West Seattle, Washington
23 Tuesday
(Photo sent by Jeanine)
9:21 PM: A big Seattle Fire response is on the way to the 6700 block of 18th SW [map] on Puget Ridge. According to scanner traffic, an SUV has hit a tree and is on its side, with one person reported trapped. More to come.
9:25 PM: The person is now out of the vehicle, after reportedly claiming to be unhurt. Most of the SFD response is being canceled.
(WSB photo)
10:08 PM: Photos added. This one wrapped up fast. The last SFD crew (Engine 11) passed us while we were still a few blocks away. Only one police car was left keeping watch on the vehicle until the tow truck arrived – and we passed it as we left. 18th, narrow as it is, wasn’t even blocked by the wreck.
ADDED TUESDAY MORNING: Neighbors say the driver appeared impaired, and overnight, the call was officially logged as DUI.
(Direct link to draft West Seattle Junction rezoning map)
January 26th is the next major city meeting in West Seattle related to proposed rezoning for the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda‘s Mandatory Housing Affordability component – and this week, the Junction Neighborhood Organization has two meetings to prepare for it. From JuNO director René Commons:
1/17 Tuesday, JuNO Meeting, 6:30-7:30 pm – West Seattle Senior Center’s Nucor Room
Guest Speaker Cindi Barker: Cindi will be sharing the MoCA (Morgan Community Association) response to the MHA HALA rezone. She will offer her insights on how best to plan and prepare our WS Junction community to respond at the upcoming city meeting on 1/26.
1/19 Thursday, JuNO Land Use Committee meeting – 6:30-7:30 pm, West Seattle Senior Center’s Hatten Hall – for neighbors to provide input before the 1/26 City meeting.
JuNO is excited to announce Rich Koehler and Carl Guess are Co-Chairs for the newly formed JuNO Land Use Committee, which is a part of JuNO that will focus on helping the West Seattle Junction neighborhood influence programs that include proposed land use changes such as HALA and ST3! The JuNO Land Use Committee will be hosting this meeting. Thank you Rich, Carl, & all the new volunteers!
The January 19th meeting will be a community-organized “workshop meeting,” Commons says, “to discuss a response that is related to rezoning, infrastructure, and affordable housing in our West Seattle Junction Urban Village in an open forum.” Then a week later, it’s the city-sponsored January 26th workshop, also at the Senior Center, 6-9 pm. If you’re interested in being there, JuNO hopes to see you at one or both of this week’s meetings. The Senior Center (Sisson Building) is at 4217 SW Oregon.
Eight years after we took that photo – just after the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse in West Seattle was completed and dedicated in January 2009 – its next anniversary celebration is days away. You’re invited to the Longhouse next Saturday (January 21st), 10 am-5 pm, for an open house that will start with a screening of the new documentary “Promised Land,” featuring the Duwamish and Chinook Tribes’ fight for restoration of their treaty rights – here’s the trailer:
This is the first time the film will be shown at the Duwamish Longhouse. Here’s the longhouse’s backstory, as shared by the tribe:
It is the 8th Anniversary of the building of the first Duwamish Longhouse since the last one was burned down in West Seattle in 1894 to push the Duwamish off their land. In 1851, there were over 90 Duwamish Longhouses. Opened in 2009, the Longhouse is a traditional cedar post and beam structure designed in the Puget Salish Longhouse style. It houses a Native Art Gallery, Duwamish History Museum, Gift Shop, Duwamish Tribal Offices, and traditional Longhouse. As in ancient times, the Longhouse is the site where tribal business is conducted and cultural & educational events are held.
Now, the plan for Saturday’s event:
Open house featuring new Duwamish film, cultural program & reception. Celebrate the heritage of Greater Seattle’s First People, Chief Seattle’s Duwamish Tribe. Open house, 10-5, visit exhibit areas and art gallery. Festivities include:
10 am – Duwamish Film: “Promised Land” – This new documentary revisits Chief Seattle’s Duwamish Tribe’s continuing struggle for justice in its own land. The filmmakers & Duwamish tribal leaders will be present for a brief discussion after the film, to be followed by a reception.
“Promised Land” is a social justice documentary that follows two tribes in the Pacific Northwest: the Duwamish and the Chinook, as they fight for the restoration of treaty rights they’ve long been denied. The film examines a larger problem in the way that the government and society still looks at tribal sovereignty. Produced and directed by Vasant and Sarah Samudre Salcedo, and sponsored by 4Culture and San Francisco Film Society.
12 pm – Reception
1-3 pm – Cultural Program with special guests & native storytelling. Duwamish Heritage Group will invite friends to join in song and dance.
Free admission & parking.
The Duwamish Longhouse is at 4705 W. Marginal Way SW.
(Texted photo)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 3:48 PM MONDAY: Moments after we published a Crime Watch roundup, this happened – a big police response at the 35th/Holden gas station. Thanks for the tips! Per the scanner, officers recovered this stolen Honda Accord:
(WSB photo)
We don’t know yet if there’s anything more to the case than “stolen/recovered car,” but even if there isn’t, the sizable response is standard – since motor-vehicle theft is a felony, it requires what is referred to as a “felony stop” (guns drawn).
UPDATE, 11:10 AM TUESDAY: We followed up this morning with SPD. What ended at the gas station started at Westwood Village, where an officer spotted the stolen car, alerting others along the way, and finally catching up with it. Its occupants, who were taken into custody, “had stolen credit cards and IDs” in their possession, per SPD.
Three reader reports plus a quick note from the online SPD files, and a reminder:
STOLEN BIKE: From WB:
Sometime on the evening of 1/15/17 and the morning of 1/15/17 my locked bike (Cannondale M400) was stolen off a second floor landing of my apartment building. California and Andover. Black/Dark Green. Commuter bike with rack. Serial #06526B5M16.
If you have info on it – refer to police report #2017-900426.
BIKES FOUND: Lewis sent this photo, reporting: “Just spotted these two girls bikes halfway up the staircase near Andover and 21st SW. They were in the trees off to the side of the staircase (visible from the stairs) if anyone is looking for them”:
(They might be the same ones shown in this report – though we published that two months ago.)
BAG THEFT AT BAR: From Jordan, who hopes you will keep watch for some of the stolen stuff:
(Saturday) night (1/14) my bag was stolen from the bar at West 5. This happened between 8:30 pm and 11:30 pm. My partner and I were sitting closer to the middle of the bar, near the serving station. I had my jacket and my bag hanging from the hooks under the bar in front of my bar stool. I am guessing my bag got swiped in the short time that I was gone to the restroom. My boyfriend was sitting next to me the whole time, but he had his back turned talking to our friend who was sitting to our left while I went to the restroom. Neither of them noticed anyone come up and take it, nor did any of the staff. However, it was quite busy and loud, especially around the bar area, where people were coming and going, so it’s not so surprising that someone could have swiped it and not drawn attention to themselves. As soon as I noticed it was gone, the staff helped me search for it, including walking out in the alley behind the bar to see if someone dumped it since I don’t keep much of value in my bag.
The content of my bag included: A black plaid scarf, a silver ring, my light-up knit gloves, my fingerless/mitten gloves, a portable phone charger, an umbrella, prescription sunglasses, and a bottle of non-narcotic prescription medication. The most expensive items being my sunglasses and medication. I never keep my wallet, phone, or house keys in my bag and that paid off. I am shocked that this happened, especially at West 5. We are regulars there and we know all of the staff and many of the other regulars. This is the last place I would have expected something like this to happen and it’s an important reminder to never let your guard down and always keep an eye on your stuff. I did file a police report online and I am awaiting a response. The total to replace everything is going to be around $500. If anyone happens to see my messenger bag and other things dumped somewhere, let me know.
And from the online SPD files:
STORE HOLDUP: According to the police-reports map, the 7-11 at 3280 SW Avalon Way was held up just before 3 am today. The report’s narrative details are not available online yet, so that’s all we know.
WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL REMINDER: As previewed here on Saturday, the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council DOES meet tomorrow, and that’s where you can find out more about crime trends, get answers to questions about crime/safety concerns, plus see the guest presentation about “active shooter” situations. 7 pm Tuesday (January 17th), Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster).
11:38 AM: Thanks for the photos!
The crowd rallying at the State Capitol in Olympia right now for full education funding includes West Seattleites – Keri Watson sent the two photos above, and Emily Goldstein sent the next two:
Parents, students, and educators are continuing to pressure legislators to fix the education-funding shortfall – both the failure to live up to the State Supreme Court’s McCleary decision, and the “levy cliff” problem (explained here) that is further constraining funding. After a School Board work session last week, Seattle Public Schools has a list of what cuts will be made if needed to cover $63 million of its potential $74 million gap, if nothing changes by February 28th – here’s the update from Superintendent Dr. Larry Nyland.
ADDED 2:11 PM: More photos! First, texted by a Pathfinder family:
And two more from Emily Goldstein – first, meeting with 34th District legislators (in the background, from left, Reps. Joe Fitzgibbon and Eileen Cody, and Sen. Sharon Nelson), and then hearing from Gov. Jay Inslee:
ADDED 7:31 PM: Thanks to Lindsay Yost for this photo of the Alki Elementary PTA contingent with SPS Superintendent Nyland at the rally:
ADDED 8:46 PM: Thanks to Shawna Murphy for this photo of the Louisa Boren STEM K-8 contingent just before they left for Olympia this morning:
And she also shared this panorama from the Olympia rally:
ADDED TUESDAY MORNING: Thanks also to Darcey Pickard for STEM K-8 photos from Olympia:
If you are concerned about school funding and not already involved with the PTSA/PTA at your school – check out its next meeting.
In addition to the transportation changes we noted earlier – more holiday info:
LIBRARIES: Closed
PARKS FACILITIES: Most closed, but the West Seattle Golf Course is open
U.S. POSTAL SERVICE: Post offices closed, no delivery/pickup
MLK DAY OF SERVICE: We don’t know whether they have room for more volunteers, but here again is our preview with four local work parties – three in West Seattle, one in White Center. (If you’re out on a Day of Service project today – please consider sending us a photo!)
HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL: West Seattle High School plays tonight in the 4th annual MLK Day Unity Hoop Showcase at Garfield High School. Doors open at 4; WSHS plays Eastside Catholic at 5 pm; it’s Cleveland vs. Franklin at 7 pm. Admission $10. (400 23rd Ave.)
(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)
6:57 AM: Good morning! One last dry, cold morning – the rain isn’t expected to move in until tonight.
Meantime, here are the transportation changes for today’s Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day holiday:
METRO – Reduced weekday service
WATER TAXI – No service
SOUND TRANSIT – Regular weekday service for Route 560; light rail, Saturday schedule
CITY STREET PARKING – No charge at city-run pay stations/meters
SCHOOL BUSES – No school, so no buses
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