WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen gray 4Runner (update: found)
James hopes you can help find his stolen Toyota 4Runner:
ORIGINAL THURSDAY NIGHT REPORT: My 4Runner was stolen in front of my house (Brandon and 45th, near West Seattle Nursery) early Wednesday morning at 2:17 am. Maybe someone will see it and report back. It’s a gray 1988 4Runner with a cracked windshield. My son and I have put a lot of time into restoring it and we’re all sad about it.
The vehicle now has Washington plates, BTS2702. Here’s security video from right before the theft:
7:44 PM FRIDAY: James just emailed to report, “Good news! SPD found at motel in Georgetown and I got it back today. The interior is pretty bashed up and they decided to paint the dash blue. Still, so happy to have it back.”
About that other high-profile city job opening
Mayor Bruce Harrell‘s announcement today of the search process for a new police chief had one WSB commenter wondering what’s up with the search for a new SDOT director. So we asked mayoral spokesperson Jamie Housen. His reply tonight: “We should have some news to announce on the SDOT front soon around the search process, which will be a robust national search and include community input and stakeholder engagement.” When Harrell announced previous SDOT director Sam Zimbabwe‘s departure three and a half months ago, he elevated SDOT chief of staff Kristen Simpson to interim director, but said she wouldn’t be applying for the permanent job. We also asked Housen if the mayor had visited the West Seattle Bridge yet, since those weekly progress-report documents we’ve been getting (on a 4-week delay via public-disclosure request) mentioned it. Housen said, “The mayor’s schedule hasn’t aligned for a site visit to the bridge yet, but it is something we are hoping to get on the calendar, as the bridge’s repair and reopening remains one of the administration’s highest priorities.” P.S. Former SDOT director Zimbabwe, who lives in West Seattle, just started a new job in the private sector, with the design-consulting firm Kimley-Horn.
HEALTH CARE: Providence, Swedish announce ‘unified brand’
Two of our region’s major health-care organizations, Providence and Swedish, have been affiliated for a decade now. But apparently that’s not obvious to all, so they’ve announced a “unified brand” … all the organizations’ eight hospitals and 214 clinics will now be under the brand Providence Swedish. The announcement suggests the only real difference patients will notice will be signage; that’ll roll out in the months ahead, we were told on follow-up. The announcement also includes this note:
As they have since 2012, Providence and Swedish will continue to honor one another’s distinct identities. Swedish will remain a secular organization, and Providence will remain a faith-based organization. That means Swedish locations will continue to provide certain services that may not be available at Providence locations according to the original affiliation agreement. Providence and Swedish will also remain separate employers, and its foundations will continue to operate as separate 501(c)3s.
WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Tank taken; suspected catalytic-converter theft
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
TANK THEFT: From Jill:
Alki area 11:30 pm (Tuesday night). Car drove into condo carport and parked. Walked to bbq and stole propane tank. We yelled at them out the window and they said come down and get it from them.
CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFT? From Mindy:
(Wednesday) morning between 5:30 and 5:40 (not sure exact time) heard a car door and voices outside. When a grinding noise started, looked out the door to see a car stopped (3800 block of 17th Ave SW, near W Marginal Way SW) with passenger door open next to a car in front of the house downhill from ours (couldn’t see which car they were working on and don’t know the owners of neighborhood cars).
I yelled “What’s that noise” or something, yelled some more hoping to scare them off. My husband also came out and yelled. They paused but started up again. I yelled about calling the police and headed down from our upstairs unit toward the street. A man in a gray hoodie with a flashlight got into the passenger door of the stopped vehicle — a dark sedan, I think, but I couldn’t see the license plate — and the vehicle backed down the street toward W Marginal Way SW.
A “dark sedan” has been described in some recent catalytic-converter thefts in the area.
Mayor outlines plan for Seattle Police chief search and how you figure into it
It’s been more than a year and a half since Adrian Diaz became interim Seattle Police Chief. Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell outlined his plan for finding a permanent police chief, noting that Diaz is “encourage(d) … to apply.” The mayor’s announcement says Harrell will soon hire “an independent third-party firm to assist in identifying candidates nationwide.” He’ll also appoint a search committee “made up of local leaders including law enforcement experts, Community Police Commission members, and representatives from small businesses, communities of color, and other key voices.” Along with those steps, the mayor also promises a website “providing an overview of the search process” and an online survey where community members can “list what they are looking for in the next chief.” The announcement, which does not specify a timeline by which the mayor hopes to make a hire, also notes the city charter spells out some requirements including “a competitive examination … to identify the three finalists” as well as City Council confirmation.
BIZNOTE: Party time for Highland Park Corner Store’s first anniversary
One year ago, Meaghan Haas had just opened Highland Park Corner Store in the renovated ex-mini-mart at 7789 Highland Park Way SW. With all the challenges that businesses faced during the pandemic, she nonetheless plunged ahead and started something new, and now it’s time to mark the milestone of making it through year one. The store’s already become a place for community celebrations, and this time it’s about HPCS itself – you’re invited to “just show up” Saturday afternoon (April 2nd), 1-4 pm, for festivities including cake, games, a piñata (around 3 pm), and more.
6 ways to spend the rest of your West Seattle Thursday
(Trillium, photographed in Fauntleroy Park by Mark Dale)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
ART EXHIBIT: “Oceans of Emotion” is now on display at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), and you can drop in any time until 4 pm to see it.
BODY IN MOVEMENT: Free workshop at Daystar Retirement Village (2615 SW Barton; WSB sponsor) on how to keep moving and keep healthy, 11 am. Details in our calendar listing.
RAPIDRIDE CONSTRUCTION Q&A: The RapidRide H Line project team will be available online or by phone (206-485-0017, conference ID: 206 834 474#) 5-6 pm for drop-in Q&A.
BOARD GAME NIGHT: Come try something new at Meeples Games (3727 California SW), 6:30-10 pm.
‘FEEDING THE WHOLE FAMILY’: Online presentation with Cynthia Lair, benefiting West Seattle’s Cooperative Preschools, 7:30 pm – our calendar listing explains what you’ll see and how to attend.
THEATER: ArtsWest‘s new play “This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing” starts its third week tonight, 7:30 pm, in the theater at 4711 California SW. Tickets available here.
Have an event to list on our calendar? We’re adding more daily – email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Thursday watch
6:02 AM: Good morning. It’s Thursday, March 31st.
WEATHER
Some sun, some rain, high in the 50s.
BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES TODAY
Metro is on its regular weekday schedule. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of reroutes/cancellations.
Water Taxi‘s on its regular schedule. Shuttle service is now back to serving all runs.
Ferries: WSF is still using the two-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
776th morning without the West Seattle Bridge.
Low Bridge: Automated enforcement cameras remain in use; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends; the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are available here for some categories of drivers.)
NOTE: SDOT WAS STILL HAVING CAMERA TROUBLE AS OF EARLY TODAY, SO WE ONLY HAVE THIS WSDOT CAM:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
CAMERA P.S. – YOU CAN ACCESS VIDEO FROM CAMERA WINDOWS ON SDOT MAP HERE
Are movable bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed; 1st Ave. S. Bridge openings are also tweeted by @wsdot_traffic.
Trouble on the roads/paths/water? Text or call us (when you can do so safely) – 206-293-6302.
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