West Seattle, Washington
03 Sunday
First night out of the stay-home order … and instead we’re under an unrelated curfew. But the virus crisis isn’t over yet, so on with the nightly roundup:
APPLICATION DELAYED A DAY: King County says the application to reopen more businesses by entering a “modified Phase 1” will be sent to the state tomorrow:
As part of the Governor’s Safe Start reopening plan, King County anticipates submitting its application for a modified Phase 1 permit to the Washington State Department of Health on Tuesday, June 2nd. This will allow for limited re-opening of some businesses that are able to meet the State’s reopening guidance. Assuming full state approval, local businesses should prepare for modified Phase 1 activities as soon as Friday, June 5th.
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Public Health daily-summary dashboard:
*8,192 people have tested positive, up 33 from yesterday
*557 people have died, unchanged from yesterday
One week ago, those totals were 7,879 and 542.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: Find them here.
ALL ABOUT ANTIBODIES: The state Health Department put together this mini-briefing to answer questions.
NEED FOOD? Three more chances this week to get it, free, no questions asked.
OPEN AGAIN: The parking lots at West Seattle’s Port of Seattle parks are open again.
NOT OPEN YET: Thanks to Thomas, for just pointing out this update from Seattle’s Chief Librarian Marcellus Turner.
SURVEY: You’re invited to fill out this economic-recovery survey if any of these categories applies to you:
Artists
Creatives
Cultural workers
Creative small businesses
Large arts institutions
Everybody in-between and within the arts and cultures sectors.
Background info here.
GOT INFO? PHOTOS? Email westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!
At right, that’s John Moore from longtime WSB sponsor Northwest Insurance Group (5431 California SW), modeling a face mask like the ones his agency just donated to the West Seattle Food Bank. Northwest Insurance Group gave the nonprofit hundreds of masks, along with $3,000 to help WSFB help feed people and prevent homelessness. John said he’s just “trying to give back and do something positive at a time when we really need more good news!” (You can help WSFB too – donating money, and/or other ways.)
Thanks to the tipster who texted that photo – West Seattle’s Fire Station 37 (35th/Holden) is now home to Ladder 13 as well as Engine 37. Four weeks ago, the city announced that extra SFD apparatus and crews would be stationed on this side of the Duwamish River because of the West Seattle Bridge closure – L13 in West Seattle, and Medic 26 at Station 26 in South Park. SFD spokesperson Kristin Tinsley confirms to WSB that both additions have arrived at their new locations, but their crews will be training for a few days before they’re fully ready to respond. (Our tipster says that for L13, for example, that’s 20 more people, to cover all shifts.)
1:50 PM: Will there be a curfew for a third night? That and other questions should be answered in the briefing that’s just begun, with Mayor Jenny Durkan, SPD Chief Carmen Best, and SFD Chief Harold Scoggins. SPD has published a timeline of Saturday’s events – see it here – including that 57 people were arrested, “most for burglary and assault.” We’ll add notes as the briefing goes.
1:58 PM: The mayor has recapped some of what that timeline lays out, after spending several minutes emphasizing the difference between the peaceful protests and their message, and what she described as a “rapid” deterioration in the situation just before 4 pm Saturday. And she announces there WILL be a curfew again TONIGHT, 6 pm-5 am, citywide. … The mayor also stresses that incidents of police using force over the weekend are under investigation.
2:07 PM: SPD Chief Best takes the microphone.
2:13 PM: SFD Chief Scoggins says his department reported to more than 50 calls over the weekend related to the downtown unrest.
2:18 PM: Asked about any proof of the officials’ ongoing allegations that some came from “outside the city” to cause trouble, Chief Best says they’re still working to verify the identities (etc.) of those arrested.
2:28 PM: Pressed about the curfew and why some people were downtown as late as 11 pm without getting arrested, Chief Best says there were up to 800 people and it was “in the best interest of public safety … not to have a confrontation” but that police did eventually move them out.
2:38 PM: The briefing’s over. If you’re closing early because of the curfew, as some did over the weekend, let us know – just got a text that Target JUST closed. We’ll add here, if we hear about more.
ADDED – MORE BUSINESS CLOSURES: Commenter says Trader Joe’s is closing at 4 pm … Another says PCC is closing at 6 … Walgreens is reported to be closing early … Also note that Metro has suspended downtown service.
12:36 PM: The stay-home order has ended but the pandemic’s economic crunch will not be over any time soon. If you or someone you know needs food, tomorrow brings the next chance to get some in West Seattle. Here’s the announcement we received:
West Seattle Friends and neighbors! FREE produce! Farmer Frog will have a truck loaded with 300 – 20-poundd boxes of produce this coming Tuesday, 6/2, at the Eagles parking lot on California! Each 20 lb box will contain apples, potatoes, and onions and will be distributed first come/first served. The distribution begins at 1:00 p.m. and will run until around 4:00 p.m. or whenever the food is gone, whichever comes first!
The Eagles are at 4426 California SW.
ADDED 3:25 PM: Food Lifeline has just announced two distributions at its South Park HQ this week, also free and no questions asked:
Food Lifeline – 815 South 96th Street
Wednesday, June 3, at 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday, June 5, 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
(WSB photo: Jack Block Park driveway gates, now open)
The parking lots of three more waterfront parks in West Seattle are open again. The Port of Seattle has reopened the lots for Jack Block Park (2130 Harbor Avenue SW) and T-105 and T-107 (both on the east shore of the Duwamish River, off West Marginal Way SW). Port spokesperson Peter McGraw tells WSB the parks and lots are on a “dawn till dusk” schedule and reminds parkgoers, “Visitors should be ready to follow public health guidance and wear a mask while respecting physical-distancing measures.” The parks lots were closed in late March as part of the COVID-19 response.
Two business notes this morning – a restaurant reopening and a retail update:
OH’S SANDWICHES REOPENS: The proprietor of Oh’s Sandwiches (3217 California SW), Oanh Nguyen, emailed us over the weekend to say the shop is reopening today. Oh’s will be open 10 am-6 pm daily Mondays-Saturdays, closed Sundays. (We’ve updated our longrunning list of 160+ local food/beverage businesses – thanks to everyone who has let us know about updates!)
PEGASUS BOOK EXCHANGE: Here’s the latest from Eric at Pegasus (4553 California SW):
We are continuing curbside pickup every day of the week: M-W 3-6 pm, Th-Su 11-4; deliveries on Mondays. We are also accepting books for trade/store credit by appointment only; visit our website for details. We are also shipping books outside of West Seattle and across the country, email the shop at pegasusbookexchange@gmail.com for details. Check FB/Insta for updates of stock and procedures; our website has updated photos of most of our sections so you can browse our shelves from anywhere.
Now that it’s June, it’s graduation month – or, if you don’t know anyone in the Class of 2020, surely you have some other reason to celebrate, so here’s a way to do it with flowers, as announced by the West Seattle High School PTSA:
Brighten up your days with a beautiful spring bouquet while supporting the WSHS PTSA and our local farmers! The PTSA is partnering with Hmong Flower Farmers to offer beautiful bouquets to honor our graduating Seniors. If you don’t know a senior, buy one for yourself or an essential worker in your neighborhood! Order by June 4th (Thursday) for pickup at the high school on Saturday, June 13th, 10 am-noon. If you can’t make it in person, we will deliver for you for an additional $10 (within West Seattle only please). Cost per bouquet is $20 pickup/$30 delivered. Proceeds benefit the WSHS PTSA. Learn more and place an order today!
5:58 AM: Good morning – the 70th morning without the high-rise West Seattle Bridge – the first morning after the expiration of the Stay Home/Stay Healthy order, although nothing major is changing immediately. But if you’re headed out – here are the cameras for the 5-way intersection at West Marginal/Delridge/Spokane/Chelan, and the restricted-access low bridge:
The main detour route across the Duwamish River is the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) – here’s that camera:
The other major bridge across the river is the South Park Bridge (map) – this camera shows the SP-side approach:
Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed for info about any of those bridges opening for marine traffic.
You can see all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also shown on this WSB page.
TRANSIT
Metro – Check the Twitter feed for any breaking service changes. Otherwise – still on the reduced schedule and reduced capacity; check here for next departure
Water Taxi – Reduced schedule continues
Sound Transit reminder – Link light rail and Sounder trains will start charging fares again today
Trouble on the roads/paths? Let us know what you’re seeing – comment or text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.
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