day : 06/04/2020 11 results

No more speculation whether schools will reopen to finish out the school year – they won’t. That’s the biggest story in this edition of our nightly roundup:

GOVERNOR SAYS, NO IN-PERSON SCHOOL BEFORE FALL: Governor Inslee and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal made the announcement at mid-afternoon – schools will stay closed for the rest of this school year. But schools still need to educate their students, they made it clear. Here’s our coverage, with video of the announcement, plus Seattle Public Schools‘ concurrently issued statement.

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From today’s Seattle-King County Public Health news release:

3,331 confirmed positive cases (up 164* from yesterday)

220 confirmed deaths (up 14 from yesterday)

* The “new confirmed positive cases” figure we publish each day represents all new confirmed cases reported to us through 11:59 the night prior. Some of these test results were processed on days prior but were delayed in being reported to us.

One week ago, King County reported 2,330 cases and 150 deaths.

SO HOW ABOUT THE PROJECTIONS? At least one set has been revised downward. (That tweet was later followed by this Seattle Times story.)

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find them here.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: Find them here.

ALIGNING THE DATES, AND MORE: Multiple city announcements today revised potential end dates for closures to align with the governor’s extension of “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” through May 4th. One was from the mayor. From the announcement:

The Mayor’s Executive Order extends the following policies until May 4:

Closure of City facilities including public-facing counters, Seattle Public Library locations, and community centers and Seattle beaches;

Suspension of City-permitted events, with the exception of farmers markets which will continue to be for a potential re-opening;

Suspension of enforcement of paid parking requirements on City streets and enforcement of select hourly time limits outside no-parking or special zones; and

Continuing the Utility Discount Program’s self-certification pilot program.

The Mayor’s Executive Order extends the following policies until further notice:

Suspension of enforcement of the 72-hour parking rule, and suspension of booting and towing vehicles with unpaid parking tickets;

Creation of temporary restaurant loading zones, and temporary parking zones for hospital and human services staff; and

Flexible payment plans and shutoff policies for City utilities.

ALSO ALIGNED: The Seattle Public Library‘s facilities remain closed at least until May 4th, but Chief Librarian Marcellus Turner reminds you of the other ways you can access SPL services.

MORE CITY NEWS: SPD and SFD posted info on how their staffs are affected by COVID-19.

TONIGHT’S FINAL WORDS: Saw a lot of chalk art while out walking today. This pic, however, came in via text, seen in Admiral:

Props to the poet for that adaptation.

GOT INFO? PHOTOS? Email westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!

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WEST SEATTLE BIRDS: More spring sightings

April 6, 2020 8:19 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

More West Seattle bird sightings – thank you to all the photographers!

Above, the always-spectacular (and loud) Steller’s Jay, photographed by Mark Wangerin, whose photos we have featured so often with our daily calendar highlights – which are mostly on hiatus now in this eventless time! Below, a Brown Creeper, photographed at Lincoln Park by another Mark, from Nature’s Eye Photos:

And we’ve received several great views of Bald Eagles – here are two, first from Chris Frankovich:

And one spotted in mid-meal, photographed by Dan Ciske:

P.S. Want to help monitor how our current altered lifestyle is affecting birds? Check this out! (Hat tip KUOW.)

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Wondering how COVID-19 has affected police/fire staffing? See the numbers

April 6, 2020 7:06 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Coronavirus | Health | West Seattle news

Both the SPD and SFD blog-format websites have just published updates on how COVID-19 has affected their staffing. First, from SPD Blotter:

Seattle Police Department (SPD) employees in either Quarantine or Isolation: 50

SPD employees who have returned to work based on Public Health guidelines: 194

SPD employees who have tested positive for COVID-19: 6

SPD employees who have been tested at our First Responder testing site, but tested negative for COVID-19: 87*

* denotes an approximate number

And from Fireline:

Members currently in quarantine or isolation: 29 members
Total number of SFD personnel impacted since the beginning of tracking COVID-19: 88 members
Total number of SFD personnel who have completed their 14-day quarantine and returned to work: 59 members
Testing:

This includes those who have received testing at the site designated for first responders and those who have shared their results from testing conducted at a private physician.

Total number of known SFD personnel who have tested positive for COVID-19: 16 members
Total number of SFD personnel with a negative test results at first responder testing site: 58 members
Total number of SFD personnel who have tested positive for COVID-19 and have recovered: 1 member

Neither post includes by-precinct or by-station information.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen blue-green Accord

April 6, 2020 5:57 pm

| Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen blue-green Accord

| Crime | West Seattle news

Alison reports her car was stolen today:

My 1993 Honda Accord SE was stolen today around noon from behind my apartment building at 3001 SW Avalon Way. It’s a dark blue-green, has a spoiler, plate number BCX 9718. (This stock photo is) of an identical car. SPD incident number 2020-115904.

If you see it, please call 911.

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WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE CLOSURE: Low-bridge enforcement begins

April 6, 2020 4:29 pm

| 76 COMMENTS

| West Seattle Bridge Safety Project | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Earlier today, we showed you the new signage and bus-lane markings being installed to underscore that the low bridge is NOT for general motorized-vehicle traffic. Now, multiple texters (and Dean, who posted photos in comments) report that police have been out pulling over violators. One texter repoorted at 3 pm, “There are about six motorcycle cops down here, handing out tickets left and right.”

We don’t know whether they issued citations or warnings, but do you really want to risk it?

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UPDATE: Governor, state superintendent announce schools will remain closed to in-person learning for the rest of this school year

April 6, 2020 2:37 pm

| 66 COMMENTS

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

2:37 PM: You can use the window above to click into TVW‘s live feed of Governor Inslee‘s media briefing, at which he is expected to be joined by the state’s superintendent of public instruction, Chris Reykdal. We’ll publish notes while the briefing’s in progress.

He starts by announcing there will be no in-person school for the rest of this school year. But “if you’re a senior in good standing, we expect you will receive your diploma this year.” He says at least 13 states have already closed their schools for the rest of the year. Distance learning WILL continue, Inslee makes clear. “Together we will ensure that learning continues in the state of Washington,” he says.

He also says they MIGHT be able to consider graduation ceremonies, depending on how things go.

Seattle Public Schools has just sent a statement:

Following today’s emergency proclamation by Washington Governor Jay Inslee, Seattle Public Schools will not reopen its school buildings for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year.
While buildings remain closed, the work by SPS educators to provide continuous learning to students will continue.

This continuity of learning includes a variety of methods and channels used by educators to teach their students, some of which include:

• Learning packets distributed weekly
• Teacher-led video lessons distributed on our social media channels, SPS-TV and by our broadcast partners
• Online instruction when possible
• Telephone contact

“This is how we ‘do school’ now – remotely, with families as co-educators and partners,” said SPS Superintendent Denise Juneau. “Never has family engagement been so important and we’ll all have to work at this together with patience and understanding.”

In addition to the continuity of learning, SPS will continue to provide other supports and services, including meal distribution from the SPS Nutrition Services team.

SPS will be providing additional information in the coming days about what the extended closure means for staff and students, including information about graduation for seniors and information for students receiving specialized services.

For more information about the SPS response to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, please see our website page, “Seattle Public Schools Coronavirus Response FAQ.”

2:45 PM: Reykdal speaks now:

He says it could be disastrous if in-person school resumed too soon – one case would shut down a school and disrupt many. He says this is also already touching off conversations and considerations about what fall will or should like. He also says that connectivity must be improved, as much of a right “as clean water.”

2:52 PM: Now to Q&A with reporters. The governor says, “We have not reached the peak of this pandemic.” He stresses that even when the rate of fatalities goes down, “we have to be intensely committed … to all that we’re doing.” Another question is about the state’s data lag regarding hospitalizations; the governor says he’ll look into it. Asked about the ventilators the state is sending back to the federal stockpile, he says they were requested when the caseload was predicted to double every week, “and that’s not occurring.”

In response to another question, Reykdal confirms that the proclamation closes ALL schools – public, private, charter. … Regarding educational equity, Inslee repeats something he said during opening remarks, that on-site education might be possble for some students “with profound challenges.” … Asked about a pass/fail model, Reykdal says they’re working with higher-education institutions to ensure that grades and transitions aren’t harmed for high-school students. … How many students in the state still don’t have connectivity? Reykdal says that data is being collected now.

3:15 PM: Briefing’s over. The video window above should soon provide access to the recorded version, so we’re leaving it up.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Car prowler takes child carrier; vandals deface ‘Welcome’ sign

April 6, 2020 2:16 pm

| 13 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports today:

CHILD CARRIER STOLEN: Amy on Puget Ridge sends that photo with this report:

Last night someone managed to open the back door of our minivan, parked in our driveway. Among the stolen items was the Tula Toddler carrier we sometimes use to carry our disabled son on hikes. (You may also have seen us on walks with his swell blue trike, but it doesn’t do well on stairs).

The Tula retails for over $100, so we would love to get it back if possible. It has a gray and green pattern, with gray straps. It’s machine washable, so if someone sees it dumped somewhere, please let us know! Also stolen were a case of Clif Bars and a bag of reusable shopping bags.

WELCOME SIGN DEFACED: Pete Spalding, from the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, sent photos and word that the WSCoC is working on getting this cleaned up. We blurred the tags as per WSB policy to not show tagging vandalism whenever possible, but you can get the idea – both sides of the sign were hit:

The sign was installed 11 months ago, funded by a gift from philanthropist Ada Rhodes Cruzen.

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WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE CLOSURE: New signage, and other notes

April 6, 2020 12:53 pm

| 13 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle Bridge Safety Project | West Seattle news

Exactly two weeks after the West Seattle Bridge’s safety shutdown began, two related notes so far today:

(WSB photo, today)

SIGNAGE/BUS LANE: Thanks to commenter Joe Z for the tip. SDOT crews are out right now at the Spokane/Chelan/Delridge/West Marginal intersecion, installing signage and red lane markings to make it clearer that the low bridge is primarily for buses (“trucks OK,” the signs note, and of course emergency-response vehicles too). If you’re headed that way, by the way, work crews have lanes blocked off for the work, so the backup was significant when we went through (compounded by the low bridge opening for maritime traffic).

AT THE COUNCIL MEETING: We listened in this morning to the first of the day’s two regular City Council meetings – the “briefing meeting” on Monday mornings is where each councilmember provides miscellaneous updates. Councilmember Lisa Herbold noted that SDOT had been back at Highland Park Way/Holden on Saturday installing the pedestrian signal at the newly signalized intersection – we had noticed work going on there:

(WSB photo, today)

And Counclmember Alex Pedersen, who chairs the Transportation Committee, said he expects SDOT to be back before the council with another briefing around “month’s end” since that’s when they expect the bridge assessment to be done, enabling a repair plan. (He didn’t mention a date, but the last council meeting of the month would be April 27th, three weeks from today.

P.S. Just discovered that a bridge update is also on the agenda for tomorrow night’s Move Seattle Levy Oversight Committee meeting.

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BIZNOTE: Rudy’s Barbershop files for bankruptcy, CHS reports

April 6, 2020 11:23 am

| 33 COMMENTS

| Coronavirus | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

It’s been three weeks since hair salons and barber shops were completely shut down by the governor’s health order that also required restaurants and beverage businesses to shift to takeout/delivery. This morning, our friends at Capitol Hill Seattle Blog report that the Rudy’s Barbershop chain has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is seeking permission for a sale. Read the full CHS coverage here; CHS reports documents show Rudy’s was “struggling” even before the COVID-19 shutdown. Next month marks five years since Rudy’s opened a West Seattle location in The Triangle, at 4480 Fauntleroy Way SW.

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BUSINESS UPDATES: The Grove, Staples

April 6, 2020 9:54 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| Triangle | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | Westwood

Two business updates from the WSB inbox:

THE GROVE: From general manager John Coney at West Seattle’s only hotel/motel, in The Triangle:

Just letting you know that The Grove is open for anyone needing a room for a few days. We have lowered our rates to help out in this difficult time. We are all practicing safe distancing, wearing masks, cleaning everything with disinfectant cleaner and do our own laundry in house so it’s not being touched by anyone off property. If anyone just needs to get a way for a few days, they can call or drop by.

The Grove is locally owned, at 3512 SW Alaska, 206-937-9920.

STAPLES: From general manager Deena Knapton at the Westwood Village Staples:

I wanted to let you know that Staples has been deemed an essential business; we are open and ready to serve our community. We see it as a privilege and a large responsibility to continue serving our community. As such, we’ve compiled a few services to specifically help the restaurant industry and provide just a little more relief.

Local restaurants can immediately take advantage of 250 free full-color menus from our in-store Print & Marketing department, as well as free full-color CDC health awareness posters and complimentary faxing, scanning, and computer workstation services. We are also offering curbside pickup to all customers for any orders from our print center and for products from our floor.

In addition, we are excited to share that Staples stores (are) accepting donations of the following types of personal protective equipment (PPE) for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals: unused N95 respirator face masks, disposable face masks, face-shields, goggles and eye shields, and isolation or surgical gowns. If you have any of the above, please drop it off at the Westwood Village Staples store or any Staples location and we will get it in the hands of our heroes. Check out cmnh.com/staples for additional information.

We checked – Seattle Children’s Hospital is the nearest CMN hospital.

Got a business update? Please let us know – westseattleblog@gmail.com preferred, but text/phone 206-293-6302 if you can’t email.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT: Monday watch, third week of West Seattle Bridge closure

April 6, 2020 5:35 am

| 33 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

5:35 AM: The high-rise West Seattle Bridge remains closed for the 14th consecutive morning.

The low bridge is reserved for transit, freight, emergency response, and Harbor Island access – too many continue to ignore that, so SDOT told us in last week’s interview, they’re working on an enforcement plan and better signage.

For general traffic, the main route across the Duwamish River is the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) – that’s also how to get to I-5, cutting across Georgetown.