day : 29/09/2014 9 results

New, slightly longer sentence for West Seattle-residing ex-deputy Darrion Holiwell in drugs, prostitution-assistance case

One more chapter closed today in the case of former King County sheriff’s deputy and West Seattle resident Darrion Holiwell. First, he was charged last June with drug sales, theft, domestic violence, and promoting prostitution. Then he pleaded guilty and was sentenced on August 4th to one year and one day behind bars. At the time, Holiwell – who ran a gun-related business on the side – said he was broke. But as our partners at The Seattle Times reported on August 25th, prosecutors found out otherwise, learning Holiwell was about to get a $181,000 retirement cashout, and filed to have his sentence thrown out on grounds of fraud. The motion was granted, and we just found court records showing Holiwell was re-sentenced today. Judge Bruce Heller gave him a five-month-longer prison sentence – 17 months in all, still short of the 20-month maximum. He also was ordered to pay $45,000 in restitution; no amount had been set when he was originally sentenced in early August. And his previous $1,000 fine for promoting prostitution was tripled to $3,000.

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Faster Internet? What’s next after City Council vote

September 29, 2014 10:11 pm

| 13 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle online

CenturyLink‘s plan to offer 1-gigabit Internet service in neighborhoods including West Seattle got a boost from the City Council today. Councilmembers voted to change the rules for the cabinets that are required to extend fiber service. Full details are in this city news release. A PR firm for CLink pinged us afterward, saying that the company’s local leadership is working with “aerial fiber” to extend service this year and next. We asked if they had any West Seattle specifics yet – where, when, etc. – short answer, no.

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Video: Protests split Seattle Housing Authority rent-increase meeting into two gatherings

September 29, 2014 7:18 pm

| 64 COMMENTS

| High Point | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

FIRST REPORT, 7:18 PM: We’re at High Point Community Center along with a crowd we’d estimate to number at least 200, at what was supposed to be an informational/Q-A meeting about the Seattle Housing Authority‘s controversial “Stepping Forward” rent-increase proposal.

Andrew Lofton, exec dir. of @Seattle_Housing pic.twitter.com/GjMymMcKRP

— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) September 30, 2014

SHA executive director Andrew Lofton barely got through the pre-planned slide deck, with chants and shouts between almost every line.

After a few attempts at Q/A – really, just Q, because SHA said it would not answer any of the questions – one man shouted that those in attendance were being insulted and should walk out.

Many did, and went into the gym, where they and protesters rallied, with City Councilmember Kshama Sawant on hand.

(Added 9:26 pm – here’s our video of what Sawant told them, amplified via “human mike”:)

Others, meantime, stayed behind, and some spoke about the “stepped” rent increase proposal, which could take a subsidized household now paying $50 in rent, up to $1,000 in the fifth year. Even those who said they supported the concept of encouraging self-sufficiency said unemployment is high and there’s no guarantee anyone can get work, no matter how hard they try.

This man says unemployment is high and he is worried about people find self-sufficiency pic.twitter.com/Ik9Ncq1Tar

— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) September 30, 2014

There were declarations that while SHA is calling for tenant accountability, no one is calling for developer accountability to provide more low-income housing.

The meeting is now in an “open house” phase at which those with questions are seeking answers in one-on-one conversations.

9:26 PM: Above, we’ve added our video of what Councilmember Sawant said after “the other meeting” convened in the Community Center’s gym – we had one crew in each room.

Our full video of the meeting in the original room, including all of the protests and the presentation they punctuated, will be added after we get it uploaded later tonight. (Added: Here it is:)

Meantime, Sawant told those gathered in the gym that the SHA meeting was “a joke” and called for “a big action in City Hall” on October 15th.

Opponents of “Stepping Forward” have a petition, and details of their position and objections, online here.

Meantime, the “next steps” slide in the official presentation said a possible “workforce pilot” would begin late this year, and that the proposal would be revised, more public comment taken, a recommendation made to SHA’s Board of Commissioners, then a phase-in with about 4 years from Board approval to full implementation, “rent changes no earlier than 2016.”

“We don’t want it revised!” someone yelled. “We want it gone!”

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You can help! Two days left to sign up to offer kids’ activities at West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival 2014

September 29, 2014 5:43 pm

| Comments Off on You can help! Two days left to sign up to offer kids’ activities at West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival 2014

| West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

Last call to be part of the West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival by offering an activity for kids! From the WS Junction Association‘s Susan Melrose:

West Seattle Harvest Festival is less than 4 weeks away. The Farmers Market will take to the street, with the costume parade leaving Junction Plaza Park at 11:30, and trick-or-treating starting at noon.

Free activities provided by West Seattle businesses and non-profits bring fun and excitement to kids – and offer a Halloween activity that doesn’t necessarily involve sugar. If you’d like to bring a Harvest Activity, please submit an application. It’s FREE, but you must bring something that kids will love.

Deadline is Wednesday – you’ll find the application link here. And you don’t have to just think “Halloween” or “pumpkins” – for example, as we mentioned over the weekend, the “activity” at the booth we’re sponsoring will be plankton viewing with “Diver Laura” James and her iPhone microscopes.

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West Seattle development: New 35th/Graham proposal; comment time for 4849 21st SW

September 29, 2014 2:55 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

Two development notes this afternoon:

REVISED PROPOSAL FOR HIGH-PROFILE HIGH POINT CORNER: The placement of that sign might make you think the big stretch of vacant land at 35th/Graham is the future site of more Polygon-built single-family homes. Not according to the newest proposal, with a “preliminary assessment report” added to city files just a week ago. It is now described as:

Develop the Block 9 High Point site, including utilities and infrastructure, 52 townhomes and a 4 story mixed use building containing approximately 80 apartment units, 8,500 square feet of office space, and 1,500 square feet of retail space located on the ground floor.

The mixed-use building is similar to something a Seattle Housing Authority spokesperson mentioned last October, when we reported on the previous plan. At the time, a mix of houses and townhouses was in the works, with an expectation of a “commercial building” at the corner, SHA said. In this plan, that is now a mixed-use building running along the entire 35th SW frontage of the land, according to a preliminary “site plan” filed this month, with the townhouses to the east. The new plan is in the name of High Point III, LLC, which traces to Polygon Northwest‘s Bellevue address. We’ll be following up on next steps for this plan.

2 WEEKS TO COMMENT ON 4849 21ST SW SUBDIVISION: Last week, we reported on an application to split one big lot at 4849 21st SW (map) into nine parcels for single-family houses. Today, the official notice is in the city’s Monday/Thursday Land Use Information Bulletin, which means you have two weeks to comment. Here’s how.

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Help fight MS! Dance with the West Seattle Big Band on Saturday

September 29, 2014 2:12 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Fun stuff to do | How to help | West Seattle news

(West Seattle Big Band – WSB photo from July 2014 Hi-Yu Concert in the Park)
Next weekend is closer than you think. So we want to make sure this is on your radar. From Jim Edwards with the West Seattle Big Band:

The West Seattle Big Band has been supporting music programs in the West Seattle public schools for 18 years now. We are not a non-profit organization. We are a working band. We do not seek grants or donations with which to operate. We go out and perform at weddings, dances and concerts throughout the Seattle area.

Our (the band members) income is where our donations to these school band programs come from. Our income is what makes it possible for us to do our collaboration concerts with West Seattle, Madison, and Sealth/Denny programs. In addition to these concerts, in the past two years, our band has donated a combined $5000 to these three programs. A large majority of the money we donate to our West Seattle school music programs comes from outside our West Seattle Community, simply because we perform throughout the region.

But this week we are asking for your support. Last year we had a first-time event that was unrelated to our work with school music programs. Our piano player Brooke Yool was diagnosed with MS. She asked us to help her support the MS Society, and we put together our first MS Dance. The event was a tremendous success.

So we thought we would try it again. We have expanded it to include a small live auction, and several silent auction items. But for it to be a success once again, we have to rely on you, our West Seattle Community. We are asking you to help us in the fight against MS. The band will cover all expenses related to the production of the event. So 100% of the proceeds of this event will go to the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Please join us Saturday, October 4th, from 7:00 to 10:00 PM, at the West Seattle Senior Center. The suggested donation is $15. Hors d’oeuvres and soft drinks included. You can RSVP at event@dancems.org

The West Seattle Senior Center is located at 4217 SW Oregon St.

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New speed cameras on Roxbury: ‘Real’ tickets start Thursday

September 29, 2014 11:31 am

| 34 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle police | West Seattle schools

(WSB file photo – camera near Roxhill Elementary)
The new speed-enforcement cameras on SW Roxbury – in the Roxhill Elementary and Holy Family school zones – will start issuing “real” tickets this Thursday, October 2nd, as planned. We just checked with Seattle Police to verify that, and they confirm that the “warning period,” which started on September 3rd, ends Wednesday. If you received a “warning” ticket this month, we’d be interested to hear from you (please comment or e-mail us); we asked for information on how many “warnings” have been issued and are told we’ll have to request that via the public-disclosure process, so it might take a while. According to an SPD-provided info-sheet, West Seattle’s first speed-cam zone, Fauntleroy Way near Gatewood Elementary, was responsible for 5,500 $189 citations last school year. The city expects to add more cameras next year, but hasn’t announced the locations yet.

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West Seattle Monday: SHA rent-change meeting, and more

September 29, 2014 9:22 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Mark Wangerin: Double-crested cormorant snacking on a saddleback gunnel)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

COUNCIL TO HEAR ABOUT ‘CONSERVATION DISTRICTS’: As previewed here last night, it’s the second item on this morning’s City Council agenda, expected around 10 am; live on Seattle Channel if you’re not at City Hall.

‘BEING HUMAN’ OPENING RECEPTION: Meet guest curator Kathy Liao (of Seattle University) at today’s noon-2 pm opening reception for the new “Being Human” exhibit at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) Art Gallery. (6000 16th SW)

HOUSING AUTHORITY RENT-PROPOSAL MEETING: The citywide controversy over the Seattle Housing Authority‘s “Stepping Forward” rent-increase proposal comes to High Point tonight, 6 pm, High Point Community Center. (6920 34th SW)

BENEFIT FOR ‘COLTON’S ARMY’: Live comedy and music at the Skylark tonight, 6:45 pm (doors open at 6), benefiting a fund set up for 14-year-old cancer patient Colton Matter and leukemia research. Tickets/details here. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

DUWAMISH OIL SPILL PLAN: Not in West Seattle, but it’s about the river that runs past us: A state Department of Ecology public workshop to talk about developing a geographic spill-response plan for the Duwamish and Green Rivers. 7-8 pm at Green River Community College‘s Glacier Room. (12401 SE 320th, Auburn)

SPEAKING OF THE DUWAMISH RIVER … today’s the deadline to get your initial idea (doesn’t have to be a fully developed proposal at this stage) in for Duwamish Revealed – here’s our original story explaining it. (10:48 am update: Thanks to commenter AIDM that this project has updated its website to extend the deadline to October 15th!)

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: What’s in view for Monday

September 29, 2014 6:16 am

| 12 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Welcome to a brand-new week. The traffic watch is on. And so is the look ahead:

OVERNIGHT HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE: If it’s not canceled for weather or another reason, work is scheduled overnight tonight on southbound 99, closing that side of the highway between our bridge and the stadium zone, 10 pm-5 am.

METRO REMINDER: The September service change took effect on Saturday. No West Seattle routes were among the cuts/reductions, but if you transfer to/from other routes, you might want to doublecheck the list.

TRANSPORTATION NEWS: The West Seattle Transportation Coalition is starting its second year with a list of 5 priorities it believes the city could and should address ASAP … ICYMI over the weekend – dog rescued on the bridge!

7:52 AM: Thanks to everyone in comments (also Lise and Maggie via Twitter) for word of the broken-down RapidRide bus on the eastbound bridge. Maggie also points out that WS buses have extra passengers this morning because the Vashon Water Taxi is out of service (mechanical trouble with Melissa Ann).

8:00 AM: SDOT says the stalled bus is cleared now (but as always, residual backups will take a while to clear).

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