West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
The second-ever West Side Job Fair is now less than a week away – next Tuesday (September 18th), 10 am-1 pm in The Junction. It’s co-presented by the West Seattle Junction Association and Chamber of Commerce, with co-sponsors including WSB (home of year-round free WS job listings). WSJA’s Lora Radford tells WSB that 32 employers will be there, interviewing for more than 110 jobs: “Positions range from RN, office, banking, restaurant, teachers. It’s quite the mix this year. Job seekers should be prepared to be interviewed on the spot – please bring multiple copies of your resume.” Most of the employers and positions are listed here. The West Side Job Fair is happening again this year at Great American Diner and Bar (4752 California SW).
EDITOR’S NOTE: A month has passed since the August primary, and general-election voting is a little more than a month away. Our election coverage continues with a closeup look at both candidates running for the open 34th District State Senate seat. We interviewed Shannon Braddock and Joe Nguyen separately before Labor Day; after featuring our conversation with her last night, tonight we’re reporting on our conversation with him.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Joe Nguyen‘s 34th District State Senate campaign is his first try for public office – and while he says that “I knew we worked harder than anyone else” in the primary field of 11 contenders, he was still “shocked” to have ended up with the most votes.
Though he hasn’t run for office before, Nguyen says he has “been involved with politics for a long time … I actually paged for (now County Executive) Dow Constantine when he was in the Legislature.”
Our opening question in our conversation (which you can see above, in its entirety, in unedited video): Why do you want this job?
The SB Highway 99 closure for this weekend, first noted here last weekend has new hours. From WSDOT:
The contractor working for the Washington State Department of Transportation has shortened the amount of time needed for paving work this coming weekend, so the closure of southbound State Route 99 through Seattle will start a little later and end a little earlier. The southbound viaduct will close at 11:59 (pm) Friday, Sept. 14 and run through 11:59 (pm) Sunday, Sept. 16.
Southbound SR 99 will be closed between the south end of the Battery Street Tunnel and South Spokane Street so crews can pour concrete near Atlantic Street. This will help advance some of the work needed to open the new SR 99 tunnel.
Looking ahead: Before the new SR 99 tunnel can open, WSDOT will have to close the viaduct for approximately three weeks. The lengthy closure is unavoidable as it is the only way crews can #realign99 into the tunnel and complete eight new entrance and exit ramps.
WSDOT does not yet have a date for the start of the three-week closure, but will give a minimum of one month’s advance notice to help travelers plan ahead as much as possible.
Back to this weekend – WSDOT has just postponed plans for lane/ramp closures on NB I-5. But the 99 work is still on as of right now.
(King County Assessor website photo)
Thanks to Scott for spotting this early-stage proposal in city files: We reported back in late July that the Junction 7-11 site (4800 Erskine Way) was for sale. No sale on record yet, but now there’s a redevelopment proposal, summarized on the city website as “a six-story apartment building with approximately 65 small efficiency dwelling units. No parking provided.” The site plan shows prolific Blueprint Capital, headquartered a few blocks north, as the prospective developer, with Cone Architecture designing the project. Again, this is an early-stage proposal, so there’s no formal application yet, and official comment periods are some ways out.
Your next chance to help WestSide Baby amass diapers for local babies/toddlers in need is just days away. This year Holy Rosary School is holding a diaper drive throughout its WestFest festival – 6-10 pm Friday, 10 am-10 pm Saturday at the school, off SW Genesee north of 42nd SW. From organizers:
Did you know you can’t use food stamps to buy diapers and most day cares require you bring your own? An undiapered child is a health and safety concern that affects our entire community. That’s why we’re holding a diaper drive in support of WestSide Baby.
You’ll find collection bins all around the festival grounds. (Not familiar with WS Baby? Here’s what they do.) While you’re there, enjoy WestFest – games, rides, entertainment, food!
Two camping-related updates:
MYERS WAY CLEANUP: As mentioned here in this report last Sunday, parking and dumping along Myers Way has been on the rise again. Last night, while at the Fauntleroy Community Association meeting to discuss other topics, Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Steve Strand said a big cleanup of the area is planned in the next few weeks, with “heavy equipment” already booked. We’re checking with the city’s homelessness-related-info point person to see if we can find out more.
DELRIDGE HILLSIDE ENCAMPMENT: A nearby resident e-mailed us about an encampment growing on a hillside off Croft Place, upslope from Louisa Boren STEM K-8. County records suggest the camping is on school property, which stretches upslope to the side of the road. We asked Seattle Public Schools about their policy regarding camping on school property and how to report it. Spokesperson Carri Campbell says, “Encampments are not allowed on our property … when the district becomes aware we follow our regular procedure; our safety and security office report it to SPD.” Here’s how to report camping on school grounds, Campbell says: “Please report directly to the district’s safety and security office, 206-252-0707 or securityoff@seattleschools.org.”
While people bicker over what should be done to alleviate homelessness, you don’t hear as much about people working to prevent it. That’s a big part of what the West Seattle Helpline does – emergency assistance to help people stay in their homes. Every dollar counts toward that work, and that’s why the Helpline is so excited about being in the HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) Vote Your Heart final three – they’re guaranteed to get at least $3,000 from HomeStreet, but if they get enough votes, that could grow to as much as $10,000. Take a moment and vote by going here. (You’ll be asked for your email address but it will not be shared nor used for marketing – it’s just used to enforce one vote per person.) Voting continues until September 23rd, but go get yours in now.
(Black turnstone, photographed at Constellation Park by Mark Wangerin)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
COLLEGE INFORMATION SESSION: South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) welcomes prospective students to a Professional and Technical Information Session, 10 am-noon in the library. More info here. (6000 16th SW)
ROXHILL PARK WALK: Walk with Sound Steps at 3 pm: “Join your neighbors for a walk on the Longfellow Creek Trail, through Roxhill Park on a .5 mile loop – stop there or continue on for another loop for 1 mile total. Meet at the trail entrance on Barton.”
HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN FARMSTAND: 4-7 pm, buy fresh-grown organic produce right next to the mini-farm in High Point. (32nd SW/SW Juneau)
FREE WRITING WORKSHOP FOR KIDS: 4:30 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, first session of a free weekly writing/book-making workshop for ages 8-12 – details in our preview. Taught by writer-designer Julia Douthwaite Viglione. (2306 42nd SW)
STATE SENATE CANDIDATES’ DEBATE: During the 34th District Democrats‘ monthly meeting, 7 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy, 34th District State Senate candidates Shannon Braddock and Joe Nguyen are scheduled to debate. Find more agenda info in the organization’s latest newsletter. (9131 California SW)
WRITERS! 6-7:30 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, attend a “free drop-in writing circle facilitated by established local writers from Hugo House!” Jeanine Walker is tonight’s facilitator. (2306 42nd SW)
POETRYBRIDGE: The new season of monthly readings at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) starts at 7 pm, featuring Cheryl Latif and John Burgess. (5612 California SW)
MORE … on our complete calendar.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:29 AM: Getting a late start on the traffic report because other news has been breaking. We start with word of a stalled semitruck blocking a lane on NB I-5 on the south end of downtown, so if you’re headed for 5, be forewarned.
WATER TAXI: The smaller Spirit of Kingston continues on the West Seattle run, per WT alert, until this evening.
STADIUM ZONE: Mariners host the Padres at (corrected) 3:40 pm.
99 CLOSURE REMINDER: Remember that southbound Highway 99 is scheduled to close between the Battery St. Tunnel and West Seattle Bridge from late Friday night until early Monday.
ALKI ALERT FOR SUNDAY MORNING: The Cosmo 7K run on Sunday morning will close Alki Avenue for a while. The run starts at 9:30 am.
7:38 AM: Transit alert from Metro:
Transit Alert – Route 56 to downtown Seattle due to leave Alki at 7:49 AM will not operate this morning.
— King County Metro🚏🚎 (@kcmetrobus) September 12, 2018
8:31 AM: Now reporting “live” from bridge traffic while headed on an errand. More backed up than usual from the Fauntleroy end (at least compared to our other departures in the same timeframe) – the near-stop started close to the bridge entrance.
8:51 AM: 20 minutes to cross the bridge to the I-5 exit. Things moved a bit faster starting around the crest.
7:23 AM: Junction coffee (etc.) shop Sound & Fog (4735 40th SW) is opening late this morning because it got hit by burglars. Proprietor Justin says he’s trying to get the shop open by 8 or 9. He sent the photo above showing some of the damage.
8:24 AM: Open.
7:15 AM: About six weeks after its most-recent departure on a training mission, the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) is on its way back to Bremerton. A texter just sent word that it’s visible passing south Bainbridge Island right now.
8:26 AM: Thanks to Jim Borrow for the photo! Added above. P.S. After 13 years homeported in Bremerton, the Stennis is scheduled to move to Norfolk soon, per this report from shortly after its July departure; the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), meantime, will be moving here.
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