West Seattle, Washington
04 Wednesday
Wrapping up the first weekend of August, here are tonight’s virus-crisis updates:
KING COUNTY’S NEWEST NUMBERS: First, the cumulative totals from the Public Health daily-summary dashboard:
*15.510 people have tested positive, up 111 from yesterday
*649 people have died, unchanged from yesterday
*1,963 people have been hospitalized, up 6 from yesterday
*300,529 people have been tested, up 2,356 from yesterday
One week ago, the totals were 14,433/640/1,891/271,301.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 18 million cases and more than 689,000 deaths – see the nation-by-nation breakdown here.
FOOD FOR KIDS/TEENS: Seattle Public Schools continues meal distribution at its designated sites 11 am-1 pm weekdays, as well as distribution by bus – full details here.
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
(WSB photo)
9:44 PM: The Evening March – a group that protests somewhere in Seattle every night – is back in West Seattle for the fourth time in 10 nights. They’ve gone to the homes of Councilmembers Lisa Herbold and Lorena González and County Executive Dow Constantine; all three came out to talk with the group. This time they’re in North Delridge, talking with Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, who chairs the Select Budget Committee, which meets again tomorrow morning to continue discussing police-budget cuts.
10:21 PM: They’re still talking with her – you can see it live here. The protest leaders expressed disappointment that the council isn’t proposing a full 50 percent cut for this year; Mosqueda says they’re trying to do what they can but it does not seem possible, while she has reminded them that the budget cycle for next year starts in six weeks.
10:40 PM: The conversation has wrapped up after almost an hour. Tomorrow’s Budget Committee meeting is set to start around 10 am; the potential SPD-budget amendments, including the ones discussed Friday, are here. Online registration for public comment (via web or phone) starts at 8 am; the process is explained here.
(Photo by Guy, from comments)
7:35 PM: Big Seattle Fire response for what’s described as a condo fire at 24th/Barton. It’s in a third-floor unit. Updates to come.
(WSB photos from here, unless otherwise credited)
7:39 PM: Firefighters have radioed that the fire is under control.
7:45 PM: Though the fire in the unit itself is described as under control, firefighters also report it’s spread to the attic/eaves.
7:47 PM: Our crew reports the building is 9016 25th SW, across 25th from Westwood Village’s southeast parking lot.
7:52 PM: Photos added. The fire is now described as “tapped” in both the unit and the attic.
(Photo by Jim Clarke)
8:02 PM: Still some concern focused on the top of the building, our crew reports. So far, no report of injuries.
8:14 PM: SFD confirms to our crew that no one was hurt. The cause is under investigation.
11:30 AM MONDAY: We just checked with SFD; the cause has not yet been determined.
(Reader photo, early today)
Early this morning, we covered the Alki incident in which two 19-year-old men were shot and wounded. This afternoon, we’ve received a message from Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Kevin Grossman, not so much about the incident’s specifics as about the state of local policing:
Dear West Seattle Neighbors (and Alki Residents, specifically):
As reported on WSB, there was a drive by shooting on Alki early this morning. Following a response from patrol officers, the Gang Unit responded to initiate a follow up investigation. The most recent information about the incident can be found here, on the SPD Blotter.
I am concerned about a recent uptick in shootings in West Seattle and have made violent crime–and gun violence–one of my top priorities. I have directed my officers to deter gun crimes whenever possible, take illegal guns off the street, make arrests for gun crimes, and conduct thorough investigations in shots fired incidents.
I also want to be transparent about SPD’s current resource situation. It is not unusual to have a total of eight officers working in all of West Seattle at any given time–usually four on the west side and four on the east. And during our most busy times, all of those officers are literally running from 911 call to 911 call, based on priority. I recently had to make the difficult decision to eliminate the full-time bicycle squad in West Seattle and to incorporate the officers back into the 911 call response rotation.
Last week I spoke with a frustrated resident who called the non-emergency number several times about some issues at the Don Armeni Boat Ramp, seemingly without a response. I did a little research to find that his call held for almost an hour because officers were busy responding to a rape, shots fired, threats to harm with a suspect on scene, a stolen car, and a stolen license plate. Once officers were finally free and able to respond, they arrived within 16 minutes of being dispatched.
I hear often from residents who make a request to have an officer stationed on their block or in their neighborhood. We simply do not have the resources to fulfill those requests. In past years, SPD had the budget to have officers work emphasis patrols in certain designated areas–like Alki–on an overtime basis. Unfortunately, our budget no longer permits us to do that, and we must work with the available on duty resources.
Please continue to call 911 for emergencies, the non-emergency number for all other complaints (206-625-5011), and officers will be dispatched according to priority and availability. I also encourage you to reach out to the Crime Prevention Coordinator assigned to the Southwest Precinct, Jennifer Danner, about crime prevention strategies. I also encourage you to join SPD in working with other city agencies–like SDOT and Parks–on problem-solving approaches (like the creation of Stay Healthy Streets) that may curb vehicle and pedestrian traffic that lead to other problems.
We clarified with Capt. Grossman that by “uptick in shootings” he included the recent non-injury shots-fired incidents. This is the first injury shooting incident since he took over the precinct a month ago.
The Delridge road work to pave the way for RapidRide H Line continues. Here’s what SOOT says is ahead this week, in all three zones:
Upcoming closures
Temporary weekend street closure at SW Genesee St and Delridge Way SW
For the weekends of August 7-9 and August 14-16, please expect no through access to Delridge Way SW from
SW Genesee St while crews reconstruct half of the intersectionSW Genesee St will be closed between 25th Ave SW and Delridge Way SW
The closure will be from Friday at 9 PM to Monday at 5 AM and work hours will not be past 10 PM
Local access to SW Genesee St will be maintained from SW Avalon Way, drivers will not be able to cut through to Delridge Way SWDrivers will need to detour at SW Andover St or SW Findlay St to get to and from Delridge Way SW
Route 50 will detour from Delridge Way SW to SW Avalon Way. Please visit King County Metro’s website for more information on rider alerts.
Sidewalk closures and detours between SW Orchard St and Sylvan Way SW
The sidewalk on the west side of Delridge Way SW is closed for construction. Please follow posted detour signs.
People walking will need to cross at the marked intersections at SW Myrtle St or SW Holden St
Access to some driveways at or near the SW Orchard St intersection may be impacted. Businesses will be open during construction and access will maintained at other driveways.
Rescheduled to the weekend of August 7 – August 9
Driveway closure for the northern parking lot at the Delridge Community Center
Next weekend, we will begin demolishing and rebuilding the driveway into the parking lot entrance between SW Genesee St and SW Oregon St
People driving will not be able to access the parking lot for several weekends starting August 8. You will be able to access the parking lot on weekdays.
Please plan to park in the southern parking lot near SW Alaska St during our closure
You may access this parking lot by taking 26th Ave SW to SW Alaska St
Overnight waterline improvements at SW Genesee St and SW Edmunds St
We will work overnight in collaboration with Seattle Public Utilities to connect pipes at the SW Genesee St and SW Edmunds St intersections on Delridge Way SW from Thursday, August 6 to Saturday, August 8
You can expect pipe cutting, steel plates, and trucks near SW Genesee St and SW Edmunds St
Ongoing closures
Temporary driveway closures near 21st Ave SW and Delridge Way SW
Expect intermittent delays to driveway access. Driveways will be covered with a steel plate when work is not occurring.
We will work our way south towards SW Thistle St in the next few weeks. Properties will be notified in advance of this work occurring.
Temporary access restrictions at 24th Ave SW/SW Graham St near the Longfellow Creek Greenspace
We are excavating a trench across 24th Ave SW/SW Graham St to complete utility work in the roadway
Access to 24th Ave SW, 25th Ave SW and SW Graham St will be interrupted during this work
If you need to exit at 24th Ave SW onto Delridge Way SW, please plan for delays of up to 30 minutes to exit and enter your street during working hours
You can coordinate with crews onsite to have a steel plate placed over the work area as needed to allow access
New work by zone
Zone A (West Seattle Bridge to SW Findlay St)
Paving work from SW Charlestown St to SW Dakota St
Foundation and sidewalk work will begin Monday August 8Demolition work from SW Alaska St to SW Genesee St
Starting next week, we will be paving the roadway on the west side of Delridge Way SW between SW Alaska St, SW Oregon St, and SW Genesee StDriveways between SW Alaska St to SW Genesee St will be temporarily impacted while we complete this work
Zone B (SW Findlay St to north of SW Orchard St)We will be demolishing the sidewalk between SW Orchard and SW Sylvan St on the west side of the street. Please follow posted detour signs at SW Myrtle St
Questions or concerns? The project team is at DelridgeTransit@Seattle.gov or 206-775-8739.. You can also sign up for texts about last-minute changes, especially night work and closures – text DELRIDGE to 33222.
Just wrapped up online: The August meeting of the Community Advisory Committee for Camp Second Chance (map), West Seattle’s only city-sanctioned tiny-house encampment. No major news, but here are the toplines:
CAMP UPDATES: Site coordinator Eric Pattin said the camp has 56 residents now, 17 women, 39 men, including three new residents; one person recently exited to housing. New case manager Mario said several other residents are about to leave for housing, too. … Sound Foundations Northwest‘s tiny-house building on the site, with distancing and other health precautions, continues. The camp itself has been fully converted to tiny houses, so the newly built ones go to other encampments. … Asked if the camp has any needs, Pattin suggested wipes, disinfectant spray, and disposable masks would be helpful. He was also asked about COVID testing; still no positive tests, and no residents with symptoms, Pattin said.
COMMITTEE MEMBER UPDATES: Chair Willow Fulton said that aside from the city work next to the camp, things have been quiet.
That site is being used to filter wastewater from Seattle Public Utilities work – we inquired too after it was first brought up as a mystery last month, and the explanation from SPU was that it’s being used as a “decant” facility:
SPU Source Control conducts annual storm drainage line cleaning within the Lower Duwamish Waterway to remove accumulated pollutants from our pipes prior to these pollutants reaching the river. The work is conducted by a contractor using a vacuum-like Vactor truck and high pressure water hoses to rinse and capture materials from inside of the pipes. The material removed from these pipes is trucked to a decant facility where the solids are separated from the water used for cleaning by screening larger particles and settling out finer material.
The solid material is trucked off site for disposal at appropriate solid waste landfills and the liquids are sampled to ensure they meet allowable discharge limits, then disposed of to the sanitary sewer system.
Fulton was told it would be removed by fall, but the CAC agreed they have some environmental concerns to ask the city about … Elsewhere along Myers Way, some illegal dumping has continued and neighbors keep reporting it to the city … Committee member Grace Stiller says the project to remove noxious weeds near the camp “is going really, really well … making amazing progress.” Some wetland willows will be planted after the clearing is complete – that’s a “native butterfly plant,” Stiller said. … Aaron Garcia from the White Center Community Development Association and Judi Carr from nearby Arrowhead Gardens were in attendance too.
CITY: No city rep in attendance for a second consecutive monthly meeting.
COMMUNITY CONCERNS: An Arrowhead Gardens resident wondered how COVID prevention is going; Pattin explained their procedures, including mask-wearing. The resident also said there’s a problem with streetlight outages along Myers Way. … There was also some discussion about the lack of a safe crossing on Myers Way in the camp vicinity.
NEXT MEETING: Since the regularly scheduled “first Sunday” will be during the Labor Day weekend, the CAC might cancel or move it – that’ll be announced later this month.
Family and friends are sharing this remembrance:
Mark H. Thomas died July 27, 2020, after fighting a courageous battle with frontotemporal dementia, a debilitating disease that attacks the spirit and body.
He was born April 27, 1950 in Munich, Germany as a military dependent. Growing up, his family was stationed in various places including Salzburg, Okinawa, and Frankfort before returning to West Seattle in 1961.
He attended Madison and West Seattle High graduating in 1968. In 1972 he completed a BS in Geology from Western Washington College. The majority of career was in the moving and storage industry, retiring as the General Manager for Continental Van Lines in 2013. Mark loved to cook, fish, and, especially, entertain friends and family.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, of 33 years, brother Raymond (Terry) Thomas, daughter Nica Tovey, and 2 grandchildren. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages you to donate to your favorite charity. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
One more event for today: West Seattle skywatching expert/educator Alice Enevoldsen is planning an online viewing event for the SpaceX/Crew Dragon splashdown. It’s scheduled around 11:48 am our time, with Alice starting about half an hour before that. You need to register to get the link – info is on her site, here.
(Pileated Woodpecker, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
We start our Sunday list with two traffic reminders:
SYLVAN WAY ROAD WORK: 9 am-4 pm, SDOT crews are scheduled to be out doing tree work, with traffic down to one lane at times.
1ST AVENUE SOUTH BRIDGE NORTHBOUND CLOSURES: Tonight, 10 pm-5 am, the third week of deck-replacement work begins on the 1st Avenue South Bridge’s northbound side, which will fully close. (The West Seattle low bridge is open to all 9 pm-5 am, so that’s your alternative.) Full details here.
Now, the list of online church services:
ADMIRAL UCC: Today’s worship video is viewable here.
ALKI UCC: 10 am online service via Zoom – info and link on church’s home page.
ALL SOULS SEATTLE (WSB sponsor): Online worship will be viewable here.
BETHANY COMMUNITY CHURCH: Livestreaming for West Seattle here at 9:30 am.
CALVARY CHAPEL: Service info is here, plus 11 am fellowship via Zoom, 6 pm all-church prayer and 7 pm evening worship (info on home page).
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS: West Seattle Ward has Sunday services via Zoom at 10 am, one hour long, all welcome. They last an hour. Here’s the link.
EASTRIDGE CHURCH: Livestreaming here at 9 am and 11 am.
FAUNTLEROY UCC: Service at 10 am on the church’s YouTube channel.
FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH OF WEST SEATTLE: Today’s online liturgy will be here.
GRACE CHURCH: Livestreaming here, 10:30 am.
HALLOWS CHURCH: Streaming at 10 am via the church’s YouTube channel.
HOPE LUTHERAN: Today’s worship service is viewable here.
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CATHOLIC CHURCH: Livestreaming at 10 am, here. (In-person Saturday Masses have been added – registration required.)
PEACE LUTHERAN: Livestreaming at 10:30 am on YouTube.
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH: Viewable on YouTube: All-Ages Sunday School at 10 am, Morning Prayer at 10:15 am (here’s today’s bulletin), Kids’ Club at 11:30 am.
TIBBETTS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH (WSB sponsor): The video service for today is here.
TRINITY CHURCH: Livestreaming here, 10 am.
WEST SEATTLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH: The video service for today is viewable here.
WEST SEATTLE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE: Livestreaming here, 9 am.
WEST SIDE PRESBYTERIAN Livestreaming at 10 am on the church’s YouTube channel.
WESTSIDE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION: Livestreaming at 10:30 am – information’s here.
WESTWOOD CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY: Online worship at 6 pm; info here.
Any other churches to add? Please email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Also today/tonight:
LOW-LOW TIDE: Out to -2.1 feet at 10:41 am.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm. Scroll down the page at this link to find the vendor list and map for this week. (Enter at California/Alaska)
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Open 11 am-4 pm – need a tool to fix or improve something? (4408 Delridge Way SW)
CAMP 2ND CHANCE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCIL: 2 pm, the monthly meeting for updates and questions about the city-sanctioned tiny-house encampment in southeast West Seattle. Community welcome – two ways to connect:
–This link
-By phone, 253-215-8782
Meeting ID: 858 5523 4269
Password: 9701
FREE TO-GO DINNER: White Center Community Dinner Church will serve to-go meals at 5 pm, outside, near the Bartell Drugs parking lot in White Center, SW Roxbury St. & 15th Ave. SW (9600 15th Ave SW)
(Reader photos)
2:55 AM: Thanks for the tips. 2 people have been taken to the hospital after what police call a drive-by shooting, near 55th/Alki. We just got here to try to find out more.
(WSB photos – this one & next two)
3:08 AM: Two blocks of Alki are shut down while officers investigate. The victims were in a pickup truck into which bullets were fired; casings were found in the street.
3:33 AM: Added more photos.
Police say the victims were both men, one shot in the chest, the other in the arm, both expected to survive. No suspect description yet. This happened during what already was a busy night at Alki, as residents were telling us around midnight – from multiple illegal beach fires to fireworks to stunt-driving in the street (added – reader photo of busy beach shortly before the shooting, hours after closing time):
Police and SFD had been dispatched previously. Also of note: This is the first Alki shooting since February (the suspect in that case remains jailed, awaiting trial).
10:30 AM: SFD says both victims are 19 years old.
5:38 PM: We’ve just published a message from the Southwest Precinct’s new commander, Capt. Kevin Grossman:.
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