day : 13/09/2015 5 results

CAMPAIGN SEASON: City Council District 1 candidate debate Thursday; 34th District Democrats’ endorsements

Though other matters are holding the spotlight, the November election is just seven weeks away, and you’ll have a lot to decide. The coverage ramp-up has begun.

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 1 CANDIDATES DEBATE THURSDAY: The finalists for the City Council’s new West Seattle/South Park seat will debate in the district on Thursday (September 17th) for the first time since last month’s primary.

Shannon Braddock and Lisa Herbold will face off at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), 7:30 pm Thursday. Your editor here is lead moderator, with community moderators including Duwamish Tribe chair Cecile Hansen. The debate is presented by Town Hall Seattle, whose website has full details – they’re also requesting you RSVP via that page (though admission is free).

34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS’ ENDORSEMENTS: We’ve already reported on some of what happened at last Wednesday’s meeting of our area’s largest political organization, the 34th District Democrats – a resolution supporting the striking Seattle Education Association‘s contract proposals, and a speech plus Q/A with SEA’s lead bargainer. Also at the meeting Wednesday night, in addition to endorsements they made before the primary, a block of general-election endorsements was approved, including Courtney Gregoire for re-election to Port Commission Position 2, approval of Seattle I-122 “Honest Elections,” approval of King County Proposition 1 “Best Starts for Kids,” and rejection of State Initiative 1366. In separate votes, Fred Felleman was endorsed for Port Commission Position 5 and the Move Seattle transportation levy was endorsed. The full list of new 34th endorsements is here.

The group also heard from numerous candidates and candidate reps. One memorable point was made by County Elections Director candidate Zack Hudgins, who spoke disapprovingly of the 25 percent turnout for the primary and said action was needed because “to get better government we need better participation.” One of his ideas: More ballot boxes in the county. West Seattle, you might recall, doesn’t have a fixed dropoff box – the last one was removed five years ago.

(West Seattle’s last fixed-location ballot-dropoff box – WSB photo, 2009)
A ballot-dropoff van visits for three of the four days before the voting deadline. Otherwise, you have to pay postage and get your ballot into the mail, an idea that once was suggested as a turnout-booster, not reducer.

Next month’s 34th Dems meeting (7 pm October 14th, Hall at Fauntleroy) is scheduled to include a City Council candidates’ forum.

SCHOOL STRIKE UPDATES: No school on Monday; negotiations continued late Sunday night, ‘likely to continue’ Monday

(SCROLL DOWN for newest updates)

3 PM: We’re at Seattle Public Schools headquarters in SODO, where district spokesperson Stacy Howard is briefing media – fourth time in five days they’ve held a mid-afternoon briefing.

Both sides confirmed they were negotiating today, but that’s all we’ve heard until now. “The district presented an offer to pay teachers for added instructional minutes,” Howard says, adding, “no time will be added to the instructional day.” She says ****no school on Monday****, though negotiations are still under way. She says the district is now to the place where they’ve run out of the three “snow days” that can be used to make up for the lost days, so they’ll have to be looking at other ways to get to the 180 state-mandated days – maybe looking at what’s scheduled as a full-week mid-winter break this year, for example. Still too soon to say how this might affect graduation dates, according to Howard.

As for what the district is currently proposing, “It’s not what we would like, but what we can afford.” We asked if they could characterize the talks as having made progress; Howard wouldn’t or couldn’t say. The briefing is over after 10 minutes (we recorded it on video as usual and will add that here when it’s uploaded *4:48 pm, it’s up). We’ll update this story if and when there are any other strike-related developments today.

5:13 PM: The union announced a 5 pm media briefing at the Neptune Theater in the U-District, where a concert is being held tonight to benefit striking educators; we didn’t see the announcement in time to get there, but tuned into the KIRO-TV stream in which a union member was telling them they didn’t have anything to say but were awaiting the bargaining team’s arrival.

6:07 PM: The union has just announced by text and tweet that its “Bargaining Team gave the Seattle School Board bargainers a new proposal today: Two-year contract, raises of 4.75% and 5%.” [added] Also, the SEA briefing that finally happened at the Neptune is viewable via Periscope video recorded by KING 5 reporter John Langelergo here. The first speaker was SEA president Jonathan Knapp, who said it is the board and superintendent’s fault the teachers walked out, because they are not “offering a fair contract.” Lead bargainer Phyllis Campano, SEA vice president (and a former Pathfinder K-8 teacher), said the negotiations were still ongoing at the time of this briefing and that she was headed back immediately afterward. Campano said they have still not come to an agreement on issues she listed as “pay, fair evaluations, reasonable testing, student equity, lengthening the school day.”

6:43 PM: Thanks to the tipster who shared word of tomorrow’s plan: Individual school picketing in the morning, then gathering at “zone” locations in the afternoon. On the Fairmount Park Elementary PTA website, this link says that means FPE teachers will picket outside the school 8:30 am-noon, then joining other schools from their “zone” at West Seattle High School 1-3 pm. Still trying to find out what’s happening at other local schools – any info, please comment or e-mail us (editor@westseattleblog.com) – thank you.

8:51 PM: HPN in comments says what we suspected – the two “zone” locations for afternoon picketing in WS tomorrow will be WSHS and Chief Sealth IHS.

10:10 PM: Amanda in comments says Roxhill is planning to picket at its school all day, rather than going to join the “zone.” Meantime, a Madison MS teacher tells us via e-mail, “We’re picketing at Madison in the morning, then in the afternoon we’re walking over to West Seattle High School for demonstrations there.”

ADDED MONDAY MORNING: Most recent update we can find says negotiations were still under way as of 10:15 last night.

9:15 AM MONDAY: Just texted by SEA, “Negotiations are likely to continue today. No TA yet.” We will launch a new story later today but for now we’re updating this one.

12:20 PM: New update from the union – negotiations “will resume this afternoon.” And the district is again having what’s becoming its daily 3 pm briefing.

PHOTOS/VIDEO: West Seattle Car Show test-drives South Seattle College

(UPDATED SUNDAY NIGHT with video/info from post-show awards – scroll down)

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
11:33 AM: That ’57 BMW Isetta is one of the more unusual cars you’ll see today at the eighth annual West Seattle Car Show, rebooted to a brand-new location in the north lot at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor). The cars span the decades – going back even further, here’s a 1947 Buick Super 8 convertible:

A 1972 Cadillac Eldorado:

Trophies will be announced and awarded at 3 pm – and if you come to the show by 2:30 pm, you can vote on the People’s Choice award:

Along with the cars, you’ll see trucks, bicycles, and this mini-hydroplane showing off a 1959 Mercury Mark motor:

The West Seattle-based Nibbles food truck is here with its “Southwest fusion” flavors:

(So far, the mini-donut truck is a no-show.) You’ll find beverages inside the Northwest Wine Academy – including some of their award-winning wines:

While the fog and clouds are starting to lift, it’s also a great day for hot beverages, and you’ll find coffee there too. Again this year, Swedish Automotive and West Seattle Autoworks (both WSB sponsors) organized the show. Come say hi – our booth is next to their table on the east side of the show, where you can buy a raffle ticket that will benefit the SSC Automotive Tech program as do proceeds from the registration fees. A DJ’s playing hits old and new, and the clouds are starting to lift – we see the sun starting to break through to the south. More to come!

1:02 PM: Yes, the sun did break through, and we’re seeing a couple spots of blue sky. A hula-hooping competition’s happening right now:

At 2 pm, a live band is going to play – the Disco Cowboys. More of the vehicles that are here:

That’s a 1967 bike with a 1960 sidecar. Here’s a 1963 Comet:

Don’t miss the interiors. This 1967 Pontiac GTO is particularly showy:

1:30 PM: One more hour to vote for the People’s Choice, an hour and a half until the awards – now that the Seahawks game is over, you have time to get here and see setups like this 1974 VW van and its accessories:

Someone who just stopped by the booth to say hi described the turnout as an “eclectic mix.”

That’s a 1957 Plymouth and its mini-counterpart. And we have the first full-on sunbreak of the day!

While you’re here wander over to the SSC Automotive areas on the southwest side of the lot – where you’ll see these trucks:

And you’ll find the occasional backstory like this one!

1:58 PM: Lots of spectators in Seahawks jerseys showing up now. Come on down – still time to see it all.

We’ll have coverage of the awards a bit later – but first, we have to do a little reconnoitering to get downtown for the Seattle Public Schools strike briefing at 3, but half the team will be back here at the show shortly.
ADDED: From the final hour, a bit of Disco Cowboys video:

They had an attentive fan up on his feet and dancing for just about the entire set:

Winners and a few more show scenes still to come.

ADDED SUNDAY NIGHT: First, the awards ceremony – the announcer was Todd Ainsworth from co-presenting West Seattle Autoworks (which is about to celebrate its 5th anniversary!), still in his outfit from the Disco Cowboys performance:

The list, transcribed from our video:

Best in Show and Best Muscle Car – 1971 Plymouth Road Runner Super Bird
People’s Choice – 1957 BMW Isetta (the little blue car shown at the top of this story)
Green Car/alternative fuel – Ford C-Max
Best Custom (5 or more modifications) – 1955 Chevy
Best Motorcycle (and the only motorcycle at the show) the 1971 Norton w/ sidecar
Best Import – 1955 MG
Best Modern Car (1990 or newer) – 2008 Corvette
Best Classic (1965-1989) 1968 Olds Cutlass
Best Pre-Antique (1964 or older) 1957 Caddy

A few more photos to come!

More service: The Mission Continues & friends, @ American Legion and VFW posts in The Triangle

In the West Seattle Triangle, the headquarters of two organizations for veterans and active-duty servicemembers are almost directly across SW Alaska from each other: American Legion Post 160 (home of the West Seattle Veterans’ Center) and VFW Post 2713. On Saturday, volunteers of all ages gave both a boost with repairs and renovations via The Mission Continues.

TMC is an organization helping veterans readjust via new “missions” – as the slogan on the T-shirts says, “Reporting For Duty In Your Community.”

Both buildings needed lots of help – the indoor painting you see is at the VFW, which also had tangles of weeds to clean up.

Debris, trimmings, and old junk from both locations filled this trunk:

Volunteers from companies including Starbucks, Nordstrom, and Safeway joined in, we’re told. Also in the midst of it all, below: Kyle Geraghty from Post 160, with daughter Ana, and Joshua Arntson, national resource specialist from The Mission Continues:

Here’s how to get involved with TMC’s Seattle 1st Service Platoon.

West Seattle Sunday: WS Car Show, Camp Long Mountain Fest…

The day’s off to a murky start but the forecast says it’s expected to clear off and become partly sunny. The big event:

WEST SEATTLE CAR SHOW: New location, with more to see and do!

(Added 8:46 am – WSB photo, one of the first arrivals)
10 am-3 pm on the north side of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, where you’ll find not only the cars and motorcycles who show up to show off, but also SSC’s Automotive Technology and Northwest Wine Academy programs, both open to visitors as will be the Seattle Chinese Garden immediately to the north (kids’ activities are planned there too). Food trucks too. Admission’s free for spectators. Info’s on the WSCS site, and we’ll be reporting live as we do every year. (6000 16th SW)

Also from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

HOLY FAMILY STREET FAIR: 9:30 am-4 pm, second and final day of this free street fair with vendors and entertainment.

(20th SW south of Roxbury, which is closed to motor vehicles for the fair)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET + ZUCCHINI 500: 10 am-2 pm, the market’s in the street in the heart of The Junction as always (three months now since the big change!) and today, you’ll also find the annual Zucchini 500 at the market from 11 am-1 pm – the prolifically produced late-summer veggies will be available for kids to turn into racing machines and a course to run them on. (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)

CAMP LONG MOUNTAIN FEST: 11 am-5 pm, celebrate all things climbing at Camp Long Environmental Learning Center, the home of Schurman Rock: Ropes course, workshops, speakers, mountain games, all free, for all ages and abilities. (5200 35th SW)

‘AMERICAN IDIOT’ MATINEE: 3 pm, first daytime performance of “Green Day’s American Idiot,” the new production at ArtsWest Playhouse. (4711 California SW)