West Seattle, Washington
19 Tuesday
The next countywide levy vote has been finalized: The King County Council voted this afternoon to send the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy renewal to voters on the August 1st primary ballot. Though there were various proposals to change the amount, our area’s County Councilmember Joe McDermott confirms that the originally proposed 10 cents per $1,000 assessed value is what he and his colleagues approved. As originally noted in February, this renews a six-year levy that expires this year. Here again is how the original announcement’s one-sheet summarized the levy’s intent:
If renewed, the levy will:
• Fund permanent supportive housing, specifically for veterans
• Keep reducing veteran homelessness
• Expand investments in the human services workforce
• Double current funding for senior centers
• Maintain access to counseling and mental health supports for veterans and seniors
• Dedicate King County staff to strengthen resident and resource connections
• Deepen community-centered programming for survivors of gender-based violence
The 10 cents per $1,000 assessed value is the same rate as the expiring version of the levy as passed by voters in 2017. You can read the full legislation (and see all the alternatives that were proposed) here.
6:41 PM: The eastbound West Seattle Bridge ramp to northbound Highway 99 has some kind of “pothole that’s been blowing out tires,” police told dispatch, so they’re working to close the ramp. They’ve just reported a fifth vehicle with a blowout, in the meantime. Police describe the pothole as being “on the curve” of the ramp, before it merges onto 99.
7:03 PM: The ramp is closed, which means among other things that buses are diverted. Police have since described the problem on the ramp as a hole, not just a pothole.
7:09 PM: We don’t know if it’s in the same spot, but one year ago, a hole in the ramp was fixed. It’s a WSDOT – state – structure, not city, as noted then, and we’re hearing that they’re being summoned now to handle the situation.
8:23 PM: Photo above is from our pre-sunset drive eastbound on the bridge to at least get a look at the response. Since then, we’ve talked by phone with a WSDOT spokesperson who says crews are going to do an “epoxy fill” on the hole and that the ramp is expected to reopen in a matter of hours. He didn’t know (yet) if it was the same spot repaired in April of last year.
(Added: Photo from Tuesday morning, posted in comments by Wendell)
10:48 PM: Just talked to WSDOT again. The ramp will NOT be fixed in time for the morning commute – they say it requires a heftier repair than first thought – as summarized, first they thought asphalt would do it, then they thought epoxy, and now they’re thinking something beyond that. They’ll know more in the morning. Meantime, if you need to get to Highway 99, options would include taking the bridge to 1st Avenue South and getting onto 99 in SODO, or use the 1st Avenue South Bridge.
(Added: WSDOT photo)
9:22 AM UPDATE: (Also noted in Wednesday morning traffic coverage) Longer story later, but we just spoke with WSDOT again, and they say it’s closed “until further notice” as they evaluate how to repair it and whether the ramp itself is “structurally sound.” They also say the hole is not in the same spot as was fixed a year ago – it’s about 100 feet away. (Added above, WSDOT’s photo of the hole, which is described now as 5′ x 4′.)
11:59 AM: We’ve just been to the scene beneath the ramp. WSDOT now expects it to be closed for at least 10 days.
On Monday, we reported that a plan to replace the Delridge Playfield artificial turf has gone out to bid. We also noted that the “rebidding” of Hiawatha Playfield‘s turf replacement appeared to have resulted in a decision. So we followed up on both with Seattle Parks today.
First – they confirm that the “rebidding” for Hiawatha (rendering above, PDF here) resulted in the contract going to the same firm that won the original round, FieldTurf USA. (Online files show the rebidding didn’t result in a major savings – their new winning bid was $1,243,000, compared to the original winning bid of $1,256,000.) Parks spokesperson Karen O’Connor says that Hiawatha field construction is still expected to start in the middle of this month, last about three months, and that “It is likely that Delridge and Hiawatha field closures will overlap for about 6 weeks during the summer construction.” P.S. If you have questions about any of the various Hiawatha projects, you’ll want to be at next Tuesday’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting, 7 pm at Admiral Church (4320 SW Hill), when ANA expects to talk with and hear from a Parks deputy superintendent.
(WSB file photo from past Bike To School Day)
If you’re on the roads and/or sidewalks tomorrow (Wednesday, May 3rd), expect more multi-modal traffic heading to and from local schools. Genesee Hill Elementary parent Dave points out that it’s Bike/Walk/Roll To School Day and wanted us to share this reminder again: “Drivers, please keep an extra eye out for students biking and walking to school tomorrow, May 3rd. Students will be coming from all directions between 7:30-7:45 AM and arriving in the parking lot on Dakota St.” Any other schools participating? Let us know (or post a comment) – thank you!
The report and photo are from Leanne:
My red ’97 Geo Tracker with a dark gray soft top was stolen sometime between 11 am Monday 5/1 and 9 am 5/2 from SW Dawson Street, maybe 20 feet parallel-parked from the side Rite Aid entrance off California Ave SW. It had a few things hanging from the rear view mirror (wizard cat, Totoro, and little mushroom air fresheners).
Please reach out with any information; this car was my baby and I worked so hard for it and I am heartbroken.”
License plate number: CDB0659
Incident report number: 23-118872
Call 911 if you see it.
We continue in the throes of mapmaking for the 17th almost-annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day on Saturday, May 13th. As announced in our previous update, this is the first time more than 400 sellers have registered! Each sale listing has a short description of highlights, and searching the database, along with many other things, we see 107 sales mentioning toys, 68 sales mentioning tools, 45 mentioning bikes and/or bike gear, 32 mentioning baby stuff, 28 mentioning antiques, 27 mentioning plants, 12 planning lemonade stands … You’ll be able to search the online map for any keyword that interests you. That version of the map, and the printable list, both numbered so that sellers can tell the world “hey, come see us at sale #xx,” will both be linked here and at westseattlegaragesale.com by this Saturday morning (May 6), so everyone has a week to plan. (If you miss the announcement when that’s all ready, just check our navigation bar/menu, as it’ll be linked there too until Sale Day is over.) Any questions, email our main mailbox – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you! More previews to come …
(Looking south from Constellation Park last Friday – photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Here’s what’s happening in the hours ahead, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
ONLINE BIDDING: Second day of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s fundraising auction, as previewed here. Anyone can bid, not just people attending the in-person gala Friday!
POSTCARDS TO VOTERS: Long-distance political advocacy and networking continues 10:30 am at C & P Coffee Company – just drop in to join in. (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
DEMENTIA LEGAL PLANNING: Special presentation at Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon), 12:30 pm.
CHESS CLUB: Tuesdays 1:30-3 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon): “Are you looking for a new activity to keep your brain sharp and clear? The Senior Center Chess Club welcomes both novice and experienced players. Join us at 1:30 p.m. for lessons, short tutorials, and chess for all levels of expertise.” (Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.)
CITY COUNCIL: 2 pm this afternoon, it’s the full council’s weekly meeting, online or at City Hall (600 4th Ave.). See the agenda here; the meeting is viewable via Seattle Channel.
FREE INDOOR PLAYSPACE: Free toddler/preschooler gym, ages 2-6, weekday afternoons at the Salvation Army Center (9050 16th SW), 3:30-5 pm.
SPORTS: West Seattle HS hosts Garfield for a softball game, 4 pm at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle).
DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Long-running weekly sign-waving demonstration at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t have your own.
TAE KWON DO CLASSES: First May class for the West Seattle Tae Kwon Do Club, 6 pm at High Point Community Center (6920 34th SW). All levels welcome.
=SCRABBLE NIGHT: 6-10 pm, you can play Scrabble at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW).
ADVOCACY TRAINING: Join West Seattle Bike Connections tonight at Neighborhood House (6400 Sylvan Way SW), 6:30 pm, to learn how to effectively advocate for safety programs.
IMPROVE YOUR SPEAKING SKILLS: That’s part of what you can do with West Seattle Toastmasters 832, meeting online at 6:30 tonight.
OPEN MIC: 7 pm at Otter on the Rocks (4210 SW Admiral Way).
TRIVIA X 3: Three West Seattle places where you can play Tuesday nights – 7 pm at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), 7 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW), 7:30 and 8:30 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at The Lodge (4209 SW Alaska).
BELLE OF THE BALLS BINGO: Play bingo with Cookie Couture at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), 8 pm. Free, all ages!
You can look into the future any time via our event calendar – if you have something to include on it, please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
That photo was texted by a reader a short time ago, reporting a “crazy windstorm” at 3:05 am, noting, “I’ve never had our cans blown over in addition to all of the recycling blown all over the yard.” We were off watch by then so we missed it, but the National Weather Service notes “strong, gusty winds … with passing showers” around that time and the Sea-Tac wind gauge showing a gust up to 43 mph.
6:02 AM: Good morning! It’s Tuesday, May 2nd.
WEATHER & SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Mostly sunny, high near 70. Sunrise was at 5:52 am; sunset will be at 8:21 pm.
TRANSIT
Metro – Regular schedule, but trip cancellations are still happening. Metro is no longer tweeting cancellations, so you’ll have to sign up for email or text alerts if you’re interested in them.
Water Taxi – Continuing the spring/summer schedule.
Washington State Ferries‘ Triangle Route continues on the 2-boat schedule but with the chance of sailing cancellations, so check here for alerts/updates and see Vessel Watch for boats’ locations. Also: Peak-season surcharges for some vehicle fares started Monday.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Henderson), cameras are also up at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Oregon.
High Bridge – the camera at the top:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
Low Bridge – east-end vicinity:
1st Ave. S. Bridge – another route across the river:
Highway 99: – the northbound side at Lander.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
BRIDGE INFO: Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed to see if the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.
If you see trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/bay, please text or call us (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities). Thank you!
| 28 COMMENTS