West Seattle, Washington
19 Monday
Updates on two West Seattle encampments:
(Reader photo sent by Conrad)
SW MARGINAL PLACE SWEPT: Thanks to those who sent tips that the SW Marginal Place RV encampment [map] has been swept again. The cul-de-sac by the bridge was swept in August, but RVs and associated vehicles eventually showed up again. At tonight’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, Southwest Precinct operations Lt. Dorothy Kim confirmed that the encampment was swept today. The street also has been at least temporarily blocked off as closed – it’s always been a route betweem the bridge-side path and West Marginal Way, but now that the low bridge is closed to riders (among others), the street is a major link in the bike route.
2ND/MICHIGAN: Also at the WSCPC meeting, Lt. Kim was asked about the notorious encampment next to the 1st Avenue South Bridge – best known for stolen cars (she said tonight that police have recovered more than 100 there). At the November WSCPC meeting (WSB coverage here), she had said dates were set for a cleanup of that site. Tonight, when the topic came up, she said police were frustrated because the cleanup plan “fell through.” Both she and City Attorney’s Office precinct liaison Joe Everett talked about the situation. (Added: Here’s our video)
Everett said that dates had been worked out at a meeting with city and state reps – it’s state-owned land – in early December. All are well aware that it’s a “huge drain on SPD resources” as well as a major problem for nearby businesses. But as the dates got closer, something caused it to be called off – possibly concerns from the mayor’s office, possibly logistics, possibly because of a “request from WSDOT to share resources,” whatever the case, it didn’t happen, and “two bureaucracies trying to work together” didn’t make things any easier – “there’s a lot of coordination that needs to happen.” But they’re now “trying to put it together again.” We’ll be following up on this tomorrow.
Tomorrow marks two weeks since the West Seattle low bridge closed to street/path traffic. Two notes tonight:
(SDOT photo)
CYLINDER TROUBLESHOOTING: The leaky turn cylinder removed from the bridge last Sunday is undergoing diagnostic work at an offsite shop. SDOT tweeted photos today including the one above, saying, “Spotted already: a failed main seal!” While the cylinder is being repaired, SDOT hopes to be able to open and close the bridge without it – which, as we’ve reported, will take longer – and continued testing along those lines today.
BRIEFING PLANNED: The City Council’s Transportation and Public Utilities Committee has scheduled a briefing on the low-bridge situation for its meeting next Tuesday, 9:30 am. You can go to City Hall (600 4th downtown) or watch via Seattle Channel; the meeting also has a public-comment period – see the agenda for more on that.
As we write this, it’s only lightly raining … good night to go show some love to local artists! Find your nearest venue(s) on the list/map featured on the West Seattle Art Walk website. We’re just back from one – a student-artist show!
West Seattle High School artists are showing their work tonight at West Seattle Grounds in North Admiral. Above is Amelia; below, Maxi:
And Quinn:
All three are juniors. Tonight’s reception continues at WSG (2141 California SW) until about 7 pm. West Seattle Art Walk happens every month on the second Thursday!
(Photo courtesy Molly’s Bottle Shop)
If you’ve been in the 3200 block of California SW today, you might have noticed that startling sight – the “parklet” structure out front of Molly’s Bottle Shop is now in pieces. Shop manager Sebastiano says a hit-run driver destroyed it just after 3 am – the collision was caught, though not clearly, on a neighbor’s security camera:
(Choose YT’s “full screen” option for a slightly better view)
If you have any information – especially if you’re the driver right behind the hit-run vehicle – please contact the shop, which is awaiting a police-report number.
After a decade, David Bestock is leaving his job leading DNDA – Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association – as its executive director. Here’s the announcement:
The Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association (DNDA) is seeking an Interim Executive Director to lead the next stage of the organization’s growth. DNDA is a celebrated and trusted institution in West Seattle, with a 26-year history of innovative programming in affordable housing, youth arts education, and environmental stewardship. Based at their own Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, DNDA is a beloved community convener focusing on social, racial, and environmental justice.
DNDA’s current Executive Director, David Bestock, plans to stay with the organization through 2023 with a focus on fundraising and supporting DNDA’s volunteer leadership.
“I’m so proud of what we’ve done together here in the 10 years I’ve been leading DNDA,” says Bestock. “I’m also excited to empower new leadership, and to spend the next year strengthening relationships with our amazing donors and community partners.”
DNDA currently operates 7 affordable housing properties, runs environmental restoration efforts throughout West Seattle, and is a leader in youth arts education. According to incoming board chair Aaron Edenshaw, “DNDA is now poised to double our housing portfolio and to expand our community engagement, continuing to bring neighbors together for civic engagement and celebrations as we’ve done successfully for so long. Our work is needed now more than ever.”
DNDA’s board of directors is now accepting applications for the Interim Executive Director position. Applications received by February 28th will be given priority.
Bestock took over DNDA – which is headquartered at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in North Delridge – in late 2012, after some rocky times at the organization. He tells WSB he has no plan yet for what’s next but, “I really want to focus on fundraising through this year, and it’s too much to hold that along with all the day-to-day, and with our plans to grow our affordable housing and community engagement, etc.”
Just got a reader text about what appeared to be a sighting of Blue Angels jet #7, seen from the West Seattle Bridge. Indeed, subsequent checking reveals that #7 was due in this afternoon at Boeing Field for the Seafair winter meetings. The Museum of Flight just tweeted arrival video. This year’s Seafair airshow will be August 4-6; for the first time, this year’s team of demonstration-jet pilots includes a woman, U.S. Navy Lt. Amanda Lee.
A new business just opened at 5432 California SW – Zoo Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, whose proprietor Bob Brown describes it as “a martial-arts academy that offers self-defense/Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes for both kids and adults.” Bob adds, “My family and I are new to the area – moved from Missoula, Montana,” where he still owns, and helps operate remotely, another academy. He opened that studio after years of competing internationally (read more here). Zoo BJJ info is online at zoobjjsea.com.
We’ve been asking Metro for a week about updated numbers regarding how many buses have been returned to service, one month after a reader tip led us to first word that a steering “defect” had required them to pull 126 from service. We finally just got that information: First, Metro says that after additional repair, it actually needed to make the repairs to 208 buses. As of this past Tuesday, 147 of those have been returned to service, and 61 are still waiting for repairs. The work is expected to “continue through the end of February unless [manufacturer] New Flyer experiences a supply chain delay.” The buses’ removal from service has helped exacerbate the ongoing situation with trip cancellations and route suspensions.
Thanks to the reader who just sent word of this – the American Red Cross has a pop-up blood drive at Bethany Community Church in Highland Park this afternoon/evening, 1-6:30 pm. Appointments required (type 98106 in the search box on that page); when we checked, openings were listed between 1:30 and 4:30 pm. The church is at 8600 9th SW; \\
That’s the venue list for the first West Seattle Art Walk of 2023 – which tops our reminder list of what’s happening in the hours ahead. You can enjoy art, drop in on artist receptions, and get food/drink specials at participating restaurant/bars, all starting at 5 pm and continuing until “late.” To see who’s having receptions and to preview some of this month’s featured art, see this roundup on the West Seattle Art Walk website.
Also happening today/tonight:
MEDICARE PRESENTATION: Got questions? Local consultant Patrice Lewis has answers. 11 am-noon at Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon)
THURSDAY FOOD-TRUCK POP-UPS: 4-8 pm at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW), the Paparepas Venezuelan-food truck will be visiting.
HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: Also at HP Corner Store, meet up at 6:30 pm Thursdays for a ~3-mile run.
SUMMIT ATLAS OPEN HOUSE: The 6th-12th-grade charter school in Arbor Heights welcomes prospective families 5:30-7:30 pm. (9601 35th SW)
SEATTLE NEON: Photographer/author Matt Hucke talks about his book at 6 pm online, part of Words, Writers, and Southwest Stories. Our calendar listing has the registration link and details.
FERRIES MEETING: Missed Washington State Ferries‘ online community meeting yesterday (WSB coverage here)? One more session is set for 6 pm tonight – go here to register and get the link.
WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: Hear from and talk with local police, 7 pm at Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster) or attend online – the info for that, as well as the agenda, is in our calendar listing.
Have something to add to our calendar? Email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
A health-insurance enrollment event at Highland Park Elementary 10 am-2 pm this Saturday (January 14th) is open to everyone and offering some services – health and otherwise – for people in need:
HEALTH INSURANCE
-Get enrolled into health insurance.
-Find our health insurance options.
-Apple Health Insurance (Children, Pregnant Women, & Adults).MAMMOGRAMS
Women 40 & older & You must live in King County
Uninsured or Underinsured
Immigration status is not a factor
Call for an appointment 800-756-5437ADULT DENTAL SERVICES
Treatment for URGENT dental needs: Extractions – Filings – X-Rays – Exams – Pain/Swelling
Must be a King County resident.
Immigration status is not a factor.
Not eligible for Apple Health (Medicaid) due to citizenship status.
Meet income guidelines
Call for an appointment: 800-756-5437ALSO
-ORCA Lift Enrollment with preloaded cards. If you’re on TANF or SSI you get free fare for one year.
-City of Seattle Utility assistance Applications.
-COVID Vaccines (with gift card)
-Free lunch provided by Soul Fusion Food Truck!
-Cell phones & more
HPES is at 1012 SW Trenton.
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Thursday, January 12th.
WEATHER
Rainy, high in the low 50s.
LOW-BRIDGE CLOSURE
This is the 21st day the low bridge has been closed to street/path users.
SDOT offered a testing update Wednesday afternoon.
SIGNAL CHANGES
ICYMI, we reported Tuesday on what’s happening with 35th/Avalon and two nearby signalized intersections.
TODAY’S TRANSIT STATUS
Reminder – while the low bridge is out of service for surface traffic, free Metro/Water Taxi rides are available via an app.
–Metro is on a regular schedule today but still down buses for repairs (we’re still awaiting an update on how many are still out) – keep watching notification channels such as @kcmetroalerts for trip cancellations and route suspensions.
-The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its regular schedule.
-WSF’s Triangle Route remains on its two-boat schedule- check here for alerts/updates.
SPOTLIGHT CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Updating this recent report, five are now live. Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also up at Delridge/Oregon, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Henderson.
If you see a problem on the roads/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do so safely) – 206-293-6302.
| 40 COMMENTS