Police are looking for a silver 2001 four-door Infiniti reportedly stolen by carjackers within the past half-hour or so. This is reported to have happened in the 9400 block of Delridge Way. The initial description over police radio was “four unknown-race males,” late teens or early 20s, wearing masks. No other details so far.
Right after last night’s Alki Community Council meeting, we reported one headline – the launch of a donation drive to deal with cracks in the Alki Statue of Liberty’s pedestal. Tonight, the rest of what happened at the meeting, facilitated by ACC president Charlotte Starck:
ALKI CRIME AND SAFETY: ACC leaders have been fighting for city attention and action on this issue, particularly after the Fourth of July mayhem. They’ve met with officials but wanted to give community members a chance to hear firsthand what’s happening (or not), and to ask questions.
First of two guests was Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Krista Bair acknowledged that crime “definitely has upticked” on Alki, particularly gunfire. Statswise, Capt. Bair said robberies are up in Alki, and there’s a “pattern” right now with armed robbers hitting small convenience-type stores. While they usually have video systems, sometimes the employee(s) on duty don’t have access to the system, so officers can’t access it immediately and can’t circulate images quickly. Despite the recent “uptick,” Capt. Bair said, data shows shots-fired incidents are actually down from last year – eight so far this year, compared to 10 in the same period of 2025.
She explained that when officers respond, they collect casings because they have “fingerprints” from specific guns. “We do this forensic testing on every casing,” she said. They can track guns, though they are often passed around. Gun crimes are also discussed on a citywide weekly call. For those who wonder if most of the gunfire incidents are gang-related, Capt. Bair said two of the Alki cases fell into that category. There also was one case of gang graffiti, and she said it was removed quickly. The precinct commander also touched on Alki business burglaries.
One attendee said her perception is that fewer police have been seen on Alki. Capt. Bair acknowledged it takes too long to get there and that needs to improve. She said she’d like to deploy bicycle officers but some officers don’t want to get bicycle training because they might subsequently be deployed to protest duty, since, she said, that’s the current priority for bicycle officers. She said she also had tried to get an Alki outpost, with space “offered to us” near Don Armeni, but red tape strangled it. But she did have officers on “directed patrol,” assigned to Alki. Staffing remains a challenge, she said, with 10 officers per shift if everyone’s working. “We’re definitely doing better in our recruiting,” she said, although she said that the end of hiring bonuses might affect that.
Then Alison Holcomb, Mayor Wilson’s public-safety director, stepped up; Starck talked about the 20-block area of terror and danger on July 4 – she’s collected exhaustive documentation including videos – and said she and others are hoping to figure out to ensure that doesn’t happen next year.
Addressing what Capt. Bair had said about hiring bonuses, Holcomb contended that shouldn’t be a big deal because police salaries were boosted in the newest contract. She also suggested that the bonuses attracted too many unqualified recruits who “washed out.” She said they are concerned about burning out the high-level officers who are training those recruits.
She also made a point of saying that Mayor Wilson is not anti-police. She wants officers who truly care about the city, Holcomb insisted, and she wants to end the “police chief churn” – which Holcomb said was the result of some previous chiefs she considered to be “circuit chiefs” who worked in Seattle to check a box on their resume. (Aside from recently departed Chief Shon Barnes, it wasn’t clear who she might have been referring to; the previous two chiefs had both worked their way up from within SPD, not counting Interim Chief Sue Rahr, who came out of retirement to fill in.)
Holcomb – who described herself as a former longtime criminal-defense attorney and ACLU executive – said what matters most is the relationship police are building with their community. “We’re thinking about the policing that’s actually going to work for you and your community,” She also talked a bit about how crime prevention might factor into that.
Q&A was where things got intermittently contentious. One Alki businessperson said police are slow to respond when called. A co-worker of his asked why Alki can’t get cameras, noting a recent downtown violent crime in which video helped lead to an arrest. “No camera has ever prevented a crime from happening,” Holcomb declared, while going on to say that “the mayor and I are not anti-camera … The mayor has not said no to cameras” but instead has “just launched a pilot … and we won’t do anything else until we evaluate it.” She said the council “broke their proomise” by calling for an expanded program without being sure that they’re not potographing people in the privacy of their own homes. Holcomb said all Wilson has asked for is to pause the expansion. “This question is going to be answered this year,” she promised, adding,”Mayor Wilson does understand the cameras serve a purpose.”
What about the short police staffing? Holcomb reiterated that 47 percent of recruits “washed out.”
Back to the camera issue, Starck asked, wpuld Alki ever get them? If the camera expansion eventually proceeds, what would the criteria be? Holcomb then suggested that the policy analysis should also be seen in the light of other spending priorities for the expected budget crunch – things she thinks should be better at preventing crime, like more police, more lights (which Alki community members have asked for), etc. She said cameras can help bring someone to justice after a crime but can’t prevent it.
Back to the Fourth of July fireworks mayhem- “it felt like a war zone” that night, an attendee said, as concern resurfaced about how to ensure it didn’t happen again next year. Another attendee suggested there should be a public meeting just on that issue. Holcomb said that should be up to Starck, who promptly said she’ll schedule it. But considering fireworks are illegal, some wanted to know, “Why aren’t the rules being enforced?” At that point, Holcomb snapped, “I get it, you just want to send everybody to jail. I want to stop the crime from happening in the first place.”
“We just want to be safe,” somebody in the front row countered, and Starck emphasized that.
Also at the meeting:
ALKI TRICK OR TREAT: It’s scheduled for 11 am to 1 pm on Saturday, October 24. Volunteers needed!
ALKI HOLIDAY LIGHTS: Friday, November 27, is when the Christmas Ship comes to Alki, so that’s the night for the ACC Holiday Lights celebration at the beach. Volunteers are needed for this too!
RESTORING RECREATION TO ALKI CC: As we’ve reported, the Alki Community Center has been a child-care/preschool facility for more than a decade, and the city has said that’s not expected to change any time soon. But the ACC is trying to get some recreation programs restored, and Starck said they’re “making some progress.” As a first step, there are new programs at Alki Bathhouse – Starck provided us with details post-meeting:
The Watercolor and Mindfulness & Meditation are new classes are at the Alki Bathhouse.
Go to the Seattle Parks Home page, and click on “Activities.”. Then scroll down to the “when” “where” section and input or click on the Alki Bathhouse as the location.
(L-R: Melanie Baer, Patricia Shuster, Antoine Smith, Sokphal Tun)
West Seattle runners Patti Shuster, Sokphal Tun, Melanie Baer, and Antoine Smith were recently in Australia to run the Sydney 5k and Marathon races on August 29th and 30th. The Sydney Marathon is one of the eight prestigious and sought-after world major marathons. They are all fans of our own local running store, West Seattle Runner.
Another two-day event to consider for your weekend plans – the Fauntleroy Church Second-Time Sale! Here’s the preview sent to us to share with you:
Another huge Second-Time Sale at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California Ave. SW) will open at 9:00 am tomorrow (9/19) with just about anything you might need or simply fall in love with, at a bargain price.
(Above, the ‘stuffie menagerie’ is part of the toy section)
Since 1992, the congregation has welcomed donations throughout the year to make this much more than a rummage sale. Items have been curated, cleaned, tested, and organized for easy browsing. The sale will have housewares, jewelry, furniture, craft supplies, sports gear, tools, and more, including a bake sale with treats to take home or nibble while shopping.
Hours are 9 am-4 pm Saturday and 11:30 am-3:00 pm Sunday. The church has off-street parking and elevator access to all sale level.
Photos were taken by Ana Del Claro as volunteers were finishing setting up earlier today.
West Seattle’s biggest art event of the year is hours away!
The 2026 West Seattle Art Tour is happening both days this weekend, 10 am-5 pm Saturday and Sunday. What’s different about the West Seattle Art Tour is that you get to see artists in their studios, with behind-the-scenes views of their creative work. Many artists with studios are hosting “guest artists” too, so most stops bring you the chance to meet more than one artist. A multitude of media is featured – photography, pottery, painting, paper, printmaking, drawing, digital, textile, glass, jewelry, sculpture … you can browse the artists A-Z here, browse the 16 tour sites here, and find the map – printable or interactive – by going here. The West Seattle Art Tour is organized by the artists and supported by community sponsors (including WSB). You decide how much to see – from one stop to all 16!
Two years after the city chose Homestead Community Land Trust as the developer for an “affordable homeownership” project at 16th SW and SW Holden, you can’t see signs of change at the fenced ex-substation yet, but we have an update:
The plan is in the city permit system now, with a recent early-stage filing, and Homestead CLT will be at next Wednesday’s HPAC meeting with the newest information. Even before that appearance was confirmed, Homestead CLT CEO Kathleen Hosfeld told WSB they were working to “convene conversations [with the community] about some design choices before we submit a permit” – so the HPAC meeting is part of that:
Homestead Community Land Trust and SMR Architects have been working to incorporate the community’s early guidance about what should be built at the former Dumar Substation site. We will share an update on the project’s design and permitting timeline and invite further community input, particularly on options for the ground-floor commercial or retail space. We will also answer general questions about the project.
HPAC meets Wednesday at 6:30 pm at Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW).
As announced in 2024, the city Office of Housing committed to investing up to $3 million to “support the creation of 21 permanently affordable homes” on the site. (They’ll be for sale, not rent.) The ground-floor commercial (or retail) space is something community members advocated for. The preliminary site plan filed with the city shows an outline for a four-story building with 20 units, two live-work units, and a commercial space. The primary residential entry would be on 16th, while the residential and live-work units’ entries would be on Holden, and a “garage entry” is listed off the west-side alley. Hosfeld says they’re still working on more funding in hopes work can start next year, planning to apply for a share of the state’s Housing Trust Fund. The ~9,400-square-foot site is one of the ex-substations the city decided to dispose of more than a decade ago.
Starbird Chicken has just announced the opening date for its West Seattle location at The Whittaker (4755 Fauntleroy Way SW): Monday, September 28, 11 am-9 pm. And they’re planning a giveaway:
Checking the early-morning police calls, we found a confirmed incident of early-morning gunfire. The 911 call came from someone near Beach Drive and SW Oregon around 2:20 am, in the Me Kwa Mooks Park/Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook area. According to radio archives, the responding officers found “shotgun rounds.” We just obtained the report narrative from SPD; it described what was found as “two spent shotgun 20GA casings.” Police say nearby residents reported noticing a “black sedan leaving southbound” after the shots. No injuries or property damage reported.
(On Elliott Bay this morning – photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
The weekend’s almost in view. Here are highlights for the rest of your Friday, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: Late-summer gardening? The center has plants! Open until 3 pm on the north end of the main campus of South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor).
COMMUNITY NOTARY DAY: Need something notarized? Visit Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW), 3-5 pm.
WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION WINE WALK: 5-9 pm, one ticket gets you 14 tastes as wineries pair up with businesses around The Junction, ticket link in our calendar listing – or pay in person at the check-in spots.
TASTING ROOM AND WINE BAR: Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) is open 5-9 pm Fridays. Stop in to sip, and/or buy a bottle.
WESTFEST: Night 1 of the festival presented by Holy Rosary School (42nd/Genesee) – see the stage lineup in our preview.
ALBUM-RELEASE SHOW AT EASY STREET: Will Roesner performs to celebrate “Natural Love,” 7 pm at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW), all ages, free.
HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: One local team has a home football game – 7 pm at Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) – West Seattle HS hosting Lincoln.
NEW PLAY AT ARTSWEST: 7:30 pm, second night for “The Chinese Lady” at ArtsWest (4711 California SW) – info including ticket link is in our calendar listing.
ALBUM RELEASE SHOW AT TIM’S: Summer Sleeves heads the bill, with KRANE and The Linens, 8:30 pm at Tim’s Tavern (16th/98th, White Center), all ages until 10 pm.
SPINNING:Revelry Room (4547 California SW) regular Friday night spinning – with DJ Vitamin D tonight, starting at 9 pm.
‘MAKE IT LOUD’ SKATING WITH MUSIC: Tonight, Yellfire & Hiss, 9 pm at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW). 21+. $20 cover/$5 skates.
Family and friends will gather September 26 to remember Carla Butzerin, and are sharing this remembrance with her community:
Carla Amelia Butzerin was born November 20th, 1962 in Seattle to parents Kathryn Constance and Marcus Joseph Butzerin. She passed away at her West Seattle home on September 2nd, 2026.
Carla grew up in West Seattle and attended Kennedy High School and the University of Washington, where she graduated summa cum laude from the UW School of Business.
Carla passed all four parts of the CPA exam on her first try and worked as a certified public accountant in West Seattle during her early years. More recently, she lived a quiet life at her home in West Seattle, assisting her aging parents. She loved cats and dogs and doted on her own pets as well as fostering pets for shelters and elderly neighbors. Carla was an affectionate, kind-hearted soul who loved her family and friends. She is deeply missed.
A Buddhist memorial ceremony will be held on Saturday, September 26th at 11:00 am, followed immediately by an informal celebration of life. Carla is survived by her sisters JoAnne Butzerin, Teresa Roth, and Mary Le Seur, and brother Peter Butzerin, as well as 14 nieces and nephews and 13 grand nieces and nephews. Her parents and beloved brother Robert preceded her in death, with Robert passing away on January 18 of this year.
Carla’s memorial ceremony and celebration of life will be held at the family’s West Seattle home. For directions, please call Mary Kathryn LaSeur at 206-280-8596 or JoAnne Marie Butzerin at 206-501-8526.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Here’s the westward view:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
See a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water? Please text or call our hotline (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
One week ago, we visited the Alki Statue of Liberty to ponder those who gathered by the statue to mourn on and after 9/11, 25 years earlier. Tonight, the Alki Community Council launched a donation drive to get the statue a new “coat” – protective coating to stop its base from cracking. Leading the ACC meeting, president Charlotte Starck said “the good news is it’s fixable and doesn’t cost that much,” about $4,000. The ACC maintains the plaza, dedicated in 2008, with money left over from the community donations that funded it back then, money that’s not accessible for work like this, so they’re launching a drive to raise $5,000 to cover the cost. You can donate here. “It’s either, do something about it, or sit here and watch it deteriorate,” Starck said. This was one of three major topics at tonight’s meeting; we’ll report on the other two tomorrow!
ADDED FRIDAY MORNING: Close-up photo of the cracks, from the ACC:
The last person to comment at this afternoon’s Roxhill Park community-safety meeting got to the heart of the matter:
The panel at the head of the crowded meeting room was full of enforcers and responders. The problem ultimately belonged in the laps of the policymakers.
But none of them were there, though otherwise it was an impressive assemblage of panelists facing the room at Village Green West Seattle (WSB sponsor), which organized the meeting with Southwest Precinct crime-prevention coordinator Jennifer Satterwhite.
Director Eva Thomas opened, asking for civility for a “constructive dialogue where everybody has the right to be heard.” Here’s our video of the meeting, followed by our recap:
Represented agencies, departments, and teams included:
Unified Care Team Seattle Police Seattle Fire King County Sheriff’s Office Seattle Parks and Recreation
Satterwhite facilitated.
She first gave the mic to UCT representatives (above) who talked about their processes. She said their goal is “to keep places safe and accessible,” citywide.
Next UCT rep was the regional manager for this area, Darius Foster. He also talked about processes. “Harm reduction strategies” are their focus, he said, from service provision to cleanup. “At the end of the day our goal is to resolve.a location.” He said their response is not based on the number of service requests they get. He also said there are legal rules they have to follow – including outreach before a clearance. They do need some SPD response, as on-site secuity: “They are not engaged with unhoused individuals unless they absolutely need to be.” Safety, dignity, and compassion are important, he said. They also have to plan ahead – several weeks to several months – and they are well aware sites are often repopulated soon after clearances. But they try to ensure that “the temperature is lowered” and the sites don’t become as bad as they had been.
An Alternative Response Team rep spoke next- they are law-enforcement officers, he explained. (Lt. Ziemer is the commander of the unit.) Safety issues are brought to his attention, and this one rose higher on the UCT’s list after the shooting.
A Parks rep spoke next.He said Park Rangers have beefed up their patrols of Roxhill Park “for at least the next few weeks.” He was followed by a Parks rep who said Roxhill Park has two fulltime maintenance personnel who go there every day. Right now they’re working to “open up” the trail that leads from the bus stop,
Monty Powell, Village Green’s owner, spoke first in Q&A: “This is a serious problem.” He asked if the city can clear “the secrecy” out of the park. He also asked if police can remove troublemakers as trespassers. “What they’re doing out there is destroying the value of this community.” He was applauded.
The Parks crew rep said “we are working to open up some sightlines” but also said the park’s bog can’t be entirely cleared of vegetation, for ecological reasons.
Powell expressed a request to collaborate with Parks, saying they share a 600-foot line. Parks mentioned the experiment to bring back water to the box, and said the first section involved in the experiment has water and is not encamped, so they hope to expand that.
Asked about trespassing, the Alternative Response rep said they have to follow the MDAR rules. They also could enforce Parks trespassing rules. “So it can be enforced, but will it be?” asked Powell. That’s up to the responding officer, he said.
So if an individual is setting up a tenant, are they breaing the law? Yes, but there’s a clear set of city rules about how that can be addressed. The UCT rep underscored that, noting there is a distinct set of rules for addressing encampments as opposed to individuals.
Another man said signage says no one’s allowed in the park 11-7 (overnight), but people are there, and he doesn’t feel safe.
Satterwhite asked precinct Operations Lt. Pat Daley how SPD would respond to crime in an encampment. He urged that criminal activity be reported to 911.
What if an illegal fire is reported? SFD Lt. Shata Stephenson with the city Fire Marshal’s office said they evaluate whether there’s a safety risk to firefighters, and what kind of risk the fire poses.
An attendee mentioned numerous calls about fires and was told they wouldn’t come out because the fire was contained. But smoke is an issue, she said. Lt. Stephenson said if it’s a small fire they might not put it out.
Next attendee to speak said he’s concerned because “We’re dancing around the problem.” He also said the smoke causes irritation. He said the smoke is the problem, a “public hazard,” not the housing status of the person. He was concerned about action not being taken because “it’s an encampment.” But in response, Foster from the UCT says encampment status doesn’t mean no action. He said they’re working on policies and are determine to ensure this site doesn’t get back to what it was. But a lot of multi-level collaboration is needed.
The next person to speak said he has teenage daughters who have been harassed in the park. He says his parking lot has crime with perpetrators that leave him feeling like he is the intruder. He said he’s never wanted to own a gun but is thinking about it now.
An attendee then called out from the audience that “they have more rights than we do” because of the rules and policies.
Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Krista Bair said bluntly, “We can’t enforce our way out of homelessness …We are working on it as a city.” She said they are “trying to get creative” with enforcing laws. She brought up the “extraordinary amount of theft” at Westwood Village and how they are working on that, in collaboration with businesses.” The theft-targeted businesses are seen by some as a source of “free stuff” and they’re working on taking that away. She said, “Things have changed,” since she returned to patrol operations in 2021. She is encouraged.that the two new tiny-home villages in West Seattle and South Park will help matters by getting more people off the street and on their feet. They do what they can to enforce laws in the meantime, but staffing remains an issue, Capt. Bair said – they have 10 officers per shift on a good day, and sometimes all they can do is “triage.” She agreed that it’s disheartening but “we all are aware” and the community can help: Online reports, calls to the non-emergency line,private security camera video. Even just being at a meeting like this helps. Don’t move from the area, she urged – stay and fight. She also noted there had been a clearance last weekend just east of Chief Sealth International High School.
A King County Sheriff’s Office detective from the transit unit – therefore responsible for buses and bus stops – spoke briefly. He was followed by a volunteer from A Cleaner Alki who said they’ve cleaned up Roxhill Park many times. She said they’ve offered a lot of ideas about things that could be changed in the park “to make it less inviting” to troublemakers, particular drug users/sellers. “Move the places that people do their drugs,” like benches. The Parks and Rec staffer said they have a staffing challenge too. “Our staff are going out there every day and filling their trucks with at least three loads of trash,” but they have to tend to dozens of other parks too.
UCT at that point said a tent or structure constitutes an “encampment.”
Another question was about bus stops and it was reiterated that KCSO is responsible for those – but if something is happening now, call 911.
And the last person to speak said that those who came to answer questions are “enforcers,” but not policy-makers, and they need to have a face-to-face with them. (No elected officials were in attendance, but Michael Taylor-Judd from City Councilmember Rob Saka’s office was in the audience.
6:33 PM: Thanks for the many tips on this. Avoid the Fauntleroy ferry dock area on Fauntleroy Way for a while – there’s an emergency response for an injured man. Nobody who tipped us seemed to know exactly what happened until we got a call just now from someone who said that they were a witness and that the injured man was on a bicycle and collided with a driver. The witness says they and others jumped into action to treat the man’s injuries, SFD also responded and we’re checking with them on his condition.
8:48 PM: This was actually an “isolated bicycle collision,” according to SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo, who says firefighters “treated an approx. 50-year-old male who was in stable condition. The patient declined transportation to a hospital.”
ï‚· SDOT will remove and repave the top 2 inches of the street at the location listed above.
ï‚· Parking will be restricted. o 72 hours before the work starts and parking restrictions begin, “NO PARKINGâ€
signs will be placed on the street.
Monday, Sept 21 – Wednesday, Sept 23
o SW 106th St between 35th Ave SW and 32nd Ave SW will be reduced to a single lane alternating between eastbound and westbound traffic.
o Driveways will be CLOSED during working hours. Driveway access will be provided to the extent possible, but there may be delays of up to one hour to let equipment clear or to let new asphalt cool down enough to accept traffic loads. ï‚·
Monday, Sept 28 – Tuesday, Sept 29
o SW 106th St from 35th Ave SW to 34th Ave SW will be CLOSED with Local Access Only.
o 35th Ave SW at SW 106th St will be reduced to a single lane alternating between northbound and southbound traffic.
o Driveways will be CLOSED during working hours. Driveway access will be provided to the extent possible, but there may be delays of up to one hour to let equipment clear or to let new asphalt cool down enough to accept traffic loads. ï‚·
Wednesday, Sept 30 – Thursday, Oct 1
o SW 106th St from 35th Ave SW to 39th Ave SW will be CLOSED with Local Access Only.
o 35th Ave SW at SW 106th St will be reduced to a single lane alternating between northbound and southbound traffic
This Saturday afternoon, West Seattle Indivisible is planning its first multi-streetcorner protest in a while. Here’s the announcement we received:
WSI is sponsoring an anti-ICE demonstration on Saturday 9/19 from 1-3 pm. Participants will line California Ave SW, gathering at 15 intersections from Morgan Junction to Admiral Way. Each person will hold “tombstone†signs that include portraits, date of death, and location of those who have died as a result of ICE actions to date in 2026.
A minimum of four individuals will be at each intersection (although it looks like most of them are full with 8). Groups of 4-8 are encouraged to sign up for a corner together, but individuals are welcome too. This is meant to be a somber acknowledgement of the harm ICE has caused to the 78 people – and their families and communities – that have died as a result of ICE actions this year. Participants will be wearing black to emotionally underscore the senseless tragedy of these lost lives.
There’s a map, and a signup link for anyone interested in participating, on WSI’s home page.
Basically I saw the ad Shannon and John put out for the business and I knew I had to go for it!
I love blowing glass and playing a supportive role in the glass community. With this hot shop and retail space, which I’ve named HoneyDew Glassworks, I plan to make a space that other glassblowers can utilize both in the making of their art and the sustaining of their livelihood. As well as creating and selling my own work, I will be renting out studio bench time to glass artists and providing the opportunity for anyone to sell their work through the Honeydew Store.
I’m not exactly sure when I’ll be able to open but I’m really gunning for before December. I want to have a fun little opening event when that time comes! Planning on being open 5 days a week but not exactly sure which days yet.
Lots to work on and finalize for me but I’m so thrilled for this journey!
The space at 2914 SW Avalon Way has been a glassblowing studio for more than 30 years.
(SDOT traffic camera image in aftermath of Sept. 14, 2024 crash)
SDOT just announced another closure of the West Seattle low bridge as it continues replacing gates damaged when a driver hit them two years ago:
The next round of repairs and improvements are coming for the South Spokane Street Swing Bridge (also know as the Low Bridge).
We will close the Spokane Swing Bridge to replace the barrier gate at the East side of the bridge. During this time, people will not be able to drive across the bridge, but they will be able to bike/roll or walk across.
When?
Beginning at 7 am Saturday, September 26, and ending at 4 am Monday, September 28.
Why?
As a result of the September 2024 vehicle collision, the entire barrier gate system has been having issues. We will be replacing the barrier gate at the East side of the bridge.
(Petunias seen recently at SSC Garden Center – open today! – photo by Margaret)
Yet another lively list of what’s happening around West Seattle in the hours ahead, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll find even more – THANK YOU to everyone who sends events for us to share!):
LUNCH & LEARN ALL ABOUT PROTEIN: 12:30 pm, Neighborhood Naturopathic (WSB sponsor) presents a free webinar with Dr. Brie Woodruff on “Protein – Why It Matters and How Much You Need” – register here to get the link!
TRANSPORTATION FAIR:1-3 pm at Village Green West Seattle(2615 SW Barton; WSB sponsor), drop in to learn about the may transportation options open to seniors (and others).
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: From newbie to pro, all levels welcome at this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com to see where they’re playing today. (Even if you just want to know so you can be there to listen!)
NEW BEGINNER CLOGGING CLASS: Learn to clog! Join the class today, 1:30-2:30 pm at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds).
ROXHILL PARK COMMUNITY SAFETY MEETING: 3:30 pm, hosted by Village Green West Seattle (2615 SW Barton; WSB sponsor) with reps from agencies/departments including Seattle Police.
WEST SEATTLE SOCIAL HOUR: Want to meet people – in person? Camp West (4539 California SW) is hosting a weekly “social hour” where you can drop in (21+) and do that! 4 pm.
HPCS FOOD-TRUCK VISIT: First of two Thursday night events at HPCS – this week and every Thursday, 4-8 pm, Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) hosts a food truck. Tonight it’s Jeremy’s Chicken.
WINE TASTING WITH CLARK: Another regular Thursday event at HPCS, 5-7:30 pm – info here.
HELP HARVEST FOOD: Puget Ridge Edible Park (18th/Brandon) welcomes volunteers weekly to help harvest fresh food that will be donated to food banks – you can take some home too. Just be there 5-7 pm!
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY:Open 5-8 pm for your tool-borrowing needs. (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center)
RAT CITY ART AND FOOD WALK: 5-8 pm tonight, throughout South Delridge and White Center – venue info here.
BOOK SWAP WITH WINE! 5:30-7 pm, Paper Boat Booksellers (4522 California SW; WSB sponsor) hosts the monthly book swap -this month’s theme, “schools and academia” – bring one, take one! Plus $10 pours with Darby Winery,
WESTIES RUN CLUB + BEER RELEASE: 6 pm, starting from Good Society (California SW and SW Lander), you’re welcome to join the Westies Run Club‘s Thursday night community run, with a track-workout option, PLUS the release party for Westies Party Pace Pale.
ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: 7 pm in-person only at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds), including a discussion of ongoing Alki crime/safety issues – full agenda here.
OPENING NIGHT AT ARTSWEST: 7:30 pm, opening night performance of “The Chinese Lady” at ArtsWest (4711 California SW) – info including ticket link is in our calendar listing.
7:44 AM: Thanks for the tip. More than 300 Seattle City Light customers are out of power south of Fauntleroy and into the Arroyos. “Equipment failure” is listed as the cause; this appears to include the area where SCL has been replacing underground cables.
3:01 PM: Not fixed yet. SCL’s Kate Jacobs responded to our inquiry about the cause: “The outage was caused by a failure in aging underground cable. It underscores the importance of the Brace Point Underground Cable Replacement project, which will improve service reliability and enable faster restoration times once complete.”
7:49 PM: Two-car crash reported to be blocing one lane of eastbound West Seattle Bridge at 1st Ave.
9 AM: SDOT says the scene’s clear. Still very slow going EB, though.
ADDED THURSDAY AFTERNOON: SFD says a 31-year-old woman had minor injuries and did not need to be taken to a hospital.
Earlier:
6:02 AM: Good morning. It’s Thursday, September 17, 2026.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
Another sunny day expected, high in the low 70s. Sunrise will be at 6:49 am today; sunset will be at 7:16 pm. (Countdown: Five days until the official start of fall.)
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Here’s the westward view:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
See a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water? Please text or call our hotline (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
Around 9:15 pm, 911 got a call about suspected gunfire near 32nd SW and SW Trenton. Police weren’t able to confirm it until another 911 call a half-hour or so later from someone who said they had it on video – someone in a black sedan shooting at a nearby house, with a bullet hole in a garage door as a result. No injuries reported.
Right after last night’s 
Carla Amelia Butzerin was born November 20th, 1962 in Seattle to parents Kathryn Constance and Marcus Joseph Butzerin. She passed away at her West Seattle home on September 2nd, 2026.
WSI is sponsoring an anti-ICE demonstration on Saturday 9/19 from 1-3 pm. Participants will line California Ave SW, gathering at 15 intersections from Morgan Junction to Admiral Way. Each person will hold “tombstone†signs that include portraits, date of death, and location of those who have died as a result of ICE actions to date in 2026.
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