day : 31/08/2022 10 results

The Seattle Public Schools educators’ union just announced its members decided tonight to vote on authorizing a strike. The Seattle Education Association‘s board already approved a vote and then tonight the membership “agreed decisively” to do it, according to a statement just sent by the union. SEA president Jennifer Matter is also quoted as saying, “No educator wants to strike but we know educator burnout and being unable to meet student needs are larger problems that SPS must urgently address. SPS can come to agreement with us at any time and has chosen to force us on this path.” SEA says the strike authorization vote will be taken online tomorrow through Sunday and that they’ll announce results Tuesday morning. In the meantime, members “will continue reporting to work.” The union says support for special and multilingual education is a major sticking point, and the most-recent district statement ackknowledges those issues “have caused a delay in progress.”

CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Window-smashing suspect released from jail (update: now charged)

August 31, 2022 8:08 pm

| 34 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, Monday morning)

The 48-year-old man arrested Monday morning after a window-smashing rampage at the Morgan Junction Starbucks got out of jail tonight. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office told WSB they had hoped to receive enough information for a charging decision today – but a key piece of evidence was missing: Seattle Police detectives needed a damage estimate from Starbucks, and couldn’t get it. KCPAO spokesperson Casey McNerthney says that’s “a required element to prove that the damage was a felony crime. Even though that seems obvious, the court needs that information under the law.” He says the KCPAO “also tried to loop in contacts from victim business (at the corporate level) to get that necessary information by the 2 p.m. deadline.” But they didn’t have any luck either. Without charges being filed, the suspect had to be released. But McNerthney adds that “SPD is still working on the case right now. We appreciate their great work, and we’re hopeful to have that required damage estimate and case referred this week. We know it can be difficult for businesses to get that required info within 72 hours too – those are frustrating constraints in the law and court system. King County prosecutors will act on this case immediately when we get the case referral from police.”

The document from a probable-cause hearing in the case on Tuesday summarizes what a Morgan Starbucks representative wrote in a comment on our original story, that the man came into the store and became agitated. They offered him water; he refused. He “then began to yell and escalated into an aggressive behavior. Employees of the store were able to usher the suspect out of the door successfully and locked the doors … to deny access to the suspect. The suspect tried to regain access to Starbucks by pulling the main doors multiple times. The suspect noticed that the doors were locked, and this caused him to escalate his behavior even further. The suspect infuriated grabbed a metal table that was located outside and property of Starbucks. The suspect then used the table to break 4 double-paned 8×8 windows.” It was recorded on video; this frame grab was sent to us anonymously:

No injuries were reported. The suspect has one King County conviction, a criminal-trespass case in Auburn, for which he served more than three months in jail earlier this year.

THURSDAY 2:41 PM UPDATE: A felony charge has just been filed, one count of malicious mischief, against the suspect, Gerald R. Hochstadt. He remains out of custody, released just after 6 pm last night, but now there’s a $15,000 arrest warrant. Separate story to come.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Seen this just-stolen bicycle? (update: found)

August 31, 2022 6:14 pm

| 14 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

From Jon:

My son just had his bike stolen in front of LA Fitness today (8/31) around 4 or 4:30 pm. It was locked along with another bike and the bike thieves cut the lock and took both bikes. It’s a 2012 Dark Green Diamondback Mission that was custom built with specific parts. It is also a custom frame with the nickname “Jonny Diamond” laser-etched on the top tube above the upper shock mount. This is a unique bike that should not be hard to spot. If you see anything please contact me at (206) 399-0585. Thanks.

THURSDAY UPDATE: Found – see comment.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Pedestrian to hospital, injured by hit-run driver

August 31, 2022 5:30 pm

| 12 COMMENTS

| Crime | Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

5:30 PM: Police are investigating what’s reported to have been a hit-run collision that injured a pedestrian at 26th/Juneau. The hit-run driver was reported to be in a silver early 2000s Mercedes ML towing a silver Prius, last seen northbound on 26th. We have not yet heard whether the pedestrian is seriously hurt.

5:40 PM: Officers have told dispatch they’ve located what they believe is the suspect vehicle.

5:51 PM: They’ve told dispatch they have the suspected driver in custody. We’re checking with SFD about the victim.

6:05 PM: SFD spokesperson Kristin Tinsley says the victim is a man in his early 40s, in stable condition when taken to a hospital by AMR ambulance.

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VIDEO: Mayor goes public with Park District funding plan, including 3 long-shelved West Seattle parks

August 31, 2022 2:59 pm

| 24 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

2:59 PM: In that briefing this morning at Rainier Playfield, Mayor Bruce Harrell went public with his proposal for what the Seattle Park District should pay for in the next six years. The $115 million/year plan would include funding to finish the three West Seattle “landbanked” parks that were shelved during the pandemic – 40th SW in The Junction, Morgan Junction Park Addition, and 48th/Charlestown – during the funding cycle (2023-2028 – we’re asking for estimated dates for those projects). Other key points include an exponential increase in Park Rangers – there are two now, and this plan would fund 26. Other safety-related proposals include a rapid-response team tackling graffiti and vandalism and expanding leash-law and scoop-law enforcement to 7 days a week. An expansion of community-center hours is promised, too. Here’s a ‘fact sheet” circulated today; beyond that, we asked for the line-by-line specifics and were told they’ll be sent by the mayor to the Park District Board (the City Council) next week, followed by a briefing on how they differ from the recommendations on which they’re based. So how much would it cost you? $331 a year for the “median value homeowner,” according to the mayor’s announcement. That’s more than double what you’re paying right now for Park District funding, which covers about a third of the Parks and Recreation budget – $154 this year for the “median value homeowner.” This does not go to voters, who approved the Park District’s creation and taxing authority years ago; approval is up to councilmembers.

3:36 PM: Since we published this, an agenda has arrived for a public hearing the Park District Board (council) is having on this proposal next Wednesday. It’s happening in Northgate but the agenda explains how to send written comments too.

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RETURNING: Children’s Moonlight Festival at Vietnamese Cultural Center in West Seattle

August 31, 2022 1:09 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(WSB photo, 2019)

This summer of returning events isn’t over yet – this Saturday (September 3rd), the Vietnamese Cultural Center in West Seattle brings back the Children’s Moonlight Festival. It includes a kids’ lantern parade – as shown above in our 2019 photo, that doesn’t actually happen in the moonlight, as the festival will take place 3-6 pm with a variety of activities for all, including treats, games, entertainment, and a lion dance. All free! The center is at 2236 SW Orchard (just north of Home Depot).

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Hit-run rampage in stolen truck

August 31, 2022 12:19 pm

| 12 COMMENTS

| Crime | Pigeon Point | West Seattle news

The photos and report are from Rose – it happened on Pigeon Point:

So this morning someone stole a truck. They drove to 22nd.

They parked in front of a house who actually knows the truck (it [belongs to] their boss). They go out to find out why he was at his house.

Well, it wasn’t his boss. A small confrontation has the thief push the neighbor, almost run him over.

Then he tries to back up, smashing into a bunch of cars. He flees.

He left his unlocked phone in the car. They know who he is.

She adds that the truck’s owner apparently also knows the suspect through social media. We’re checking with SPD to see if there’s any indication the hit-run driver/stolen-truck suspect has been found yet. Case number for the truck theft is 22-231325; the hit-run crash – which Rose says is reported to have damaged up to seven vehicles – has at least three separate case numbers, starting with 22-231291.

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LAST CALL: Get on the map for first-ever West Seattle Art Hop & Shop!

August 31, 2022 11:22 am

| Comments Off on LAST CALL: Get on the map for first-ever West Seattle Art Hop & Shop!

| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

One more reminder for artists interested in being part of the first-ever West Seattle Art Hop & Shop – two days left to register and get your place on the map!

As we’ve previewed previously, this peninsula-wide event will see dozens of artists opening their studios to show and sell their work, 10 am-5 pm on Saturday, September 17th. As of earlier this week, organizers say, 42 artists had signed up to show and sell at 21 locations – and there’s room for more! But if you want to be part of it and aren’t already registered, don’t miss the Friday (September 2nd) deadline. Go here for the registration form/info!

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WEST SEATTLE WEDNESDAY: 11 notes

August 31, 2022 9:51 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by James Bratsanos)

Thanks to everyone who sent photos of the clouds that scattered across the sky this morning, at the start of what’s expected to be another very warm day. Here’s what’s happening, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, inbox, and previews:

MAYOR’S PARK DISTRICT $ PROPOSAL: Mayor Bruce Harrell plans a 10 am announcement of his budget proposal for the Seattle Park District. The livestream will be here.

DROPOFF FOOD DRIVE: Take nonperishable food to Admiral Church (4320 SW Hill), 11 am-1 pm.

WADING POOL/SPRAYPARK OPEN: Lincoln Park wading pool will be open noon-7 pm. Also, Highland Park Spraypark at 1100 SW Cloverdale is open 11 am-8 pm.

COLMAN POOL: The outdoor pool at Lincoln Park will be open today as its 7-days-a-week schedule continues, noon-7 pm.

COVID VACCINATION POP-UP: The first in a series of pop-up clinics at local libraries is noon-5 pm today at Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW), offering the Moderna vaccine only.

(Photo by Hana Alishio)

LIVE AT LOCOL: Locöl Barley & Vine (7902 35th SW) spotlights live music 6:30-8:30 pm Wednesdays, no cover, 21+, rotating artists.

JAZZ: Piano and bass at Otter on the Rocks (4210 SW Admiral Way), 6:30 pm.

MUSIC BINGO: Now weekly at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.

KUNDALINI YOGA, MEDITATION, GONG BATH: Inner Alchemy presents this at Solstice Park, 7 pm Wednesdays. $35. (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW)

SKYLARK OPEN MIC: 7:30 pm signups @ West Seattle’s longest-running open mic – no cover to watch. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

TRIVIA x 4: At 7 pm, you can play trivia at the West Seattle Brewing Mothership (4415 Fauntleroy Way SW); Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 7:30 pm; trivia starts at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW); at 8:30 pm, trivia is back at Talarico’s (4718 California SW) with Phil T.

Calendar event to add? Please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Last day of August

August 31, 2022 6:01 am

| 8 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:01 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Wednesday, August 31st.

WEATHER

Sunny, hot again.

BACK TO SCHOOL

Today’s the first day for Hope Lutheran School (42nd/Oregon). Here’s our list of who’s already started and who’s coming up.

FERRIES, BUSES, WATER TAXI

Ferries: WSF continues the 2-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates.

Metro buses are on their regular weekday schedules; watch @kcmetroalerts for trip cancellations/reroute alerts.

The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its regular schedule.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

892nd morning without the West Seattle Bridge. 18 days until the day SDOT expects to reopen it – September 18th.

Low Bridge: Automated enforcement cameras remain in use until the high bridge reopens; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends; the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings.