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(79 posts)

Ahhhhhhhh!!!!....the bench is gone...again

Started 7 months ago by Lolo
Latest reply from jwws

Lolo
Member Profile

The lord giveth and the lord taketh away.

Posted 7 months ago #
jwws
Member Profile

Lolo,
That's such a shame and just not right. So sorry this happened again when folks are just trying to do something positive for their neighbors. There is a bench at the north end of 55th that has been there for many years without this type of thing happening (to my knowledge) - a great place to stop, sit and enjoy the view. If you know who removed the bench maybe you can send a bill for the cost of the bench to them...

Posted 7 months ago #
munchkin22
Member Profile

If you get it back again, is this something we could pour some footings under and insert some j bolts into to secure it? At least they might think twice about spending time to unfasten 2-4 bolts to take it again. And they certainly wouldn't take it fastened to concrete. (Would they?) I have some threadstock and nuts.
This is the bench somewhere on Genesee, right?

Posted 7 months ago #
B-squared
Member Profile

no, he is probably shaking His head at this selfish act.

Posted 7 months ago #
Hawkeye
Member Profile

This is such disheartening news! The bench has been such a great place to enjoy one of the best public views in West Seattle, overlooking Mount Rainier and parts of the Sound--Genesee St./49th Ave. SW, top of the stairs.

It's clear that some nearby neighbors, for reasons that none can comprehend, seem intent on spoiling the enjoyment of the rest of us. Seriously, I can't imagine why. The bench is enjoyed by kids, dog walkers, nearby neighbors and any passerby who would like to take a load off. It's not Occupy Genesee Hill, but maybe it should be!

Posted 7 months ago #
JayDee
Member Profile

Maybe a web-cam and a notice that the bench is being monitored? Don't know how to do that myself but I am sure someone on the blog knows how. If donations for the next bench are needed please post them.

Posted 7 months ago #
HunterG
Member Profile

What are you all talking about? There is no God. Why else would that bench be stolen again? (Sorry, couldn't help myself).

Posted 7 months ago #
Lolo
Member Profile

Ok fine...my comment was refering to the divine appearance of the soon to be disappeared bench, not any commentary on the existance (or not) of a deity.

Fortunately, some lovely, neighborly person has stationed a couple of Adirondack chairs on the overlook. Thank you random, chair leaving deity!

Polytheism lives

Posted 7 months ago #
jwws
Member Profile

I'd secure those Adirondacks down somehow and keep the bench stealing Grinch at bay!

Posted 7 months ago #
SomeGuy
Member Profile

West Seattle Rocks! Thank you for the chairs. The chair stealer's daughter, just saw the new chairs and left for work in a huff. I better pick up some chains at Target today.

Posted 7 months ago #
JoB
Member Profile

who needs the death of a thousand cuts to get their message across?

West Seattle has the appearance of the never ending bench :)

West Seattle rocks!

Posted 7 months ago #
B-squared
Member Profile

YAY for the Bench Guardians:) keep 'em coming, neighbors!!

Posted 7 months ago #
Hawkeye
Member Profile

Love it and love West Seattle! This neighborhood (and it's bench lovers, fairies and guardians) is the best.

Thanks to the wonderful neighbors who brighten our days with such sweet gestures.

Posted 7 months ago #
Jiggers
Member Profile

If you have feelings for a bench, you need help.

Posted 7 months ago #
B-squared
Member Profile

Maybe you need to visit the bench, jiggers:) those of us not blessed with a view home cherish such spots.

Posted 7 months ago #
Lolo
Member Profile

Sigh....those Adirondacks have become a pile of kindling in the last couple of hours.

Not even sure what to say. Don't people have better things to do with their time?

:(

Posted 7 months ago #
B-squared
Member Profile

wow. hard to imagine what motivates such spiteful behavior.

Posted 7 months ago #
Mr. X
Member Profile

Unbelievable. Destroyed in broad daylight? The police (and maybe the city?) should be notified of such brazen vandalism. And isn't that city property? Pretty sure that is the case since the stairs and adjoining property are all where the street would be were it not a dead-end...

Posted 7 months ago #
jwws
Member Profile

Totally unbelievable and unwarranted - how can these things happen without someone seeing it???
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It seems there is knowledge or at least suspicion of who is responsible for these heinous acts; perhaps a group of neighbors confronting said individual with bill in hand for benches/chairs taken or destroyed is in order. And a call to police as well.
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And maybe next a stone bench that requires more than one person to move.......

Posted 7 months ago #
JoB
Member Profile

maybe it's time to take up a collection for a stone bench.. one too heavy to move.

i will pitch in the first 20

Posted 7 months ago #
datamuse
Member Profile

The last time the bench disappeared it seemed that there was someone who had gone so far as to claim responsibility. And if you leave an item on public land, well, things can happen to it.

That said, if someone actually smashed the chairs, that's, well, kind of pathetic really.

Posted 7 months ago #
GenHillOne
Member Profile

Aside from the public vs. private property issue, is it visible to any of the pro-bench folks after dark? I just wonder if a neighbor has had problems with it being a gathering spot of sorts at night and resents its existence.
-
Edit to add: Oh, and despite the name(!) it wasn't me, lol; no cryptic message intended.

Posted 7 months ago #
Lolo
Member Profile

The use of the dead end has been a source of disagreement between the neighborhood and one particular neighbor.

This latest action has really taken a nasty turn. There were no witnesses to the "crime." My daughter did see the neighbor's vehicle there at around the time it occured...all circumstancial, I know. While I was fuming about how to deal with this, my wife, clearly the adult in the family, called the police. She filed a report and that's about all we can do.

That's a much better response than some of the ideas I had running around in my head, although much less satisfying.

Posted 7 months ago #
JayDee
Member Profile

While that neighbor might have an issue with the bench, it is a street end, it is city property, and he has no right to "disappear" whatever shows up there. The city may have an opinion, but having a bench is no different than standing there taking in the view. So if someone is taking donations for a stouter, less mobile structure (A nice rock, like a basalt column weighing in at 1,500 pounds comes to mind.) I would donate towards this cause celebre.

Posted 7 months ago #
Jiggers
Member Profile

Bolt the bench down permanently like the ones in Lincoln Park.

Posted 7 months ago #
jwws
Member Profile

Lolo,

I was livid when I read your update about the chair smashing but I think you are taking the right approach starting first with the police; this was an act of vandalism and looking at your posts regarding the bench over the past 5 months you have lost the first bench (said Grinch neighbor took it to the dump), the replacement bench was vandalized with a "sticky" substance and then stolen months later and the replacement Adirondack chairs reduced to kindling within 24 hours - all well documented on WSB and implies something is escalating with your "neighbor". I hope you get a satifactory resolution - keep posting to keep us all informed - I'll be glad to drive over with chairs and dogs in tow and sit on the bluff for a while this weekend to get a peaceful point across if that would help!

Posted 7 months ago #
The Velvet Bulldog
Member Profile

Hi Lolo--I remember there was a thread about this previously, but can't remember what it was titled so I'm not going to go fishing around for it. I'm wondering if in that first go-round, whether it was mentioned if the neighbors got together with the disgruntled neighbor to talk about his/her concerns? Is there proof that people are gathering at this particular spot for nefarious purposes?

Also, if the city is willing to have a bench placed in that area, there is a bench donation program that perhaps you and the neighbors could chip in together for:
http://www.seattleparksfoundation.org/Bench%20Program%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf

Posted 7 months ago #
Lolo
Member Profile

Thanks for the info on the city bench program.

We had kids that used to hang out on the steps at the dead end. Since the bench has been there, 2 years now, there hasn't been that problem, might be coincidence, might not.

Mostly what happens now is that folks will come and sit and talk and look over the Sound. It's nice.

I'm trying really hard to not let this become a neighborhood war. So while I appreciate all of your support, please do not take it upon yourselves to do anything that might be considered inflammatory. These folks are already slightly irrational, I'd hate to have it boil over further.

Posted 7 months ago #
datamuse
Member Profile

I do like the stone bench idea--let's see someone try to move that sucker!

But what you're doing, Lolo, is probably a better idea.

Posted 7 months ago #
jwws
Member Profile

Stone bench installed - The idiot will probably sledge hammer it. :-(
.

Lolo - hoping you can get a peaceful resolution to this -there has been no police action/call outs for disorderly etc when the "benches" were there so what is the issue???
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Keep up the good fight! A neighbor on 55th that loves the 49th dead-end and view!

Posted 7 months ago #
Lolo
Member Profile

Lastly, as a means to document this craziness, as my wife was leaving our house last night with my daughter, Mr Fun and his daughter, Lil Fun, confronted her. They accused her of moving the scraps in front of their garage and then went on to demean her for "wasting her time" posting on the WSB saying that she "should have better things to do with her time." They made other rude personal comments as well. So much for the documentation.

Now for the opinion:

1) I'm surprised that this forum was discovered by people that so clearly only look out for themselves.

2) I'm not surprised that they didn't read carefully enough to realize that it's her husband doing the posting.

3) And, it's no surprise that instead of engaging in a dialog, here or anywhere else, they have continued to bull their way through. Seems to work for them.

Nowhere in my postings have I identified these people by name or described which house is theirs on our little dead end. I have tried to be respectful and report what has happened in a level headed way.

It looks like they don't like the light shining on them.

Posted 7 months ago #
jwws
Member Profile

Lolo,

Sorry this happened to your wife and daughter. The "Fun" family should have better things to do with their time than destroying other people's property and acting in a passive-aggressive manner with their neighbors. I hope they get a visit from SPD as they have pretty much admitted their complicity in the chair and bench vandalism.
.

Keep fighting the good fight Lolo and neighbors on 49th - karma always wins!

Posted 7 months ago #
datamuse
Member Profile

Don't they have better things to do with THEIR time and energy than destroy something that their neighbors enjoy, that doesn't inconvenience them at all? And then be rude about it, to boot?

I know what it's like to live in a sort of pocket neighborhood like this; I live in one myself (it's an alley instead of a dead end street). And yeah, occasionally tensions arise. This just seems so unnecessary.

I hope you find a peaceful resolution, Lolo.

Posted 7 months ago #
WSB
Member Profile

I need to write about this on the home page again. Will also be happy to make an official check with the city. I suppose this is the pile of kindling? Seattle Times reporter Mike Lindblom, a West Seattleite, tweeted the photo at me today. (Acting in his nonwork capacity, mind you. He's a good guy, though.)

http://instagr.am/p/QO-Us/

Posted 7 months ago #
anonyme
Member Profile

It's ridiculous to think that police should be involved in this. If anything, the folks placing the bench on public property to begin with could theoretically (or, realistically) be fined for illegal dumping. I'm not taking sides one way or another, simply pointing out that the "take action against this horrible person" arguments are weak - and a bit hypocritical.

Posted 7 months ago #
Jiggers
Member Profile

Lolo....I'm part Hawaiian and know what that word Lolo means. That means you. I am appauled how ignorant your comment is in post 31 says that this forum "was discovered by people who only look out for themselves." You are so so wrong. I've met posters here who are very giving and caring and have been helped by those here. Lolo means stupid in Hawaiian. I don't know why people here feed the trolls so Lolo...

Posted 7 months ago #
GenHillOne
Member Profile

Jiggers, I *think* the writer meant that he couldn't believe these particular neighbors "who only look out for themselves" were able to discover (find/read) this forum. That said, we're only getting one side of the story, which was why I was trying to come up with something other than general spite for the disappearances. While I do believe mean people suck, I'm sort of with anonyme on this. If it's public property, I'm not sure, legally speaking, either side has any more right to its use than the other. I'd be interested to hear the rules if someone can cite them. I'm not good at searching codes. If the city can officially install a bench, great, and I would suspect any future vandalism would be against public property and therefore have some merit. The disagreement as it stands seems a bit sophomoric.

Posted 7 months ago #
miws
Member Profile

Jiggers, you know that I know as well as you do, from personal experience, that many if not most of the posters here are giving and caring.

However, I have a hunch that Lolo was simply saying that he was surprised that Mr Fun had the intellectual ability to find the WSB Forums.

I don't think that Lolo meant any disrespect to the bulk of the posters here.

Mike

Posted 7 months ago #
westseattledood
Member Profile

As this moves forward, keep in mind that no good deed goes unpunished; AND, that the city budget is proposing that maintenance on most city stairwell's be cancelled.

So if this is a city-owned site - and I'm guessing it is - I would strongly suggest you gather together as neighbors and talk to city. Offer to "adopt" the stairwell, install an *authorized* bench and maintain the overgrowth, prune, weed and sweep the stairwell, etc. That ought to improve your chances with putting a privately held piece of furniture on a public space - get permission!

Posted 7 months ago #
Lolo
Member Profile

Truly, no disrespect to members intended. My apologies for the lack of clarity.

Lolo is a nickname with no Hawaiian roots in my experience...but then I don't know everything.

Posted 7 months ago #
jwws
Member Profile

The people placing the benches/chairs on the bluff at the end of their dead end street are trying to do something nice for their neighbors - they are not dumping trash or unusable items there - unlike many other locations in the area where people feel it is ok to dump mattresses, couches and tv sets on the curb (which for some strange reason don't get stolen or vandalized!!).
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The neigbor that is opposed to the bench vandalizes/steals/destroys the pieces and is too much of a coward to actually work something out with the neighbors - his way or the highway.
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Yes it is city property but I have a bench on our parking strip which is also city property and it has never been vandalized nor has the city penalized us for having it there. I often speak with people walking by and they like to stop at the bench to rest and look at our front garden and no one has been injured nor has the bench become a "public park" with nefarious people congregating around it ("Fun" neighbor's arguement) and I live on a much busier street than Lolo.
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I can also say there are a number of other benches in the Genesee area that are on "public" property that have been placed there by the neighbors/homeowners and they DO NOT get vandalized/destroyed, ARE NOT attracting drug addicts, etc. but ARE much appreciated by those of us who walk around the area.
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TR I think your idea is a good one - the kindling picture just makes me sad for all involved.

Posted 7 months ago #
anonyme
Member Profile

If I am not mistaken, you are allowed to 'decorate' the planting strip in front of your property, as long as the plants or object(s) do not infringe on the street or sidewalk. This would include a bench.

The relative value of an item left (or installed) on any other portion of public property/right of way is meaningless to the argument, as is the percentage of people pro vs. the number against the idea.

Posted 7 months ago #
Jo
Member Profile

jwws said; "the kindling picture just makes me sad for all involved."
Yes, sad indeed.
And also scary.
I'd sure hate to live around anyone that displays the rage it took to break up those chairs.
Maybe notifying the police might be a good idea. At least they'll be aware that these people are totally out of control in case something else happens.

Posted 7 months ago #
DBP
Member Profile

Hi-lili, hi-lili, hi Lolo.

Allow me to introduce myself. I'm DBP, arrogant bastard and teller of unpleasant truths.

The unpleasant truth in this case is that you appear to be engaged in some kind of running feud with your neighbor over a bench. I have no problem with you talking about this on the Blog, but you should have told people about this feud in your original post instead of waiting until your third post to reveal it. You initially presented the situation to us as if it were some random miscreant who was taking the benches, when in fact you knew who it was all along.

Trust me, this was not the best way to build support for your cause.

****************************************************************************************

My suggestion for how to proceed from here would be as follows:

—Understand that the problem is really the feud with your neighbor, which may have two sides, as feuds usually do.

—Politely ask the neighbor what their problem with the bench is, acknowledge what they say, and then try to get them on your side somehow.

—If you can't win over the neighbor, you can always try the legal route, but I don't think you'll have any luck there, unless you can get the City's official blessing for your bench.

Anyway, until you get that stuff taken care of, please don't encourage people to supply you with any more benches — or you will face the wrath of . . .

Arrogant Bastard Man!

Posted 7 months ago #
dismayed
Member Profile

Posted 7 months ago #
DBP
Member Profile

Yeah. Looks awful, don't it? But what were the chances that something like this would happen?

—Pretty good, I'd say. Especially given what Lolo knew — and now the rest of us know — about the situation.

I feel sorry for the person whose goodwill and Adirondack chairs were so needlessly wasted. I also feel sorry for the other neighbors, whose "view" is now considerably poorer than when there was nothing in that spot at all.

To say nothing of their peace of mind.

Posted 7 months ago #
jwws
Member Profile

SIGH - A picture paints a thousand words. Not a way to resolve conflict.
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DBP I think Lolo's neighbors, including the ones providing the chairs and previous bench donations, knew about this one neighbor - the dispute is between what the majority of the households want vs what the one neighbor doesn't want in this space. And I do believe, from Lolo's post 31, that the mess was cleaned up by one or more of those neighbors and placed in front of the offending neighbor's garage.
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Lolo if you and your neighbors still want to persue a sitting spot perhaps these links will be of help to get city approval/support. Unfortunately I think DBP is correct that your "expletive" of a neighbor will continue his destructive ways.

http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/nmf/smallandsimple.htm
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http://genesee-schmitz.org/why-a-neighborhood-council/

Posted 7 months ago #
Jiggers
Member Profile

how about just bring your own folding chairs so this wont happen again...

Posted 7 months ago #
anonyme
Member Profile

Jiggers, that's the most sensible thing I've heard in this entire discussion.

Posted 7 months ago #
Lolo
Member Profile

DBP
Thanks for your suggestions.

Look closely. Not once have I accused the neighbors of destroying the chairs or stealing the previous bench incarnation. I also never asked for a replacement. Some kind hearted individual donated them. I thought it was one of the neighbors, but after asking around no one has admitted to it. The previous bench just appeared too, without any prompting by me.

The level of violence displayed in this latest action is what caused us to talk to the police, who agreed that talking to them was the right thing to do.

And, if you'll scroll up you'll note that I asked people to refrain from fanning the flames here.

This feud is pretty one sided in that my offense seems to be maintaining the dead end and not putting up with bullies. Again...my opinion, not to deceive anyone intentionally.

BTW...the term bully came unsolicited from somone else who has had dealings with these folks.

Posted 7 months ago #

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