day : 07/07/2020 10 results

Mask mandate, next level – that’s where we start tonight’s roundup:

NO MASK, NO SERVICE: As of today, businesses are not supposed to serve customers who aren’t wearing face coverings. At his media briefing this afternoon, the governor was asked about enforcement. He suggested that for example, retail stores could just refuse to ring up the unmasked customer.

MASK OUTBURST REPORTED: It’s not necessarily that simple. Reader report received via email:

Customer being asked to put on mask at WS TJs this morning proceeded to go into a frenzy and rip up all the plants in planter boxes in front of store. Staff attempted to verbally cool him down but were careful not to physically confront him.

We haven’t obtained the police report but there is a logged “property destruction” call in that block of Fauntleroy.

ONE MORE BUSINESS NOTE: From the governor’s news release, another new rule: “Employers must notify the employer’s local health jurisdiction within 24 hours if the employer suspects COVID-19 is spreading in the employer’s workplace, or if the employer is aware of 2 or more employees who develop confirmed or suspected COVID-19 within a 14-day period.” We’ll be checking with health authorities tomorrow to see what’s supposed to happen if/when they get such a notification.

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Here’s the daily summary from Public Health, with cumulative totals:

*11,206 people have tested positive, up 66 from yesterday

*596 people have died, up 5 from yesterday

*1,631 people have been hospitalized, up 8 from yesterday

*191,865 people have been tested, up 1,860 from yesterday

One week ago, those totals were 10,196/586/1,589/167,270.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find them here.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: Find them here.

PARKING ALERT: Next week, the city will resume enforcement of most street-parking time limits (and will be charging again at pay stations).

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

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REMINDER: Free shredding this Saturday

July 7, 2020 9:10 pm

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| West Seattle news | Westwood

Just four days until John L. Scott Real Estate-Westwood (WSB sponsor) offers free shredding! It’s set for 10 am-noon Saturday (July 11th) in the northwest lot at Westwood Village. No limit but if you can, please support the White Center Food Bank by bringing non-perishable food, or making a monetary donation – a WCFB rep will be there to accept a donation via card if you want to do it that way.

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FUTURE PARK: Half a mile of Duwamish River shore to return to its roots

July 7, 2020 6:46 pm

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| Environment | South Park | West Seattle news

(WSB photos)

This half-mile-long Duwamish River shore site, where a groundbreaking ceremony was held today for a future park, won’t exist once the project is done.

This is T-117, a Port of Seattle=owned former industrial site in South Park (map) put on the Superfund toxic-cleanup list in 2003, and now destined for restoration to its roots as a tidal marsh. Since big ceremonial crowds are out of the question, a small group of Port and community representatives gathered for today’s event, which the Port streamed live.

It’s an “extraordinary project,” enthused Paulina López, executive director of the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition.

DRCC has long been involved with this site (among others); this 2013 WSB story quoted one of her predecessors, describing early cleanup work at T-117. López spoke of the “hope” offered by the site’s transformation, both because it will open up more of the riverfront to a community with “limited public access,” and because the project also promises green job training, with opportunity for youth to learn how to work on habitat restoration and marine conservation.

Magdalena Angel-Cano, also with DRCC, embodies that opportunity – she joined the Duwamish Valley Youth Corps at age 13 and became a “first-generation college student.” She spoke of the need for a clear path for the community’s youth, so there can be more representation in the area’s industries, especially maritime.

The ceremony also included George Blomberg from the Port explaining what’ll happen at T-117.

The site’s elevation will be reduced to bring back the marsh; there’ll be an interpretive path, 8 viewpoints, a pier, and a hand-carry boat launch. Thousands of native plants will go into the ground. “This site has a memory,” observed Blomberg – a memory of its pre-industrial millennia – and that was affirmed by another speaker, Native storyteller/historian Roger Fernandes.

It’s a “powerful act” to see land like this returned to what it once was, Fernandes noted, before telling “The Changer Story.”

The changes here will take place over the next year and a half or so – more project details, and history, are here.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Another car prowler on video; abandoned kid-size bike

July 7, 2020 5:24 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

CAR PROWLER ON VIDEO: Iris sent this clip and the framegrab:

Reporting a car prowler that was checking for unlocked vehicles on the 8400 block of 17th Ave SW at 4:55am July 7, 2020. This woman attempts to open the doors of both the cars in our driveway and seems to try the car at the end of the driveway as she turns the corner.

ABANDONED BIKE: Sent by Pat, spotted along Alki Avenue SW:

This is a red & black kid’s bike that’s been parked for several days in front of a new empty condo building across from Luna Park, called Pinnacle.

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BIZNOTES: Artist & Muse Salon, Row House, Lady Di Pet Chaperone

July 7, 2020 3:47 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Coronavirus | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Support your local businesses! Here are three biznotes, starting with two reopenings:

ARTIST & MUSE SALON: This salon at 6701 California SW was open for just two weeks before the pandemic shuttered salons (among other types of businesses) for months. Now it’s open again. Alexa from Artist & Muse says, “we have 8 stylists who are amazing and are taking new clients. … Six of our stylists came from Ola Salon on Avalon Way and they are hoping to reach clients who may have been lost in the move.” Find the salon’s info online here.

ROW HOUSE: Also a relatively new West Seattle business, this fitness studio at 4203 SW Oregon just reopened this week.

LADY DI PET CHAPERONE: Sarah at Lady Di Pet Chaperone emailed to let pet owners know they’re open: “We are open and serving clients M-F (7-7), Sat-Sun- (10-6).” Lady Di offers in-home care as well as drop-off dog day care.

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BUSES: Transportation Benefit District sales-tax renewal proposed for November ballot

July 7, 2020 1:33 pm

| 12 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news

You might recall recent coverage here with Metro warning that the service funded by Seattle’s Transportation Benefit District tax is in danger of going away because the tax was expiring. Mayor Durkan has just announced a proposed six-year renewal – via a news release (see it here) that mentions West Seattle 13 times, though without any specifics – aside from the last line on the provided graphic below. The proposal would continue the 0.1 percent sales tax, and the city says that “is projected to generate between $20 and $30 million annually over the next six years,” broken down as follows:

The current TBD funding also includes a $60 car-tab tax, but that’s not possible now because of I-976. If approved by the City Council, this will go to voters in November.

(For context, here’s how the expiring TBD measure was presented by then-Mayor Ed Murray in 2014.)

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City to resume time-limited street-parking enforcement, and paid parking

July 7, 2020 11:29 am

| 18 COMMENTS

| Coronavirus | Transportation | West Seattle news

Announced today by the city:

Starting Monday, July 13, we’ll reinstate on-street paid parking and hourly time-limited parking enforcement.

Paid parking and hourly time limited parking enforcement were suspended in early April in response to the Governor’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy Order. With King County’s transition to Phase 2 of the Safe Start Plan, businesses are reopening, and reliable access at the curb for customers is critical for recovery.

Parking will be $0.50/hour in all paid areas; the minimum rate allowed according to the Seattle Municipal Code.

The rate will remain unchanged for at least a month while we review data to determine parking activity and occupancy in our neighborhood business districts. Further adjustments could come later in 2020. We are committed to following a data-driven process.

Parking Enforcement Officers will begin enforcing paid parking requirements, as well as enforcement of free, hourly time limited parking (think 2-hour parking signs) on July 13. For the first two weeks, they will be focused on education and voluntary compliance of paid parking as customers return to our neighborhood businesses.

The full announcement is here. (West Seattle does not have paid on-street parking but does have many time-limited spaces.)

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FOLLOWUP: Getting around the Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook seawall project

July 7, 2020 10:07 am

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| West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

The fence is up, the new crosswalks are painted, and the Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook seawall-replacement project is about to launch into major construction mode. When we covered the first of two public pre-construction briefings, the traffic plan for the site wasn’t finalized yet, but it was ready for the second meeting last week So in case you missed that- see it here. The plan includes crosswalks at Jacobsen and Snoqualmie. You can also read a transcript of the July 1st meeting and see the slide deck – which includes the planned truck routes for the work – by going here. If you still have project questions, here’s the contact info: AlkiSeaWall@usace.army.mil or 206-764-3750. Construction is expected to last into early next year.

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WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE CLOSURE: How to see/hear Wednesday’s Community Task Force meetng

July 7, 2020 8:50 am

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| West Seattle Bridge Safety Project | West Seattle news

While we await the Reconnect West Seattle proposed-project ballots, we know one thing for sure – the West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force will have its fourth meeting tomorrow. We have the link for Wednesday’s noon meeting – you’ll be able to watch here. If you’d rather call in: 408-418-9388, access code: 146 162 4832. (Our coverage of the last meeting June 24th is here.)

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ROAD WORK, TRAFFIC, TRANSIT: Tuesday notes, 16th week of West Seattle Bridge closure

July 7, 2020 6:07 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:07 AM: It’s Tuesday, the 106th morning without the high-rise West Seattle Bridge.

ROAD WORK

Lane reductions continue in multiple spots on Delridge Way as the RapidRide H Line conversion project continues – here’s what they’re working on this week.

TRAFFIC

Here’s the camera for the restricted-daytime-access low bridge:

The main detour route across the Duwamish River is the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) – which has up to 14 overnight closures planned later thi month. Meanwhile, here’s that camera: