West Seattle, Washington

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day : 14/10/2020 10 results

CORONAVIRUS: Wednesday 10/14 roundup
October 14, 2020 10:50 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

Every night, we bring you the local/regional pandemic-related toplines:

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Public Health daily-summary dashboard, the cumulative totals:

*24,500 people have tested positive, 170 more than yesterday’s total

*782 people have died, 3 more than yesterday’s total

*2,467 people have been hospitalized, 9 more than yesterday’s total

*490.206 people have been tested, 3,239 more than yesterday’s total

One week ago, those totals (plus testing) were 23,419/774/2,410/456,822.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find them, county by county, on the state Department of Health page,.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: See them, nation by nation, here.

STATEWIDE SITUATION REPORT: The new one’s out, and here are the highlights for our part of the state:

Transmission is increasing in western Washington and recently plateauing in eastern Washington. The best estimates of the reproductive number (how many new people each COVID-19 patient will infect) were 1.12 in western Washington and 0.94 in eastern Washington as of September 27. The goal is a number well below one, which would mean COVID-19 transmission is declining.

Case counts in western Washington are increasing across all age groups and over broad geographic areas. This suggests increases are due to broad community spread, not driven by a single type of activity or setting. Though all age groups are seeing increases, the rising trends among older people are particularly concerning because these groups tend to experience more severe illness.

Recent growth in cases is widely distributed across a number of counties. Some larger counties (Clark, King, Kitsap, Pierce, Snohomish and Thurston) are seeing steady increases. Several smaller counties (Lewis, Mason, Pend Oreille and Skagit) are clearly experiencing increases, though the total number of recent cases remains low. Benton and Franklin counties are seeing gradual but steady increases as well.

FOLLOWUP: After our report on Sew Very Grateful – a West Seattle woman’s project organizing volunteers to sew scrub caps for health-care workers – lots of potential new helpers contacted her! If you missed the story (which includes info on how to help), check it out here.

GOT INFO? Email us at westseattleblog@gmail.com or phone us, text or voice, at 206-293-6302 – thank you!

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ELECTION 2020: Your ballot’s in the mail
October 14, 2020 9:26 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

checkbox.jpgAs noted previously, today was the day King County Elections mailed ballots – 1.4 million of them, to be specific – so yours might arrive as soon as tomorrow. They’re projecting 90 percent turnout, which would be a record, passing the existing record of 85 percent turnout in 2012. An overview of the local ballot:

Featuring an 18-inch ballot, this year’s election is comprised of 64 races, including a total of 118 federal and state candidates. There are 22 measures, with 16 local and six state. Included are state, county, city, school and special purpose district measures.

West Seattle voters will be asked to vote on:

President
U.S. House District 7
6 state measures including Referendum 90 (sex education)
Governor
Lt. Governor
Secretary of State
State Treasurer
State Auditor
State Attorney General
State Commissioner of Public Lands
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
State Insurance Commissioner
34th District State House Position 1
34th District State House Position 2
4 State Supreme Court positions
8 county measures including #5, changing the sheriff from elected to appointed, and Prop. 1, property tax for Harborview Medical Center
2 Court of Appeals positions
2 King County Superior Court judgeships
1 city measure, .15% sales tax to pay for transit

You can preview your ballot, including links to candidate and ballot-measure info, by going here. Here’s what else the county wants you to know:

Voters who do not receive a ballot by Mon., Oct. 19, or who have questions should call King County Elections at 206-296-VOTE (8683). Ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, Nov. 3, or returned to one of the 73 ballot drop box locations across the county. Drop boxes are open 24-hours, seven days a week until 8 p.m. on Election Day. Ballots can be returned at any time before the deadline – but the earlier, the better.

The deadline to register to vote online is Oct. 26. Voters can register and vote through 8 p.m. on Election Day at any of KCE’s Vote Center locations around King County.

The drop boxes open tomorrow; all the locations are here, including three in West Seattle and one each in nearby South Park and White Center.

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HALLOWEEN: Reminder – share decoration locations! Plus, the trick-or-treating question
October 14, 2020 7:45 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | Holidays | West Seattle news

Halloween is now 2 1/2 weeks away. By reader request, we’re compiling a list of West Seattle decoration locations to visit – so many are already in the spirit! Thanks to everyone who’s already sent tips since we first mentioned this last week. In case you missed it, we wanted to publish this reminder – let us know where you’ve seen exceptional Halloween displays, and whether they’re best seen by day or night (illuminated) or both – photos appreciated but not mandatory. westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

When we mentioned this last week, a comment discussion spun off on the topic of trick-or-treating, and whether families plan to do it this year. Opinions were mixed. We’ve since heard from one reader “wondering what the consensus is around trick or treating? … We plan on lowering candy down in a bucket from our deck into our yard.” Public Health-Seattle King County is recommending “other options,” but if you do decide to trick-or-treat and/or hand out treats, the agency has some safety tips. What’s your plan?

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BIZNOTE: Chase Bank closing a West Seattle branch
October 14, 2020 5:35 pm
|      33 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

5:35 PM WEDNESDAY: Chase Bank is closing its branch inside West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor). The announcement came in a letter sent to customers. The notice says it’s closing as of December 30th, but doesn’t cite a reason. We’ve contacted Chase with followup questions including why; we won’t get replies until tomorrow (we’ll update this story when we get them(. Meantime, we asked Thriftway management if they have plans for the space; none yet, we’re told, because they just found out a few days ago. The branch originally opened as Washington Mutual when Thriftway opened this building in 1998, rebuilt after a fire the year before; Chase took over in 2009 after WaMu failed. Chase has three other branches in West Seattle – Admiral, The Junction, and Westwood Village.

11:35 AM THURSDAY: Just got answers to our questions from Chase spokesperson Darcy Donahoe-Wilmot. Why the closure? “We are continually evaluating the location of our branches to best meet our customers’ needs.” No other West Seattle closures. As for what happens to the people who work at, and customers of, the Thriftway branch: “The deposits will be moved to West Seattle branch and employees will go to nearby locations, all will have a home with us. The ATM will remain on site.”

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WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE: Decision date moved back, ‘rapid replacement’ possibility suddenly surfaces, as Community Task Force members discuss where they’re leaning
October 14, 2020 2:12 pm
|      75 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle Bridge Safety Project | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Two headlines emerged as the West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force gathered online this afternoon for a between-meetings discussion:

First, the expectation that Mayor Jenny Durkan would announce a “repair or replace?” decision at next Wednesday’s CTF meeting is no longer the plan – the final Cost-Benefit Analysis won’t even be ready for the CTF to look at until Monday, so they’ll be discussing it next week rather than making, or hearing, a recommendation.

Second, a ‘rapid replacement” possibility is suddenly in play – modeled after the Lake Champlain Bridge connecting New York and Vermont, built in two years.

(Lake Champlain Bridge, NYDOT photo)

More about that, the CTF was told, will be presented at next week’s meeting. Today was not meant to be a time for presentations, but more an hour and a half of temperature-taking. As co-chair Paulina Lopez explained, they wanted to spend more time “to hear from each other.”

Ahead, how that unfolded: Read More

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VIDEO: City reps attend Junction Plaza Park safety meeting without acknowledging escalating problems
October 14, 2020 12:10 pm
|      58 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(WSJA recording of Tuesday’s online meeting)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

The “hygiene station” blamed as a trouble magnet at Junction Plaza Park won’t be there forever.

That’s the only bit of news that emerged from Tuesday afternoon’s online community meeting with city reps, who refused to acknowledge that safety concerns in the area have escalated since its installation in May, and did not promise solutions.

There were repeated mentions that the city Navigation Team had visited the park – without any mention that Mayor Jenny Durkan has suspended the team, after the City Council‘s vote to cut its funding.

The meeting was organized and hosted by Lora Radford, executive director of the West Seattle Junction Association (which helped raise money for the park’s completion a decade ago).

“This is not a discussion about criminalizing homelessness,” Radford clarified at the start – it was meant to be a discussion about what’s happened since the hygiene station went in at Junction Plaza Park in xx.

Read More

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BOEING FIELD: Weigh in on the future of the airport nearest to West Seattle
October 14, 2020 11:27 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Not WS but we're mentioning it anyway | West Seattle news

Particularly if you’re in east or south West Seattle, air traffic is a daily reminder of the proximity of King County International Airport, aka Boeing Field. So we’re sharing this announcement from the county:

King County International Airport – Boeing Field wants your input to help shape the airport’s future! The airport is updating its master plan to meet Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements. You’re invited to any of three virtual open houses to learn more about the airport’s draft preferred alternative. Save the date:

Wednesday, October 28th

8 – 9:30 a.m,
12 – 1:30 p.m.
6 – 7:30 p.m
.
If you would like to receive an email with meeting details, please contact us at KCIACommunityOutreach@kingcounty.gov. For more information on the Master Plan, see kingcounty.gov/KCIAMasterPlan

You may also send your feedback about the master plan update via:

Email: KCIACommunityOutreach@kingcounty.gov
Phone: 206-296-7380 and/or
US mail: King County Airport 7277 Perimeter Rd. S. Seattle, WA 98108-3844.

King County International Airport is primarily an airport for commercial, cargo and private aircraft. The FAA requires an update to the Airport Master Plan every five to seven years. The Airport Master Plan is a formal planning document based on financial forecasts, travel forecasts and infrastructure needs that helps identify potential construction projects to meet future needs.

After the Airport Master Plan is adopted, any construction project or change is required to go through traditional project process, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), before being constructed.

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WEST SEATTLE WEDNESDAY: What is and isn’t happening today/tonight, plus 2 stormy sea scenes
October 14, 2020 10:12 am
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE WEDNESDAY: What is and isn’t happening today/tonight, plus 2 stormy sea scenes
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Water Taxi, photographed Tuesday by David Hutchinson)

The weather has calmed, but the memories are fresh, and we have two cool sea scenes to share along with notes about what is and isn’t happening today/tonight.

FOOD DISTRIBUTION CANCELED: The West Seattle Eagles parking lot was set to be the scene of another food-box distribution this morning right about now – but we got word a short time ago that it’s been canceled.

UNDERSTANDING MEDICARE: Presentation at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon), 11 am. Call to see if there’s space; our calendar listing explains how.

SPECIAL SCHOOL LUNCH ITEM: 11:15 am-1:15 pm, in honor of National Farm to School Month, smoked-salmon chowder is on the menu today at Louisa Boren STEM K-8 (5950 Delridge Way SW), one of the Seattle Public Schools meal-distribution sites in West Seattle.

(Pilot boat Pacific Arrow, photographed Tuesday by Dan Ciske)

34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: 7 pm online, our area’s largest political group meets for the last time before the general election. Go here for the agenda, and a link for registration if you’re interested in attending.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen custom bicycles; car prowler sought; auto-theft alert
October 14, 2020 9:15 am
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

9:15 AM: Two more stolen bicycles to watch for:

Amy sent the photos, reporting that they were stolen near 41st/Findlay: “My husband’s beloved custom bikes were stolen out of our garage (Tuesday) after an automatic-garage-door malfunction; the garage door was likely left open all day. These are custom and unique bikes, brand is Speedvagen. So I’m hoping someone can help if they are seen.” Police report # 20-292752.

9:49 AM: Just in from the Southwest Precinct, two alerts – first, a request to help find this car prowler:
The precinct says that on October 6th around 10 pm, this person tried to break into three vehicles in the 7700 block of 20th SW. “After realizing all the vehicle doors were locked, the suspect left on foot. The reporting party stated this suspect has successfully prowled vehicles in the past.” If you have information on who this person is, call the precinct at 206-733-9800.

Also from the precinct, this alert that auto theft is on the rise in West Seattle/South Park:

Specifically:

*The precinct is up 10% in the last 28 days
*Mostly during third watch (between 1900-2100), and mostly in the Morgan Junction area
*The Morgan Junction community is up 138% year to date (+28 cars), 60% in the last 28 days

*In an effort to decrease these incidents, we would like to remind our community members about the following prevention strategies:

*Check on your vehicle regularly, especially if you aren’t driving it frequently
*Never leave your car running or the keys in the ignition when you’re away, even for ‘just a minute’, please remember this is illegal in Seattle and in Washington (SMC 11.70.160, RCW 46.61.600)
*Remove remote garage door openers from vehicle
*Always lock doors and roll up windows, even if the car is parked in front of your home
*Never leave valuables in plain view, even if your car is locked
*If possible, park vehicle in a busy, locked, monitored and/or well-lit area
*Utilize anti-theft devices such as the Club (please contact Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner for more information about this)
*If possible, activate alarm

Feel free to reach out to Jennifer (Jennifer.Danner@seattle.gov) if you have questions about these prevention suggestions, and/or if you are interested in a free safety/security assessment.

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ROAD WORK, TRANSIT, TRAFFIC: Wednesday 10/14 watch
October 14, 2020 6:12 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:12 AM: Welcome to Wednesday – the 205th morning without the West Seattle Bridge.

ROAD WORK, ETC.

*West Marginal Way/Highland Park Way: From SDOT:

SDOT crews will complete some additional paving this week (the week of Oct. 12) near the intersection of Highland Park Way SW and West Marginal Way SW. The paving is being done in advance of some bus stop changes near the intersection. The work will require a right-lane closure on Highland Park Way SW outside of peak hours.

*Southbound 1st Avenue S. Bridge: Short closures for “temporary repairs” are continuing this week, between 6 am and 3 pm.

*Delridge project: The SW Oregon closure is still on for this Friday-Sunday. Here’s what other work is planned this week.

CHECK THE TRAFFIC BEFORE YOU GO

Here’s the 5-way intersection camera (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):

Here’s the restricted-daytime-access (open to all 9 pm-5 am) low bridge:

The main detour route across the Duwamish River is the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) . Here are two cameras:

The other major bridge across the river is the South Park Bridge (map). Here’s the nearest camera:

Going through South Park? Don’t speed.

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 – Fare collection has resumed.

Water Taxi – Also no longer free.

Trouble on the roads/paths/water? Let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.

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