West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Tonight’s pandemic toplines:
STILL LOTS OF APPOINTMENTS: For a third day, the city is urging people to take advantage of its many open appointments. They also announced today that if you got your first dose somewhere else, you can get a city appointment for your second dose – info here. Meantime, we’ve been hearing from other providers – Neighborcare Health at High Point is offering Saturday appointments. If none of that works for you, see our list of other options in this recent roundup.
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Checking today’s daily summary from Seattle-King County Public Health – here are the cumulative totals:
*96,744 people have tested positive, 147 more than yesterday’s total
*1,505 people have died, 2 more than yesterday’s total
*5,742 people have been hospitalized, 29 more than yesterday’s total
*1,032,976 people have been tested, 4,194 more than yesterday’s total
One week ago, the totals were 94,250/1,498/5,590/1,016,855.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
NATIONAL/WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 148.3 million cases worldwide, 32.1 million of them in the U.S. – see other nation-by-nation stats by going here.
PANDEMIC BRIEFING: At 8:15 am tomorrow online, state health officials will present their weekly briefing and media Q&A. Watch the livestream here.
VACCINATION PROGRESS: 61.7 percent of King County residents 16+ have had at least one shot.
NEED TO BE VACCINATED BUT CAN’T LEAVE HOME … because of an injury, disability, or other medical problem? King County mobile teams might be able to help. Here’s how.
\GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
Big response, quickly downsized, for what’s described as a kitchen fire in the 5000 block of Fauntleroy Way.
6:01 PM: From Seattle Public Utilities:
Shortly after 12 pm today, Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) responded to a sewer overflow, caused by a blockage, into Puget Sound along Alki Beach and Bonair Dr. SW. Out of an abundance of caution, staff have posted signs alerting that the beach surrounding this area is closed to water activities at this time.
Staff will sample the water and work with Public Health-Seattle & King County to determine when the area can be safely reopened. SPU will update you when we have more information.
If you find flooding or sewer backups, please report them to the SPU 24/7 Operations Response Center at (206) 386-1800.
We are checking on the extent of the closure.
7:35 PM: No estimate yet of how much spilled. But the posted zone, SPU tells us, extends 600 feet in both directions from Bonair/Alki.
WEDNESDAY MORNING UPDATE: SPU says the overflow is estimated at 1,655 gallons.
Two days after opening a firehose of vaccination appointments, the city is no longer limiting them to people getting their first shots – this afternoon, they announced you can now sign up to get a second dose even if you got the first one elsewhere. Here’s the announcement; the appointment link is here.
According to the VINE service, as well as a notification message received by his victim, Ryan J. Cox is out of prison. He had been in custody since August 8, 2017, when he was arrested for stabbing a man in Gatewood. In January 2019, he pleaded guilty to second-degree assault, and the next month, he was given a five-year sentence. Cox had a history of high-profile West Seattle incidents going back to 2009, as detailed in this WSB report the day after the 2017 stabbing. So far we don’t have details about his whereabouts post-release, nor about his time in the state prison system, though the timing of his release indicates the sentence was reduced by “time off for good behavior.” We obtained the photo at right from the state Department of Corrections, which says it was taken last year. Cox is now 43 years old. His prison time was to be followed by 18 months of community custody, our state’s version of parole, which means that wherever he is, he will have to check in with a DOC officer regularly.
THURSDAY 2:48 AM: Few details yet but Cox is in jail, booked into the SCORE facility in Des Moines late Wednesday night. The docket description says “DOC violator,” which means he’s accused of violating terms of his release. We’ll be following up.
(Photo courtesy Neighborcare)
If going to the city-run West Seattle site doesn’t work for you but you’re still looking for a vaccination appointment on the peninsula, we’ve received another announcement:
Neighborcare Health at High Point is offering COVID-19 vaccines by appointment only to anyone 18 and older at the clinic on Saturday, May 1 between 10 am and 4 pm. You don’t have to be a current Neighborcare Health patient. To make an appointment, call 206-461-6950. The clinic is located at 6020 35th Avenue SW.
Neighborcare tells us they’ll be giving the Moderna vaccine, and these are first-dose appointments.
(L-R, DEA investigator Craig Tom, SPD Officer Matthew Roberson, SW Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner, Southwest Seattle Youth Alliance’s Lensy Cordova)
The photo is from this past Saturday’s Drug Take-Back Day event outside the Southwest Precinct – sent by Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner along with the results, and what you can do with unwanted/unneeded/expired medications if you missed it. Dropoffs filled 9 boxes, totaling 295 pounds. That’s more than the other Seattle location, the North Precinct, with 286 pounds. You don’t have to wait until the next Drug Take-Back Day if you still have something to get rid of – this flyer (in English y en Español) lists year-round locations including the pharmacies at QFC in The Junction (4550 42nd SW) and Walgreens in High Point (6330 35th).\
Thanks to Brad for the photo/report – that’s the aftermath of a 2-vehicle collision at 47th SW and SW Hinds; one car ended up in a yard. Brad reports, “The homeowner indicates this is not the first time this has happened but it’s the worst.” No apparent injuries, and no SFD dispatch.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
After coasting to re-election twice, King County Executive Dow Constantine has a fight ahead in his bid for a fourth term.
As of today, it’s a battle of two West Seattleites.
This morning, two days after this year’s legislative session wrapped up, State Sen. Joe Nguyen announced that he’s running for county executive. Nothing personal, he says – saying that he even volunteered for Constantine’s first campaign in 2009 – but Nguyen says it’s time for a change. Without using the exact words, his pitch is that while the incumbent is the past, he is the future – and the person to fight for the future of even the youngest King County residents, his three small children among them.
We spoke with Nguyen before this morning’s announcement.
(Sunday photo by James Bratsanos)
Busy Tuesday! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and inbox:
FOOD DRIVE: Bring nonperishable food and/or cash for the West Seattle Food Bank to the office of State Farm Agent Terry Gangon (4727 44th SW) all week in honor of his impending retirement.
LOW-LOW TIDE: Tide’s out to -1.6 feet at 11:52 am.
LIBRARY CHANGES: Two local branches launch new services today – Southwest Library (9010 35th SW) opens for in-building services, noon-6 pm; same hours for West Seattle (Admiral – 2306 42nd SW) as it starts curbside service.
WHITE CENTER FIREWORKS BAN? At 1 pm online, the King County Council considers the proposed fireworks ban for unincorporated areas including White Center.
DISCOVER SEATTLE COLLEGES: 3 pm online event explores science, tech, engineering, and math opportunities – details in our calendar listing.
DEMONSTRATION: The weekly announcement from organizer Scott:
Black Lives Matter sign-waving
Tuesday, April 27, 4 to 6 pm, corner of 16th SW and SW Holden
Thursday, April 29, 4 to 6 pm, corner of 16th SW and SW Holden
Come build awareness & stimulate actions to tear down the systems that have oppressed Black lives for over 400 years on this continent. Hold signs, meet neighbors, and stand for racial justice. Scott at Puget Ridge Cohousing, endorsed by Hate-Free Delridge. Signs available.
WESTSIDE SCHOOL PRESCHOOL/PRE-K INFO EVENT: As reported here last Friday, preschool and pre-kindergarten are expanding at Westside School (WSB sponsor). There’s an informational event this evening online – email tedh@westsideschool.org for attendance info.
FOOD-TRUCK FUNDRAISER: 5-8:45 pm, order from the Thai-U-Up food truck at 30th/Roxbury, and 10 percent of the proceeds benefit Friends of Roxhill Elementary.
ARTHUR’S CLOSED FOR THE DAY: Arthur’s in The Admiral District wants you to know it’s closed today/tonight so its staff can get vaccinated.
Anything we’re missing for today/tonight? Text/call 206-293-6302 – thank you!
6:03 AM: Good morning! Cloudy forecast for today.
ROAD WORK
35th/Graham – As work continues, Graham is closed on both sides of the intersection.
Delridge project – Delridge/Orchard work continues; here’s what else is in this week’s plan.
SW Yancy east of Avalon – This closure will last a few more weeks, according to the project team.
TRANSIT
The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its spring/summer schedule – all day, 7 days a week, plus Friday and Saturday evenings.
Metro has increased the number of passengers allowed on buses.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
400th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here’s how it’s looking on other bridges and routes:
Low Bridge: 16th week for automated enforcement cameras; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends, when the bridge is now open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Read about other changes here.)
Here’s a low-bridge view:
West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:
Highland Park Way/Holden:
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
And the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):
For the South Park Bridge (map), here’s the nearest camera:
To check for bridges’ marine-traffic openings, see the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.
See all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also shown on this WSB page.
Trouble on the streets/paths/bridges/water? Please let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.
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