West Seattle, Washington
14 Wednesday
24 hours after the mayor and police chief came to West Seattle to in essence campaign for council approval of the Seattle Police contract, the vote has just happened at City Hall downtown. The contract required seven council “yes” votes to pass and got eight, with Councilmember Kshama Sawant the lone “no” vote. West Seattle/South Park Councilmember Lisa Herbold voted yes despite a number of concerns, explaining that – among other reasons – she has told constituents that she supports police staffing to address public-safety concerns, and didn’t see how that would reconcile with a “no” vote given the expectation that contract rejection would make SPD hiring even more difficult than it’s been lately. More to come.
(Terminal 5 photo from portseattle.org)
Though a tenant has yet to be announced, the modernization plan for Terminal 5 in West Seattle is moving forward. The Northwest Seaport Alliance – the partnership of the Seattle and Tacoma ports – approved a 2019 budget today, and T-5 plans factor heavily into the announcement, which mentions “final negotiations with a potential tenant”:
At today’s special dual meeting, the Managing Members of The Northwest Seaport Alliance adopted a budget for 2019 as well as a five-year capital investment plan. The budget and investment plan allow for terminal modernization to accommodate larger vessels and retain a competitive position in the global marketplace. The budget also includes environmental and business development investments.
“With the adoption of this budget, we are sending a clear message to the industry and our communities that The Northwest Seaport Alliance is working,” said Courtney Gregoire, Port of Seattle commission president and co-chair of the NWSA. “It allows us to make transformative investments in our harbors so we are competitive in the global marketplace, attracting jobs and retaining the economic vitality of the Pacific Northwest.”
“Now in its third year, The Northwest Seaport Alliance remains strong,” said Clare Petrich, Port of Tacoma commission vice president and co-chair of the NWSA. “Our partnership with the Port of Seattle is good not only for our local communities but for manufacturers and farmers across the nation. This budget ensures the alliance will continue to benefit our region well into the future.”
Planned capital improvements take the NWSA one step closer to transforming Seattle’s Terminal 5 into a premier international container facility on the West Coast. The Managing Members passed a motion authorizing CEO John Wolfe to prepare a lease, bidding documents and a request for construction funds for the necessary upgrades. Final negotiations with a potential tenant are currently underway.
Improvements to T-5 will include dock and power upgrades and berth deepening to handle the world’s largest cargo ships. Currently, T-5 can handle vessels with a capacity of up to 6,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), but shipping lines are now investing in vessels with 18,000 TEU capacity or greater. Once complete, T-5 will have a capacity of a 3 million TEUs annually.
Modernizations at T-5 bring environmental benefits as well, allowing creosote-treated wooden piles to be replaced with a panelized fender system and increasing the electrical capacity of the terminal for quieter, cleaner operations.
A negotiated lease and a request to initiate construction are expected to come to the Managing Members for approval in the first quarter of 2019.
Port reps had previously said that news of a T-5 tenant was likely before this year was out (most recently, when Seattle Port Commissioner Ryan Calkins spoke to the WS Chamber of Commerce two months ago). More than four years have passed since the last cargo-line tenant left T-5. Meantime, you can see the draft 2019 budget by going here. (We’re still reading through it for the financing specifics.)
Just in from SDOT:
For 2 hours tonight, starting at 7 PM, the Spokane St Bridge (West Seattle Lower Bridge) and the bike trail will be closed, so crews can replace a power control cable. A shuttle van will be available both directions, to take interested travelers over the high bridge.
What you can expect:
During this project, barrels and barricades as well as message boards, will direct traffic. After cable replacement and successful bridge testing, the bridge will reopen to traffic.November 13: 7 – 9 PM
Impacts –
· Spokane St Bridge (aka Lower W Seattle Bridge) closed.
· W Seattle Bridge Trail closed.Assistance – A shuttle van will travel back and forth over W Seattle High Bridge, in 15-minute intervals, with the following stops:
· East Side – 11th Ave SW & SW Spokane St.
· West side – SW Spokane St and Port of Seattle Terminal 5 Entrance.Shuttle service is scheduled to run during the duration of the outage. Should this maintenance work experience unexpected challenges, the shuttle will run all night, as needed.
(Spotted sandpiper, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Lots going on in the hours ahead! Among the highlights:
DROP-IN CHESS: For kids/teens, 4:30-5:30 pm at High Point Library. All skill levels welcome! (3411 SW Raymond)
WEST SEATTLE MIDDLE SCHOOLS INFORMATION NIGHT: 6-8 pm at Our Lady of Guadalupe – information on middle schools all over the area, plus a presentation at 6:30 pm that will be of interest to future middle schoolers’ families even if you aren’t school shopping. Admission free. (35th/Myrtle)
HOPE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 6:30 pm, preschool through 8th grade Hope Lutheran School in The Junction invites you to tour the campus and meet the staff. (42nd/Oregon)
FAIRMOUNT PARK ELEMENTARY PTA: General membership meeting, 6:30 pm at the school. (3800 SW Findlay)
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS: All are welcome to hear a presentation on our state’s new high-school graduation requirements, during tonight’s Chief Sealth International High School PTSA meeting. (2600 SW Thistle)
SOUTH DELRIDGE COMMUNITY GROUP: Last meeting of the year, 7 pm at 2 Fingers Social. Come talk about the neighborhood’s present and the group’s future! (9211 Delridge Way SW)
FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: 7 pm FCA board meeting at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, public welcome. Agenda includes ferry, crime, development updates, and other topics. (9131 California SW)
FLY-TYING: 7 pm at Emerald Water Anglers (WSB sponsor) – check fast to see if there’s still room; our calendar listing explains how. (42nd/Oregon)
MORE FOR TONIGHT AND BEYOND! Just check our complete calendar and Holiday Guide.
9:52 AM: Thanks to Kersti Muul for the news that orcas are headed this wsy again: Southbound, approaching the mouth of Elliott Bay.
10:41 AM: Kersti reports they’re visible from Constellation Park south of Alki Point.
4:05 PM: Kersti says in comments that they’re off south Vashon now.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
7:06 AM: Good morning! A crash blocking the center lane on the NB 1st Avenue South Bridge is the only incident reported in our area right now.
7:13 AM: And the 1st Avenue Bridge scene is cleared, per WSDOT.
(WSB photo)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 9:21 PM MONDAY: Multiple texters have reported hearing gunfire in the Delridge/Kenyon area, and though no injuries are reported, scanner traffic indicates police have found some evidence – “property damage.” We’re heading that way to try to find out more.
9:39 PM: Police are on SW Kenyon west of 24th.
9:50 PM: Officers told us at the scene that they have found three casings so far (photo added). No elaboration on the “property damage”; no injuries reported.
ADDED TUESDAY, 1:44 PM: In addition to the information and photos provided in comments below, we’ve learned that two people were injured – they showed up at a hospital later, according to the police report, which we requested and obtained. The officer wrote that he and another were dispatched:
Multiple 911 calls were received from the said location. On our way
to the scene, dispatch updated the call and said that a white 2-door sedan was seen leaving the scene.Prior to Officers arrival, everyone had fled the scene.
At the scene, (officers) found two shell casings on the road, a bullet fragment in the planting strip, a cellphone, keys and a chapstick on the side walk. The items were located just to the north of (7900 block) Delridge WY SW.
Bullet holes were located on the back portion of two apartment units … The bullets did not enter the living space of either units. …
Seattle PD Gang Unit Detectives responded to the scene. Gang Unit Detectives processed the scene and collected evidence.
Officers were informed by a witness on scene that the victims were possibly driven away from the scene by a white Dodge Challenqer. … No witnesses were located that actually witnessed the shooting.
While (officers were) still on scene, Dispatch updated over the air that two shootinq victims showed up at Highline Medical Center. Dispatch also updated that the white Dodge Challenger was seen parked outside the Hospital. Gang Detectives responded to the hospital and processed that scene.
Victim 1 … was shot in the left ankle. Victim 2 … was shot in the left calf. The white Dodge Challenger … was impounded to the processing room.
(Mayor Durkan, Councilmember González, Junction Association executive director Lora Radford)
Story and photos by Tracy Record and Patrick Sand
West Seattle Blog co-publishers
Mayor Jenny Durkan‘s second West Seattle Junction walking tour/community Q&A of the year was very different from the first one.
For one, she shared the spotlight this time, with Police Chief Carmen Best and City Councilmember Lorena González (a Junction resident). For two, this one – unlike the one back in February – had a theme: Public safety, with the Seattle Police union contract agreement up for a council vote tomorrow afternoon.
However, the community questions and concerns that were voiced – both at walking-tour business stops and during the general-public “coffee chat” that followed – ranged beyond that topic.
With citywide media also in attendance, the tour started off with the mayor taking reporters’ questions, about the contract vote and other matters (one reporter asked about the NHL arena). Durkan said she’s “optimistic” about tomorrow’s vote – seven councilmembers must approve the contract for it to be ratified, all or nothing, no changes – and that she “respects” those asking questions/voicing concerns about it. Here’s what she said in that Q&A with media:
A major concern voiced by the contract’s supporters is that more officers will leave if it’s rejected; they haven’t had a raise since 2014. Some have suggested coming up with a way to pay the raise (which is retroactive) while taking the controversial accountability issues back to the table; the mayor dismissed that idea in her visit-opening Q&A.
Councilmember González, who heads the council committee that oversees public safety, said she’s spent a lot of time answering her colleagues’ questions and concerns.
Then the tour began, stopping first at A La Mode Pies, hit by burglars a few weeks ago.
Even if you have no connection to Chief Sealth International High School, you’re invited to tomorrow’s CSIHS PTSA meeting, with a topic of wide interest. From PTSA vice president Nicole Sipila:
We’d like to invite the West Seattle community to our Nov. 13th PTSA General Meeting for a presentation on the state requirement for 24 credits for graduation. Presentation by Heidi Bennett, Wa. State Region 6 Legislative Representative:
NEW 24-CREDIT GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS & DECIPHERING HIGH SCHOOL – A guide for middle and high school parents
With the change to WA State 24-credit graduation requirements approaching, (this is) a presentation geared toward middle and high school parents to explain:
v New WA State 24-credit graduation requirements
v State and Federal testing High School requirements
v Deciphering acronyms – PPR, HSBP, AP, IB, CHIS, CTE, STEM, etc. – do you know what these are?
v Why and how to earn post-secondary credit (college or work credentials) in high school
For Shoreline and Seattle, the 24-credit graduation requirement starts with the class of 2021 (rising 10th graders) and beyond, as both districts have a 2-year waiver. Neither district has finalized plans for offering more credits beyond their current 6-period day/24 credit earning opportunities!
Come and learn more about this new requirement.
The PTSA meets at Chief Sealth at 7 pm Tuesday, at 2600 SW Thistle.
That’s one of at least two cars broken into in the past hour or so, according to a texter, who says a purse was stolen from the other car but didn’t have a wallet inside. No police report # yet but the victim wanted to get the word out.
Today we welcome a new WSB sponsor, Brio at Greenbridge, which opens tomorrow at 9888 7th SW. Here’s the announcement:
11 am-6 pm Tuesday, November 13th, we’re opening a delightful new neighborhood, 22 modern townhomes close to West Seattle, Burien, and White Center!
Greenbridge is a planned community at the center of the recent Southwest Seattle revival. We just made it more exciting with the debut of BDR Urban’s newest collection of modern, thoughtfully designed townhomes. These stunning homes are modern in style, packed with features and designed for both family life and entertaining. Imagine an in-city, brand new home, in an area with a quick commute to both Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport. And at a price you’ll find quite attainable!
The Greenbridge planned community offers a variety of neighborhood and pocket parks, walking trails, playgrounds, and its own community center with shops, a recreation center, and brand-new library.
SURPRISING SIDE OF SEATTLE
More and more families are discovering the fun and style of Southwest Seattle’s many vintage neighborhoods, spacious parks, and walkable beaches. They are also discovering a unique blend of culture and style.
Rich in history, Southwest Seattle is a group of neighborhoods welcoming new families, trend-setters, and cultural creatives who are all uncovering its many charms and are happy to call it home.
We invite you to come visit and discover for yourself The Surprising Side of Seattle. Visit BDR Urban on the web at bdrhomesllc.com.
We thank BDR Urban for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
As first noted here back on Friday, southbound Highway 99 will close this coming weekend for more work in advance of the viaduct-to-tunnel transition. WSDOT just sent this reminder:
The State Route 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct through Seattle is scheduled to close this weekend at 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16 and reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, Nov. 19. Northbound SR 99 will remain open.
Southbound SR 99 will close between the south end of the Battery Street Tunnel and South Spokane Street to allow crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation to finish paving work near South Atlantic Street. The work must occur before crews can open the new SR 99 tunnel in early 2019.
The paving work requires good weather and will be rescheduled if heavy rain is expected.
This gives us the opportunity to note that the permanent closure of the Alaskan Way Viaduct is now less than two months away – January 11th, as announced two months ago. WSDOT says it’ll then need about three weeks to “realign 99” before the tunnel can open; the exact opening date isn’t set yet, but WSDOT did announce recently that a pre-opening weekend of viaduct goodbyes and tunnel hellos is set for February 2-3. (By the way, we did verify with the King County Water Taxi that it will NOT be offering weekend service for that event – it’s doubling up during the shutdown, but as with the standard winter service, weekday commuter periods only.)
P.S. If you still have questions about getting around post-viaduct, be at next Monday’s Junction Neighborhood Organization meeting (6:30 pm November 19th, Senior Center/Sisson Building, 4217 SW Oregon) – city/county/state reps are on the agenda to talk about it.
The official Veterans Day observance doesn’t mean everything’s closed. Libraries, for example, are open. They’re part of our list of highlights for the rest of today/tonight:
TALK PUBLIC SAFETY WITH THE MAYOR: As previewed here last night, Mayor Jenny Durkan and Police Chief Carmen Best are touring The Junction this afternoon, with a public coffee chat at Cupcake Royale at 4:15 pm. Got a public-safety question for them? Bring it. (California/Alaska)
PHYSICAL THERAPY NIGHT: Free evaluation at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), 5:30-7 pm. (2743 California SW)
WHEN IS HOME NO LONGER A SAFE OPTION? Free talk/discussion at Aegis Living of West Seattle (WSB sponsor), 6 pm. Appetizers and refreshments. (4700 SW Admiral Way)
EVENING BOOK GROUP IN WESTWOOD: Southwest Library‘s evening book group meets at 6:45 pm. This month’s book is “Citizen Vince” by Jess Walter. (9010 35th SW)
EVENING BOOK GROUP IN ADMIRAL: West Seattle (Admiral) Library‘s evening book group also meets at 6:45 pm. This month’s book is “Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher” by Timothy Egan. (2306 42nd SW)
AND THERE’S MORE! See our complete calendar here.
(WSB photo from 2017 Hall at Fauntleroy Thanksgiving dinner)
Just a week and a half until Thanksgiving Day, and this will be the 20th year that everyone is invited to a free community Thanksgiving dinner at The Hall at Fauntleroy. If you haven’t already seen it in our calendar and Holiday Guide, here’s when/where, and how to help even if you’re dining elsewhere:
Join us for a free Community Thanksgiving meal at the Hall at Fauntleroy in West Seattle on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 22nd, from 12 noon to 3:00 pm. All are welcome for a traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings. This is the 20th year that Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes owners Meg and David Haggerty and David Meckstroth have hosted this dinner. They are joined by a wonderful group of volunteers who help greet our welcome guests and serve dinner.
We will gladly accept donations for desserts. Desserts can be dropped off at our Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes office in Sodo – 4101 Airport Way South – from Monday, November 19th, to Wednesday, November 21st, from 9 am to 3 pm, or you can bring it to the Hall at Fauntleroy on Thanksgiving Day from 10 am to 1 pm.
This year we are also collecting new socks and blankets and gently used warm clothing for our clothing bank.
Most volunteer spots are filled but if you’d like to help – check here. You can also sign up there to let them know you’ll donate a dessert, though you can also donate (per the times/places above) without signing up. The Hall at Fauntleroy is on the south end of the historic schoolhouse at 9131 California SW.
(SDOT MAP with travel times. Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE. West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:30 AM: Good morning! Schools are out today. Transit/transportation notes for the Veterans Day observance:
Metro – Reduced weekday service
Sound Transit – Regular weekday service
Water Taxi – No service
Street parking – In Seattle neighborhoods with pay station/metered parking, no charge today
Traffic/transit problem others should know about too? Call/text 206-293-6302 when you can do so safely/legally – thank you!
On the eve of a big public-safety-related City Council vote, Mayor Jenny Durkan and Police Chief Carmen Best are coming to the West Seattle Junction Monday afternoon. Part of their visit is billed as a “neighborhood walking tour,” followed by a 4:15 pm gathering at Cupcake Royale where they “will meet with residents and business owners for coffee to discuss public safety and issues facing residents and businesses in the community,” according to the announcement we received tonight from the mayor’s office. (The Junction, you might recall hearing, is the city’s first neighborhood business district to start its own Block Watch.) This is happening on the eve of the City Council’s scheduled consideration Tuesday afternoon of the contract agreement with the police union, which won’t take effect unless seven of the nine councilmembers approve it and which has drawn some controversy.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
On the long to-do lists that usurp most days for most people, it’s easy to let the maybes slide beneath the certainties.
Thanksgiving? Definitely a week and a half away.
Catastrophic earthquake? Could happen tomorrow … or not in your lifetime, or your children’s lifetimes, or their children’s lifetimes.
Still, about 200 people filled the auditorium at Hiawatha Community Center a week ago to start their weekend getting practical advice for getting ready for the latter.
It was a power-packed few hours, going beyond the standard advice you might have tuned out despite best intentions.
The longtime local volunteers of West Seattle Be Prepared and the West Seattle Emergency Communication Hubs were elated by the turnout. It was the second of two nearly identical weekend sessions they had organized, the first one a month earlier at High Point Community Center. They’re hoping to do it again in 2019. Before our toplines: Highlights from videographer Mark Jaroslaw:
The event provided more than preparedness advice – it gave a bigger view, too, as well as a behind-the-scenes window into how public servants are, and are not, getting ready:
(WSB photo, November 2017)
Once again this year, Eastridge Church plans a turkey-and-groceries giveaway at both its campuses, including West Seattle, so no one goes without a Thanksgiving feast. The event next Saturday morning (November 17) is already in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, and the church has just sent the full announcement:
Eastridge Church will provide 1,500 free Thanksgiving turkeys and bags of groceries to families in need on Saturday, November 17, beginning at 9 a.m. (while supplies last) at their two locations: Issaquah and West Seattle. The church will also be giving away coats, gloves, Bibles and, in Issaquah, free haircuts from licensed stylists.
For nearly 15 years, Eastridge Church has put on the giveaway and offered a free turkey and bag of groceries to families in the community who may need a little help to put a holiday meal on their table. Eastridge Church’s goal through the event is to demonstrate to its neighbors that Eastridge cares by providing a meal this Thanksgiving.
When:
Saturday, November 17, starting at 9 a.m., while supplies lastWhere:
The Issaquah Campus of Eastridge Church, 24205 Issaquah-Fall City Road, Issaquah
The West Seattle Campus of Eastridge Church, 4500 39th Avenue SW, SeattleThe 1,500 dinner packages will be given out first-come, first-served, with no demonstration of need required to receive the assistance.
Thanks to Lora Radford, executive director of the West Seattle Junction Association, for the photos! Renovation work is done at the Mosquito Fleet mural on the east side of the city-landmark Campbell Building in The Junction. Here’s what it looked like before muralist Bob Henry started work:
This was Henry’s second mural-restoration project in West Seattle, after the Morgan Street Market mural. (Here’s the backstory on the mural-restoration campaign and how to be part of it.)
Just thought we’d make a note of this, since it’s a quiet day so far: The 15th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day is exactly six months away – Saturday, May 11, 2019. It’s the one event we present each year; a community-connection nonprofit called Megawatt launched it in 2005, then looked for someone to take it over after 2007, and that turned out to be WSB, so we’ve presented it on the second Saturday in May each year since 2008. Registration starts in early April, and then we publish the map and listings one week before The Big Day. New to West Seattle? Here’s our as-it-happened coverage from this year’s WSCGSD – report #1 and report #2.
(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
Long before the West Seattle Farmers’ Market drew its usual throngs to The Junction, volunteers were out this morning, setting flags in place for Veterans day.
(Photo sent by Frank S)
Volunteers will return to The Junction around 4 to get the flags back down before sunset.
At 11:11 am, Washington State Ferries will commemorate Veterans Day with a moment of silence on all vessels, followed by blowing the ships’ whistles. From the announcement: “Please join us in remembering and thanking our veterans for their service in the U.S. Armed Forces.”
(Photo by Bob Spears, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
Welcome to Sunday! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, in the street, in the heart of The Junction. At the south end, look for the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle with coffee and ticket sales for their December 1st pancake breakfast. (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)
FAUNTLEROY FINE ART & HOLIDAY GIFT SHOW, LAST CHANCE: The third and final day of the show runs 11 am-2 pm in the Fellowship Hall at Fauntleroy Church. See the list of participating artists in our calendar listing! (9140 California SW)
STRONG4SAM BARBECUE BENEFIT: At the West Seattle Eagles during the 1:25 pm Seahawks-Rams game:
To The Bone BBQ will be hosting a fundraising halftime meal at the West Seattle Eagles Aerie in an effort to raise money for the Strong4Sam foundation and Project Violet. Food, drinks, raffles & Seahawks football on the big screen will be had. Entry is free, but donations to the foundation are encouraged. Cash bar. 100% of the proceeds from food sales, raffle tickets, Strong4Sam products & donations go directly to the Strong4Sam foundation in support of Project Violet. Below is the story of why Strong4Sam was started.
In December 2014, Jeff and Kellea Taylor received the devastating news that their youngest son, 11 year old Sam, had an inoperable brain tumor. In the following months, their family was inundated with information about brain tumors and treatment options. They learned the hard way that, while effective, the existing treatment options come with difficult and painful side effects. It was during these early months that they also learned about Project Violet, a nonprofit research group at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, started by Sam’s doctor Dr. Jim Olsen, and dedicated to discovering more effective and less toxic therapies for pediatric cancer.
Born out of the Taylors’ desire to do everything possible to help Sam, Strong4Sam was created as a fundraising group in support of Project Violet, which is funded exclusively through private donations.
In May 2015, after raising and donating over $40,000 for Project Violet, the Taylors established the Strong4Sam Foundation with the following mission: Strong4Sam is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating community awareness and raising funds for innovative research to discover more effective and less toxic therapies for pediatric cancer.
(4426 California SW)
BYSTANDER INTERVENTION PRACTICE: 2 pm-4 pm at Admiral UCC, practice bystander-intervention skills with Anti-Hate Alaska Junction, as explained here. (4320 SW Hill)
PRAIRIE DAWN LIVE @ C & P: 3-5 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), Prairie Dawn performs “jazz influenced duo with an eclectic repertoire of standards and originals.” No cover. (5612 California SW)
J MASCIS LIVE IN-STORE: 6 pm, two days after new album “Elastic Days” went on sale, J Mascis is live in-store at Easy Street Records. Free. All ages. (California SW & SW Alaska)
TOMORROW & BEYOND … look into the future via the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and newly launched Holiday Guide.
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