day : 07/11/2016 10 results

ELECTION 2016: Where West Seattle will be watching

We promised a list by night’s end. Here’s what we have:

WEST SEATTLE (ADMIRAL) LIBRARY: Planning to watch early returns, from 5:30 pm-7:45 pm – library closes at 8. (2306 42nd SW)

SOUND & FOG: 5-9 pm. “An election party with sparkling wine to celebrate the end of this election cycle,” says proprietor Justin Krebs. (4735 40th SW)

ADMIRAL BIRD: 6-10 pm, asking for RSVPs via this Facebook event page. (California/Admiral)

PARLIAMENT TAVERN: Watching returns with Happy Hour starting at 4 pm “and extends until winners are declared.” 21+. $4 micropints, $4 well drinks, and a specialty cocktail menu including “The Bad Hombre, La Presidente No. 1, Peppermint Patty, The Light Rail, and the Peaceful Transfer of Power.” (4210 SW Admiral Way)

CIRCA: 5-10 pm party. “Special food & drink menu (regular menu too) and free celebration goodies when the results are announced.” (2605 California SW)

Any place else? editor@westseattleblog.com or 206-293-6302, text or voice – thank you!

WEST SEATTLE REZONING: ‘The city wants your input – do you know what’s going on?’

If you haven’t already taken a close look at the four maps below, now is the time. The city has yet to make a wide announcement about them, but this is the window for comments and questions. They are the West Seattle “draft maps” as part of the city’s plan to upzone properties for a component of the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda called Mandatory Housing Affordability – focused on the areas known as “urban villages”; beneath the maps, a special event at which your neighbors are offering to help you find out more about “what’s going on”:

(Direct link to West Seattle Junction map)

(Direct link to Morgan Junction map)

(Direct link to Admiral map)

(Direct link to Westwood-Highland Park map)

We first published those maps when they were released by the city, virtually unannounced, almost three weeks ago. Comments are being taken right now at this city website; an official city open house in West Seattle is planned December 7th, but before then, two community advocates with deep knowledge of land-use issues are leading a West Seattle/South Park meeting to help you understand the maps and the process. They have just formally announced it:

The Morgan Community Association (MoCA) will host an informational session to help you understand Seattle’s Mandatory Housing Affordability rezones proposed for the five District 1 Urban Villages, in advance of a December city-sponsored Open House. This learning session will enable you to go the Open House knowing what is proposed and prepared to give input or ask questions of City staff.

For the past year, the City of Seattle has been developing plans to fund affordable housing. One of the proposals is the Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) concept. Under MHA, new development in Seattle will contribute directly to affordable housing by either building affordable homes on site or making a payment to the City to fund affordable housing throughout Seattle. To put MHA requirements into effect, the City must make zoning changes that will allow more development within Urban Villages and other areas zoned for multifamily and commercial development. Proposed areas of rezoning are depicted in newly released maps, and City staff will want input on proposed District 1 rezones at their December 7 Open House.

It is a complicated issue, with lots of ‘moving parts.’ To help you figure out what is going on, we’re setting up a user-friendly informational session with goals of:

° To give enough background information so people understand the MHA proposed program;
° To understand how to read the proposed rezone maps;
° To remind people of their Urban Village Neighborhood Plan Goals and Policies and relationship to MHA principles;
° To give people tools so that they enter the City’s Open House able to give informed input and/or ask questions to get the information they need.

Please join us –

Rezoning for Affordability in District 1: The City Wants Your Input – Do You Know What’s Going On?
Tuesday, November 29, 2016, from 6:30 – 8:30pm
Highland Park Improvement Club
1116 SW Holden Street

o Street parking is available nearby
o Metro Routes 125 and 128 stop at 16th Ave. SW at Holden; walk east on Holden to 12th Street
o Light refreshments will be available
o There will be a coloring corner for kids.

Again, though MoCA is sponsoring it, it’s for everyone in West Seattle and South Park (whose “urban village” is to be upzoned as well).

FOLLOWUP: Kent Police say leaving stolen-car owner stuck with others’ stuff was ‘unfortunate’

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By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

“It is unfortunate what took place …”

That’s what a Kent Police Department commander tells WSB in response to our inquiries about what happened after that agency found a vehicle stolen in West Seattle and turned over to its owner.

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We first reported two Fridays ago about that vehicle, stolen from local restaurateur Dan Austin (owner of WSB sponsor Peel & Press). Then last Thursday, Austin let us know that his car had been found by Kent Police (outside the Des Moines Goodwill, which is in Kent city limits) – but, as he put it in the report we published Thursday night, “Here is the weird thing, I have stolen mail and property in the car but the police wouldn’t take it. They said it was mine to deal with. I find this insane!!! I have a stolen bike and several pairs of glasses, electronics, stolen mail from all over and gym bags. What am I going to do with these??? I refuse to toss them because, as someone who just had my car stolen, I want to help people get their things back!”

bags

Trying to deal with those things added insult to the injury of his car theft, which left him with a damaged vehicle and trashed interior that reeked of a variety of substances.

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The items he most hoped to get back – the car seats for his young children – were gone. And there he was, stuck with piles of stuff, from the personal documents shown in the top photo – belonging to a variety of people including one person who, that paperwork said, had recently gotten out of jail after an arrest for suspected forgery – to mail, to eyeglasses:

glasses

At one point after Austin talked with the Southwest Precinct, Seattle Police were going to take possession of the items – an officer was there when we stopped by Austin’s house on Friday afternoon to take the photos you see in the story; we rushed over because at the time he thought they were about to be taken away.

Kent Police, however, were still in the loop, and according to the SPD officer, were arguing about what to do, so the Seattle officer left. And there was Austin, still in possession of other people’s stuff. Finally, he told us, a Kent officer was sent on Saturday and the items were taken away. “The whole situation still seems really messed up, and I wonder how many people never get their items returned because cops don’t want to take the time to inventory or retrieve it.”

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We tried calling Kent PD on Friday afternoon, but were unable to reach spokesperson Commander Jarod Kasner. Today, we e-mailed him to ask about the situation, and he replied, calling it “unfortunate circumstances … Mr. Austin should not have beared the responsibility of re-contacting us in this situation; however, once we were re-contacted a Kent Officer responded to his location and collected the items that Mr. Austin had in his possession. We are reaching out to other police agencies in an attempt to locate the identified owners of the property that was collected.”

trike

Commander Kasner also addressed Austin’s concern about being told that the two people found in his car wouldn’t face prosecution: “In this type of case we have to establish ‘knowledge’ that the vehicle was stolen. Arresting the suspect on his confirmed warrant allows us to investigate further and establish the required ‘knowledge/ aspect of the crime. The case was referred to the Detective Unit and it is anticipated that criminal charges surrounding the stolen vehicle will be filed.”

Overall, Kasner said, “It is unfortunate what took place and although I have not had an opportunity to obtain all the information, it appears that in this incident we did not provide the service that is expected or normally given. I would like to express that we take all crimes serious and we will be investigating why the situation was handled in the fashion in which it was. The information that will be obtained from our investigation, good or bad, will allow us to correct and change what is needed to maintain a high level of service, which is expected.”

Meantime, Austin tells WSB, “I am glad to hear that they acknowledge that this was not the way it should have happened. I am relieved to have the items under the control of the proper authorities. I would still like to know why the call was made to leave this stolen property with me … I still have a lot of respect for law enforcement but right now I have a lot of questions as well.”

SIDE NOTE: The oddest item we noticed, from everything Austin found in the car, next to somebody’s empty pill container:

ELECTION EVE: Help at the ballot dropbox; encouragement in The Junction

Election Eve sights:

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AT THE BALLOT DROPBOX: We went by West Seattle’s semi-new permanent ballot dropbox outside High Point Library and found a team of four helpers from King County Elections. They told us they’re there until 5 pm today and again 9:30 am-8 pm tomorrow to manage traffic among other things – to keep it from backing up onto 35th, in particular. You can even give them your ballot without getting out of your car, and they’ll pop it in the dropbox while you watch. If you need a pen, or an envelope, they have those supplies too. A steady stream of voters were coming by, in cars and on foot, while we were there around 1:30 pm. SW Raymond, just east of 35th SW. (No van at WS Stadium – the permanent box at HP Library replaces it.) Nearby boxes are also at the White Center Library (1409 SW 107th) and South Park Library (8604 8th Ave. S.) – full countywide list here. (Or, use a stamp and postal-mail your ballot – be sure it’ll be postmarked no later than tomorrow.) If it’s been a few days since you dropped off or mailed your ballot, use the online Ballot Tracker to be sure it’s been received and verified.

GET OUT THE VOTE: Victoria at VAIN (WSB sponsor) in The Junction sent us the photo:

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She says VAIN has posters they would like to offer to anyone interested in displaying/holding them up to encourage people to vote. (They’re at 4513 California SW, open until 8 tonight.)

P.S. If you’re out campaigning/getting out the vote, we’d love a photo – editor@westseattleblog.com

P.P.S. Last call to let us know about any election-night results-viewing parties in the area … later tonight we’ll publish the list, though it’s still not very long – same address, editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!

Councilmembers propose more ‘affordable housing’ $ without diverting police $

You’ve probably heard about City Councilmember Kshama Sawant‘s campaign to get the city to build affordable housing with the money it might otherwise spend on a new nine-digit police precinct in North Seattle. Today, she is one of six councilmembers – along with West Seattle/South Park Councilmember Lisa Herbold – proposing a new plan:

Six Councilmembers introduced a new proposal today intended to create up to 500 new units of affordable housing for Seattle residents. The housing production would be funded by newly utilizing the City’s existing bonding capacity and paid off over a 30-year term. Councilmembers Bagshaw, González, Herbold, Johnson, O’Brien, and Sawant have signed on to the proposal, which will allow it to be reviewed and discussed at this Wednesday’s 9:30 a.m. Budget Committee meeting.

Councilmembers Bagshaw, González, Herbold, Johnson, and O’Brien said, “In this time of crisis, we thank the advocates in encouraging us to join together in support of a new use of the City’s bonding authority, namely, affordable housing production. There are several details yet to work through, but, with this proposal, we are signaling our common desire to create solutions in this year’s budget deliberations. This proposal does not pit Seattle’s housing needs against other citywide priorities, such as public safety needs.”

The proposal is a measured approach that adds bond funding for housing which, if leveraged with other resources, could result in development support for up to an additional 500 units of affordable housing in 2017. The $29 million is in addition to the Housing Levy’s anticipated 2017 $54 million allocation.

The following memo is illustrative of the opportunities this funding could support. The details and direction of the proposal will be further refined through the Council’s budget deliberations.

Those deliberations are approaching their final stages, with budget adoption due before Thanksgiving.

LAST CALL! Help West Seattle Helpline assist neighbors in need

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Tonight is the deadline to get your ticket for Neighbors Helping Neighbors, this year’s West Seattle Helpline benefit. Worried about homelessness? Helpline is the kind of agency that helps out BEFORE it happens to people … when they need a little urgent help with rent, for example, or some other kind of short-term assistance. The reminder is from WSH executive director Chris Langeler:

NHN Ticket Registration Ends at 11:59 pm TONIGHT!

This Friday (11/11), we’ll come together for one of our favorite nights of the year — the Neighbors Helping Neighbors Dinner & Auction. We’ll be celebrating and strengthening our wonderful West Seattle community. We’d LOVE to have a room FULL of our wonderful West Seattle neighbors!

Click here to register before midnight tonight!

What better way to unwind after a stressful election season that a night out with your friends and neighbors? See you there!

The Friday event is 6-9 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW).

Yes, that was a submarine passing West Seattle

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Thanks to the texter who sent that photo a short time ago! Yes, that was a submarine passing Alki Point. Though they aren’t often seen from here, 14 are based at Naval Base Kitsap.

WEST SEATTLE VETERANS DAY: 2 invitations from American Legion Post 160

November 7, 2016 11:43 am
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE VETERANS DAY: 2 invitations from American Legion Post 160
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from 2014 dinner)

This Friday is Veterans Day, and West Seattle’s American Legion Post 160 has two invitations: All are welcome to join them in placing The Junction’s flags in the morning; then in the evening, veterans, active-duty servicemembers, reserve, guard members, and families are invited to a free dinner:

Veterans Day, the annual time for remembering the end of World War I and the brave Americans who served in the “war to end all wars,” also draws from the news headlines of the day.

“What we now call ‘Veterans Day’ began as ‘Armistice Day.’ It is historically significant that this day continue to be observed on the month, day and hour that the guns fell silent in World War I at 11a.m., Nov. 11, 1918,” Keith Hughes, commander of West Seattle American Legion Post 160, said.

While the day has strong historical roots, current events continue to add meaning to the day.

“Today, thousands of Americans are serving in uniform. They sacrifice in the war on terror and in hundreds of locations around the globe so we may remain free. They, too, are veterans,” Hughes said.

To mark Veterans Day in West Seattle, American Legion Post 160 invites all currently serving; active, reserve and guard members and those who served in the past, along with their families, to join us for our complimentary Annual Italian Dinner. The dinner will be held on November 11, 2016, from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. The West Seattle Post is located at 3618 SW Alaska St.

Volunteers, coordinated by American Legion Post 160 members, will also line the Alaska Junction with United States flags starting at 9:00 am. If you would like to participate, show up at the northeast corner of Alaska and California five minutes prior. The flags will be taken down at 4:00 pm. All ages are encouraged to participate.

The American Legion is the nation’s largest wartime veterans’ organization. Founded early in 1919, the delegates to the first National Convention in Minneapolis broke from business sessions to parade down a main street in a heavy snowstorm at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 to mark the anniversary of the armistice.

West Seattle Monday: Tilden School open house, WWRHAH, Hi-Yu, dine-out benefit @ Endolyne Joe’s, more …

November 7, 2016 9:40 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Monday: Tilden School open house, WWRHAH, Hi-Yu, dine-out benefit @ Endolyne Joe’s, more …
 |   West Seattle news

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(Northern Flicker, photographed by Jamie Kinney in the Fauntlee Hills area)

Welcome to a new week! Some happenings you should know about for today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you will see even more options):

SW NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE CENTER & TLC CLOSURE: It’s the third week of the Southwest Pool maintenance closure and this week, Seattle Parks says, the Neighborhood Service Center and Teen Life Center in the same building will be closed too, along with child-care programs, to finish the work. (2801 SW Thistle)

GOOD FOOD FOR A GOOD CAUSE: Until 10 tonight, Endolyne Joe’s (WSB sponsor) is donating 25 percent of today’s food sales to the Learning Garden at Gatewood Elementary School. (9261 45th SW)

TINKERLAB: 6 pm at Delridge Library, free, drop-in, no-registration-required STEM activities – tonight, the theme is “animation shorts.” (5423 Delridge Way SW)

WWRHAH: 6:15 pm at Southwest Library, the Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council‘s November meeting includes an update on the action plan resulting from July’s Find It, Fix It Walk. Full agenda is in our calendar listing. (35th SW/SW Henderson)

TILDEN SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 6:30-8 pm, prospective families are invited to visit independent K-5 Tilden School (WSB sponsor) for a casual event during which you can visit classrooms, talk with faculty, and ask questions. (4105 California SW)

HI-YU: 7 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, Hi-Yu meets to talk more about the organization’s future. Full agenda is in our calendar listing. (2306 42nd SW)

CRACKER FACTORY: 8 pm at West Seattle Brewing in The Triangle, live music. 21+. (4415 Fauntleroy Way SW)

DADS’ BOOK CLUB DEBUTS: 8:30 pm at Highland Park Improvement Club. See our calendar listing for details. (12th SW/SW Holden)

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday updates & 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)

7:06 AM: Good morning. Right now the biggest incident in the area is a crash blocking all lanes of East Marginal near Diagonal [map] – backing up 99/509 for people heading toward downtown from south of there.

Otherwise, today’s biggest alert is a reminder that the Seahawks play Monday Night Football tonight, so the stadium zone will be busy during the evening commute.

7:36 AM The E. Marginal crash, reportedly involving a semitruck and pole, will be blocking for “a while.”

8:59 AM: Still closed. And if you have to head this way from downtown – SPD has closed the Columbia onramp to SB 99.

11:16 PM Thanks to AMD for pointing out that 99 has reopened.