West Seattle, Washington
12 Tuesday
(photo by Tyler, substituted at 6:47 pm for our original cameraphone photo)
In case you saw the big police response right at Walk All Ways in The Junction a little while ago – we’ve gotten a couple inquiries – here’s what police say happened: Someone “inebriated” randomly decided to lash out at one or more innocent bystanders. The “inebriated” person was subdued, and arrested. Police told us everybody’s otherwise OK. 7:39 PM UPDATE: Thanks to Lachlan for pointing us, in the comment section, to this tweet from Easy Street‘s owner, saying the suspect was kicking a dog. FRIDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: After a commenter wrote that someone else was arrested at the scene, we checked with the Southwest Precinct to see if any more information was available today about the circumstances. Lt. Norm James‘ summary:
Call came in about 5:45 regarding an intoxicated male pushing people at California and Alaska. Turns out an intoxicated male confronted two male victims then kicked a dog that was passing by. The intoxicated male pushed one of the two victims and chest bumped the other. Both victims were fearful of the intoxicated suspect. Officers arrived and took the suspect into custody and placed him in the back of the patrol car. The suspect began trying to kick out the windows of the patrol car and subsequently there was a taser application on the suspect to control him. The fire department aid was called to extract the taser barbs (which is standard procedure). The suspect was then booked into KC Jail.
That photo shared on Facebook by Lee shows what kind of day it’s been – more than a little sunshine, but also some brief bursts from banks of dark clouds – we were in White Center around lunchtime when sleet started to fall; about the same time, Christopher e-mailed from The Junction that a flurry was under way. The forecast still says there’s a chance of snow in “heavier showers” later tonight and/or tomorrow, so while it looks great now, take a jacket. And take the walking map for the West Seattle Art Walk – it’s the second page of this 2-page PDF. We’ve also gotten details on one last feature to mention – at Mural Apartments (WSB sponsor), their future sister building Link Apartments (under construction in The Triangle) is sponsoring a performance by West Seattle guitarist Rod Moody during Art Walk, 6-9 pm. Plus, we’ve gotten a note that Sanislo Elementary has its Science Fair tonight, everybody welcome – 6-8 pm (map).
If you’re on KEXP Radio‘s e-mail list, you already heard this – a couple people mentioned it when they included it in an e-mail blast as an aside, but KEXP wouldn’t confirm it for us till now – May 21st is the date they’ve picked for the celebration of West Seattle’s victory in the “Hood-to-Hood” fundraising challenge last year (here’s our June 2009 report). Their short announcement says, “KEXP is planning to take over your neighborhood Friday May 21st with a LIVE Broadcast that will include live performances from bands and artists you love along with various evening showcases and events! Look for more updates in the near future!” At least one West Seattle venue has confirmed its live slate – see this Facebook status update from Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor).
Just in from Seattle Public Schools – Chief Sealth is now an International High School, the first one in the district. That matches it with Denny International Middle School, with whom it will share a campus starting in 2011. Coincidentally, we were just over at the construction site (shown above – renovating Sealth/building a new Denny) for a hardhat tour this morning; that story’s still in the works but this news can’t wait. Read on for the official district announcement:Read More
Just a few days after the one-year anniversary of the Delridge “problem properties” tour, featuring two city councilmembers, two city department heads, it’s demolition day for another of the rundown houses mapped by then-North Delridge Neighborhood Council chair Mike Dady. He had shared the news four weeks ago that the demolition permit had been granted for 4801 23rd SW (map) – a house he had said during the tour was boarded up only because he’d done it himself. Another of the properties on the April 2009 tour, 4117 Delridge, was demolished less than two months later. Two measures addressing some of the problems highlighted in the tour have become law – the chronic-nuisance-properties ordinance and the “derelict housing” ordinance, both finalized last December.
Two and a half months after an Alki woman was beaten unconscious in Tukwila while on the job as a Metro bus driver, she e-mailed to share the news that her 15- 14-year-old attacker is pleading guilty. We first reported on her story in January after her daughter posted in the WSB Forums. Two other teenage boys were arrested and charged, not in connection with attacking the driver, but for vandalizing the bus. Court documents indicated the incident was triggered when a group of boys became enraged that the driver wouldn’t open the rear doors long enough to let them all out. After the attack, a discussion of potential driver-safety improvements began, including the question of whether barriers could be put up to protect drivers; Metro said last month that some testing would begin soon (we’re checking). Meantime, we asked the driver how she is doing:
I am still recovering and still too traumatized and fearful to return to work. I am working with a physiologist. This has been a long, slow journey. I am still getting slight symptoms from the concussion, tiredness and headaches. Physically I will carry a scar inside my lip that will probably be there the rest of my life. *I plan on making a statement at the sentencing so if anyone, especially Metro Drivers in uniform were to show up, I would greatly appreciate the support. I was debating on whether to speak or not, but I feel I need to for closure and for reasons that I will talk about. I have had a rough time of it, but I am strong and will pull through.
She says the sentencing is set for 9:30 next Monday morning (April 12) in Juvenile Court. We have an inquiry out to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for any more information on the case’s status (we confirmed the guilty plea through an online court docket, but more-detailed records in juvenile cases are inaccessible online).
ADDED 3:24 PM: PAO spokesperson Dan Donohoe tells WSB, “We are seeking an exceptional sentence of 52 to 65 weeks. This is above the standard range of 15 to 36 weeks.” And he confirms the 9:30 am Monday sentencing, JC courtroom 2. In the document he also forwarded, the boy corrected his birthdate – he is 14, not 15. In the plea agreement, the state drops a second assault charge, and the boy writes his confession: “On January 23, 2010, I purposefully slapped (driver’s name), a human being. She became unconscious and had substantial facial injuries, as I understand it.” The two boys charged with malicious mischief, for vandalizing the bus, also have pleaded guilty, but under conditions of “deferred disposition” – basically, if they stay out of trouble for a certain amount of time (almost a year for one, six months for the other), there will be another hearing at which the cases will be dismissed.
ADDED 4:36 PM: We also now have an update on the bus safety-barrier test, from Metro spokesperson Rochelle Ogershok:
The demonstration began last Saturday (April 3) with one bus outfitted with a shield deployed out of Metro’s bus base in South King County. Over the next few weeks, six additional shields will be deployed on buses in other parts of the county. The buses will be rotated around and placed on a variety of routes and bus types so as many operators as possible have an opportunity to evaluate and comment on them. Operators will also have a chance to check out the shields at their individual bases. We expect that the actual demonstration will be wrapped up at the end of June. From there, written comments from operators will be reviewed and additional input will be sought from safety and training staff, among others. Metro managers, operators and the transit union will then work together to decide how to move forward.
“We need to start the conversation,” said Susan Melrose of the West Seattle Junction Association at last night’s Southwest District Council meeting, as she proposed a letter “on behalf of the entire West Seattle community” to try to get something done about safety and aesthetics issues at The Hole (the stalled-and-lawsuit-embroiled development site at Fauntleroy/Alaska/38th). “The development is clearly not going anywhere,” Melrose noted, “and it’s a major safety hazard sitting on that corner … It’s time to take steps to improve that situation … It would be great if the West Seattle community could speak with one voice” to express that concern.
She brought this draft letter; the plan to send a letter based on that one (with a few tweaks) was unanimously approved. But the issue of who it will be addressed to was the subject of some discussion and debate. Suggestions for addressees included virtually every elected official in the city, from the mayor to councilmembers to the city attorney, as well as multiple agencies, and of course, the various concerns believed to be potentially responsible for the hole itself.
Particular points of concern include the chain-link fence ringing the site, the condition of the sidewalk around The Hole, and the triangle of city-owned parkland that’s now fenced off. What kind of fence they’d like to see instead, council reps agreed would be up for discussion; the original wording of the letter suggests painted plywood, but from the audience, Mike Heavey, representing County Councilmember Jan Drago‘s office, said that might be more dangerous than the chain link, since “you can’t see what’s on the other side” – visitors might not be aware, for example, about the four-story drop. The current fence has some screening material that’s now tagged, observed SWDC co-chair Erica Karlovits of the Junction Neighborhood Organization, and council members thought that would be worth pointing out to the city, who could order the property owner(s) to clean it up. Whatever the wording, said Vlad Oustimovitch of the Fauntleroy Community Association (and briefly a onetime consultant to a former party to the project), “the important thing is to point out there’s a health and safety issue (at the site) and something should be done.” We’ll update you when the final version of the letter is complete (again, here’s the draft); also, we’re working on an unrelated story about the site, which you’ll see here later today/tonight if breaking news doesn’t interrupt.
ALSO FROM THE SOUTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL MEETING: What City Council President Richard Conlin had to say about the budget battles (and a funding vote that may come before you next year), and other assorted notes – read on:Read More
WEST SEATTLE ART WALK: The spring lineup for the West Seattle Art Walk makes its debut tonight – more than 40 venues around West Seattle. In addition to what we mentioned in our Tuesday preview, you can mix art and wine, with photographers showing at both the newly opened Bin 41 and at West Seattle Cellars (tastings at both shops). There’s student art at The Kenney, hand-screened poster art at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), and a free photo for your Facebook profile if you visit Gail Ann Photography in Fauntleroy. The Art Walk runs 6-9 pm; venues are listed (with many more previews, including samples of the artists’ work!) at wsartwalk.com.
OPEN HOUSE AT M3 BODYWORKS: While you’re out for Art Walk, you can also stop by the Open House and meet the massage therapists of longtime WSB sponsor M3 Bodyworks. The M3 Open House also includes art, in keeping with the night’s theme – paintings by Desirae Hester. M3 is at 5410 California SW (upstairs), and welcomes you to stop by between 6-9 pm (open house details are here; also note, M3 has a coupon on the WSB Coupons page).
PARKS BOARD: The meeting’s downtown as usual, but we track the Seattle Board of Park Commissioners because there’s so much Seattle Parks property in West Seattle. Last meeting included a dire budget briefing (WSB coverage here), but there’s no formal budget update on tonight’s agenda – scheduled items include a briefing on park/open space acquisition and an update on encroachment on Parks land. 7 pm at Denny Park.
WEATHER NOTE: As mentioned last night, there’s an ongoing chance of some “wet snow” in showers tonight/tomorrow (Scott C, who commutes north, tells us he encountered some “leaving West Seattle” this morning). We’ll keep close watch on the forecast updates at midday, midafternoon and midevening.
April is Disaster Preparedness Month, and with the help of West Seattle preparedness volunteers/advocates, we are gathering and sharing information every night so that by the time we get to May, you are READY FOR ANYTHING. Tonight: Another dose of practical advice – what to have under your bed in case disaster (particularly a big quake) strikes in the middle of the night. Excerpted from government sources, provided by the folks behind West Seattle Be Prepared:
When disaster strikes, it may be difficult to think as rationally and as quickly as you would like. The more procedures you have in place, and the easier they are to remember and implement, the more effective and efficient will be your response. We recommend that you keep these basic response supplies under the bed. That way, day or night, you’ll know where to go to get the essentials.
Store these items under the bed
• sturdy shoes – to protect your feet from broken glass, each member of the family should have shoes under their bed.
• work gloves, preferably leather – to protect your hands from broken glass
• hardhat – to protect you from falling objects like chimney bricks, and downed trees and branches
• flashlight & light sticks – essential for a nighttime response
• an OK / Help card, available from your local office of Emergency Management, or one that you prepare yourself.
• a few bandaids – to hang the OK / Help card in the window or on the front door
If you are an all-or-nothing personality type like we are – just remind yourself, you don’t have to get ALL of those items before you can store ANY of them – the shoes, for starters, you can do right now (unless you’re currently wearing the ones you’re thinking of). The others, get them as you can, and stow them. Meantime, our nightly reminders: Sign up for the 3 To Get Ready (WSB sponsor) freebies; know your Emergency Communication Hub; join the West Seattle Be Prepared group on Facebook. (Our archive of nightly preparedness features is here.)
(Photos courtesy Megan)
We received a couple inquiries about an incident in High Point tonight, and just as we started to inquire with the Southwest Precinct about it, the SPD media unit posted the story on its SPDBlotter site. Police say a 33-year-old man kidnapped a 19-year-old woman from 23rd/Jackson in the Central District and drove her to an apartment in the 6000 block of Lanham Place SW (map). He assaulted her, they report; she escaped and called 911. Officers got there fast, arrested the suspect, and got medical help for the victim, who was taken to a hospital. SPDBlotter says the suspect faces potential charges including kidnapping, assault, auto theft, robbery, and attempted rape. His vehicle was impounded; we received two photos from Megan, including this one:
Police also say the suspect and victim were not strangers, but they’re not sure “to what extent they knew each other.” ADDED 1:22 AM: Central District News crossreferenced the suspect through the city’s online business-license database and noted his address matched up to the one where this incident happened. Tracing that same trail, we note the license issued to him for taxi driving, at that address, expired at the end of 2008.
From tonight’s Westwood Neighborhood Council meeting at Southwest Community Center: First, a RapidRide update from Metro’s Paul Roybal. WNC’s Donn DeVore said some in the neighborhood had wondered how far the future bus service will go; Roybal said that the southernmost point will be across the street from Westwood Village near 29th and Barton in front of Roxhill Park. He said at this stop the bus will let passengers out, take a brief break for a couple of minutes, and then go north. Second – Renae Gaines from the Southwest Healthy Youth Partnership said some of its work is winding down because the grant has just a few months left; another one that’s expected by August will only cover programs in the 98116 (north West Seattle) zip code. Though underage drinking/drug use remains a problem just about everywhere, she said, funding for prevention programs is becoming scarce. But the problem will be the subject of a town-hall meeting at Seattle Lutheran High School on April 24. The third and final hot topic: The future P-Patch at 34th/Barton, with development funded by Parks and Green Spaces Levy money. Laura Raymond from the Department of Neighborhoods told the group that the site, which is Seattle Public Utilities property, is in the process of being transferred to DoN, and that is likely to take place within a month. Once the transfer’s complete, she said there’ll be a neighborhood planning meeting for design input on the 10,000-square-foot site, which she described as flat, sunny, and very favorable for gardening.
Keep up with the Westwood Neighborhood Council online at www.scn.org/westwood.
A couple days ago, the weather talk for the next couple days had to do with potentially strong wind. A different four-letter word has emerged in the latest forecast – maybe a bit of snow. The newly updated city forecast says higher hills may see a bit of wet snow tomorrow night and possibly showers Friday morning (and over 600 feet – which rules out even the city’s highest point at the Myrtle water towers – tomorrow morning). Just another Seattle spring – be ready for anything!
From the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor), we have word tonight that youth baseball/T-ball signups are wrapping up for ages 3-10 – there’s still room on some teams; you can sign up at westseattleymca.org until this Sunday, or in person at the Y’s Junction and Fauntleroy locations. Practices start the week of April 26; the season ends June 26. Meantime, another victory for the West Seattle High School varsity baseball team, now 6-1 on the season – we have the latest report from assistant coach Scott Meaker – read on for the recap!
The WSHS Varsity Baseball team hosted Bainbridge HS Tuesday afternoon at Hiawatha Sports Complex. The mighty hitting attack of the Wildcats overwhelmed the Spartans earning an 11-4 win. The Varsity is now 6-1 with their only loss coming to Bishop Blanchet, the number one ranked team in the state.
Freshman Sam Hellinger started the game pitching and had a terrific outing with 4 1/3 strong innings of pitching on 2 hits and 9 strikeouts. Sophmore Jeff Freeman actually earned the win by pitching 2 1/3 innings allowing only 2 runs, walking none.
In the barrage of 17 hits , sophmore Jeff Watkins led with a 4-for-4 performance hitting 2 HRs and 4 RBI. Senior Stephan Adams went 2-for-3 with a triple and scored 3 runs. Sophmore Tim Tinkler continued his hot hitting going 2-for-3 with an RBI, a stolen base, scoring 2 runs. Senior Trevor Martin also added a HR . The Varsity hosts Nathan Hale HS on Wed. at Hiawatha at 3:30.
The WSHS JV traveled to Bainbridge HS on Tues, losing 10-0. Freshman JT Snow pitched well, giving up 3 runs in 5 innings of work. There are no other highlights to report on this game! The JV travels to Nathan Hale on Wed. and hosts Hale’s JV at Hiawatha on Friday.
Thanks again to Coach Meaker for taking the time to provide these reports!
The fight to eradicate breast cancer isn’t won yet – but not for lack of fighting – and your help is needed in a big way. Two things to tell you about tonight:
WEST SEATTLE WALK: Evergreen High School student Anastasia is organizing a Breast Cancer Walk-A-Thon in West Seattle as her senior project. She says, “I hope to bring awareness to the community and help to fight this battle. I’m honoring my French teacher who passed away and my mom who is still fighting. Come join in the fight!” It starts at 10 am Sunday, April 18, at Keller Williams in The Junction and will end on Harbor SW near Salty’s. $20 to register, which gets you a T-shirt and refreshments. Sign up by e-mailing officer@lifeinbalancept.com or e-mail the registration form, with fee – the address is on the form here.
FASHION SHOW: Northwest Hope and Healing, led by West Seattle’s Shari Sewell, is getting ready for Style ’10, this year’s edition of the fashion show that raises money for NWHH’s work to help newly diagnosed breast-cancer patients. The event is April 29 at Showbox SODO, but many West Seattleites are involved, including boutiques Carmilia’s, Coastal and Sweetie. You can buy your tickets here.
ADDED 8:32 PM: Another event that’s coming up this weekend and is also a benefit for breast cancer – Dog Makeovers and Bake Sale for the Cure this Sunday at Muttley Crew Cuts, 9 am-4 pm. Here’s the Facebook event invite.
(Photos by Christopher Boffoli)
Big contingent from Chief Sealth High School at this morning’s West Seattle Chamber of Commerce annual awards breakfast – there to celebrate the first-ever “Westsider of the Year” honoree, basketball coach Colin Slingsby. From left, it’s athletic director Sam Reed, student athletes Daniel Davis and Tre’von Lane, principal John Boyd, Coach Slingsby, and Mary Davis (Daniel’s mom), who nominated the coach:
In his acceptance speech, the coach said he was proud to be representing Chief Sealth, and the many improvements it’s made – not just in sports. He also won the Seattle Times Coach of the Year award this past season. And though basketball season is over, his work isn’t – Sealth is now looking ahead to their much-lauded Summer Basketball and Life Skills Camp this summer, the 14th annual edition, for 2nd through 9th graders – you can see the brochure here.
Presenting the awards this morning was State Sen. Joe McDermott, shown in the next photo with WestSide Baby board member Anne Higuera (from Ventana Construction [WSB sponsor]) accepting the Community Hero Award on behalf of WestSide Baby executive director Nancy Woodland, who was on a long-planned family vacation:
Anne read a letter from Nancy, talking about keeping the nonprofit’s ship steady – but it turned into a speedboat! She was also lauded for her “boundless energy and good humor” while building the nonprofit that helps thousands of local families in need. Meantime, your co-publishers were honored to represent thousands of WSB’ers in accepting the Business of the Year Award:
That’s us with (center) Chamber board president Jerome O. Cohen. (The Chamber explained the award choices in its original announcement last month, which we published here.) Cohen also paid tribute during the event to departing board members Dawn Leverett of Windermere, Rico Smith of Rico’s Auto Buff, and Bill Hibler of West Seattle Internet:
The awards breakfast was put together this year by First Mutual Bank‘s Dotty Spadoni Hughes, who stopped for a photo with City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen:
And though we don’t have her in a photo, a shoutout as well to always-working-behind-the-scenes Chamber president/CEO Patti Mullen. Except for the annual awards breakfast, the Chamber meetings are monthly lunches, and in May, the guest speaker will be West Seattle-based entrepreneur Sunny Kobe Cook.
It’s on the WSB Events calendar but an extra shout-out might give you advance warning to go clean out your tool cabinet/garage/etc. – We last updated you in January about the West Seattle Tool Library, a Sustainable West Seattle project that’s getting close to reality. This Saturday, during West Seattle Nursery‘s 11 am-3 pm open house, you can bring a tool to donate, and get a full-day, 20%-off discount coupon for regularly priced WSN items, as long as the tool meets these qualifications: In working order; not gas-powered. (The Tool Library will open soon on the South Seattle Community College [WSB sponsor] campus.) The WSN open house features guest speakers too, on topics from orchids to chicken-raising – full details here.
Thanks, garage-sale fans! We now have almost 50 sales on the list for the 6th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, presented/coordinated by WSB, coming up Saturday, May 8, 9 am-3 pm,. If you’re new to this – it’s not one big sale, but instead MANY (close to 200 last year) sales big and small, all over the peninsula. Registration continues till April 22 (then we start mapmaking). Two sites have spaces if you don’t have somewhere to sell your stuff: There’s room for 20 in the Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) courtyard (but hurry! here’s the flyer). Also, C & P Coffee is a group space again this year. If you plan to sell in one of those spots but still want your own “ad” – up to 10 words about your sale – on the map, please register and pay as an individual, noting the group site as your sale address (each of those locations will otherwise simply be on the map as “site with multiple sellers”). Ready to register and be part of a fun day of shopping/selling all over West Seattle? Here’s the form; any questions, e-mail garagesale@westseattleblog.com.
In so many recent stories, the city’s budget challenges are the undercurrent, if not the main theme (example: our story from the last Parks Board meeting). The long process of honing a budget plan – and addressing the shortfall – includes stops for citizen input along the way, and the city has just announced two of them. Neither is in West Seattle but if you are passionate about an issue (parks? libraries? police? or?) you will want to know. The first is April 28th at the New Holly Gathering Hall, 7054 32nd Ave South (map), 5 pm sign-in, 5:30 pm hearing; the second, May 4 at North Seattle Community College cafeteria, same times, 9600 College Way North (map).
(Easel display from February reservoir-park meeting; photo by Dina Johnson)
As reported here in February, the third city meeting about the new park at the West Seattle/Westcrest Reservoir is set for April 24. Today, the city is sending official reminders about that meeting (here’s the flyer), which like the last one will be at 10 am on a Saturday morning at Southwest Community Center. We covered the first two meetings – here’s our report from December, and our report from February.
WEST SEATTLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AWARDS: This morning at Salty’s on Alki, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce has its annual Awards Breakfast. This year’s honorees were announced last month: Nancy Woodland from WestSide Baby is the Community Hero of the Year, Chief Sealth High School basketball coach Colin Slingsby is Westsider of the Year (a new award), and WSB is honored to be accepting the Business of the Year award. The event starts at 7:30 am.
SOUTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL: Reps from community councils and other major organizations around western West Seattle – what the city calls the Southwest District – meet at 7 pm in the South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) board room. The agenda includes City Council President Richard Conlin and a presentation/discussion of the Admiral Neighborhood Plan, as the SWDC starts a months-long look at the neighborhoods in its jurisidiction that have such plans.
WESTWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL: Three big topics on the agenda for this group, 7 pm at Southwest Community Center: An update on Metro’s RapidRide and how it will serve the Westwood area; the future P-Patch at 34th/Barton; and teen drinking. More at the WNC site, www.scn.org/westwood.
(ADDED) FINE FILMS AT FRESHY’S: Screening tonight at Freshy’s Coffee in the Admiral District, 7 pm – “Jackie Chan Kung Fu!” as the announcement puts it – “Legend of Drunken Master.” Here’s the Facebook event invite.
Our goal for April is a bite-size chunk of Disaster Preparedness Month information every night (all archived here) – and this time, it’s all about dates: A few to remember, for this month. First and foremost, 
if you’d like some hands-on instruction in emergency preparedness, the Fauntleroy Community Association, Fauntleroy Church and Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) are co-sponsoring a workshop next Monday night (April 12), 7 pm at the church Fellowship Hall (9140 Fauntleroy SW). Here’s the event listing on Facebook. Next official opportunity after that is at Delridge Library on June 8, 6:30 pm, when SNAP (Seattle Neighborhoods Actively Prepare) will present a preparedness class. The city also has an Earthquake Retrofitting workshop in West Seattle in June – 11 am June 1 at the West Seattle (Admiral) Library. And – jumping back to this month – one more date for your calendar: April 21, 9:45 am, it’s a statewide earthquake-preparedness drill. Whether you’ll be at home, work or school at that moment, this state webpage has info on what to do to be part of the drill. Got those dates? Great! Also remember the “3 To Get Ready” campaign, which we introduced last night, and join the West Seattle Be Prepared group on Facebook.
Published late tonight at seattlepi.com: A woman is charged with attempting to promote commercial sexual abuse of a minor, after she was found in a Gatewood apartment where prosecutors say four teenage girls also were living – three of them runaways. The seattlepi.com report says police were tipped by one runaway’s mom, who discovered that the phone number from which her daughter had called her was linked to what the article describes as “a prostitution-oriented Web site.” Police found the 21-year-old suspect, Kendra M. Williams, with two girls in an apartment in the 7100 block of California SW (map), and say she told officers she was setting up an “escort service.” The King County Jail Register shows that Williams has been in jail since March 29, with bail set at $25,000; we’ll check the court documents after the online system reopens in the morning. ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: It has since been pointed out to us that this story originally appeared at SeattleCrime.com yesterday afternoon – with more details – you can see their story here.
Four weeks ago, we covered two community meetings about the impending South Park Bridge closure. During both, local business owners hoped their stories could be told, before the bridge closure endangered their enterprises’ survival. We assigned this story to a student journalist in hopes of continuing to tell those stories.
Story and photos by Briana Watts
University of Washington News Lab
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
“No Cierren El Puente” signs fill the windows of restaurants and businesses along 14th Avenue South. They sit along the street corners and occupy reader boards. The signs read “Do not close the bridge” because the revenue of these family-owned businesses is dependent on the traffic that moves across the South Park Bridge, slated to be closed June 30.
“There’s no way we can survive this,” says Gurdev Singh, co-owner of the South Park 76 gas station and the connected Subway shop on 14th Avenue South.
With the South Park community on one side of the Duwamish River and Boeing Field on the other, the SP Bridge is one of two connectors. Diverting traffic to the other, the First Avenue Bridge, could add 20 minutes to the commutes of South Park Bridge users, which include West Seattle and White Center residents.
“The First Avenue Bridge will be a parking lot,” predicted Bill Owens, owner of Seattle Canine Outfitters.
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