West Seattle, Washington
24 Tuesday
(First 56 minutes of WSTC Q/A with Andrew Glass Hastings)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Just 12 hours before the non-major crash that led to two hours of major backups on the West Seattle Bridge, the West Seattle Transportation Coalition had asked Mayor Ed Murray‘s transportation adviser about how to deal with that kind of recurring problem.
As you can see 19 minutes into our video clip (which has the first 56 minutes of his Q/A with the WSTC, before camera trouble ended the clip), he talked about information access as part of the solution – finding more ways for more people to know about the problem before they find themselves stuck because of it.
But he made it crystal clear that he wasn’t at the WSTC meeting to defend the city or answer for problems, saying he was there in hopes of a “dialogue.”
The meeting also included confirmation of the WSTC’s permanent board and a few other updates – read on:
(King County Assessor’s Office photo of Swedish clinic building at 3400 California SW)
More big moves in local health care: If you are a patient at Swedish‘s pediatric clinic in South Admiral, you might already know it’s moving to The Junction (thanks to all the recent tipsters!). Following up with Swedish, we asked what it plans to do with the space the Children’s Clinic is leaving behind, and found out they’ll be opening an urgent-care clinic there later this year.
As noted online, the pediatric clinic will make the move to 4744 41st SW, east of Jefferson Square (a space vacated by the former Highline clinic that moved into The Triangle) over a weekend in mid-June, opening in the new location on June 16th. Swedish spokesperson Clay Holtzman tells WSB, “The move is being made to create additional space for the clinic. The new children’s clinic is adding one pediatrician. There are seven physicians associated with the children’s clinic, including the newest doctor. The new space will have parking out front and will be decorated with a West Seattle theme. Most importantly, the new clinic will be reconfigured for a ‘care team’ approach – a concept in patient care that has a team of people (not just the physician) who are responsible for the wellness of the patient. This reflects the more efficient, proactive, and engaged approach that health care overall is shifting toward.”
After that, Holtzman continues, “The old location at California SW will expand its third-floor primary care clinic into the second floor (where the children’s clinic was). Swedish will be adding an Urgent Care clinic in that second floor.” Urgent Care, he says, will open there in the late summer or early fall.
The Taste of West Seattle, benefiting WS Helpline, is usually a sellout by the time the doors open and the tasting begins … so if you are thinking about going, but haven’t purchased tickets, don’t wait – a few dozen remain, we just found out.
What? Haven’t heard about it? More than 40 restaurants and beverage establishments are participating, and once you’re in, you can try them all, if you have time and room. It’s tomorrow night (Thursday, May 15th), at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW, south side of the historic schoolhouse), 6 pm if you get the VIP ticket ($95), 6:30 pm otherwise ($50), must be at least 21 (bring ID!). The participating/hosting venues donate the food, beverages, and people, and the proceeds go to make sure the Helpline can continue providing assistance to people in emergency circumstances. Tickets await you online, here.
P.S. Click ahead for a list of participants:
(April 8th photo by WSB’s Patrick Sand – Lovett Chambers, foreground, with lawyer Ben Goldsmith)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Five weeks after a King County Superior Court jury found Lovett Chambers guilty of manslaughter in the deadly shooting of Travis Hood in Morgan Junction in January 2012, his sentencing date is set: June 13th.
The judge who presided over his trial, Theresa B. Doyle, will oversee the sentencing as well. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has not yet finalized a sentencing recommendation; the standard range for manslaughter is 78 to 102 months, and five years would be added to that because Chambers used a gun, but the baseline range would be higher if any of the crimes on Chambers’ record from decades ago count in his “offender score.” He was originally charged with first-degree murder, reduced last August to second-degree murder; jurors found him not guilty of that charge, but guilty of first-degree manslaughter.
Meantime, Chambers’ legal team has filed a motion for a new trial based on the racial makeup of the jury pool and jury.
(Barred owls ‘kissing’ at Lincoln Park; photo by Trileigh Tucker)
Highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (and story archives):
GARDEN STORY TIME: Take the little one(s) to “How My Garden Grows” story time at 10:30 am at West Seattle (Admiral) Branch Library. (2306 42nd SW)
LOW-ISH TIDE: With the full moon comes low tides – get out on the beach if you can! -1.6 at 11:22 am today, -2.3 at noon tomorrow, -2.6 at 12:44 pm Friday and the same at 1:29 pm Saturday. (Chart on the WSB West Seattle Weather page)
BEER WEEK AT ELLIOTT BAY: You might be well and sudsily aware that this is Seattle Beer Week. Elliott Bay Brewery Pub‘s big event in The Junction is at 4 pm today. (4720 California SW)
LIVE MUSIC AT SALTY’S: Looks like another gorgeous evening to be out on a deck by the water, and Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor) has exactly that – plus, 5:30-8:30 pm, live Latin-jazz music with Alma y Azucar. (1936 Harbor Avenue SW)
HOW SHOULD THE CITY SPEND YOUR MONEY? As previewed here last night, the city’s next budget workshop, seeking your ideas on how the city should spend your money in the next budget cycle, is 6-8 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. Special focus: Public safety and civil rights, though you can bring up other aspects too. (We mentioned in our preview that the Seattle Privacy Coalition plans to call for a city privacy review; here’s the letter they’ll be presenting and circulating.) Even if you can’t stay for the whole meeting, the city invites you to stop by and have a say. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
CONGRESSMEMBER, SOAPBOX @ 34TH DDs: 7 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy, it’s the 34th District Democrats‘ monthly meeting, with three major items on the agenda. First, an update from U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott; second, endorsements including judges and the Park District issue; third, a new “soapbox” opportunity, for members only – rules here. (9131 California SW)
HIGH-SCHOOL BASEBALL PLAYOFFS: Chief Sealth International High School vs. Bainbridge, 7 pm tonight at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center. (1321 SW 102nd)
OPEN-MICROPHONE COMEDY SLAM: 8-10 pm at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), come show off your funniness. (6451 California SW)
MORE! MORE! MORE! … on the calendar page.
9 AM: For all the talk about the stuck Highway 99 tunnel machine, we’ve had a tough time visualizing exactly where it is. A new set of a dozen renderings made public by the state has fixed that. It’s part of a new online update from WSDOT; at the lower right of the rendering shown above, that’s Pier 50, where the West Seattle and Vashon Water Taxis dock downtown. Work has begun underground on the 120-foot-deep “access pit,” according to the WSDOT update – scroll through the renderings to see how that is supposed to unfold. The WSDOT update also points to an added webcam showing the work zone on the surface (top right of this page). Bottom line, though, no change in the timeline, which still projects that tunneling will resume in/by “late March 2015.”
12:23 PM: We followed up with WSDOT regarding some questions that came up in comments. Spokesperson Laura Newborn says the utility-relocation cost is part of the repair work and: “The cost associated with the entire fix, is, in WSDOT’s opinion, STP’s responsibility. Seattle City Light and Seattle Public Utilities have done a remarkable job in helping us relocate these utilities, which should be wrapped up by next week.”
(WS Bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:48 AM: Trouble on the bridge – thanks to everyone who’s reporting a crash at/near the top, described as blocking the bus lane and part of the lane to the left of it. No injuries.
7:20 AM: Still causing a backup. (Added – screengrab we snagged at the time, for posterity:)
Meanwhile, if you’re going to be on the road in SODO at midday today, remember that the Mariners have a day game.
7:29 AM: Thanks for comment updates, including bus rider reporting tow truck at crash scene. (Added – another screengrab for posterity:)
7:59 AM: After almost an hour and a half, the bridge crash has JUST cleared. Just last night, the “one stalled car/crash blocking thousands of commuters” problem was among the questions the West Seattle Transportation Coalition had for Mayor Murray’s transportation adviser Andrew Glass Hastings; our story’s coming up later (spoiler alert on that point, no clear answer).
8:14 AM: As commenters are pointing out – there’s still a residual backup, so if you can wait to leave, that’s still good advice. We also were asked if SDOT tweeted about the crash (here’s the context for asking) – the first tweet we see was at 7:42 am, an hour after the earliest reports we received.
Three cases in West Seattle Crime Watch – one spotted on the police-report map, two from reader reports – all three ahead:
It’s been a recurring theme lately – the money that local government gets from you already, the money it’s asking for beyond that, and how that money is being and would be spent. Tomorrow night, West Seattle is the site of a meeting entirely about how the city spends your money. It’s the last in a round of city-budget workshops looking ahead to 2015-2016 spending; this one has a special focus on public-safety (police, fire) and civil-rights programs. So especially if you have an interest in how those programs are funded – this meeting’s for you. It’ll start with a short presentation and then move into conversation, with City Councilmembers there. Also planning to be there: Reps of the Seattle Privacy Coalition, whose spokesperson Jan Bultmann says is joining with the Human Rights Commission “to request funding for a formal privacy review process.” They’ve drafted a letter they plan to make available tomorrow night, spelling out why they think it’s time to have a process like that in place. All are welcome at tomorrow’s meeting, 6-8 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW). Want more details on the process? Go here.
(Pitcher Kevin Cuddy)
West Seattle High School is the first varsity-baseball team from the Metro League to secure a berth in the state tournament, with a 13-8 victory tonight over Bainbridge at Steve Cox Memorial Field in White Center. Our first two photos and the following summary are courtesy of Greg Slader:
(Graham French hitting a double for insurance runs in the 6th inning)
West Seattle shocked #8-ranked Bainbridge, as the back-and-forth game resulted in a 13-8 win for the Wildcats. Both pitchers seemed to give up runs in every inning as the score was tied 3-3 and 5-5. Bainbridge led 8-5 in the sixth inning; then West Seattle batted around for eight runs, shocking the overconfident Islanders. Kevin Cuddy came on to pitch the sixth inning with bases loaded and then held on for the final six outs, as the Islanders could not muster a comeback. Graham French ignited the offense with a home run, two-RBI double and another RBI single as Bainbridge seemed to have no answer for his big bat. West Seattle is the first team to punch their ticket to the State Tournament. Before that, they have the Metro title game on Thursday night.
The Wildcats, coached by Velko Vitalich, will play that game at Cox Field at 7 pm Thursday vs. either O’Dea or Seattle Prep.
(WSB photo – celebrating a rally)
Meantime, Bainbridge’s loss today means they’ll play Chief Sealth International High School tomorrow night.
Maybe you’ve heard about the Seattle South King Sluggers, a team of blind and visually impaired athletes who play “beep baseball” here in West Seattle, but you’ve never gone to one of their games. You’re now officially invited to a special matchup later this month:
The Seattle Police Dept. team will don darkened shades to compete in a game designed for blind athletes against the Seattle South King Sluggers. SPD players will have to listen for the ball and listen for which base to run.
The public is invited to attend the Sluggers vs. the Seattle SPD match Saturday, May 31, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Walt Hundley Playfield #2, 6920 34th Ave. SW, Seattle. Food, drinks, and t-shirts will be on sale.
Officer Chris Gregorio met the Sluggers and said, “I loved the idea of a beep baseball match because these guys were not ‘poor me.’ The trash talk began with the handshake.”
“The Sluggers motto is ‘beating challenges.’ We showcase what people who are blind can accomplish. This sport is highly competitive. The men and women on our team plan to compete in the Beep Baseball World Series in Minnesota this August,” said Sluggers Manager, Kevin Daniel.
Washington Council of the Blind (WCB) will sponsor this event to raise awareness about the sport and encourage people dealing with vision loss to get active.
“As a state organization of the blind, we voted to sponsor this event because we want to empower and engage people experiencing vision loss and their families,” Cindy Van Winkle, WCB President.
“Too often stories focus on what sighted people do for this faceless category called ‘the blind.’ We want to change the dialog. Come see what we can and are doing to make life better for others,” said Gaylen Floy, president of South King Council of the Blind, the chapter that sponsors the Sluggers.
Here’s a Seattle Times story from last year about the Sluggers.
Another honey-bee swarm in West Seattle today, this time in North Admiral, this time on private property, where Meredith made that sign to let passersby know about the bees. A beekeeper from the Puget Sound Beekeepers Association “swarm list” was expected within a few hours, but this time, the bees found their own new home, Meredith reports. While handling the Westwood Village swarm we covered yesterday, beekeeper Clay Cook had explained that they might hang out in a temporary spot like this for 15 minutes up to 2 days, until one or more “scouts” return with word of a perfect new home – so apparently in this case, they found one.
P.S. If you spot a swarm, don’t call an exterminator – let them be or call a beekeeper (here’s this year’s list)!
Today, we welcome a new WSB sponsor: Peggy Washburn Fine Art Photography. New local sponsors are offered the chance to share information about themselves and what they do, and here’s what Peggy would like you to know:
Peggy Washburn’s work has been acquired by many permanent collections including the Bibliothéque nationale de France (National French archives), The Ralph Lauren collection, The Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas, Museo Nazionale della Fotografia, and Seattle University. Along with numerous gallery shows, nationally and internationally, her work has been exhibited at The Frye Art Museum, The Whatcom Museum of History and Art, and Museo Nazionale della Fotografia. Peggy is represented by the Linda Hodges Gallery in Seattle and The Ricco Maresca Gallery in New York.
Peggy was teaching and working as a fine-art photographer, painter and mixed media artist when Marita Holdaway of Seattle’s Benham Gallery noticed her work in 1993, offered to represent her, and invited her to join the gallery’s Resident Artist program. When her second child was born in 1995, she expanded her work to include portraits, and for nearly two decades to follow has balanced between worlds. She continues to work as an artist and fine art photographer and is available for portrait sittings by appointment.
To inquire about portrait sittings, commercial or fashion work, please contact Peggy – 206-323-6705 – peggy (at) peggywashburn.com. For inquires pertaining to available artwork, please contact The Linda Hodges Gallery in Seattle.
We thank Peggy Washburn Fine Art Photography for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; see our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
On the heels – and toes! – of last week’s Walk-To-School Day events at two West Seattle schools, there’s another celebration coming up this week. Feet First shares news of an all-school Walk To School Day for Roxhill Elementary this Friday. The 9 am festivities will include Walking School Buses, a special dropoff on the northwest side of Roxhill Park so kids who usually take the bus can join in the last few blocks, local leaders including 34th District State Rep. Eileen Cody and School Board Director Marty McLaren, and even the marching band from nearby Denny International Middle School. Routes to Roxhill have seen recent safety improvements (such as these) as the result of a Safe Routes to School grant, and that’s part of the reason for the celebration.
(Rendering courtesy GGLO – looking across the project site, south to north)
Another major West Seattle project is officially beginning – this time, in The Triangle, at 4435 35th SW (map), where Trinsic Residential Group has sent an announcement saying it’s broken ground. Not major work yet – we went over to check – but definitely stirrings:
The six-story, 159-apartment, 151-parking-space mixed-use building (no name yet) won final land-use approval five months ago, after going back into the city review process with a new owner and new architect, more than four years after a previous proposal for the site stalled.
Trinsic says this is its first Northwest project, with a mix of “studios, one bedroom, two bedroom, and townhome units,” designed by GGLO. The rendering above, first shown here last year, includes a public pedestrian hillclimb that’s part of the project, described by Trinsic as intended to “mend the broken link between 36th Avenue and the transit station on 35th Avenue SW … a notable display of public-private partnership that addresses the long-term outlook for the site.” The project also includes “a through-block, open pedestrian corridor which guides pedestrians from the transit stop to the hill climb at the west end of the building (and) an iconic elevator lobby tower with communal meeting and hang-out spaces at every floor.” Other features mentioned in the Trinsic announcement include “storage spaces for small and large recreational equipment” and a “plan to provide outdoor gear for rent including paddle boards, kayaks, cruiser bikes and other gear.” The general contractor is Compass Construction, whose banner you might have noticed on the fence at the site within the past week. (Compass is also the contractor for 4730 California, the mixed-use project under construction midblock between Alaska and Edmunds in the heart of The Junction.)
The lone building on the 4435 35th SW site formerly housed The Bridge, which moved last year to its new home at California/Graham in Morgan Junction.
SIDE NOTE: Lost track of all the development underway/recently completed in West Seattle? We mapped it – see it here. (We’re adding the newest project reported here, just last night – 4800 40th SW.)
Listening to see how this will impact #WestSeattle. #WSTC tonight, 6:30pm. #Seattle pic.twitter.com/CeKjvAlahZ
— Transport Coalition (@WSTCoalition) May 13, 2014
9:59 AM: “This is a crisis and we’re responding to the crisis,” is how Mayor Ed Murray described the proposal he’s just made public about how to raise money in Seattle to keep Metro Transit from cutting Seattle service:
The approximately $45 million is revenue to preserve metro will be allocated in the following ways: pic.twitter.com/i0xvVmRFTv
— SEA Mayor's Office (@OfficeofMayor) May 13, 2014
$60 car-tab fee plus 0.01% sales tax increase is the same mix that comprised Proposition 1, which, while rejected countywide, was approved by a strong majority of Seattle voters, as was mentioned repeatedly during the briefing just concluded. Here is a one-pager from the mayor’s office, breaking down the new proposal:
During the briefing at City Hall, the mayor was flanked by West Seattleites – County Executive Dow Constantine (whose Monday announcement paved the way for this) and City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen – and surrounded by more than a dozen other local political, community, and business leaders. Rasmussen explained that this will be considered as a “transportation benefit district,” as was Prop 1. It’s expected to be on the November ballot.
Murray described the tax proposal as a temporary solution. How temporary? he was asked: “They will last as long as there is no other source.”
How will it be ensured that Seattle dollars stay in Seattle? The mayor said, “There will be a ‘no supplant’ clause,” which will require that the county does not route the money elsewhere. Constantine followed up by declaring: “The answer is because, that’s the deal.” Added detail from the one-pager above:
Under this plan, King County Metro would collaborate with the City of Seattle to finalize use of funds and recognize the City’s authority to allocate funds, while the City recognizes the need to honor Metro’s Service Guidelines with flexibility to address specific demands.
And potentially of high interest here in West Seattle, where development projects are being approved without parking because of their proximity to transit that might or might not be available into the future, the mayor said he would create a new area of SDOT focused on transit as it relates to increasing density in the city.
As noted previously, if you have questions about this or other Seattle transportation/transit issues, you have a great chance to get answers by being at tonight’s West Seattle Transportation Coalition meeting, 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center (6400 Sylvan Way).
ADDED 10:54 AM: The official news release is here. It does not include details of the SDOT/transit/development point that the mayor mentioned, so we are following up with his staff to get details on that.
(Monday photo by Mark Wangerin)
Another beautiful day under way – and then a big night for community meetings (as is always the case on the second Tuesday of the month) – highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
BLOODMOBILE: 10 am-4 pm (closed for noon-1 pm break), it’s at PCC Natural Markets-West Seattle (WSB sponsor), walk-up donors welcome. (California/Stevens)
SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT METRO’S PLANNED CUTS? As announced last month, tonight is the first County Council committee hearing, and the closest one to West Seattle – 6 pm in the board room at Union Station downtown. (401 S. Jackson)
CAL-SEATTLE @ JUNCTION NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION: 6:30 pm in the downstairs meeting room at the Senior Center of West Seattle, two guests are on the Junction Neighborhood Organization agenda announced by director René Commons: John Fox from CAL-Seattle (Citizens for an Affordable Livable Seattle), who “has been tracking growth of Seattle neighborhoods and growth targets established by the city of Seattle. What can be done by our neighborhoods to manage smart growth? Vote to be taken if JuNO will support this citywide effort”; also, from the city Department of Neighborhoods, district coordinator Jenny Frankl. (California/Oregon)
MAYOR’S TRANSPORTATION REP @ WS TRANSPORTATION COALITION: 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center, the WSTC agenda includes guest Andrew Glass Hastings, transportation adviser to Mayor Ed Murray, who this morning will announce his proposal for raising money to keep Metro from slashing bus service in Seattle. Other agenda items as published on the WSTC website include confirmation of board members. (6400 Sylvan Way)
TALKING WITH TEENS ABOUT POT: 7 pm in the West Seattle High School library, as previewed here last week, come talk with experts about talking with teens about marijuana. (3000 California SW)
PRECINCT COMMANDER @ ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: 7 pm at The Sanctuary at Admiral, Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Wilske is a guest at the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s monthly meeting. Also on the agenda shared by ANA president David Whiting, the Steps at Stevens project for better pedestrian access to West Seattle High School, and plans for participation in this July’s West Seattle Grand Parade. (42nd/Lander)
WEST SEATTLE BOOSTER CLUB: The announcement:
Please join us for our May meeting….Tuesday, May 13th, 7 pm, WSHS Library. We would love to see you. The more people involved, the more we can help the students and the school! Please check out our website, westseattleboosterclub.org, and follow us on Twitter, @WSBoosterClub, or contact us at westseattleboosterclub@gmail.com. We hope to see you on Tuesday!
(3000 California SW)
FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: 7 pm FCA board meeting in the conference room at historic Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, all welcome. (9131 California SW)
DENNY IMS PTSA: 7 pm at Denny International Middle School, the PTSA plans a potluck, “thank you” celebration, and change of cabinet. (26th/Kenyon)
PUBLIC HEALTH CAFE: “Nanotechnology & Nanotoxicology” – come hear and talk about it at 7 pm at Chaco Canyon Organic Café; details in our calendar listing. (38th/Alaska)
Last night’s victory for the Chief Sealth International High School Seahawks varsity-baseball team keeps them going in the Metro League tournament. They defeated Nathan Hale HS, 4-3. Coach Ernest Policarpio says this morning they’re awaiting word on who they play next – the game is at 7 pm Wednesday, and will be against whomever loses this afternoon’s game between West Seattle HS and Bainbridge (4 pm, at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center, venue for all games in this tournament).
(WS Bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
As we start today’s traffic watch, some news notes:
BUYING BUS SERVICE? Following up on King County Executive Dow Constantine‘s Metro announcements Monday, Mayor Ed Murray is set to go public with his plan at 9 this morning. And then tonight at 6, it’s the closest public meeting a County Council will have on the cuts that are in the works all the while. And at 6:30 here in West Seattle, the mayor’s transportation adviser is the guest at the next West Seattle Transportation Coalition meeting.
ROAD WORK AHEAD: Announced Monday by SDOT – traction-improvement ahead for three local stretches of road, starting this weekend.
The newest Junction development proposal we’ve found in city online files isn’t a total surprise. The site is 4800 40th SW, now in the city system with an early-stage proposal for a four-story mixed-use building. The site is currently home to Bella Mente Preschool, which – as reported here two months ago – is moving to a new location (6007 California SW) after losing its lease because the site was to be sold and developed.
The site is in the vicinity of a sizable amount of future development. It is kitty-corner from the 150-unit 4745 40th SW project that appears to be starting soon, with heavy equipment and temporary power on site; it’s south across Edmunds from the parking lot of the Masonic Center, which itself is bordered on two sides by the future development The Whittaker.
This new proposal at 4800 40th SW, with an early filing just last week, has a site plan in online files showing only its ground floor so far – residential units facing 40th, live-work units facing Edmunds, a lobby on the 40th/Edmunds corner, and parking off its east-side alley. City files show the same prospective developer/architect team as 4745 40th SW, Alliance and Encore.
A celebration of life for a woman known best as “Roxy” is planned this Saturday in Skyway. Shared by her family:
Roxanne (Roxy) Lee Fultz-Tovey passed away at age 58 in her home in Tacoma. She was born December 2, 1955, to the late Virgil Fultz and Gloria Bruce.
Roxy moved to West Seattle around 1975 after attending Western Washington University; she then went to dental hygienist school. Roxy made lots of lifelong friends during the 20 years she lived in West Seattle. After working as a dental hygienist for 5 years, she then went to work for the Boeing Company, where she finished out her working career, until 2009.
Roxy was married to Mark Tovey from 1994-2005 and has a stepdaughter, Erin Tovey of Spokane, who she loved very much. Roxanne is also survived by her grandmother Jessi Bruce of Tacoma, brother Bruce Fultz of Tacoma, brother Troy Hoffmaster of Hastings, Nebraska, nephew Coltn Hoffmaster of Port Townsend, aunt Virginia (Ginger) Steffenson of SeaTac, cousin Stacy Hardy of Moses Lake, and cousin Danay Mims of Enumclaw.
Celebration of life to be held Saturday, May 17th, 2:00 pm, at Skyway VFW, 7421 S. 126th St. Roxy’s favorite color was purple – it would be great if you have something purple to wear. Please make any memorial donations to the Lupus Foundation.
(WSB publishes obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
Walking along the Lincoln Park shore this evening, we noted that sign inside the front door of Colman Pool, posted after last season ended, looking ahead to the season that’s about to begin. Just today, in fact, Seattle Parks published its roundup of the dates for the start of outdoor-swimming season. We’ve already reported the start dates for local wading pools (Lincoln Park first, on June 21st – assuming that’s a 70-degree day! – others to follow) and for Highland Park Spraypark‘s second season – May 24th, which also is the first day of the first pre-season weekend at Colman Pool (schedule here). Read the citywide breakout here, and check out Parks’ Summer Guide here (PDF).
King County Executive Dow Constantine has just outlined a three-part plan regarding Metro‘s future, ranging from a way for cities to avoid service cuts within their borders, to a way to counter the claims that Metro doesn’t spend its money wisely, to a way to figure out how to improve customer satisfaction.
First, Constantine said he remains “fully committed to a regional transportation solution.” And he says a statewide package remains “desperately needed … but doing nothing while we wait on Olympia” is not an option. So, he says he’s “creating an enhanced Metro program for cities … to have a clear path for” buying additional hours of Metro service. He says this is intended as “a bridge” until a permanent funding solution is found: “Until the Legislature acts, I cannot ask cities to accept cuts that they are willing locally to prevent.” He says this won’t prevent the first round of Metro cuts this fall but if cities choose, might be able to hold off subsequent rounds. (The four West Seattle bus routes slated for “deletion” aren’t scheduled to go away, for example, until September of 2015.)
He says he’s also calling for “new transparency” in how Metro spends and is run, to “clear the air” and “get the right information” to people to refute a perception that Metro doesn’t spend its money well. He says Metro’s costs are 99 cents per mile, while the industry standard is 98 cents per mile, and “growth in Metro costs is now well below the national coverage, 19th out of our 30 peers.” Constantine says he’s calling for a financial audit of Metro’s reserves and capital-spending plans. He says Metro spends cash on buses rather than go into debt.
Exec calls for peer review and financial audit of Metro's operations, and establishes new Customer Service Panel to make recommendations.
— Dow Constantine (@kcexec) May 12, 2014
And he says he’s forming a new customer-service panel to find out “how to make the experience of riding Metro, even better.”
The first part of his announcement would seem to pave the way for Mayor Ed Murray‘s expected announcement tomorrow of a Seattle-only tax-increase proposal. Voters in the city approved Proposition 1, though it was defeated countywide because of a strong “no” vote outside the city; that was pointed out by City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who was among those joining Constantine at the news conference that has just ended.
4:13 PM: Here’s the full county news release. And Mayor Murray’s office has just sent word that his announcement is set for 9 am tomorrow.
5:18 PM: And carrying over the footnote from our earlier item previewing this story – you’ll be able to follow up on the county news today and the city news tomorrow morning, by hanging out with the West Seattle Transportation Coalition tomorrow night.
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