City scraps controversial proposals to change Neighborhood Matching Fund program, process
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
We’ve learned that the city has scrapped proposed changes to the Neighborhood Matching Fund process – changes strongly opposed by West Seattle’s two District Councils.
This came to light after the Department of Neighborhoods sent out a news release today containing deadlines and other information about this year’s process and timelines for seeking the NMF grants. Noting that the announcement made no mention of the proposed changes, we asked DoN spokesperson Lois Maag to verify that they indeed were not being implemented; Maag confirmed that it’s “status quo” for this year, and said that council chairs had recently been sent word of that.
The proposals primarily involved who could apply for the grants and who from the neighborhoods would vet applications. They were presented (and criticized) at the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council‘s October meeting (WSB coverage here) and the Southwest District Council‘s November meeting (WSB coverage here). The potential removal of District Councils from the application-vetting process was a particular sticking point.
We confirmed tonight with DNDC chair Mat McBride that DoN indeed had sent word the changes weren’t going forward. In her memo, department director Bernie Matsuno said in part:
… Over the past year, an NMF Advisory Committee deliberated and developed several proposals for the program. Due to the feedback received regarding these recommendations, we are not moving forward at this time. … We will continue engaging the community and having a more robust conversation about any possible improvements to the NMF program.
Meantime – if you are interested in finding out about this year’s grant opportunities, all the information is in the full news release made public today. One West Seattle-specific date – those interested in applying for a grant from the Large Project Fund (deadline May 4th) must attend a workshop, and the only one in West Seattle is set for Tuesday, March 10, 6 pm, High Point Community Center (6420 34th SW).
Haircut fundraisers start tomorrow at Delridge Community Center
Just announced by Delridge Community Center – happening every Saturday this month:
Airstream Pop-Up Haircut Salon
Look good and feel good about doing it. (Suggested haircut payment/donation will go toward Delridge Community Center )
Delridge Community Center has been serving the surrounding community for over 20 years. And we want to continue doing more! We offer from Ballet and Zumba, to one of only 3 centers who offer showers to the homeless for $3.00. We have a RECTECH computer lab to help you apply for jobs or finish a school or work project. A fun and safe place for your teens, and licensed school-age child care, and a preschool Program.
During the Month of January, in partnership with Rudy’s Barbershop, we will be offering free haircuts to the community. Come and get a haircut by one of Rudy’s Barbershop’s professional hair stylists. Look good and feel good; proceeds will go toward the Delridge Community Center’s Teen programs and scholarships for before- and after-school programs, and much more. Airstream Pop Up parked behind Delridge Community Center, close to soccer fields.
Dates for the Airstream pop-up:
* January 3 (8:30 to 3:30)
* January 10 (8:30 to 3:30)
* January 17th (8:30 to 3:30)
* January 24th (8:30 to 3:30)
* January 31 (8:30 to 3:30)
DCC is at 4501 Delridge Way SW, south of SW Genesee. (Rudy’s, by the way, is likely to open its non-pop-up West Seattle Triangle location this year, as reported here last summer.)
Update: 2nd SW call = not weapons-related after all
2:50 PM: Police and fire are responding to an “assault with weapons” call in the 9200 block of 2nd SW. Details as we get them.
3:03 PM: False alarm of sorts, according to police on scene and in media relations. Man who fell and hit his head first claimed he’d been shot – but hadn’t. He was injured badly enough to be taken to the hospital, though.
West Seattle Weather Watch: Short-lived snow sightings
12:20 PM: Thanks for the reports – we’re hearing of snow flurries, at least in north West Seattle. The National Weather Service says it’s getting reports from around Western Washington but is *not* expecting accumulation.
1:47 PM: No further flurry reports. Looks like even the chance of rain is diminishing – until sometime late tomorrow.
So, it’s January, and you have to recycle your food waste. Are you ready (if you weren’t doing it already)?
We’ve had three months’ warning (actually longer, but until September, it was just a line somewhere in a long-range plan), and now, it’s time. In case you missed the Christmastime publicity blitz in citywide media … as the holiday season ends, we’re pointing to the new recycling rules – food waste goes in the yard-waste bin (if you haven’t been putting it there already). And that doesn’t just mean fruit/vegetable scraps. From the city’s “what do I do with THIS?” flyer:
As noted last fall, while the new rules are in effect as of yesterday, this is the start of a six-month ramp-up period, to give everyone a chance to get used to it and figure out how to do it. And even when enforcement starts in July, this isn’t set up as a moneymaker for the city – the residential fine is a buck, for example. The point is that the city is hoping to get to its goal of recycling 60 percent of the waste stream. You’ll be considered to be in compliance if you have less than “10% recyclables or food waste” in your trash can. To get them from kitchen to bin, you can use paper or compostable bags, or get a covered compost pail to keep in the kitchen.
SIDE NOTE – SO WHAT ABOUT THE IN-SINK DISPOSER? In previous discussions, some have declared they’ll just keep using this rather than diverting food waste to the yard-waste bin. We’ve looked around for info on that; general consensus (in reports such as this) seems to be, while it’s greener than just throwing food waste in the trash, it’s not as green as composting. And best thing of all is to just figure out how to waste less food, period.
Happening tonight: ‘Words, Writers, West Seattle’ features Christine Brant, author of ‘Red and Grey’
Words, Writers & West Seattle presents … from Avenue Collection on Vimeo.
West Seattle’s literary scene continued to deepen in 2014 – and on this second day of 2015, it’s already time for the year’s first installment of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society-presented monthly celebration of local writing, Words, Writers, West Seattle. Tonight, 5-7 pm, come to Westwood Village’s Barnes & Noble bookstore to meet and hear from writer Christine Brant, who’s featured in the SWSHS-provided, Avenue Productions-produced video invitation above. It’s free; if you’re interested, you’ll be able to buy her book “Red and Grey” during the event. P.S. The next four editions of the first-Fridays WWW series are previewed here.
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: First Friday of 2015
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
We’re watching traffic just in case you’re working today – and we have a few reminders/notes:
METRO: One final day of “reduced weekday” service – back to regular weekday on Monday (January 5th).
WATER TAXI: Back in service after the New Year’s Day holiday. And the Spirit of Kingston is done with its annual maintenance, so you’ll see it today on the West Seattle run, while the Melissa Ann – seen in TW‘s photo below – will be back on the Vashon run:
(Did you catch the sneak peek at the new, almost-ready Water Taxi?)
FERRY DOCK TONIGHT: As previewed here last week, cleaning work tonight and most if not all nights for the next two weeks will affect the Fauntleroy ferry dock and vicinity.
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