West Seattle, Washington
02 Thursday
(Fall colors at Myrtle Reservoir Park – photographed by Steve Mohundro, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
Big Wednesday night! Yes, we know the weather might go bad, but there’s always a chance the forecast won’t pan out, so here are the highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
PUMPKIN CARVING: From the WSB West Seattle Halloween Etc. Guide, pumpkin carving tonight at Arthur’s in The Admiral District, 5-7 pm, with extended happy hour for participants, plus prizes! (2311 California SW)
CLIMATE-CHANGE CONVERSATION: Concerned or confused about climate change? 6 pm potluck, 7 pm presentation/conversation at Peace Lutheran Church, all welcome – details here. (39th SW/SW Thistle)
SISTERS, LIVE IN-STORE: See local faves Sisters live at Easy Street Records, 7 pm, free, all ages. (California/Alaska)
MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: 7 pm on the lower level of The Kenney, it’s the quarterly meeting of the Morgan Community Association. See the agenda in our calendar listing. (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)
COUNCIL CANDIDATES @ DELRIDGE DISTRICT COUNCIL: 7 pm at Highland Park Improvement Club, the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meets. The agenda highlight, from chair Mat McBride:
Our guests this month are City Council 8 candidates Jon Grant and Teresa Mosqueda, who will be there to answer questions about the job they’re applying for. NOTE – one of these two people will be your elected representative in a few weeks. This is a great opportunity to make a personal and community connection with them. The DNDC is open and welcome to all. Tell your friends.
(1116 SW Holden)
WORDSWEST LITERARY SERIES: The October edition is tonight at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7 pm:
Celebrating Filipino American Heritage Month, WordsWest Literary Series welcomes award-winning poet Roberto Ascalon and poet and playwright Robert Flor for āHome and Away,ā an evening of poetry ranging from the unforgiving city streets to a small fishing town in Alaska, inquiring into the nature of place and community.
Full details in our calendar listing. (5612 California SW)
34TH DISTRICT REPUBLICANS: The local GOP organization for West Seattle, White Center, Vashon, and part of Burien meets tonight at 7 pm at Seattle Open Door Church in Burien. (625 SW 149th)
DEADGRASS: 8-11 pm at Parliament Tavern, with the music of Jerry Garcia and The Grateful Dead. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
’70S GLAM SKATE WITH DJ MCLOVIN: 8:30-11 pm at Southgate Roller Rink, adult skate with 21+ bar. 21+. (9646 17th SW)
LOTS MORE HAPPENING TODAY/TONIGHT/BEYOND – see the full list on our complete calendar page.
Combine costumes and community … and you get a chance to support student music via the West Seattle Community Orchestras! Tickets are now available for the WSCO gala, starring – here’s the announcement:
Masquerade for Musicians: West Seattle Community Orchestrasā 2017 Gala
Enjoy special music! Partake of scrumptious food! Giggle at the costumed diners! Dance with the dazzling sounds of the West Seattle Big Band!
What more could you ask for?!
West Seattle Community Orchestras (WSCO) invite the community to enjoy a very special Gala evening Saturday, October 28, from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. at the Alki Masonic Lodge, 4736 40th Ave. SW.
This yearās theme is Masquerade for Musicians ā A mysterious night benefiting student music in West Seattle. Diners are encouraged to contribute to the fun by donning a costume ā Halloween-themed or otherwise.
You can help WSCO provide FREE participation for student musicians while having fun! Join us for a great evening of music, dining, and dancing to the swinging sounds of the West Seattle Big Band ā a great local asset and our gracious event sponsor.
Andrew Emory, WSCO board member, French horn player extraordinaire, and our Gala host, extends an invitation:
Tickets are on sale now ($35 adults 18+, $20 students and seniors): Go here.
Wear a costume ā or not! ā but donāt forget your dancing shoes!
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:02 AM: Good morning! Wind’s still on the way later today, according to the National Weather Service, but so far this morning it’s a standard commute – no incidents reported in/from West Seattle.
8:06 AM: Very slow going again today – most routes to the bridge are in “red” on the SDOT map – but still no incidents reported.
Two weeks until Halloween, and the first version of our West Seattle Halloween (Etc.) Guide is live … we say “first” because we know there are more Halloween/Harvest/Dia de Los Muertos events out there that you’ll be sending us – editor@westseattleblog.com, nothing fancy needed, just the basic what/when/where/who. Meantime, go here to see what’s in the guide now!
P.S. The photo at right was reader-contributed in October 2007 – and we’d love to see your custom jack o’lanterns this October too – same e-mail address, once you commence carving!
You’ve been hearing that stormier weather is on the way: Tomorrow (Wednesday), the National Weather Service has a “wind advisory” in effect for our area, 11 am-11 pm. What that means:
*WIND…Southeast 20 to 30 mph with gusts 40 mph. …
*TIMING…Winds will increase early Wednesday afternoon and peak during the evening commute.
Heavy rain is likely tomorrow night too, and power outages are possible, so keep everything charged!
6:15 PM: Two issues related to the city’s Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA) are being presented for your comments at an open-house-style meeting under way until 7:30 pm at High Point Community Center (6920 34th SW). We’ve already counted more than 60 people in the main room, checking out the easels set up for proposed changes to the city’s Comprehensive Plan – here’s our preview on that issue – and for potential rule changes regarding Accessory Dwelling Units (“backyard cottages” being the best-known type) – here’s our preview on that. We checked and they’re still planning on a presentation at 6:30 on a screen at the front of the room, although otherwise this is NOT a sit-and-listen type meeting.
6:25 PM: On the “comprehensive plan amendment” side, the Q&A/comment stations deal with specific urban villages where, as noted in our preview, the city is seeking to eliminate neighborhood-plan-related language that seeks to “protect” or “preserve” single-family zoning, which HALA’s Mandatory Housing Affordability upzoning would be removing from urban villages. Three West Seattle urban villages are potentially affected here – Morgan Junction, West Seattle Junction, and Westwood-Highland Park.
You’ll have opportunities to comment online – we’ll add those when the meeting’s over – but while here, you are also offered the chance to write yours on paper; one attendee from Morgan Junction showed us his. He’s worried about ongoing displacement of low-income renters in the older housing stock that already is being torn down and replaced by new for-sale residences.
6:50 PM: The presentation is over – about 10 minutes on the comprehensive plan component, five on the accessory-dwelling-unit component. (We recorded it all on video and will add to this report when we have it uploaded and processed later at HQ. Full unedited video below:)
Both were basically primers; there was no Q&A, and the only bit of impromptu feedback came when, in the comp-plan section, city senior planner Geoff Wentlandt (opening by thanking people for turning out for “complex and wonky” topics) said amendments were needed because neighborhood plans shouldn’t be inconsistent with overarching city policy.
“Why not?” someone called out. No reply. Meantime, in one possible sign that the turnout exceeded expectations, the sparkling water bottles are all empty already. The sandwiches, however (chicken and tofu, described as “from a banh mi place on Delridge”), are still abundantly available.
7:08 PM: Still about 30 people talking in small groups, but the crowd definitely thinned after the presentation.
8:10 PM: Back at HQ. Had some signal trouble toward the end, so catching up on images now. First and most importantly, here’s how you can comment on both these issues, regardless of whether you were able to get to tonight’s meeting:
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENTS: Choose your urban village and comment via this site, by December 8th.
ADU/DADU ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT SCOPING: This phase of comments closes on November 1st; there’s an online comment form linked on the right side of this page (scroll down the left side for the full timeline).
(WSB photos)
4:20 PM: Thanks for the texts – we’re on our way to check out a police response near Fauntleroy Park. Checking with Seattle Police media relations in the meantime, this apparently started as a report of a possible burglary at a home on the north side of the park, along Barton. More to come.
4:27 PM: Police are outside a house on the south side of Barton at Director.
They think a burglar might be inside, so they are using a bullhorn to tell anyone inside to come out before they send a K-9 in to search.
4:41 PM: The K-9 has gone in and come out.
4:47 PM: The house is empty but police found a hole in the fence. Now the Guardian One helicopter is flying around the area looking for any signs of a possible burglar at large.
5:40 PM: The helicopter has long since departed after doing what it could; no word of an arrest yet but last we heard, police in the Fauntleroy area were still on the lookout.
8:18 PM: We checked with SW Precinct Operations Lt. Ron Smith at tonight’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting; no arrest. The K-9 tried tracking from the hole in the fence that might have been used for entry/exit but couldn’t pick up a trail.
After an Admiral woman was stabbed last week while walking with her baby on 41st SW, many people asked how the community could help with her recovery. Now, there’s a way. This afternoon, friends of the victim launched a crowdfunding page for Sarah Hanson and her family, and just shared the link with us so we could share it with you. While she is home from the hospital, as we reported in last week’s ongoing coverage of the attack and the ensuing arrest, her friends explain that she has a long road to recovery:
She is suffering from a number of knife wounds to her head and face that required many stitches and two damaged tendons in her left hand that will take 12 weeks of healing and physical therapy until she can use it again.
Besides trying to recover physically and emotionally from this terrifying and traumatic experience, her left arm and hand are completely bandaged and unusable, leaving her unable to pick up her wiggly baby and do independently many of the things for him that he needs during the course of each day (picking up, diapering, nursing, dressing, buckling into carseat, and getting to her physical therapy appointments with him in tow). In short, she needs someone with her all the time so she can care for him.
We are raising funds to help cover costs for professional helpers that will be with her every weekday for the 10 weeks after her husband and mom return to work, voice-activation software so she can continue her work at home without the use of her left hand, extra meal deliveries beyond what friends are bringing, and a little extra to cover unexpected costs.
Thank you in advance for your generosity!
Meantime, the woman charged with assault for attacking Sarah and threatening a man who tried to help remains in jail, her bail set at $400,000, awaiting arraignment next week.
Tomorrow, King County Elections will send out the general-election ballots. One day later, you have the only scheduled chance to see the six candidates for City Council and Mayor at one public West Seattle event: Thursday night’s forum co-presented by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce and West Seattle Transportation Coalition.
Doors open at 6:30 at American Legion Post 160; at 7 pm, you’ll hear from City Council Position 8 candidates Teresa Mosqueda and Jon Grant; at 7:35 pm, you’ll hear from City Council Position 9 candidates Lorena GonzĆ”lez and Pat Murakami; at 8:10 pm, you’ll hear from the candidates for mayor, Cary Moon and Jenny Durkan. Here’s the planned format:
Each segment will begin with a two-minute opening statement by each candidate, followed by a series of questions centered on concerns of the West Seattle small-business and transportation community. We will conclude each segment with a one-minute closing statement.
Post 160 is at 3618 SW Alaska.
Emily sent the photo of another stop sign that was in place by Monday morning (we checked this morning – still there) facing westbound Admiral Way, about half a block east of 59th, “adding to the confusion,” as she put it, because: “It doesnāt say ‘stop ahead,’ just stop. Which watching a couple cars as we were walking by, (they) didnāt quite seem to know what to do about it.” This is the same intersection we first told you about a week ago, where parents from nearby Alki Elementary School say the conversion to an all-way stop has made things more dangerous rather than safer. As noted in our first followup, SDOT said it would make some changes while continuing to evaluate the intersection until March, but they didn’t mention adding a mid-block stop sign.
(Belted kingfisher, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for today/tonight:
HOUSING FAIR: Seniors looking for information about housing options can find it Under way until 12:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle. (4217 SW Oregon)
PRESCHOOL ENRICHMENT: Neighborhood House High Point has visitors from Seattle Childrenās Theatre for today’s 10:30-11:30 am preschool-enrichment program – a story drama workshop: “If you’ve ever wished you could go inside a storybook, then Story Drama is perfect for you. Together, we will read a different book and explore elements of the story through acting, art, and interactive, multi-sensory props. Experience the excitement of drama and working as an ensemble while actively enjoying the best in children’s literature.” Geared toward ages 3-5 but all kids welcome. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
HALA ‘OPEN HOUSE’ – COMPREHENSIVE PLAN & ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS: 6 pm-7:30 pm, open house before and after a 6:30 presentation, at High Point Community Center. We’ve previewed both elements of this event:
–Comprehensive Plan Amendments – focused on the West Seattle Junction, Westwood-Highland Park, and Morgan Junction urban villages – here’s our preview
–Accessory Dwelling Units – your opinion is sought here no matter where you live, as it’s a citywide policy – here’s our preview
(6920 34th SW)
WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: 7 pm at the Southwest Precinct. Tonight’s focus is on local crime trends and neighborhood concerns – Seattle Police will be there to listen to yours. (2300 SW Webster)
FAMILY STORY TIME: 7 pm at Delridge Library – bring your kid(s) of all ages. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
AT PARLIAMENT TAVERN: 8-11 pm, South Sound Tug & Barge: “West Seattle’s favorite power folk/punk/blues/gospel/bluegrass trio.” 21+. No cover. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
(Added: WSB photo)
9:33 AM: Seattle Fire has a “full response” headed to a possible apartment fire in the 9000 block of 9th SW [map]. More to come.
9:44 AM: Still waiting to hear from our crew but the SFD log shows most units responding to this have been canceled.
9:47 AM: It was a small kitchen fire. No injuries reported.
Two and a half months after West Seattle Helpline announced its search for new leadership, the search is over. Here’s the announcement:
West Seattle Helpline, a nonprofit social-service agency offering emergency assistance for our West Seattle and White Center neighbors, is pleased to welcome Erin Dury Moore as the new Executive Director. Erin comes to the Helpline with 10 years’ nonprofit experience in fundraising, strategic planning, community development, management, and working with underserved individuals and families from diverse backgrounds.
Most recently, she was the founder of Heartwood Solutions, a Seattle-based nonprofit consulting firm, and prior to moving to Seattle, served as Executive Director for Oregonās Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) programs. Erin earned her Masters of Nonprofit Management at the University of Oregon in 2013, where she also completed her BA in Women and Gender Studies.
āThe Board, staff, and I are so looking forward to Erin joining our organization! She brings great attitude and energy, experience and passion for our mission to the team. We believe she is going to have a great impact on West Seattle families in need,ā said Nick Naubert, President of West Seattle Helplineās Board of Directors.
Come meet Erin in person at West Seattle Helplineās annual Neighbors Helping Neighbors dinner and live auction on November 3rd, from 6-9 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy.
You can get your ticket(s) by going here.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:06 AM: Good morning. Northbound I-5 is today’s trouble spot so far – a crash near the Convention Center has led to a long backup.
7:17 AM: The I-5 scene has cleared but the backup will persist.
7:48 AM: Next commute challenge – serious rain. This is the first – but not worst – wave of storminess headed this way through Thursday.
8:02 AM: Commenters say it’s a slog out there so if you haven’t left yet – be ready for slow going.
8:29 AM: The backup is affecting pretty much all routes to the bridge, per commenters and all the sources we watch. The National Weather Service, meanwhile, says it’ll be rainy for at least the next three or four hours.
8:35 AM: Metro has just acknowledged the sluggishness by sending this via text and Twitter:
Transit Alert – Expect service delays on rts 21, 22, 37, 50, 55, 56, 57, 116, 118, 119, 120, 125 & C Line operating EB on the W Sea Bridge.
— King County Metro š (@kcmetrobus) October 17, 2017
9:41 AM: Trouble on the Fauntleroy end of the westbound bridge.
10:01 AM: Crash at 35th/Morgan – avoid that intersection for a while. (added) Metro has sent an alert that the crash might affect Routes 21 and 128.
(WSB file photo by Christopher Boffoli)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Tomorrow (Tuesday) the City Council continues the next phase of discussion how, and whether, to change the budget officially presented by Mayor Tim Burgess three weeks ago.
Tomorrow’s sessions, at 9:30 am and 2 pm, will be highlighted by the Seattle Police Department budget (afternoon) and the city’s spending plan to respond to homelessness (morning).
Today, the council also met in morning and afternoon sessions. This is the stage of the budget where City Council staffers “identify issues” – such as, new proposed spending – and also mention the first round of council proposals for additions/changes.
The centerpiece was the Department of Transportation budget. Here’s the document in which the issues and possible changes are outlined:
(If the embedded version doesn’t work for you, see it here in PDF.)
When we first browsed the proposed city budget after it went public three weeks ago, one of the items that caught our eye was a proposal for a pilot program to enable remote openings/closings of one of the city’s five drawbridges. The proposal said they hadn’t yet determined which one – whether it would be the Spokane Street Swing Bridge (aka West Seattle “low bridge”) or somewhere else – but said the pilot project would cost an estimated $3 million.
During today’s briefing, the bridge proposal was first on the list of “issues,” 13 minutes into the meeting:
From the budget meeting briefing paper:
Remote Bridge Operations Pilot
The Proposed Budget includes $3M of Commercial Parking Tax revenue to implement remote operations for one of Seattleās moveable bridges (to be determined). This project will allow SDOT to open and close the bridge from a central operating location. SDOT currently operates 5 moveable bridges with on-site operations; collectively, these bridges open approximately 15,400 times a year. The funding will provide for additional cameras, sensors, communication equipment, a remote operations center, and bridge modifications. The project will require approval from the U.S. Coast Guard, which regulates SDOTās bridge operations.
Remote operations will not change the job requirements for Bridge Operators, and the pilot project is not anticipated to reduce operating costs as a stand-alone project. SDOT anticipates that if all 5 bridges were remotely operated, SDOT could save $1M per year through centralized staffing resulting in reduced labor costs. Full implementation to fully achieve these savings would require significant future funding, which is not currently identified.
Councilmember Rob Johnson was the first to call this into question, saying that theoretically spending $15 million over the next few years to convert all bridges to remote operation, and therefore saving $1 million a year, would be “spending a lot of money to save a little money” and “inconsistent” with budgeting philosophy.
Among the other SDOT issues, council staffers raised some concerns about the scheduling and funding for upcoming RapidRide lines including H for Delridge. From the briefing document:
The Move Seattle levy anticipates leveraging significant grant and partnership contributions for congestion relief projects, including seven bus rapid transit (BRT Corridor) projects identified in the levy. The Proposed Budget advances design on the Madison BRT, Roosevelt RapidRide, Delridge RapidRide, Rainier RapidRide, and Market/45th RapidRide projects. The total assumed grant and partnership contributions for these projects is $209M which is about 80 percent of the overall project costs.
Given the uncertainty with federal transportation funding under the current administration, Council may wish to consider a SLI asking SDOT to report on federal funding opportunities and present options for delivering the seven BRT Corridor projects in time for 2019-2020 Budget deliberations. Options could include revising project delivery schedules, reducing scope across projects, or prioritizing corridors for available funding.
Other SDOT issues include revenue from red-light and school-zone cameras. No new ones were installed this year but SDOT is reported to be reviewing 10 locations (not identified in the budget documents) for possible installation next year.
In the section of the briefing addressing changes proposed by councilmembers, one proposal of note was from Councilmember Mike O’Brien – who chairs the council committee dealing with transportation – would spend $200,000 to study what might happen when the future Highway 99 tunnel opens, with tolls, leading to “diversion” (some drivers not using it because they don’t want to pay):
This funding would support consultant studies to understand the implications of SR-99 diversion and explore options, such as congestion pricing, to help manage impacts to local streets and transit travel times.
Also proposed for addition to the budget, $500,000 for pedestrian improvements in South Park, co-sponsored by Councilmembers Herbold and Lorena GonzƔlez. Several speakers in the public-comment period of the morning meeting also asked for spending to safely connect South Park and Georgetown.
In today’s afternoon meeting, councilmembers were briefed on issues/proposals for the Seattle Public Utilities budget (see the document here) and for the Department of Finance and Administrative Services (see the document here). Here’s the video – no public commenters, so the discussion started off the top:
Key issues included money earmarked for the Seattle Police North Precinct and the new proposal by Councilmembers O’Brien and Kirsten Harris-Talley for a “head tax” that they say would only affect the top 10 percent (in gross revenue) Seattle businesses, raising more money for efforts to reduce homelessness.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT: Herbold described the process in her weekly e-mail/online update last Friday. That includes this calendar with the full budget-process schedule. The next phase starts next Monday: “Proposals for the next set of meetings, from October 23 to 25, will need to be have specific funding amounts; they will also need three Council sponsors, by a 2 p.m. deadline on October 19.” So if there’s something you want to see in next year’s budget but haven’t seen so far, contact the council – council@seattle.gov. And in the meantime, each of the budget committee meetings has a public-comment period, so if any of the departments interests you and you can make it to City Hall for that meeting, you can sign up to speak. There’s also one more nighttime public hearing about the budget in general, set for 5:30 pm November 1st.
With the help of texters/callers/commenters, we tracked orcas through the area this afternoon. And tonight Gary Jones shared photos from Alki Point! Passing ferry passengers got the best view:
The Kitsap Transit foot ferry, too:
Gary said the orcas were spread out over a distance, headed north when he photographed them around 5 pm.
According to Orca Network, they were likely Southern Resident Killer Whales.
Thanks to the texter who sent that photo of sandbags outside Delridge Community Center, a traditional pickup spot for those who live in flood-prone areas of West Seattle – particularly along nearby Longfellow Creek (which flooded in a big way 10 years ago). Meantime, the approaching storm now looks to be the rainiest on Wednesday and Thursday, so you have a little more time to clear your storm drain(s) and take other preparatory steps.
(October 2nd photo by WSB reader Brian)
Two weeks ago today, a crash on the northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct sparked a van fire that resulted in more than two hours of morning-commute trouble. We brought you updates during our morning traffic coverage that day. As noted there, the vehicle that burned was a van belonging to Cupcake Royale, which said its driver was unhurt. The fire, while briefly big, as the photo above shows, was out before too long – SFD was dispatched at 6:14 am and the last engine left at 7:13, according to the incident log – but the burned van blocked a lane on the Viaduct for another hour and a quarter.
Given the commitment to clear key routes quickly, we asked what happened. Seattle Police, which handles incidents on the Viaduct though it’s a state structure, pointed us to the Department of Finance and Administrative Services, which oversees the city’s towing contract. FAS deputy communications director Cyndi Wilder researched it for us:
Initially, it appeared to be a breakdown in communication that caused the towing response time. However, weāve reviewed information from SPD and Lincoln Towingās dispatch data, and we determined that the response time to clear the incident was due to delays in retrieving the flatbed truck SPD requested.
SPD had requested three tows, which included the request for a flatbed truck. The Cityās tow contractor, Lincoln Towing, dispatched two line trucks to the scene and sent a third to Lincolnās Aurora Avenue North location to pick up the flatbed truck. The line trucks arrived on the scene at 6:58 a.m. and 7:05 a.m. Due to heavy traffic to pick up the flatbed truck and return to the incident scene, the flatbed did not arrive at the scene until 8:15 a.m.
Although Lincoln Towingās response times met the performance standards of the towing contract (excerpts from the contract are below), we are working with Lincoln Towing on ways to improve response times for future incidents. When special equipment is requested (like a flatbed truck), weāve asked Lincoln Towing to reach out to its subcontractors to determine if they have the requested equipment in a location where they can respond to the scene more quickly.
Here are the excerpts Wilder provided from the city’s towing contract:
5.a.ii- Minimum Performance Standards
With an officer standing-by or inside the Downtown Traffic Control Zone (DTCZ), Vendor will respond within 30 minutes when a Class A tow truck is needed to perform a tow. When a Class B, Class C or Class E tow truck is needed to perform a tow, Vendor will respond within 60 minutes.
7.a.ii-Exemptions to Minimum Performance Standards
ā¦ā¦The following subsections describe situations when the City will grant an exemption
Two or more Tow Trucks Requested to One Impound Site: When two or more tow trucks are requested at one impound site, the first arriving tow truck will be held to the response time standard. SPD will grant an exemption for each tow truck arriving, provided the second tow truck arrives at the location of the impound within 60 minutes.
Back in 2015, after the notorious “fish-truck crash” blocked southbound 99 for nine hours, a variety of policy changes were recommended. Looking back at that, we’re seeing fodder for another followup.
Just in from Jennifer Burbridge, Southwest Precinct crime-prevention coordinator – the date’s set for the next Drug Take-Back Day:
The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.4 million Americans abused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.
The DEAās Take Back Day events provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths. The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and anonymous means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse and medications.
The SW Precinctās DEA Drug Take-Back Day will be on Saturday, October 28th, from 10 am-2 pm at the SW Precinct (2300 SW Webster).
Whatever you need to drop off, just take it to the precinct lobby – right off its parking lot along SW Webster, east of the south Home Depot entrance – that day.
1:44 PM: Avoid SW Roxbury/8th SW for a while – it’s going to take some time to clean up after that car fire. After hearing the first engine at the scene call for backup, we went over to check it out. SFD tells us no one was hurt.
2:46 PM: Just heard via scanner that most of the intersection has reopened (sounds like eastbound Roxbury is the exception). Heading back to check in person.
4:05 PM: Finally made it over. Now open all ways.
1:04 PM: Thanks to Kersti Muul for the tip that resident orcas have been heading southbound – we just checked Orca Network for updates and they were seen from Bainbridge Island not that long ago. So we are sharing this heads-up. If you see them off West Seattle, please let us know – best way is via our 24/7 hotline, text or voice, 206-293-6302 (or comment below) – thank you!
2:51 PM: ON reports they were seen headed this way from the north side of Elliott Bay as of about 10 minutes ago.
4:20 PM: Thanks for the update – just got a text that three orcas were seen passing Weather Watch Park!
4:35 PM: And Donna Sandstrom from The Whale Trail just called to say they’re off Emma Schmitz Overlook, visible WITHOUT binoculars. We’re headed down in hopes of photos.
5:13 PM: And … oh well. The orcas turned around and headed back north before we got to the shore.
Do we have enough police officers? What do you think of the police force? Have you been a victim of crime? Are people in your neighborhood likely to intervene if they see potential criminal activity? Those are the types of questions you’ll be asked when you reply to this year’s Seattle Public Safety Survey. It’s now open and available online in 11 languages. It’s managed by Seattle University, which continues to have graduate students interning as research analysts in SPD precincts. This is the third year for the citywide survey – you can see last year’s results here.
P.S. If you don’t have time to take the survey now, you can use the “Share This” link below to e-mail yourself (or anyone else!) the link to this story.
(Fall colors in Admiral – thanks to Al for the photo!)
CITY COUNCIL BUDGET DISCUSSIONS: If you’re tracking the ongoing process of the council reviewing and in some cases amending the city budget – a process that this year is being led by our area’s Councilmember Lisa Herbold – there are two Budget Committee meetings at City Hall today, at 10:30 am and at 2:30 pm. (600 4th Ave. – also live at seattlechannel.org and Cable Channel 21)
AFTERNOON BOOK GROUP: 2-3 pm at Southwest Library. This month, the book is “NW” by Zadie Smith. All welcome! (9010 35th SW)
TINKERLAB: 4-5:30 pm at Delridge Library – this week, make a helicopter! “Join us for Tinkerlab, fun all ages programs that show you how to use science, technology, engineering and math to experiment and create amazing inventions.” Free. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
MONDAY MEDITATION: 7-8:30 pm at Sound Yoga (WSB sponsor), the Monday-night meditation series continues. Tonight’s focus: “Overcoming Procrastination.” Details here. (5639 California SW)
FAMILY STORY TIME: 6:30 pm at High Point Library. Free – bring kids of all ages. (35th SW/SW Raymond)
MONDAY QUIZ: Free, all ages, with prizes! 7:30 pm at The Skylark. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
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