West Seattle, Washington
16 Saturday
If you missed that clip of Chief Sealth International High School musicians at the Lionel Hampton Festival in Idaho the first time we featured it a week and a half ago – take a listen; call it a sneak peek of the “Music Night Out, Great Gatsby Style!” benefit coming up 5:30-10 pm Friday, March 27th. Early-bird pricing is available through tomorrow – here’s the event announcement:
Support Denny Int’l Middle School and Chief Sealth Int’l High School Performing Arts programs by celebrating a night of dinner, dancing and great music at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California Ave SW, West Seattle). The evening will feature the orchestras and jazz bands from Denny and Sealth. Come dressed Great Gatsby style (1920’s) and be ready to dance! There will be a small silent auction, raffle, raise-the-paddle and our traditional dessert dash. We’d love to have you attend!
Tickets are available now here – Please click the “Buy Tickets” button. Donations can also be made through this button. Earlybird-price tickets are $45 per person through March 13th, and $50 per person after that until March 25th (last day of ticket sales). There is a limited number of VIP tables to purchase for $600 a table. VIP tables will be the best stage-view tables, include 10 guests and a bottle each of red wine and white wine for enjoyment during dinner.
Until 9 pm, get out and enjoy the West Seattle Art Walk – we’ve made a few stops in The Junction:
That’s Michael Doyle, an illustrator who’s at VAIN (4513 California SW; WSB sponsor) for the opening reception of “32 Teacups,” described as “a show about secrets, dreams, and time travel.” Along with his illustrations … you’ll see these teacups:
He explains the inspiration: A friend of his had a dream about him, his art, and teacups. So he built the show around her dream – including the teacups. If you miss it tonight, don’t worry, his show is there through April.
At Wallflower Custom Framing (4735 42nd SW; WSB sponsor), oil painter/photographer Taylor Reed is showing her work:
The description of her show notes, “Most recently she has been inspired by gold, silver and copper leafing combined with oils, sometimes using it as a mere accent, and others to fill the canvas with the warmth that it brings.”
More to come … and if you missed the map/venue list earlier, find it in our West Seattle Thursday highlights.
8:01 PM: At Emerald Water Anglers (4502 42nd SW: WSB sponsor), this Art Walk night brings not only art, but another edition of Writers on the Fly:
Martha Silano is reading from her book of poetry “Reckless Lovely.” Video when we’re back at HQ. You’ll also find the art of Leah Hemberry Ricketts at EWA.
With warmer weather and later light, solicitor reports are picking up – including these two reports from Arbor Heights today, which are followed by information on city rules and what you can do if someone you don’t know comes to your door, soliciting or not:
(Family photo of Greggette Guy during a hike, 2004)
Admiring the beauty of Puget Sound from Beach Drive the other night, it occurred to us that a sad and unsettling anniversary was near, and indeed, an archive check confirmed that today marks exactly three years since 51-year-old Greggette Guy was found dead in the water near Cormorant Cove Park. Police believed she was killed sometime the night before, after traveling here to take a walk at/near Emma Schmitz Overlook, where her car was found:
Mrs. Guy was a Kent resident and a former West Seattleite, remembered for her devotion to Girl Scouting; one year after her murder, she was remembered at a ceremony dedicating a memorial plaque by a totem pole at a Girl Scout camp in east King County. Three days after her body was found, she was officially declared a victim of homicide; the cause of her death was not immediately revealed, but eventually was described as “severe wounds to her neck.”
We checked today with SPD to ask if they had anything new to say about the case – no details have emerged since our six-months-later followup in September 2012; in October 2014, Chief Kathleen O’Toole’s first official report to the City Council mentioned unsolved murders including this one, saying:
The Criminal Investigations Bureau Chief and Violent Crimes Captain have conducted a thorough review of all unsolved homicides twice during 2014. While I cannot discuss specifics of those open investigations in this report, I can tell you that the cases that remain unsolved have either problems with the integrity of evidence or a lack of cooperation from witnesses. I hope that we can develop greater trust and communication with our community so that individuals with information about these cases or other unsolved crimes will come forward.
That hope is echoed today in the response to our inquiry; Det. Patrick Michaud said, “The case is still open, active and ongoing. However, we still need the public’s help. If (you) know anything, call (206) 233-5000.”
From SDOT‘s weekly “lookahead,” just out:
SOUTH PARK BRIDGE OVERNIGHT SURFACE-TRAFFIC CLOSURES: Thanks to the tipster who let us know this morning that a mobile sign had gone up on the South Park Bridge with news of upcoming overnight closures. That put us on the lookout for the details that are in the “lookahead” – Monday through Friday nights (technically Tuesday-Saturday mornings, March 17-21) next week, the bridge will be closed to surface traffic 12:01 am-5 am. The closures are scheduled to repeat a week later, same times, March 24-28. (added) As explained by the county: “The closure will be confined to the overnight hours and will allow the contractor to complete bridge painting and finishing work in areas accessible only when the bridge is partially open. While work is underway, the waterway will remain open to recreational vessels that don’t require full openings to clear the bridge. Because the work will be performed overnight, traffic impacts should be minimal.”
ALASKAN WAY VIADUCT INSPECTION CLOSURE: When first word of the March 28-29 closure emerged last Monday, WSDOT wasn’t able to tell us whether it would be a full weekend closure or “all day Saturday plus all day Sunday.” Looks like it’s the latter; the “lookahead” lists the closure as 6 am-6 pm each day, Saturday 3/28 and Sunday 3/29, at least for the stretch between the West Seattle Bridge and the south end of the Battery Street Tunnel. However, it also mentions that both directions of 99 will be closed between the north end of the tunnel and Valley Street from 10 pm Friday 3/27 to 5 am Monday 3/30 for utility work.
(Photo by Candice Emmons, NWFSC, NOAA Research Permit #16163)
That’s the newest calf found (as reported here two weeks ago) with Puget Sound’s Southern Resident Killer Whales – L121 and mother L94, with NOAA research ship Bell M. Shimada in the background. The researcher who leads the NOAA program, Brad Hanson of the Northwest Fisheries Science Center, is coming to West Seattle later this month to talk about what they saw while observing the whales and what it means for their recovery. It’s the first Orca Talk of 2015, presented by The Whale Trail at 7 pm March 26th at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor). Here’s the official announcement, just received:
Researchers recently spent 21 days aboard the NOAA ship Bell M. Shimada, tracking endangered Southern Resident killer whales (SRKWs) off the coasts of Washington and Oregon. Good weather and ocean conditions allowed researchers exceptional access to the whales, including the first sighting of new calf L121, during their winter foraging period.
The winter survey addressed a high research priority to fill a major gap in our understanding of SRKWs life history—where these whales go during the winter, what they do, and what they eat.
Join us for this special presentation by Dr. Brad Hanson, NWFSC lead killer whale researcher. Be the first to hear what researchers observed, and how data collected on this cruise will help recover J, K and L pods.
This is the first in the 2015 series Orca Talks hosted by The Whale Trail in West Seattle. The event also features updates from Robin Lindsey (Seal Sitters), and “Diver Laura” James (tox-ick.org).
Buy tickets early to reserve your seat. And hurry! This will likely sell out.
More about the speaker and TWT ahead:
Topping our highlights list for your Thursday afternoon/evening – it’s West Seattle Art Walk night! 6-9 pm, here’s where you can go to see art and (at most stops) meet the artists:
You’ll find venue/artist previews on the official Art Walk website, to help you plan where to visit. One special note tonight – it’s the WS Art Walk debut of VAIN (WSB sponsor) in The Junction (4513 California SW), where you’ll find the opening reception for West Seattle-based artist Michael Doyle‘s new illustration series “13 Teacups.” See you on the Art Walk tonight!
Also happening in the next 9 hours:
SECOND MEETING ON 35TH SW PROPOSALS: 3:15 pm at Southwest Branch Library, it’s the second of 2 meetings on the “design alternatives” SDOT is proposing to increase safety on 35th SW. Here’s the quick-glance overview:
Questions? Comments? Want to hear the details (intersection-by-intersection, as it was rolled out Tuesday night) firsthand? Be there if you can. Comment to jim.curtin@seattle.gov even if you can’t. The final design proposal will be out in June and is being shaped by reaction to what’s proposed now. (35th/Henderson)
GEORGETOWN BREWING NIGHT: The popular local brewery is up next at The Beer Junction‘s series of tasting nights, 5-8 pm. Details in our listing. (4511 California SW)
INDIAN FOOD CLASS: 5:30-8 pm at Delridge Community Center, learn to make some staples! $30. Call 206-684-7423 to register, if there’s still room. (4501 Delridge Way SW)
‘OPT OUT’ OF TESTING? 6 pm at Southwest Branch Library, find out about the controversial Smarter Balanced testing and parents’ rights to opt their child/ren out if they choose – details in our listing. (35th/Henderson)
TELEPHONE TOWN HALL WITH LEGISLATORS: From the 34th District Democrats‘ website – tonight’s your chance to join in a “telephone town hall” with your state Reps. Eileen Cody and Joe Fitzgibbon: “This will be a chance to ask us questions and hear about what they are up to in Olympia. To participate on March 12th, please dial 1-877-229-8493 and use the PIN 18646 at 6:00 pm.”
SECOND THURSDAY OUT! 6 pm, monthly event at Senior Center of West Seattle. “Join the LGBTQ community, their friends and neighbors for happy hour, followed by a light meal, and game night!” (Oregon/California)
OF COURSE, THERE’S MORE … on our calendar.
FRIDAY UPDATE: Mr. Sponseller’s family says he has been found, deceased.
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
It’s been another routine commute so far. Two notes:
47TH/ADMIRAL WORK CONTINUES: The photo is from Wednesday morning, as work ramped up on the north side of the intersection. More details on the project page.
35TH SW CHANGES: Missed the meeting Tuesday night at which SDOT revealed two “design alternatives” plus the plan to lower the speed limit? A daytime edition of the presentation is set for today, 3:15 pm in the upstairs meeting room at Southwest Branch Library (35th/Henderson). Bring your questions. If you can’t go to this one either, feedback goes to jim.curtin@seattle.gov.
(ADDED: KCSO aerial video from search that followed Delridge/Trenton incident)
1:05 AM: The Guardian One law-enforcement helicopter was just over eastern West Seattle for a bit, and now we know why. They tweeted that they were helping Seattle Police look for suspects who ran from a stolen car. The search was focused near 18th and Graham. A K-9 team has been helping on the ground, but no luck finding the suspects so far.
2:18 AM: Guardian One is back because of a separate incident, this one at Delridge/Trenton. It drew a large police/fire response because of an apparently false report of “three people stabbed.” So far, they have found one person with a “small laceration” on a finger. Police had been called to the same area for a similar report earlier tonight.
8:05 AM: We’ve added, above, the aerial video from the second incident, Delridge/Trenton, that’s since been posted on the KCSO Air Support YouTube channel. (What you hear over it is the same audio we heard via scanner at the time, SPD on the ground and the helicopter deputy.)
Big attention for West Seattle tonight from city leaders – while Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole answered questions in The Junction, Mayor Ed Murray answered a few in Fauntleroy. He was a semi-late addition to the 34th District Democrats‘ agenda, with growth, development, homelessness, and even architecture among the topics on which he was questioned in his 13-minute appearance – all on video above. Homelessness, Murray pointed out, is a national crisis, and Seattle can’t solve it alone – state and federal assistance is necessary. He opened with what sounded a bit like a campaign speech, quick hits on points such as the increase in the city’s minimum wage on April 1st (this city page explains who goes to $10 and who goes to $11 then).
Also there, City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen:
He brought up city leaders’ concern about a bill moving through the Legislature, asking people to pressure state legislators not to approve two bills that would change the rules for payday loans. While the 34th District’s legislators are solidly against it – State Sen. Sharon Nelson led the charge to tighten payday-loan rules in 2009 – that’s not a universal position for the party in this area, he said.
Next month’s highlight: A full candidate forum for the District 1 City Council race.
(WSB photos)
8:04 PM: Big response for possible house fire in 8600 block 35th SW. More to come.
8:14 PM: 35th is blocked at Trenton. Smoke visible. Firefighters are ventilating the roof. No word on any injuries. Avoid the area for a while.
8:24 PM: SFD confirms that everyone got out of the house safely.
8:31 PM: Firefighters are still dealing with residual hotspots in the roof.
8:37 PM: Our crew has spoken with the incident commander, who says 1 person was home and got out unhurt. This apparently began as a fire in the fireplace, and got out of control. Some of the units are being dismissed.
9:28 PM: SFD confirms the fire is out. We’ve added three more photos.
(UPDATED THURSDAY MORNING with our full video of event)
6:58 PM: About 70 people are at the Senior Center for SPD Chief Kathleen O’Toole‘s encore appearance. We can’t live-chronicle it due to chairlessness but we are recording video and also tweeting (you can view without being a Twitter user) at @westseattleblog. (Added: Some of what we tweeted during the meeting, focusing on the WS-specific questions/answers)
Chief O'Toole starting WS encore meeting. Maybe 70 people here at WS Senior Center pic.twitter.com/dCYwRSs7UA
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) March 12, 2015
Now-Asst. Chief Wilske talks about arrests in rec Westwood Village-area robberies, says juv susp getting counseling pic.twitter.com/ylYitOeFpJ
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) March 12, 2015
Deb Barker of Morgan Comm Assoc asks chief to roleplay 911 response to low priority calls re Morgan park woes pic.twitter.com/sQZmWtcDmt
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) March 12, 2015
Chief notes even @Mayor_Ed_Murray has acknowledged we have too few officers and that's part of response prob w/lo-priority calls
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) March 12, 2015
she says they are getting 100 more officers but also will have eval by summer of how many more needed
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) March 12, 2015
She says 911 center is being evaluated too for its handling of calls b/c citizen concerns
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) March 12, 2015
*Note, the exchange above with Deb Barker and Chief O’Toole, regarding 911 responses to non-major incidents and whether SPD needs more officers, starts at about 42 minutes into the video. She had said earlier in the meeting that while her former city, Boston, has a comparable population, its police force is more than 800 officers larger. She also discusses an ongoing study that will result in a report to the mayor on what would be the appropriate size of the SPD force, and says that’ll be out in the summer.
The meeting continued:
Carla Rogers from Madison MS brings up recent crimes vs students – 'it's just scary' pic.twitter.com/VhZgWFqDko
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) March 12, 2015
(she is from PTSA) She is concerned re: continuity of efforts against those crimes w Wilske leaving
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) March 12, 2015
Chief reiterates that Wilske will 'handpick' his successor and will still spend time in SWP in meantime pic.twitter.com/jn25Gy0L6a
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) March 12, 2015
Sandy says she too is concerned about continuity, chief reiterates that Wilske will still be involved 'we won't let you down'
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) March 12, 2015
Wilske (w/@wsblockwatchnet leaders) says he hopes precinct cmndrs will be 2-year assignments pic.twitter.com/FXpWm89TlT
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) March 12, 2015
Cindi Barker of @wsbeprepared speaking re hubs/ @seattlepd engagement w emerg prep (it's their accountability) pic.twitter.com/6RIIPmbUTf
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) March 12, 2015
Chief mentions her new asst. chief from Yakima has major emergency prep cred. She also lauds emerg dir Barb Graf & promises future convs
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) March 12, 2015
(Added … From the final half-hour of the meeting:)
City Council candidate Lisa Herbold points out a plan in 2007 to hire 105 new officers was unfulfilled. pic.twitter.com/sedwK2eGD2
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) March 12, 2015
Herbold also asked O’Toole if she’s considering using civilian community-service officers; the chief said she “loved that idea.” And she said she had met earlier with Somali families in High Point who told her that they would like SPD to have a community liaison for their community; O’Toole mentioned they are still reviewing candidates for the East African community liaison. Co-moderator Pete Spalding then read an audience question on the same subject, to which O’Toole added that the East African Advisory Committee is being re-established as well.
Another City Council candidate was at the microphone as well:
City Council cand & @wwrhah's Amanda Kay Helmick says she's sad to see Wilske go b/c his responsiveness… pic.twitter.com/EjMUZuK0CX
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) March 12, 2015
Helmick elaborated regarding the Westwood-area problems on which the community council she chairs has dealt with Wilske and the precinct. She then asked a question about a friend of hers whom she said had applied to become an officer but had been told she didn’t appropriately answer a question about how to handle a difficult situation. O’Toole suggested that Helmick’s friend contact her so SPD could “talk to her and figure out what went awry there.”
Karen from @wsblockwatchnet asks about interjurisdictional investigations. Among other things chief mentions gun crime task force w/ATF
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) March 12, 2015
8:26 PM: The meeting’s over. Uneventful – no disruptions, lots of questions, lots of answers. People are lingering to talk not only with the chief but also with now-Assistant Chief Steve Wilske, who will be “hand-pick(ing)” his successor as Southwest Precinct commander, though no timetable has been mentioned.
THURSDAY MORNING NOTE: Update – here’s the video. Update 2 – as of 10:29 am, it’s embedded atop this story, too. Update 3 – as of 12:18 pm, we have added highlights from the final half-hour of the meeting.
(2014 West Seattle Summer Fest photo by WSB’s Katie Meyer)
The West Seattle Junction Association has set the dates for this year’s West Seattle Summer Fest – July 10-12. Four months away, but if you’re interested in being a vendor, the time to apply is now, and the deadline is April 1st! A brand-new Vendor Information Page is the place to start – westseattlefestival.com/vendors.
West Seattle Crime Watch incidents to report, plus related reminders:
STREET ROBBERY SEARCH: The search is happening right now near Delridge/Juneau – a woman told police that she was “jumped” a short time ago and robbed by a female attacker who was on a northbound bus with her and followed her off in that area. She’s getting medical treatment for injuries; the robber is described, so far as we’ve heard via scanner, as black, with black/brown braided hair, pink sweatshirt, whitewashed skinny jeans. If you have any info, call 911.
INDECENT EXPOSURE VIA PHOTO: Via e-mail – this happened Monday: “My teenage daughter was on the 128 in the early evening, going down 16th, and a man seated next to her, late 20s-early 30s, Caucasian, dark hair, dark rectangular glasses, exposed her to an explicit, full-frontal nude photograph of himself. She told us when she got home and we contacted the police and filed a report.”
Relevant to that, and recent incidents:
STUDENT SAFETY INFO: One week from tonight, the Madison Middle School PTSA is presenting a student-safety program during its PTSA meeting – 7 pm March 18th – with police, Parks, and school reps; full details on the PTSA website. (45th/Spokane)
STOLEN CAR: Maria‘s car was last seen Saturday night near 42nd/Graham. It’s a 1991 red/maroon Honda Accord, plate ALM0283. Maria says, “The car is pretty run down, but I have had it for almost ten years and is my daily commuter!” She’s reported it to police; please let them know if you see it. (And remember that sometimes plates are swapped or removed, so if you see what looks like an abandoned red/maroon Accord, even without that #, could be it.)
EITHER OF THESE CARS YOURS? Mindi noticed two cars Monday night near California/Spokane, both with broken windows. Police told her reports had to be filed by the victims; she knocked on nearby doors to look for the cars’ owners but couldn’t find anyone. Here’s hoping the damage has been reported by now; if not, and if you have a car parked there (red Ford, gray Subaru), check it out. (Photos of the cars also were tweeted – here and here.)
CARS PROWLED IN ARBOR HEIGHTS, HOUSE VANDALIZED: Twice in the past five days, near 42nd/100th, nothing stolen, happened around 6 in the morning. Someone also broke a window on a nearby house, though there’s no sign of entry beyond that.
PACKAGE THEFT: Just out of the inbox, “3800 block of 20th Ave SW – UPS package delivered Tuesday 03/10/2015 at 3:20 pm and by 6 pm was gone.”
TAX-SEASON SCAM REMINDERS: First – This WSB Forums post is a reminder that scam calls are still being made. Second – We have also obtained two police reports from February – one in which an Admiral woman was bilked for almost $5,000 because of an elaborate series of realistic-sounding demands from callers who said they were from the IRS and SPD. The demands included wiring money and purchasing reloadable cash cards. Meantime, the second case involved a surprise check for almost $10,000 received by a Genesee couple, supposedly a tax refund check – but the couple had not filed their taxes yet and were expecting to owe money, not to get any back. The issuing bank said they sent the check because there was a problem with electronic-funds transfer. The victim told police they were trying to sort it out with SPD. Here’s the IRS’s official page about all the different kinds of fraud and scams to watch out for, especially at this time of year.
ONE MORE REMINDER … Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole returns to West Seattle tonight to “continue the conversation,” 6:30 pm at the Senior Center of WS (Oregon/California). We expect to hear more about what’s next for Southwest Precinct leadership after this morning’s announcement that Capt. Steve Wilske is now headed downtown as an assistant chief (updated WSB coverage here).
Another one of those days where the news started early and we haven’t published the usual daily list of calendar highlights. From everything you’ll find on our Event Calendar page (continuously updated, so check any time), there are two big things happening tonight. One, the Police Chief’s visit, already mentioned in our just-updated-again coverage of today’s big SPD news. The other: Mayor Ed Murray is expected at tonight’s 34th District Democrats‘ meeting, which also will include “quick-draw questions” for District 1 City Council candidates. Here’s the agenda; the meeting’s at 7 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW).
It’s a question we’ve been asked often in recent weeks: When will Top Pot Doughnuts open its Alki store? This morning, the answer is in: This Friday (March 13th). 
It’s been almost nine months since we broke the news that Top Pot would be the long-awaited first tenant in the east space at 2758 Alki SW. This morning, the Alki store passed its final inspections, and co-founder Mark Klebeck told WSB shortly afterward that it will open for business at 6 am Friday. Hours for starters will be 6 am-8 pm weekdays, 7 am-8 pm weekends; Klebeck says they will re-evaluate as spring/summer proceed, for possible later closing times. In addition to 42 varieties of doughnuts, he says, the store will offer soft-serve ice cream, sandwiches, pastries, and coffee/espresso from beans that Top Pot roasts at its flagship location.
West Seattle’s Boy Scout Troop 282 and other Scouts are doing it again – “Scouting for Food,” a door-to-door food drive. They will be dropping off door tags to homes in the West Seattle area this Saturday, March 14th between 8:30-10:30 am. They will come back the following Saturday, March 21st to collect food for the West Seattle Food Bank between 9 am 10 am. If you would like to donate and need a pickup, contact R. Schulz, 206-890-2237. At right, last year’s collection by Troop 282, which says, “could we do more this year? Yes, we can!”
VIEWS, the West Seattle group organizing the second local City Council candidates’ forum of the season this Saturday (March 14th), has sent the final official announcement with details on how it’ll work:
Come meet and hear from your Seattle City Council District 1 & At-Large Candidates
10 of 11 District 1 candidates confirmed to attend along with Bradburd, Burgess and Gonzalez! (added) And Persak
VieWS has partnered with The West Seattle Senior Center on a weekend opportunity for friends and neighbors to learn what is happening on our Peninsula, and walk away more informed about upcoming elections!
9:00 – 10:00 Meet & Greet Candidates / Breakfast Available [by donation]
10:00 – 10:15 At-Large City Council Candidates address audience
10:15 – 10:30 Welcome from VieWS and Forum Agenda/Rules
10:30 – 11:45 City Council District 1 Candidates Forum
11:45 – Noon Wrap up with a brief bit of Speed Candi-dating!After brief candidate introductions, moderators will ask questions on a variety of subjects covering Transportation, Quality of Life, Public Safety, and Human Services. We will also feature two “lightning round” opportunities for candidates to answer YES or NO to some high-profile issues that we are concerned about (e.g., Do you support the new homeless encampment ordinance? rent control?). Finally, we will wrap up with an opportunity for you to meet in groups with a couple of candidates in a “speed dating” opportunity for the folks at your table to ask your own questions of the candidates.
The forum is at the Senior Center of West Seattle (Oregon/California).
BACKSTORY: This is the second candidate forum of the season in West Seattle; we presented the first one on February 5th at Highland Park Improvement Club (WSB coverage, with video, here), and the number of candidates has since grown from 4 to 11. The filing deadline is in mid-May; the primary, which will reduce the field to 2, is on August 4th, with the general election following on November 3rd. West Seattle/South Park residents will vote on District 1 as well as at-large Positions 8 and 9; you can find the newest candidate list any time on the right side of this city webpage. Not registered to vote? Do it now!
(WSB photo added 1:17 pm, from City Hall announcement this morning – see updates at end of story)
7:47 AM: Before Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole returns to West Seattle tonight, she’s formally introducing her new command staff downtown this morning. One of the new Assistant Chiefs is Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Wilske, as announced via SPD Blotter this morning. From that announcement:
Steve Wilske, currently the commander of the Southwest Precinct, has served for more than 28 years with the department in a variety of roles, including Homicide and Crime Scene and Use of Force investigation. At Southwest, Steve brought his CSI background to bear, as he pushed the importance of scouring every single crime scene for fingerprints.
I was looking for a commander who could plunge right into leading the patrol operations section, so it seems fitting that Steve has a degree in commercial diving.
Wilske has led the Southwest Precinct for 13 months, since January of last year, following the one-year encore by Capt. Joe Kessler. No mention yet of a successor. The chief’s “Continuing the Conversation” meeting in West Seattle is at 6:30 tonight at (corrected) the Senior Center of West Seattle in The Junction (Oregon/California); she will introduce her new team to the media downtown at 11 am.
11:01 AM: Live webcast of the formal introductions at City Hall is about to start – we have a crew there to follow up, and you can see the Seattle Channel webcast here.
11:19 AM: Now-Assistant Chief Wilske has just been introduced by Chief O’Toole, who speaks of his fast work in creating neighborhood policing plans as well as the respect that officers have for him and his visibility in the field. He speaks briefly, saying that he knows the difficulty and danger of patrol work and is honored to be put in a position to lead those doing it. No information yet about who will succeed him as SW Precinct commander, but we have a crew at the downtown event and will be asking afterward.
11:33 AM: Our crew asks about that during open Q/A at the downtown event. Chief O’Toole says she and Asst. Chief Wilske will “get that done very soon,” and mentions tonight’s community meeting as a chance to talk with community about it.
1:21 PM: We talked with Wilske at City Hall after the announcement and he told us he’s “had a blast” as SW commander. We have the interview on video and will add it above this paragraph as soon as it’s uploaded (update – added). The official city news release about his promotion and other SPD appointments (he is one of four new assistant chiefs; four current ones were demoted) says his new job starts immediately.
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! No big problems so far, but the roads are wet – the rain started around 11 last night and is expected to continue on and off through tonight. Road-work alerts and transportation news:
47TH/ADMIRAL SIGNAL/CROSSWALKS: As previewed by SDOT, the first day of work on Tuesday did indeed involve surveying. As soon as today, they’ll move on to concrete-cutting for curb ramps. (8:53 am note: We just heard from City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who confirms that the work has intensified today; he led the council in pushing to fully fund this light.)
35TH SW SAFETY PROPOSALS: Last night brought Stage 2 of the 35th SW Safety Project – “design alternatives” unveiled by the city. If you weren’t there, see our coverage here.
Just shy of a year after the owner of the then-Heartland Café announced he’d sold it, the owners who then resurrected its former identity as the Admiral Benbow say they’re closing it. Announced on Facebook tonight by co-proprietor Allison Hill:
It is with great sadness that Ian Hill and I are announcing the closure of The Admiral Benbow. We made a great run at it and love it dearly, but some things just aren’t meant to be. We want to thank all the friends, fans, pirates, scallywags, bands and everyone else who helped make this dream of ours come true, even though it was only a short period of time. Our last day will be Sunday, March 22nd. So come down and see us over the next 12 days and help us go out with a blast! We’re still open until then so come get your drink on or catch a show. Help us send this place off the right way! Thank you all again. We love you and can’t thank you enough.
The Hills had applied the Benbow brand to the entire operation at 4210 SW Admiral Way – restaurant, bar, and entertainment venue – in a nod to its long-ago fame as the Admiral Benbow Inn.
6:53 PM: We’re at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center as SDOT’s Jim Curtin gets ready to unveil the “design alternatives” for “making 35th SW safer for everyone.” First, he’s recapping background about how we got to this point – including more than 1,000 crashes, 412 injuries, five deaths in the past decade on 35th SW between Roxbury and Alaska. The slide decks are up on the project page – this is the one with the alternatives:
Even before Curtin gets to those, he’s been asked questions such as “which of the deaths were the pedestrians’ fault?” None, he says. When countered with “but wasn’t one mid-block?” he explains that it’s legal to cross at midblock.
The background is in this slide deck (added – midway through the meeting, it’s clear that this deck also includes much elaboration on the proposed alternatives, intersection by intersection, so take some time to go through this one):
Curtin touches on enforcement and says SPD has obtained a grant to step that up. Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Wilske couldn’t be here tonight but will be at the Thursday afternoon version of this meeting to talk about that, Curtin says. (With him at this meeting, by the way, is another high-profile SDOT employee, traffic engineer Dongho Chang.) He’s been asked about specific types of data and promises that will be made available; he also says that 35th will be monitored basically “forever.”
Somebody brings up rechannelized Fauntleroy Way and claims that it crawls at 15 MPH at certain times. Curtin says SDOT recently studied Fauntleroy and that more than 80 percent of the drivers are going 33 mph (two miles below the speed limit).
7:10 PM: Curtin has just declared that the speed limit on 35th will be cut to 30 mph, and the room erupts in cheers/applause, except for one participant who has already spoken out multiple times and claimed that higher speeds are safer. Curtin agreed that the speed limit alone won’t do it – that the road design must be made safer too. Shortly thereafter, he notes that Fauntleroy Way will be reduced to 30 mph this year too (as had been inferred in the Vision Zero plan announced recently).
What else will be done? he’s asked. The slide says “turn signals at some locations, signal optimization, reflective materials for most signals.” Also, “lane-line markers (buttons) throughout the corridor.”
Regarding bicycles, while “protected bicycle lanes are envisioned long-term for 35th,” Curtin says bicyclists have suggested that other routes be focused on first, so “that’s what we’re going to do.” A Neighborhood Greenway is planned for 34th SW, one block east, for 2017 implementation.
Now he gets to Design Alternative A, which will add 3 to 4 minutes delay during am/pm rush hours, he says. It would rechannelize 35th SW from Roxbury to Edmunds – one lane each way and a center turn lane.
Design Alternative B, projected to add 3 minutes’ delay in rush hours, would rechannelize between Roxbury and Raymond, but not north of Raymond, which instead would have peak-hour parking restrictions to create an extra lane only during those times. SDOT is still modeling this, Curtin explains, and the boundaries on this one might change.
Going into more background for the alternatives, he points out that 35th has no turn lanes right now, so all vehicles stop behind someone trying to turn. He puts up 35th between Henderson and Barton, showing how design alternatives will reduce lane changes that buses have to make, keeping them from “hanging out” in traffic. Then he shows how 35th/Barton would be affected. Asked if Metro might see a bus bulb – Curtin and Chang say no.
Next, 35th/Holden – “bus lanes through the intersection” might be considered, says Curtin, pointing out the signals at this odd intersection are “already delayed.” 35th/Webster, 8 of 9 crashes during the recent study period are related to left turns, so adding a left-turn pocket here can help – left turns off 35th.
35th/Morgan might get right-turn pockets. At 35th/Juneau, Option A could have a crossing “with turn restrictions” in the longer term, says Curtin, noting that 35th/Graham has similar conditions. That would mean no left turns, only right turns, he said in response to a question. Option B might not rechannelize this area, so a traffic signal might be needed to facilitate a crossing.
Curtin is asked about the in-pavement flashing lights that some other jurisdictions use to call attention to crossings. He says there’s concern about how they would be affected in snow/rain weather. Chang picks up, saying that he worked in Everett, which used five of them, and their lights can burn out without pedestrians being aware, giving them a false sense of security – four of the five in Everett are not working right now, he notes.
Next, he draws applause by saying a crossing is proposed at 35th/Dawson, where the community has long requested one (this is near Camp Long). In the longer term, he says, that could bring in low-cost “treatments” such as signs, pavement markings, flashing beacons, maybe even a “refuge island” midway across.
He says that Seattle’s 40 rechannelizations generally have “remarkable” results. Fauntleroy Way is an example given – 31 percent drop in collisions, 1 percent drop in 85 percent of the speed, 13 percent drop in 10+ mph speeders, volume change up a third of a percentage. “When the ferry lets out, are you really driving 35 mph?” asks someone in the audience. “There’s the data,” somebody else points out. The first speaker clarifies that she actually favors the rechannelization because Fauntleroy can be crossed a little more safely since it. (It was done in connection with repaving in 2009.)
Before Q&A, Curtin notes that a June meeting will unveil the “final” plan and take one last round of comments; implementation would begin in late summer.
First question – did the Fauntleroy rechannelization push traffic elsewhere? “Absolutely not,” said Curtin. (The slide a few minutes earlier had shown that Fauntleroy volume is actually up a bit since then.)
Another person has more of a comment, saying that he’s glad this might make it possible for both sides of 35th to be part of the same neighborhood, instead of, given its current freeway-like conditions, being a separator. That leads to some applause.
How much would this cost? More than $100,000 a mile, replied Curtin, for rechannelization, so this would cost at least half a million, not counting additional stoplights, etc.
8 PM: The meeting is breaking up now into a chance for one-on-one discussion with Curtin and Chang. This meeting will be repeated on Thursday afternoon at Southwest Branch Library (35th/Henderson), starting at 3:15 pm; Curtin also noted that his e-mail address is on the project website, so if you have questions/comments, you can reach him that way – jim.curtin@seattle.gov (which is also up on the board right now with his phone number, 206-684-8874).
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