are also working on SW Myrtle at 24th Avenue SW, where they are installing a flow monitoring cabinet in the right-of-way. On Wednesday, April 29 and Thursday, April 30, between 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., the westbound lane on SW Myrtle St. at 24th Ave. SW will be closed to traffic. During the closure, all westbound traffic will be diverted to the eastbound lane with the assistance of a traffic flagger.
Work also continues at CSO 3, located at SW Henderson St. and 22nd Ave. SW. (map) Crews recently completed the underground diversion structure at SW Barton Place and SW Barton St. and are currently working on the CSO 3 facility.
Crews are on schedule to reach substantial completion of both projects in the fall of this year.
Questions/concerns about either project? SPU’s Emily Reardon also tells WSB they’ll be at the next Westwood/Roxhill/Arbor Heights Neighborhood Council meeting for a briefing (May 5, 6:15 pm, Southwest Branch Library).
(WSB photos)
Volunteer power and donations are getting WestSide Baby through its current crisis requiring an emergency move … and helping keep its family-assisting work on track. We stopped by on Wednesday, when a round of Earth Day recycling was under way at the new donation/volunteer center WS Baby is moving into … car-seat recycling.
Volunteers including staffers from Titan 360 were helping break down no-longer-usable car seats turned in to WS Baby. Meantime, the organization is having to more or less break down its entire center for the move across 14th SW in White Center, two weeks after the fire that cut power to their current center:
To get ready for the move, executive director Nancy Woodland brought in a generator so they could at least run a few things.
Saturday’s the day for the big move, something that was in the plans anyway, just accelerated by the problem. That requires more volunteer power, which WS Baby can also use tomorrow (Friday) afternoon, 3-6 pm, to help with shelving. Other needs – donated time, materials, money – are in our story from earlier this week.
(Photo by Lynn Hall)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
HOUSING FORUM: 12:30-2:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle, hosted by City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen – come hear and ask about housing issues including affordability and renters’ rights. The focus is on, but not limited to, seniors – all are welcome. (Oregon/California)
COMMUNITY ORCHARD OF WEST SEATTLE: 5-7 pm on the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, drop by, pitch in!
WEST SEATTLE DEMOCRATIC WOMEN: 6 pm, a night of political parody – check ASAP to see if any room remains. West Seattle Golf Course clubhouse. (4470 35th SW)
WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION: 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House‘s High Point Center, tonight’s agenda includes talking about West Seattle priorities for the transportation levy – what do you think should be in the letter WSTC writes about that? – and hearing from board candidates. (6400 Sylvan Way)
‘ANGRY HOUSEWIVES’ OPENING NIGHT: 7:30 pm at ArtsWest Playhouse (WSB sponsor), it’s back, 30 years after the first production, the show that is still in the books as having “the longest sold-out run of a musical in Seattle history.”
Another BIG West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day is in the works – more than 280 sales on the list/map now, and 24 hours left to register – the deadline is 11:55 pm tonight. If you’ve been mulling it over and think you want to give it a try, please sign up now so you don’t miss the cutoff – just go here. If you’re not selling, get ready to shop, shop, shop on Saturday, May 9th, 9 am-3 pm, all over West Seattle (the map will be ready for your perusal one week in advance – so watch for it May 2nd).
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:20 AM: Good morning! One issue in the area, as the commute gets going – a crash on NB 99 at the 1st Avenue South Bridge, blocking the carpool lane.
6:40 AM: WSDOT says the 1st Ave. S. Bridge problem “is clearing.”
(Saturday photo by Chuck Jacobs)
Six days after arriving in Port Angeles, the drilling platform Polar Pioneer is still there, being prepared for its tow to West Seattle’s Terminal 5. The Peninsula Daily News reports that it’s an economic boom to PA – both from the workers that are getting it ready for the trip, and from tourists who have come to gawk at it. It’s expected to start heading this way by early May. When it gets here – it’ll be a gawk magnet even here in the big city. Remember the SBX floating radar platform that was here in 2011?
(WSB photo, August 2011)
Polar Pioneer is 25 percent taller – 355 feet, compared to the SBX’s 280. Pending the Polar Pioneer’s arrival, the icebreaker Aiviq remains the lone Shell-related vessel at Terminal 5; the other drilling vessel, Noble Discoverer (derrick height 170′), is still crossing the North Pacific, headed this way.
Meantime, Arctic drilling opponents are still preparing for rallies here, even before the Shell drill rigs get here. The “Shell No” coalition sent this photo of banner-waving on the foot/bike bridge over the Fauntleroy approach to the bridge this past Monday evening:
They’re planning to rally at Myrtle Edwards Park at 2 pm this Sunday in addition to already-announced mid-May actions – that’s the rally announced during the “encouragement march” in West Seattle earlier this month. A kayak flotilla is also planned for May 16th, with ongoing training at Alki Kayak Tours in West Seattle – a session at 5 pm tonight is for would-be trainers.
And the Port of Seattle already has a webpage linking to its reminders and background about the T-5 situation, pending the start of protests and arrival of more vessels, including a link to the Coast Guard’s announcement of “safety zones” and a “voluntary free-speech zone.”
(WSB photo from 2014)
You’ve probably seen – or at least heard – it in your neighborhood – our area’s only law-enforcement helicopter, Guardian One. You might have questions about how it works with local police departments, when it gets involved, how it gets involved, and why. Now you have the chance for answers! the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network has just announced its special guest for next Tuesday’s meeting (April 28th):
Our special guest will be Deputy Hersh T. Hoaglan, pilot of the Guardian One helicopter!
Guardian One is a familiar sight over West Seattle, helping Seattle Police from the air to apprehend suspects. Deputy Hoaglan, from the Air Support Unit of the King County Sheriff’s Office, will share with us in detail what he does, how the tools and technology work, and what he sees from the air. He’ll also talk about some of the searches that he works on with Seattle Police.
Bring your questions and take advantage of this opportunity to learn about Guardian One. Should be a very interesting evening!
Meeting schedule (Come early, stay late!)
Tuesday, April 28, 2013, 6:30-8 PM
At the SW Police Precinct, 2300 SW Webster Street (at Delridge Ave SW, next to Home Depot)6:00-6:30 – Arrive early for light snacks, socializing and networking with each other while we set up the room!
6:30-7:00 – Introductions, announcements.
7:00-8:00 – Deputy Hersh T. Hoaglan | Air Support Unit | King County Sheriff’s Office
8:00-8:30 – Feel free to stay after the meeting to continue your discussions.Hope to see you there! Everyone is welcome, even if you aren’t a Block Watch Captain!
Another local cleanup this Earth Day – Julie from Tilden School (WSB sponsor) shares the photo and report:
From Hiawatha Park to the Alaska Junction, Tilden School’s students, faculty, and staff showed their respect and appreciation for Mother Earth (and more specifically, West Seattle) by picking up trash. As always, the kids enthusiastically leapt to the task, rapidly filling their bags. (Students noted that the number of cigarette butts, which they have generally found to constitute the larger part of the trash in the past, has increased this year.) Local business people took time to express their thanks, which made the kids feel so proud!
Thanks to Caryn Johnson for the photo and report from this afternoon’s WSHS-Bainbridge baseball battle:
This afternoon, West Seattle ventured across the water to battle Bainbridge Island. It was an epic duel of two great pitchers. Senior Kevin Cuddy was on the mound for the Wildcats. He pitched the entire game and it wasn’t until the bottom of the 6th that he wavered just slightly, but it was enough to allow two runs to come across. In the end, he gave up only 4 hits and struck out 6. The defense was solidly behind him, making no errors in the field, but the bats just didn’t have enough power to find the holes to get a run across the plate. They did have a few chances, as Morgan McCullough made it to third base twice and tried to come home on a deep hit to right field, only to be caught trying to score on a close call at the plate. In the end, West Seattle lost 2-0.
Rematch this Friday, with Bainbridge Island visiting this time, 3:30 pm Friday at Hiawatha.
It’s been a busy Earth Day week for some local students who are part of Plant for the Planet. Last weekend, they joined in the Cascadia Climate Conference on Whidbey Island, as shown in the clip above. Christine Deppe tells us what they were up to today:
Today, Fairmount Park Elementary students Abby Snodgrass and Tim and Sarah Deppe held a schoolwide presentation on climate change. As Plant For The Planet Ambassadors they explained the impact of climate disruption and their 3-point plan on what can be done. One action item is to plant 150 trees per person by 2020, bringing Seattle to a little over 95,000,000 trees. The plan ‘Stop talking, start planting’ was originally created by 9-year-old Felix Finkbeiner, and now 52,000 Youth Ambassadors all over the world share his vision.
If you want to learn more, please visit the website and watch ‘How We Children Save the World’ with your family.
Christine says Abby was interviewed for an HBO documentary that aired tonight, “Saving My Tomorrow” – watch for repeats on the HBO schedule. And Christine says, if you want some trees planted – Plant for the Planet would be happy to help.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Auto theft has “skyrocketed” in the Southwest Precinct area lately, police acknowledged toward the start of last night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting.
Operations Lt. Ron Smith presented the crime-trends update, after the 15+ attendees were greeted briefly by newly appointed precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis (standing in top photo), who declared himself “glad to be back” while also explaining he’s still “catching up.”
Lt. Smith said the jump in auto thefts is due in part to “a pattern we’re seeing – vehicles are being stolen from elsewhere and dumped here in West Seattle, so we’re having an increased recovery rate here- or, they’re being taken here and dumped in South King County.” with 19 incidents in the preceding week. They’re hopeful the rate will be dropping with recent arrests and the identification of four other potential suspects.
He also said street robberies are back to their average – 3 per week – after the spike earlier this year. The added bicycles are on patrol now, he said, but priorities remain the mandatory 911 levels, so you might not always see 2 bicycle-riding officers per sector if staffing does not allow. “We’re trying to modify our staffing to get the maximum return,” he said. Car prowls are trending downward, as are non-residential burglaries – one in the past week – residential burglaries are currently averaging about 3 per week, less than half the usual rate. “Auto thefts have skyrocketed – there’s 19 vehicle thefts in the past week – but after the recent arrest of juvenile suspects, the rate started going down again, even though they are “not certain they’re (responsible for all).” Four other suspects have been ID’d, said Lt. Smith.
Then came Q/A on community concerns, before the night’s featured guest:
(WSB photos)
Beautiful day for a beach cleanup! As promised, the Surfrider Foundation‘s Seattle chapter was out at Alki on this Earth Day afternoon, with volunteers picking up trash.
The special focus is on cigarette debris left behind, as this sidewalk message pointed out:
Read more about that campaign on this Surfrider Foundation page.
Thanks for the tips about a sizable police response at/near the north parking lot at Lincoln Park. Here’s what police tell us happened: Making a traffic stop, they noticed a gun in the car, and called for backup. It turned out to be a realistic-looking Airsoft-type gun. They also told us they are still investigating other possible issues regarding the vehicle/driver, so the scene hasn’t cleared quite yet.
(WSB file photo of West Seattle Outdoor Movies audience in Hotwire courtyard)
The dates are set for the 2015 season of West Seattle Outdoor Movies – six summertime Saturday nights, July 18th to August 22nd, in the courtyard next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) at 4410 California SW. If you are brand-new to West Seattle this year – it’s our area’s only outdoor movie series, free admission, concessions and raffles to benefit local nonprofits. And the movies are chosen with community input – this means you! The online suggestion box is open right now – what movie would you like to see? While the series is intended to be mostly family-friendly, that does NOT mean it’s limited strictly to G-rated movies. To avoid recent reruns, here’s what was shown in the past three years:
2014’s movie lineup was “Gravity,” “Spice World,” “Sleepless in Seattle,” “The Blues Brothers,” “The Goonies,” “Frozen”
*2013′s movie lineup was “Goldfinger,” “Devil Wears Prada,” “Muppets,” “Avengers,” “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure,” “This Is Spinal Tap”
*2012′s movie lineup was “Pretty in Pink,” “Young Frankenstein,” “Lion King,” “Iron Man,” “Yellow Submarine,” “Top Gun”
We invite you to comment here with suggestions, and/or e-mail them to westseattlemovies@gmail.com!
P.S. Local businesses/organizations interested in co-sponsoring the series (we are proud to be on board again this year) are also invited to contact Hotwire proprietor/Outdoor Movies ringleader Lora Swift, same e-mail address as above.
1:54 PM: Thanks to the neighbor who sent that photo and word of Seattle Fire‘s multiple-unit dispatch to a gas leak in the 2400 block of 55th SW. No word of injuries, nor do we know the circumstances yet, but we do know Puget Sound Energy has arrived and just shut off the gas.
5:35 PM: We talked to SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore about what happened. He says a construction crew working to build a driveway accidentally punctured the 1″ gas line. One person who was home in a nearby house was evacuated for about half an hour until utility crews took care of the situation.
(WSB photo from M/V Sally Fox’s March dedication on Vashon)
Imagine driving onto a state ferry with open sides, every vehicle exposed to the elements. Now imagine the ferry traveling fast enough to chop across the water, with spray on all sides, especially on a stormy day. Regular users would likely wind up with rust. This is the situation faced by people bringing bicycles onto King County Water Taxis – because of the new vessels’ design, which has bicycle parking out on the open deck, instead of inside, as is the case with the current West Seattle Water Taxi, Spirit of Kingston, for example.
The latest attempt to get some relief for the problem – especially with the new Vashon boat M/V Sally Fox now in service and its twin the M/V Doc Maynard coming to West Seattle later this year – is in this letter signed by local bicycle shop owners:
The problem was surfaced by Vashon bicyclists before the Sally Fox went into service; we’re checking today with the King County Department of Transportation to see if one of the fixes suggested in the letter above is in the works, or if they’re responding in another way. We’ll add the response when we get it later today.
ADDED 3:15 PM: Here’s the KCDOT response to our inquiry about this, via spokesperson Jeff Switzer:
We’ve been talking with our water taxi customers who ride bikes. Some have concerns about the outdoor storage area that salt spray could be a problem for their bikes while others do not. We have been monitoring the area for such concerns and thus far this has not been a problem. We communicated to the cyclists that gathered for a community meeting on Vashon in March, that actual vessel operations would be monitored over time, giving us a chance to observe any adverse weather conditions during the fall and winter to see what, if any impact there are to bikes. This will give us time to determine whether there is a problem. So far, we are encouraged that our current plan to provide safe and secure bike storage is working. In the Vashon community meeting we offered storage space on the vessel for individual bike covers, and proposed a bike wash down station to be designed into the new pier 50 terminal.
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