day : 12/10/2016 9 results

In West Seattle Crime Watch, thieves caught on camera taking unusual items:

PALM-TREE THEFT: Martin returned from a trip and discovered this early-morning tree theft on his security video:

“Just ripped it right out of the wet dirt and took off with our palm,” he says. It happened near California and Juneau. “If anyone can identify person or vehicle, please contact SPD and reference tracking # T16010221.”

REPEAT PACKAGE THIEF: Hannah says this thief has hit their apartment building multiple times:

That image is from a September theft; the one from 4 am this past Monday wasn’t usable, but this time, she says, the thief “stole a bunch of nutritional supplements. I didn’t know you could pawn protein powder and digestive enzymes and such. If anyone sees a bag of supplements from Baseline Nutritionals dumped anywhere, I’d love to have some back.”

P.S. Early re-reminder – bring your neighborhood concerns directly to local police @ the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting next Tuesday (October 18th), 7 pm, Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster).

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ENCAMPMENTS IN PARKS? City Councilmembers’ alternative proposals

October 12, 2016 6:52 pm

| 70 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

(UPDATED THURSDAY AFTERNOON with council staff analysis of the differences between the two alternatives)

6:52 PM: Two city councilmembers’ alternative versions of the camping-in-public-places proposal are now part of the agenda for Friday morning’s committee meeting. One is by the Human Services and Public Health Committee’s chair Sally Bagshaw, and the other is by Mike O’Brien, who is sponsor of the original bill. We’re reading them right now but wanted to publish them so you can read them too. First, from Bagshaw:

In hers, the expanded definition of “unsuitable” areas starts at page 6, so if you’re just going to skim, that’s where to start.

And from O’Brien:

For comparison, here’s the week-old draft that was in our story last Friday.

Toplines to come. Though the committee is NOT expected to vote on Friday, the 9:30 am meeting at City Hall is still on, and will include a public-comment period.

10:15 PM: After reading both, here’s a quick summary of the differences: Besides, as mentioned earlier, a more expansive definition of what’s an “unsuitable” location – including all areas of parks, not just the “improved” ones – her bill does not mention vehicles, as the draft we obtained last week did. O’Brien’s alternate bill does mention, as did the draft, coming up with rules about vehicle camping within a few months. Meantime, his mentions setting up an advisory committee to oversee implementation of whatever new rules are passed; Bagshaw’s does not. And finally, hers includes this:

Unsuitable Location Options – Within 30 days of the effective date of this ordinance, the City shall set up additional sanctioned, or managed encampments or spaces where people can safely camp. Such identified spaces and sites shall be numerous and large enough to accommodate the reasonably estimated unsheltered population in need of such outdoor living spaces.

Again, the 9:30 am Friday committee meeting at City Hall is now NOT set to include a vote, but this will be discussed, and there will be public comment. It’ll be live on Seattle Channel, online and cable 21.

ADDED 1:32 PM THURSDAY: If you haven’t thoroughly compared the two alternatives yet, this council-staff memo, just added to the agenda for tomorrow’s meeting, does exactly that.

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WEATHER ALERT: High Wind Warning for Thursday night-Friday morning

October 12, 2016 3:47 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

The National Weather Service has just raised the storm-alert level again – this time, to a High Wind Warning for 6 pm Thursday through 7 am Friday. Read it here. Sustained wind will be up to 30 mph, from the south, switching to the southwest, with gusts possible to 55 mph. And this is just the *first* storm – the one expected this weekend could be even windier – so get ready, just in case. More to come…

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BIZNOTE: What’s going into the ex-West Seattle Curves space

October 12, 2016 3:30 pm

| 11 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

We’ve been getting questions for months about what’s going into 3280 California SW, where West Seattle Curves closed one year ago, and we finally have an answer. Just heard from Shandon Graybeal, who says she’s opening a gift shop in Suite A called Alair: “We specialize in unique and small-batch gifts with an emphasis on locally made goods and companies that give back. We are proud to be part of the West Seattle community and are honored to provide a fun shopping experience.” She’s aiming to open Alair by early December.

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West Seattle development: 12 rowhouse units replacing 3 Alki duplexes

October 12, 2016 1:08 pm

| 11 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle news

Thanks to the texter who pointed out that the city has put up a project-application sign for a proposed 12-unit rowhouse development in Alki, replacing three 71-year-old duplexes on the northeast corner of 61st SW and SW Admiral Way. The project for 3050 61st Avenue SW has not yet officially appeared in the Land Use Information Bulletin but the sign’s appearance suggests that’s imminent (next LUIB is tomorrow), and that will open an official comment period. The “site plan” document in the city’s online files, by architects Novion, shows two 3-story buildings, one with eight units facing 61st and the other with four units facing Admiral. The “Alki Parking Overlay” requires 1 1/2 offstreet spaces per unit, and this plan shows 18 spaces off the alley, east of the bigger building, north of the smaller one.

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@ Fauntleroy Community Association: ‘Quick’ response to oppose City Council park-camping proposal; first word of WSF meeting

October 12, 2016 11:03 am

| 36 COMMENTS

| Fauntleroy | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

The Fauntleroy Community Association board vows “quick” action to let the City Council know it’s against proposed legislation that could change the rules about camping in city parks (the subject of this much-commented-on WSB report last Friday). That was one of the major topics on its agenda last night:

CAMPING IN PARKS? FCA’s jurisdiction includes Lincoln Park, and that made the proposed legislation a major topic at tonight’s meeting. Several members, said president Mike Dey, had asked whether FCA would consider “getting involved” as an organization, and if so, what would the response be, and that’s how it ended up on the agenda.

One attendee said she had never come to a neighborhood meeting before, until she saw this was on the agenda. “This is something that I’m passionate about, I cannot have my kids’ safety” (jeopardized). She said that her job brings her into contact with families experiencing homelessness, but a park is not the appropriate place for anyone to live.

All it does is degrade neighborhoods AND people, said one FCA board member. It’s going to perpetuate the problem.

“It’s not a solution, it’s a nightmare,” said another one.

“What if we did a survey, and put data” behind the response? suggested another member. Unfortunately, time’s running out, the point was made.

Is this an issue on which to burn political capital? was one question. Public opinion seems overwhelmingly against it. But is the council listening? Most didn’t think so: “I’m scared to death they’re going to approve it.”

After a further short round of discussion, the FCA board voted unanimously to draft and send a letter expressing opposition to the ordinance. “We will respond, and will respond quickly” was the promise.

The discussion happened at mid-meeting, but even before the meeting began, it was the major topic of discussion. Referring to the incident earlier in the day in which Seattle Police shot and killed one of two people in a reported knife fight near the clearing of “The Jungle” on Beacon Hill, one person said, “Hoping this doesn’t happen at Lincoln Park.”

Another expressed interest in acquiring a tent “because I am ready to go camp outside the mayor’s office.”

The agenda is now up for the 9:30 am Friday meeting at which the City Council’s Human Services and Public Health Committee is scheduled to consider the proposal, but as of this writing (11 am Wednesday) the updated version of the legislation is not yet available online. (Added 12:28 pm: There are multiple reports that the committee will not VOTE on Friday. But the meeting is still scheduled.)

Next hottest topic:

FERRY UPDATES: This briefing by Gary Dawson, FCA’s point person on Washington State Ferries-related issues, brought first word that WSF is planning public meetings to talk about the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route’s issues. Read More

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West Seattle Wednesday: Chief Sealth PTSA; Explorer West open house; self-defense class for runners; more…

October 12, 2016 9:31 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Alki Beach photo by Tyson Rowley)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, which has even more for today/tonight, a few highlights:

BABY STORY TIME: 11:30 am at High Point Library, bring your 4- to 12-month-old(s)! Free as always. (35th SW/SW Raymond)

LOCAL BIZ MEETUP: This week’s free meetup at West Seattle’s only coworking center, WS Office Junction (WSB sponsor), is for local businesspeople – just drop in, noon-1:15 pm. (6040 California SW)

SCHOOL BOARD MEETING: Those signed up for public comment at 5:30 pm at tonight’s Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors meeting downtown (see the list on the agenda) are set to talk about topics including Chief Sealth IHS, the sports-transportation concerns raised by West Seattle HS, district support for treaty rights of the Duwamish Tribe (with chair Cecile Hansen on the speaker list), and more. (3rd S. & S. Lander)

EXPLORER WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 6:30-8 pm open house for families considering Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor) – more info in our calendar listing. (10015 28th SW)

SELF-DEFENSE CLASS FOR RUNNERS: Tonight’s the night, 7 pm at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), a free self-defense class so runners can help protect themselves. Please RSVP – our calendar listing explains how. (2743 California SW)

CHIEF SEALTH PTSA MEETING: All welcome, 7 pm in the library. It’s this year’s Resources meeting – as explained on the PTSA website, lots of information about lots of things you should know about. (2600 SW Thistle)

34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: 7 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy, the major agenda items for our area’s largest political organization are getting out the vote and reviewing leadership roles. (9131 California SW)

NORMAN AND FRIENDS: 8 pm, acoustic and alt-country music at Parliament Tavern in The Admiral District. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

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Sanislo back to Denny-Sealth: No complaints at district meeting

October 12, 2016 8:55 am

| Comments Off on Sanislo back to Denny-Sealth: No complaints at district meeting

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

No complaints last night about the only West Seattle proposal in the next round of Seattle Public Schools boundary changes. As noted here last month, SPS plans to move Sanislo Elementary back to the feeder area for Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School next school year, two years after moving Sanislo to the Madison MS-West Seattle HS zone. This does NOT change the boundaries of the Sanislo attendance zone itself. Denny was the site last night of the district’s fifth and final citywide meeting about that change and some in other parts of the city, and the only person who had something to say about the Sanislo change was longtime Denny principal Jeff Clark, who thanked the district for “reuniting” Denny and Sanislo. We asked Clark how many students this was expected to add to Denny; he said the current rough estimate is about 20. The district had noted that despite the official change, many Sanislo parents were applying to send their kids to Denny anyway. Last night’s meeting did draw commenters from other parts of the city with concerns about some of the non-WS changes the district is pursuing. The full citywide package of changes is to be introduced at tonight’s School Board meeting.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday updates & alerts

October 12, 2016 7:00 am

| Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday updates & alerts

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

7 AM: Good morning! No incidents reported right now in/from West Seattle.

Weather-wise, it’s “calm before the storm” phase – early this morning, the National Weather Service raised the alert level to a High Wind Watch, with gusts up to 55 mph possible Thursday night into Friday morning.

As for road-work alerts – the SW Admiral Way work west of California continues. We noticed restriping complete on part of the route between the Admiral District and Schmitz Park, but more ahead to the west.

FERRY MEETING: Last night at the Fauntleroy Community Association meeting, we learned that Washington State Ferries plans a series of community meetings, including one in Fauntleroy on October 27th, later this month. Full report coming up later this morning.

7:38 AM: Just spun through the live cameras (lower-right dropdown here). Still OK – the usual sluggish spots, eastbound low bridge and 99 exit lane on high bridge.

8:38 AM: Still quiet. A few more reminders:

–Sounders FC vs. Houston, 7:30 pm at CenturyLink
–No school for Seattle Public Schools students on Friday

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