West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Seattle Public Schools open for classes one week from tomorrow – on Wednesday, September 4th – and they’ll do so with new contracts for members of the district’s largest union. From the Seattle Education Association announcement of tonight’s ratification vote:
… Highlights included in the three-year deal include competitive pay raises for educators, support for school racial equity teams and additional staff, including nurses and counselors.
Seattle Education Association represents more than 6,000 teachers, office professionals, paraeducators and substitute educators.
Office professionals approved their contract by 97.67 percent. Paraeducators approved theirs by 91.82 percent and teachers/certificated staff approved their contract by 88.15 percent.
The district’s announcement is here; a summary of the new contract is here.
9:54 PM: If you’re headed outbound, be aware you won’t be able to get to Highway 99 from the eastbound bridge for a while because of a crash:
UPDATE: The off-ramp to SR-99 NB from West Seattle Bridge EB is currently blocked. Use alternate routes. pic.twitter.com/35OVLcs5dN
— SDOT Traffic (@SDOTtraffic) August 28, 2019
10:17 PM: SFD has closed the call, which means fire/medic units have all left the scene.
10:50 PM: All clear at the scene, per SDOT.
4:10 PM: We followed up with SFD. The crash involved one driver who hit the median, a 43-year-old man who was taken to Harborview Medical Center by private ambulance with minor injuries.
Thanks for the photos of the post-sunset glow on this late-summer Tuesday! Above, a panorama from Jamie Kinney in Fauntleroy (click the image to see a wider version); below, an Olympics silhouette from Lynn Hall on Alki:
Another warm, sunny day tomorrow!
While most community councils take meeting hiatuses in August, tomorrow night brings a notable exception: Highland Park Action Committee. At 7 pm Wednesday, HPAC welcomes you to “a conversation about the future of Seattle Parks and Recreation with Superintendent Jesús Aguirre.” This is in the context of Parks’ work on a new Strategic Plan. HPAC meets at the Highland Park Improvement Club, 1116 SW Holden.
The results of the newest annual Seattle Public Safety Survey – conducted by Seattle University for SPD – are out. Top concerns of respondents are listed citywide, by precinct, and by “microcommunity” (aka neighborhood with a community group that has participated in development of policing plans). Here are the Southwest Precinct-area highlights:
The survey summary says 706 people in the Southwest Precinct area – West Seattle and South Park – completed the survey; demographically, the summary notes, “Compared to Seattle demographics, survey respondents [from this precinct area] were disproportionately more likely to be non-minority and female.” The report summarizes:
The top public safety concerns for the Southwest Precinct are Car Prowls, Lack of Police Capacity, Property Crime- General, Residential Burglary, and Auto Theft.
Southwest Precinct slightly differs from the citywide top public safety concerns, which were Car Prowls, Lack of Police Capacity, Homelessness, Property Crime, and Residential Burglary; for residents in the Southwest Precinct, Auto Theft was a top public safety concern over Homelessness, which was a top public safety concern in the citywide findings.
The most prominent themes residents in the Southwest Precinct commented on in their narrative responses were Lack of Police Capacity, Homelessness is a Public Safety, and Public Health Issue, Crime- Public Order, Crime- Property, and Crime- Traffic/Pedestrian/Bike/Transit. In comparison with the citywide themes, which were Homelessness, Lack of Police Capacity, Public Order Crime, Property Crime, and Police being Prevented from Doing their Job, themes prioritized by residents in the Southwest Precinct were Crime- Traffic/Pedestrian/Bike/Transit, which was a concern over the citywide theme (that) police are being prevented from doing their jobs. At the micro-community level, top public safety concerns, prominent themes, and perceptions of public safety are similar to the precinct as a whole. However, some micro-communities differ from the others (e.g. unsafe driving/speeding in Alki, littering/dumping and gang activity in South Park).
You can read the entire report here.
Beautiful day for whale-watching! Kersti Muul sends word that the T-137 transient orcas are “milling” off Alki Point – “no direction” so hard to tell which way they’re headed next. Let us know if you see them!
Thanks to readers who’ve asked about another remodel in progress at the Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) Admiral store. The work has changed the store’s hours temporarily – and a long-term change is ahead, too. First, about the remodel: MM marketing director Cameron Ito says the remodel is scheduled to be complete in early October, adding, “Among the many exciting improvements in the store, the remodel will include a new Health & Wellness department, increased product selection, and overall redesign in select areas.” The sign above shows the temporary hours during the remodeling work, but a longterm change is ahead too; Ito says that after the remodel, permanent hours will be 5 am-1 am daily.
No word yet on the longer-term solution that’s in the works (as mentioned Monday), but Metro is going to reroute southbound buses out of Pioneer Square (corrected) on Thursday because of the Seahawks‘ final preseason game. Announced for 4-8 pm Thursday, for routes 21 Express, 37. 55, 56, 57, 113, 120, 125, RapidRide C Line:
For all buses except Route 37, there will be no stops between southbound 3rd Av & Columbia St and West Seattle.
For Route 37 there will be no stops between southbound 2nd Av & Marion St and West Seattle.
The full reroute one-sheet is here (PDF).
Just sent by Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner, another of the occasional notifications that a Level 3 sex offender has moved into a local neighborhood:
In an effort to keep you informed, and in our constant attempts to reduce future victimization, we want to let you know about one level 3 sex offender that has recently moved into a Southwest Precinct neighborhood.
Joaquin Garcia, a 38 year old Hispanic Male, is a level 3 registered sex offender who has recently moved to the 1800 Block of SW Dawson St. Mr. Garcia is currently under Department of Corrections supervision.
To learn more about this offender and for additional safety tips please visit the website at www.waspc.org and search by his name. [Editor’s note: Here’s a direct link to the page with his photo and background information.]
To register to receive an email alert whenever a published offender registers within one mile of your desired addresses, go to this website.
Level 3 sex offenders pose the highest risk to re-offend. It is normal to feel upset, angry and worried about a registered sex offender living in your community. The Community Notification Act of 1990 requires sex offenders to register in the community where they live. The law also allows local law enforcement to make the public aware about Level 2 and Level 3 offenders. Since these offenders have completed their sentences, they are free to live where they wish. Experts believe sex offenders are less likely to re-offend if they live and work in an environment free of harassment. Any actions taken against the listed sex offenders could result in arrest and prosecution as it is against the law to use this information in any way to threaten, intimidate or harass registered sex offenders. The SPD Sex offender detectives will check on these offenders every 3 months to verify our information.
The single most effective means of protecting your child is communication with your child. They have to feel comfortable discussing sensitive matters with you. Teach your children that they should not be asked to touch anyone in the bathing suit areas of their body or allow anyone to touch them in those areas. Teach them types of situations to avoid. It is not good enough to tell a child to avoid strangers. Please remember that children are most often molested by someone they or their parents know.
Other questions? This FAQ might help.
(2017 photo by Jamie Kinney)
In case the extra-warm weather gets you wondering – yes, Dog Days will be back this year at Arbor Heights Swim and Tennis Club (11003 31st SW). It’s a fundraising tradition after the last human swimming days of the year, before the pool’s off-season cleaning; the admission fees benefit youth swim teams. This year’s dates will be Monday, September 16 through Sunday, September 22, and the various price options will include one for dog walkers, sessions on Tuesday and Thursday, $50 for up to 8 dogs. Questions? coriroed (at) gmail (dot) com
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:59 AM: Good morning!
HARBOR AVENUE PARKING: Reminder that two stretches of the street are off-limits for parking today.
STADIUM ZONE: Mariners host the Yankees again tonight, 7:10 pm, so the West Seattle Water Taxi runs a late-evening schedule.
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