West Seattle, Washington
27 Wednesday
This e-mailed photo solved a mini-mystery for us …
Someone texted us last weekend and said they were pleasantly surprised to have seen people picking up trash in Highland Park. They didn’t know who or why. Neither did we, and the busy pre-WSCGSD week proceeded without further word – until the photo above arrived with this explanation:
We thought we would share a little neighborhood news for Spring Cleaning inspiration. A group of us from the 9000 block of 12th and 13th cleaned up 10 bags of trash all along Henderson and south of Henderson on 11th, 12th and 13th Ave this past Sunday.
If other blocks want to join in, the city is holding their annual Spring Clean and
they will give you supplies and pick up the trash from your block. All info here.
We know at least one other West Seattle neighborhood has Spring Clean plans this weekend. Get yours going too! (And you’re welcome to send us a photo afterward so we can let your West Seattle neighbors know what a cool thing you did. From left in the pic above are Irene Davis, Blair Johnson, Sarah Rudinoff, Wendi Sargent, and Jessica Bomball.)
Late word from SDOT of bridge lane closures planned starting tonight and continuing off and on for the next six days/nights:
The eastbound curb lane of the West Seattle Bridge will be closed through Thursday, May 14 during off-peak traffic hours for utility work. The schedule will be:
Friday to Sunday, May 8th to May 10th — 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Monday to Thursday, May 11th to May 14th — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
It’s an indoor-outdoor party at Rudy’s Barbershop (WSB sponsor) in The Triangle right now – above, DJ King Midas is spinning at the grand-opening party; below, the Tasty Vibes food truck is out front with eats:
Even indoors, the garage doors are up as the stylists do their thing:
More details in the party preview published yesterday – it’s on until 10 tonight, at 4480 Fauntleroy Way SW, with The Wimps due to start playing around 8.
4:47 PM: M/V Tacoma, which serves the Seattle-Bainbridge state-ferry run, has just broken down, and is under tow right now. Thanks to the reader who tipped us via text; we often get questions about ferries that look to be in trouble off West Seattle shores, so we’re mentioning this pre-emptively. Thanks to @sudsymaggie for the photo:
Oh no! The MV Tacoma has lost power and is adrift in Elliott Bay. Tugs just arrived. @wsferries #Seattle pic.twitter.com/EqQrb0gBrN
— SudsyMaggie (@SudsyMaggie) May 8, 2015
Tacoma is the ferry that was out of service for eight months after a breakdown last July.
4:55 PM: Tacoma has been towed to Colman Dock. “This will cancel the 4:40pm and 6:20pm sailing from Seattle and the 5:30pm and 7:10pm sailing from Bainbridge Island,” says WSF.
7:04 PM: Tacoma remains out of service and for now, the Issaquah has been moved from Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth, which subsequently is down to two boats. But thanks again to tipster Maggie, we know that State Sen. Sharon Nelson (who represents this area and lives on Maury Island) has been told that if Tacoma’s troubles persist, Evergreen State will be brought in to be a lower-capacity third vessel on F-V-S.
It’s West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day eve! 9 am-3 pm TOMORROW (Saturday), 340+ sales of all sizes, all over West Seattle. Even if you’re not shopping for anything in particular, WSCGSD’s biggest success every year is as a way for neighbors to meet face-to-face, and that’s a big reason why we’ve been happy to coordinate/present it since its fourth year in 2008.
You’ve probably seen the map by now – online edition here, printable sale list/guide/map here (21-page PDF, so make sure the printer’s stocked)!
A few other notes:
Sale #191 started early – 4822 SW Niesz Court – and sent that photo; they’re going until at least 4 pm today. A few other sales are starting early and/or ending late – if they mentioned it in their registration, it’s mentioned in their map listing.
Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (#183, 4410 California) and C & P Coffee Company (#21, 5612 California SW) are the official multi-seller sites. The sales that registered as “block sales” are:
*#289 – 3200 block 48th SW
*#321 – 4000 block 54th SW
*#158 – 5057 36th SW
*#141 – 5630 31st SW
*#339 – 2411 SW Myrtle
*#137 – 5914 34th SW
*#32 – 5454 45th SW
*#205 – 2719 47th SW
*#201 – 5231 SW Stevens
*#100 – 6600 38th SW
*#340 – Sylvan Ridge Townhomes
Remember that some sales are in garages, others are in front yards, others are in garages/carports on alleys. Where “special instructions” were provided, you’ll find them in the listings. But if you get to a specific address and don’t see the sale, maybe it’s out back.
*More unusual items you’ll find in the listings:
Grand Piano … Moroccan pottery … military-history books … ’50s tile tabletop … custom fireplace mantel … air hockey table … Porsche rims … castoffs from film sets …
*Did we mention the nonprofit/benefit sales? More than 20 – we’ve updated the list here.
*A bit o’trivia – West Seattle neighborhoods with sales include:
Admiral, Alki, Arbor Heights, Beach Drive, Belvidere, Brace Point, City View, Delridge, Fauntleroy, Gatewood, Genesee, Hansen View, Highland Park, High Point, Junction, Lincoln Park, Luna Park, Morgan Junction, North Admiral, Pigeon Point, Puget Ridge, Schmitz Park, Seaview, Snake Hill, Sunrise Heights, Sylvan Ridge, Upper Alki, Upper Fauntleroy, Westwood
(Go see a neighborhood you haven’t visited before!)
*Please check westseattlegaragesale.com in the morning for any last-minute cancellations that were too late to make it onto the printable map – the clickable map is updatable and if we get word one’s canceled, we’re changing it there.
*Also – please do put out your Stamp Out Hunger food-donation bag by wherever your mail is picked up/delivered, before you go out to sell/shop tomorrow morning!
We hope to squeeze in one more round of updates/previews tonight around mid-evening, providing breaking news doesn’t get in the way, and then we’ll be out covering it all tomorrow, starting with early-morning preparedness – photos welcome at garagesale@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
(SDOT camera image from Thursday evening)
Last night, for the second time in five days, the West Seattle “low bridge” – aka the SW Spokane Street Swing Bridge – suffered a “malfunction” that left it off-limits to traffic, both surface and marine, for more than an hour and a half (WSB coverage here). We failed to follow up after the Sunday incident (WSB coverage here) but sent an inquiry to SDOT first thing today. The communications team obtained and forwarded this reply from Paul Roberts, SDOT’s Structural Operations and Maintenance Manager:
Last night the bridge operator prepared to open the bridge for marine vessels. Once the traffic control gates were deployed, an operational anomaly occurred. This caused the bridge’s systems to fully stop, a process that prevents unintentional public safety issues or unnecessary risk/damage to the bridge itself during a system anomaly. Anomalies can occur because of (but not limited to) power supply surges, sensor alignment, controller system conflicts or component failure.
Bridge technicians were immediately summoned to the bridge to assess the incident and regain operational control. Although the bridge technicians were able to return operational control to the bridge operator, the cause of the anomaly is still under review.
The bridge technicians will continue working on the problem to identify the cause and contributing factors, and to figure out how these types of anomalies can be minimized.
Our archives show two bridge breakdowns in the span of less than a month last summer – in July, a gate pin was blamed for an hour-plus bridge outage; in June, a computerized measurement device used during bridge “docking” was blamed for a two-hour-plus outage.
SIDE NOTE: The “low bridge” is the only option bicycle riders and walkers/runners have for crossing the Duwamish north of the 1st Avenue South Bridge (aside from a bus or the Water Taxi). It’s been in service since the early ’90s.
(UPDATED 3:33 PM, adding Foss statement on intent to appeal city DPD ‘interpretation’)
(Polar Pioneer in Port Angeles this afternoon; webcam image used with permission of PA Chamber of Commerce)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 12:24 PM: As reported here Thursday, the Port of Seattle Commission plans to discuss in public session on Tuesday what it will do about the city’s declaration that the port has to apply for a new permit to use West Seattle’s Terminal 5 for Shell’s offshore-Arctic-drilling vessels. The commission’s agenda for Tuesday meetings usually is posted by Thursday afternoon but didn’t appear on the port website until a short time ago. The T-5 lease situation is the only item on the 1 pm public agenda:
The city Department of Planning and Development’s “interpretation” of the need for a new permit was announced by the mayor on Monday; it was published on the city website yesterday, and our report also includes an open letter from Foss and local unions to the mayor, contending this action will be damaging to the city’s maritime industry. Meantime, the Polar Pioneer platform remains anchored in Port Angeles; the Noble Discoverer drillship is expected in Everett next week; and two Shell-related vessels, Aiviq and Harvey Champion, are at T-5 right now. And a Shell executive was quoted earlier this week as saying the city ruling wouldn’t impede their Arctic-drilling plan.
ADDED 3:33 PM: Foss Maritime has announced it plans to appeal the DPD interpretation, and that it intends to go ahead with bringing Shell’s oil rigs here during the time it takes to resolve the appeal:
Foss Maritime plans to appeal the city of Seattle’s determination that Foss’s use of the Port of Seattle’s Terminal 5 is not allowed under the Port’s existing use permit.
The appeal process will take months to complete. In the meantime, Foss intends to provide its customer, Royal Dutch Shell, the services for which it contracted over the next few weeks as it prepares for the summer oil exploration season in Alaska.
The city’s position is not supported by the plain language of the permit at issue, and will cause long-term harm to the maritime industry as a whole. The permit for Terminal 5 allows Port customers to tie up vessels so that goods and cargo can be stored, loaded and unloaded, which is precisely what Foss is doing at Terminal 5.
By taking this action so late in the day, Mayor Ed Murray is trying to stop a lawful project that has already put 417 people to work full-time and will soon employ hundreds more, many of them citizens of Seattle. Worse, he has openly solicited the Port of Seattle to use the city’s action as a pretext to break a valid lease at Terminal 5, despite the separately elected Port Commission’s recent unanimous vote to uphold the lease.
These actions are an attempt to prevent one of the city’s oldest and most prominent companies from performing marine services that it has provided and the Port has welcomed for generations. This action is akin to the mayor ordering Seattle City Light to cut off all electricity to Amazon on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
If his actions simply impacted Foss, that would be bad enough. But it jeopardizes many other business activities across the waterfront, and calls into question the sincerity of the mayor’s previous statements in support of the maritime sector.
For example, under the city’s initial determination, Alaska fishing trawlers would not be allowed to winter over at the cruise ship docks at Terminals 90 and 91; the Seattle Fire Department’s fire boats could not dock at Terminals 90 and 91 as they are currently doing; and the vessels of the U.S. Navy and other navies that visit during Seafair would not be allowed to tie up at Port facilities. Maritime businesses from Ballard to South Park are doubtless nervously checking their permits and wondering whether the mayor will deem them worthy.
Foss believes that the permitting at Terminal 5 is appropriate for our use, and that the city’s determination is a statement of politics rather than policy. Accordingly, we will challenge it through the appropriate channels. The process looks like this:
* Foss will appeal the determination to the Seattle Hearing Examiner within 14 days. Other interested parties, such as the Port, may join in the appeal.
* The hearing examiner will then set a hearing date on the matter.
* The hearing examiner would typically produce a ruling on the matter within 15 days after the hearing.
* Under normal circumstances, the city would not issue a violation to Foss or the Port of Seattle until and unless it prevailed in the hearing.
The mayor’s office has just announced new directors for two city departments – including a new director for the Department of Neighborhoods, though it’s a name many will recognize. Here’s the official announcement:
Seattle Mayor Ed Murray today named Jessica Finn Coven to serve as director of the Office of Sustainability & Environment (OSE) and Kathy Nyland to serve as director of the Department of Neighborhoods (DON). Bernie Matsuno, who has served as director of DON since 2011, will be stepping down effective June 2.
Finn Coven comes to OSE after serving as Washington Director of Climate Solutions since 2011. Previously she worked at the U.S. Climate Action Network and Greenpeace. She serves on the board of directors of Washington Conservation Voters and Puget Sound Sage.
“Jessica brings deep connections to Seattle’s environmental community,” said Murray. “Her commitment to environmental justice will lend strength to Seattle’s new Equity and Environment Initiative. The benefits of progressive environmental policy must reach all our diverse communities more equitably, including low-income families, immigrants and people of color.”
“Anyone who knows Jessica appreciates her deep knowledge of environmental policy,” said Rashad Morris of the Bullitt Foundation. “Her commitment to economic and racial equity makes this an especially strong choice as Seattle works to bridge issues of sustainability and social justice.”
“Seattle has long been a proof point that we can create more broadly shared prosperity by prioritizing a clean and healthy environment,” said Finn Coven. “Mayor Murray has been a leader throughout his career on sustainable transportation solutions and equitable responses to climate change. I’m absolutely thrilled to join his team and to be part of Seattle’s next chapter in clean energy development and ensuring the health of all Seattle’s family.”
Finn Coven will be paid $132,000 and start at OSE on June 12. Finn Coven replaces Jill Simmons, who announced her decision to step down as director of OSE in April.
Nyland is currently a senior policy advisor on land use and planning in the Mayor’s Office of Policy and Innovation. She is a former chief of staff to City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw. Before joining city government, she served on several community councils, founded the Georgetown Merchants’ Association and chaired Seattle’s City Neighborhood Council.
“During my first year as mayor, Kathy has become a trusted advisor,” said Murray. “Her personal history as a community advocate, her strong relationships with neighborhood leaders throughout the city, and her policy acumen make her the natural choice to step into this role. I look forward to her leadership in community conversations on private development, public investments and support for vibrant neighborhoods in our city.”
“I am honored by this opportunity to continue to serve the Mayor and the city in this new role at the Department of Neighborhoods,” says Nyland. “I’ve long believed that our communities are our strongest resources and I look forward to bringing more voices to the table. We want to support and strengthen all our neighborhoods in Seattle.”
Nyland joins DON on June 2 and will earn $136,000.
Matsuno came out of retirement to serve as director of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, intending to serve only a few months, but staying on for more than four years. She developed and expanded new community programs at DON, including the People’s Academy for Community Engagement (PACE) and the Public Outreach and Engagement Liaison (POEL) program to expand civic engagement, especially in underrepresented communities.
“Bernie has been a true champion of our neighborhoods and a helpful advisor to me on community issues and needs,” said Murray. “She has advocated effectively for the community to have a greater voice in City government and their neighborhood – an important role that the department will sustain.”
“I’m very appreciative of the opportunity to serve in Mayor Murray’s administration, but I am looking forward to this new chapter in my life,” said Matsuno. “I’m excited about this transition and intend to continue my professional work for the people of Seattle, as well as volunteer in my community.”
“Bernie Matsuno was one of my first and best hires 27 years ago,” said Jim Diers, former DON director. “Bernie initiated a powerful leadership development program and innovative outreach strategy to ensure that all voices are heard. I’m excited that Bernie is passing the torch to Kathy Nyland, someone who I have long admired for her leadership of the Georgetown neighborhood. I know that she believes deeply in the department’s mission and I can’t wait to see what she does in taking it to the next level.”
Matsuno will continue to lend her expertise to future City community-engagement projects.
A Belvidere resident was hit by a “sophisticated identity theft” that she describes as resulting from “an easily overlooked risk,” and wrote this to warn you about it:
Sometime around the end of April, someone hacked into my wireless router and stole my name, address, WDL#, and SS#. I’ve since discovered that wireless routers have two passwords – one for the wireless signal (which I had locked down), but also one for the router admin itself. The router comes from the factory with a standard login/password, and no instructions for changing it. This is something I overlooked, and this is how the thief got in.
I was first alerted to the theft when I received an email receipt from a store in University Village for a large purchase I didn’t make, on a card I haven’t used in years. I called the store, and they fortunately remembered the woman who made the purchase, and were able to provide a description – a white woman, age 30-35, with long blond hair (not a description of me). She had a WDL ID with her photo and my name and address.
I of course immediately checked my credit reports and set up fraud alerts, and discovered that over a dozen inquiries had been made with my name, and several new cards opened.
It turns out the thief also had a plan to collect the new credit cards and statements. The thief put a vacation hold on my mail at the post office on California & Oregon (using her fake ID), saying she would be back May 15 to pick up the mail. Sure enough, when I figured this out & got my mail restarted, there were the new credit cards and statements.
With further investigation, I discovered that my identity had been used in Puyallup and Everett to open store credit accounts, and that the thief was using a prepaid cell phone purchased in Everett. I also received an alert that my complete information (plus passport # & medical ID #) was for sale on a black-market website.
I’ve filed reports with both the police and postal service investigators.
Just want to emphasize this was a complex and local theft – to get into my router, the thief had to physically be close to my house. Then of course they visited the WS post office, and shopped at nearby shopping centers. Everyone, please check your wireless router admin login and secure it! If you find your information has been compromised, do report it to the police and let them know you’re aware of my case so they can put it all together. I was told the police cannot investigate this kind of fraud without more evidence, more thefts, or a higher amount of actual monetary loss.
Here’s what the Federal Trade Commission says about how to protect yourself from what happened to “Belvidere Resident.”
Good morning! Summer-ish weather today (and tomorrow too), and a great day to be on the water – that’s the carrier John C. Stennis (CVN 74) with the Bremerton ferry, photographed by Greg Snyder, back today from at-sea training. Somewhat quiet schedule for today/tonight, as we head toward a big weekend (Mother’s Day on Sunday, West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day tomorrow):
FREE BAKING CLASS FOR TEENS: 3 pm at Delridge Community Center – learn how to bake, free! (4501 Delridge Way SW)
METRO LEAGUE HIGH-SCHOOL BASEBALL TOURNAMENT: Games tonight at Southwest Athletic Complex in West Seattle and Steve Cox Memorial Field in White Center.
RUDY’S WEST SEATTLE GRAND OPENING PARTY: 6-10 pm, music, food, beer, freebies to celebrate the grand opening of Rudy’s Barbershop (WSB sponsor) in West Seattle, as previewed here on Thursday. (4480 Fauntleroy Way SW)
FRIDAY NIGHT SKATING: 6:30-8:30 pm, roll the night away at Alki Community Center. (5817 SW Stevens)
LIVE AT KENYON HALL: 7:30 pm, The Syncopaths take the stage. (7904 35th SW)
LIVE AT THE FEEDBACK: 8:30 pm, Buckets of Rain CD-release show at Feedback Lounge. (6451 California SW)
MORE! on the calendar.
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:39 AM: Good morning! Much quieter so far than yesterday was – no trouble spots to report so far.
WEEKEND 99 CLOSURES: If you have seen the signs, you might not realize these do NOT involve 99 between here and the Battery Street Tunnel – the Alaskan Way Viaduct itself remains open. The closures are from the tunnel north to Valley Street, as explained here.
VIEW FROM THE WATER: Maggie, who commutes from Vashon and has long shared helpful info, also shares beautiful views like this on occasion, snapped from the Water Taxi:
@westseattleblog Morning WSB crew! Mount Rainier behind the Alki lighthouse. Passed by on the Sally Fox this morning. pic.twitter.com/6YuG7Nxufp
— SudsyMaggie (@SudsyMaggie) May 8, 2015
WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE DAY TOMORROW: If you’ve missed the mentions elsewhere – tomorrow is the 11th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day (an event coordinated by WSB since its fourth year in 2008). Many people use it as an occasion to wander around their immediate neighborhoods and see who’s selling what – with 340+ sales, chances are there’s at least one near you; both versions of the map (with short descriptions highlighting some features of each sale) are here. Forecast: Sunny, high in the mid-to-upper 70s.
8:28 AM – BRIDGE CRASH: First trouble spot of the morning. Crash reported to be blocking the bus lane on the eastbound bridge, midspan.
8:35 AM: Just added that screengrab of the bridge camera showing the crash-related activity. Haven’t heard anything on the scanner yet about injuries.
8:57 AM: No update yet on how soon this might clear. At least one person is reported to be hurt and the outside lane is blocked.
9:06 AM: Cleared!
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