We counted about 60 people at the peak of tonight’s “Transit Town Hall” with four Sound Transit reps answering West Seattle light-rail questions in a forum organized by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce and 34th District Democrats. We’re presenting our coverage in two reports, as the meeting served multiple purposes. First, Sound Transit made some news by offering an updated, narrower window estimating when the next milestone in the planning process, the Final Environmental Impact Statement, will arrive: “Toward the end of the third quarter,” said ST’s Leda Chahim. That suggests it’s about two months away. The FEIS is a necessary precursor to the Sound Transit Board finalizing a route and station locations. Meantime, the ST reps at the Town Hall began with a half-hour presentation recapping how the project got to its current point and what’s next – here’s our video:

The presentation was followed by moderator Jordan Crawley – active with both presenting organizations and with a business that may have to relocate, Alki Beach Academy – asking pre-submitted questions, and then opening the floor to attendees’ questions. We’ll cover all that in our second report tomorrow. But before we wrap up this short first report, we’re noting three rumors that were debunked during the Q&A period:

1) Will the early years of WS Link require a two- or three-seat for bus-to-light rail riders to get downtown? No, said Metro’s Chris Arkills, declaring that the West Seattle bus routes will NOT be restructured until the Ballard extension is complete too (currently projected for 2039, seven years after West Seattle), which will enable West Seattle light-rail riders to get downtown without transferring.

2) Will light-rail construction affect the West Seattle Bridge? One attendee asked this, saying he’d heard a rumor that the bridge could be closed for eight years by the project. Absolutely not, said the ST contingent; the project will build a separate light-rail-only bridge.

3) The same attendee said he’d also “heard” that Nucor is moving and if so, why isn’t light rail being routed through that site? The ST reps said that’s a false rumor too, that Nucor’s told them it’s staying put,

The most pointed moments of the Q&A came toward the end, when several owners of businesses likely to have to move confronted the ST reps about inadequate interaction regarding questions and requests, despite ST talking a good game about working with businesses. What they said, and how ST replied, will be part of our second report tomorrow. As for what’s next, besides the ST process continuing, Chamber board chair Lindsay Wolpa wrapped up the meeting by promising that her organization would coordinate more conversations about various aspects of the project.

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FOLLOWUP: ‘Welcome to West Seattle’ sign repairs complete

July 23, 2024 8:25 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(Photo courtesy West Seattle Chamber of Commerce)

As reported here last month, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce has been fixing the “Welcome to West Seattle” sign along the southwest end of the West Seattle Bridge – and a texter tipped us today that the repairs looked to be complete. So we checked in with chamber executive director Rachel Porter, who sent this announcement:

The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce has repaired the iconic “Welcome to West Seattle” sign after months of work. For more than two decades, the “Welcome to West Seattle” sign along the Fauntleroy Expressway has served as a beacon for travelers and residents alike. The sign was damaged by an uninsured driver in 2023.

Longtime Alki resident Adah Rhodes Cruzen made a significant financial contribution to the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, designated for the installation of a new “Welcome to West Seattle” sign and a sustainable maintenance plan in 2018. The donation was made on behalf of the estate of her late husband, Earl Cruzen, who died Jan. 23, 2017, at the age of 96.

Earl is recognized for bringing three groups together, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, the Junction Merchants Association and the West Seattle Trusteed Properties, as the Junction Development Committee. The “Welcome to West Seattle” sign, installed in September 1996, is one of the many legacy projects Earl and this group completed and was originally a simple wooden sign.

The Chamber received financial support from an anonymous donor who wanted to carry on the legacy of Adah and Earl Cruzen.

“The Welcome to West Seattle sign serves as more than just a landmark, it’s a symbol of community pride and our gateway to economic opportunities here in the West Seattle Peninsula,” said Rachel Porter, Executive Director of the West Seattle Chamber. “Welcoming visitors and residents with this iconic sign only enhances the West Seattle experience and encourages local businesses to feel a sense of belonging in our community.”

Sign repair and maintenance was done by Pacific Architectural Metals out of Georgetown. Pacific Architectural Metals is a premier custom metal fabrication shop for specializing in residential, commercial or artisanal project needs here in Seattle. “It was our pleasure to help get the West Seattle signage back in action. When we first saw the project in person, the frame was barely hanging on, a lot of panels were damaged or missing, and we needed to do a lot of work getting the structure straightened out and strong again. Now that the front panel is on, it finally looks like it should. We need to do some more work to get all the panels looking sharp and we are adding solar lighting to give it an additional pop in appearance. As a longtime West Seattle resident, we know how much exposure this sign gets and are happy to lend a hand making it right,” said James Reinhardt, Owner, Pacific Architectural Metals.

After a few more repairs are finalized, a ribbon cutting celebration will be held.

The Chamber has also told WSB that the repaired sign will have a vandalism-resistant coating.

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COUNTDOWN: Two weeks until neighborhood Night Out block parties

July 23, 2024 6:30 pm

| Comments Off on COUNTDOWN: Two weeks until neighborhood Night Out block parties

| Neighborhoods | Safety | West Seattle news

Some of the problems mentioned in our previous story are beyond individual residents’ ability to fix – but there’s one simple-yet-mighty action anyone can take: Neighborhood solidarity and collaboration. That’s what the annual Night Out block parties are about, and we’re reminding you tonight that this year’s Night Out is now two weeks away: Tuesday, August 6. You can have a “block party” in many places – schools, apartment buildings’ community rooms, condo courtyards – but if you want to sign up to close your (non-arterial) street to vehicle traffic that night, SPD has a registration link here. Registration will offer you the opportunity to have yours on the citywide Night Out map. Deadline to register for street-closure permission is this Sunday, July 28.

P.S. We’ll be out taking photos on Night Out as usual – if we’d be welcome to stop by your block party for a photo, let us know where and when, westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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‘I want my money back!’ City Council committee hears about jail-booking crunch and other ‘significant obstacles’ in public-safety ‘ecosystem’; mayor tries to fix one

July 23, 2024 4:07 pm

| 24 COMMENTS

| Crime | Safety | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Moments before Mayor Harrell announced at noontime today that the city is working on getting 20 spaces at the regional SCORE misdemeanor jail, the City Council’s Public Safety Committee had heard about – among other things – the inability to book many misdemeanor suspects into the King County Jail. This, despite an 18-year contract with the county costing $22 million this year alone, which led to Council President Sara Nelson exclaiming, “I want my money back!”

That was toward the end of an information-packed committee meeting with an agenda also including Interim Police Chief Sue Rahr‘s report on her first two months on the job, plus the confirmation of Amy Smith as permanent Chief of CARE (the department that includes the city’s 911 center as well as a team of crisis responders). Here’s the video:

The meeting lasted two and a half hours, starting with public comment and Chief Smith’s confirmation (which committee members voted 4-0 to recommend to the full Council, which might vote as soon as next Tuesday), until an hour and 20 minutes in. That’s when Chief Rahr began her update (see the slide deck here).

Rahr said she’s been focused on four areas – staffing, technology, accountability, and the department’s “criminal justice partners.” The first, she said, is still “a crisis” – hiring remains “behind where we’d hoped to be”:

She presented an overview of a recent overnight shift citywide to show how those numbers translate operationally (note that the Southwest Precinct, West Seattle and South Park, had six officers that shift, four below what it should have):

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ROAD-WORK ALERT: Dates set for Spokane Street Viaduct repaving closures

July 23, 2024 12:44 pm

| 19 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news

We’ve been reporting for two years on the SDOT plan for resurfacing work on the Spokane Street Viaduct – the West Seattle Bridge section east of the Highway 99 overpass – and today, they’ve announced the dates for the closures that’ll be needed to get the work done – both lane closures and full closures of one side of the roadway. SDOT says work will start “as soon as” next Monday (July 29):

This work will require multiple weekend closures of all eastbound travel lanes and one weekend closure of the westbound travel lanes. There will also be overnight closures of one or two lanes at a time on weeknights this summer and fall.

These closures are necessary to repair damaged pavement which is prone to potholes and “alligator skin” cracking. Crews will repave the bridge deck and apply a synthetic polymer sealant to the road surface to help ensure it remains in good condition over time. Crews will also make drainage improvements and bridge deck repairs on the westbound lanes.

Weekend Directional Closures (schedule subject to change):

10 PM Friday, August 2 to 5 AM Monday, August 5: All eastbound lanes and one westbound lane closed.
10 PM Friday, August 9 to 5 AM Monday, August 12: All eastbound lanes and one westbound lane closed.
10 PM Friday, August 16 to 5 AM Monday, August 19: All eastbound lanes and one westbound lane closed.
10 PM Friday, August 23 to 5 AM Monday, August 26: All eastbound lanes and one westbound lane closed.
10 PM Friday, August 30 to 5 AM Tuesday, September 2: All westbound lanes closed.

Weeknight Overnight Lane Reductions:

Crews will close one or two lanes at a time on weeknights between 10 PM and 5 AM starting as soon as July 29, 2024. These weeknight lane closures will continue through the summer and fall of 2024.

SDOT notes that the project “is funded by a $5 million federal grant from the Federal Highway Administration Bridge Improvement Program, which is funded in part by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and then passed to WSDOT’s Local Bridge Program.” (We first reported on that grant two years ago.) That’s not the entirety of the funding, though, as we reported in June that Combined Construction won the project with a bid of $7.5 million.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Business burglary; paintings stolen

July 23, 2024 11:59 am

| 12 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

In West Seattle Crime Watch:

BUSINESS BURGLARY: Pecos Pit (35th/Fauntleroy; WSB sponsor) was broken into overnight. We went over to find out more after hearing about the burglary. They say someone got in through a window and broke into the safe.

Some cash was taken, and as a result, Pecos Pit is going cashless TFN. But they are open for business otherwise.

ART THEFT: Thanks to Kelly for the report on this: At least two artists report having artwork stolen from their booths at last weekend’s Alki Art Fair during the hours when the three-day festival was closed. One is Ula Nero, who is asking people to look for these two paintings:

In all the years I’ve done art shows all over Washington this has never happened to me or any other artists. Tents were cut and graffiti left as the reminder how awful people could be.

We’re checking on that case number (update: it’s 24-935480); meantime, 24-935511 is the case number for Richard Jahn, who says four of his paintings were stolen, including these two:

I also had 4 original paintings stolen from the Alki Art (Fair). I am devastated about it. Please pass on to everyone to be on the lookout for these paintings. Please call Seattle Police if you have any clues.

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YOU CAN HELP: Food drive at this week’s Admiral Music in the Parks concert

July 23, 2024 11:29 am

| Comments Off on YOU CAN HELP: Food drive at this week’s Admiral Music in the Parks concert

| How to help | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, last Thursday)

Thursday brings the second concert in the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s three-show summer series, Admiral Music in the Parks. It’s free to attend – but if you can, this week, ANA asks you to bring a non-perishable food donation to support the all-summer-long Admiral Church-led food drive; you’ll find the donation bin at the ANA’s booth at the show. Last week, as shown above (and covered here), the first concert was at Belvedere Park, but this week it’ll be at California Place Park, at California/Hill, adjacent to the Admiral Church campus. This week is another double bill – Michael Pearsall and the Westside Pretenders. Bring a chair/blanket/picnic dinner (or order one!), 6:30 pm Thursday (July 25).

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Transit Town Hall, Play Along in the Park, more for your West Seattle Tuesday

July 23, 2024 9:29 am

| Comments Off on Transit Town Hall, Play Along in the Park, more for your West Seattle Tuesday

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Lunaria – ‘money plant’ – seed pods, photographed by Jerry Simmons)

Here’s what’s happening for the rest of today/tonight, as listed on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (send us your event any time – westseattleblog@gmail.com):

FREE SUMMER MEALS FOR KIDS: Our calendar listing has information on where and when kids 1-18 can get free food.

CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE: Committee meeting starting at 9:30 am features an agenda including a 60-day update from interim Seattle Police Chief Sue Rahr, whether to confirm Amy Smith as CARE Chief, and a look at the criminal-justice ecosystem with those chiefs plus City Attorney Ann Davison. Watch via Seattle Channel.

POSTCARDS4DEMOCRACY: Advocacy from afar, 10:30 am-noon every Tuesday at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).

SOUTH PARK SPROUTS GARDEN CLUB: Calling families with kids 6-12 – come help beautify the SP Library branch and learn about nature while you’re at it! Noon-1 pm; more in our calendar listing. (8604 8th Ave. S.)

COLMAN POOL: Continued daily operations for the outdoor heated-salt-water pool on the shore at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), noon-7 pm – session times are on the Colman Pool webpage.

LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL: Also at Lincoln Park, the wading pool is open today, noon-7 pm, in the central upper part of the park near the north play area.

LOW-LOW TIDE: Out to -2.7 feet at 1 pm; from 11 am to 2:30 pm, find Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists at Constellation and Lincoln Parks.

CHESS CLUB: Tuesdays 1:30-3 pm, at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon). All levels welcome. (Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.)

CITY COUNCIL: 2 pm weekly meeting, with public comment in person or online – the agenda explains how. Watch via Seattle Channel.

DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Long-running weekly sign-waving demonstration continues on the corners at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t bring your own.

PLAY ALONG IN THE PARK WITH WSCO: 6 pm at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), the third night this summer you can bring your musical instrument to play along with the West Seattle Community Orchestras – or just listen in! Off the north parking lot. Our calendar listing includes a link for players to preregister.

STORYTIME IN THE GARDEN: 6 pm Tuesdays all summer, bring the little one(s) to Delridge P-Patch (5078 25th SW) for storytime plus a garden activity.

SCRABBLE NIGHT: 6-10 pm tonight, play Scrabble at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW).

FREE TRACK RUN: All runners welcome! Gather at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for this free weekly run at 6:15 pm.

MAKE POTTERY: 6:30-9 pm “girls’ night” at pottery studio The Clay Cauldron (5214 Delridge Way SW), sign up in advance to work on your project(s).

TRANSIT TOWN HALL: Moderated community forum for Q&A and info about West Seattle’s light rail plan, 7 pm at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon) – details and the form for advance questions are in our calendar listing.

BINGO AT THE SKYLARK: Play – free! – weekly Belle of the Balls Bingo hosted by Cookie Couture, 7 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

TRIVIA X 4: Four places to play Tuesday nights – The Beer Junction (4711 California SW) has Sporcle Pub Quiz with David at 7 and 8 pm … 7 pm at Ounces (3803 Delridge Way SW), free and hosted by Beat the Geek Trivia; 7 pm at Zeeks Pizza West Seattle (6459 California SW), hosted by Geeks Who Drink; 7:10 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).

Event coming up? Are community members invited? Tell your West Seattle neighbors via our event calendar – please email the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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Remembering Lynn A. Jackson, 1951-2024

July 23, 2024 8:55 am

| 10 COMMENTS

| Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends are remembering Lynn Jackson, and sharing this remembrance with the community:

Lynn A. Jackson passed away on July 7th, 2024.

Lynn was born on May 5th, 1951 in Iowa City, IA, to Rod and Mary Taber, after which they moved to Gross Pointe, MI, where she would spend her formative years growing up and making life-long relationships.

After meeting, falling in love with, and marrying Dan Jackson and having two children, she would eventually relocate to the Pacific Northwest in Seattle, where she worked as a nurse and built a wonderful life for her family that included a network of loving friends who would remain dearest to her for the rest of her life.

Lynn was preceded in death by her husband Dan Jackson, and is survived by her children Brendan & Mairi (Duane), her grandchildren Dea, Aria, Aidan, & Lyric, Dan’s children Ian (Paula) & Jenna (and grandchildren Robbie & Savanna), her little brother and forever-sister-in-law Scott & Barb, her big sister Mary K (Dave), all of the beautiful Taber/Berry nieces & nephews, and countless more family members and friends from all walks of life.

A memorial service honoring Lynn is planned this month in West Seattle.

*Yaya is now in a better place, forever being followed by her moonshadow*

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER, ROAD WORK: Tuesday info

July 23, 2024 6:00 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

6:00 AM: Good morning! It’s Tuesday, July 23.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Sunshine is expected to return today, high in the low 70s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:36 am, while sunset will be at 8:54 pm.

TRANSIT NOTES, WITH METRO FLEX

Metro Flex – Second day for this on-demand service in Delridge, starting a two-year pilot. Here’s how it works.

Metro buses – Regular schedules; check for advisories here.

Water Taxi today – Regular schedule. Check the real-time map if you need to see where the boat is.

Washington State Ferries today – 2 boats on the Triangle Route, and the unscheduled third boat may be back. Check that link before you sail.

ROAD WORK

*The Admiral Way Bridge seismic project is in progress; here are more specifics. Fairmount Avenue is closed under the bridge for the duration of the project, likely into early 2025.

*SDOT’s Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.

*Beach Drive: Gas-pipeline work continues at spots along the southern stretch.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS (Minus the ones that are still down – SDOT says the recent East Marginal fire is to blame for most)

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.

South Park Bridge:

1st Avenue South Bridge:

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.

BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges feed on X (ex-Twitter) shows whether the city’s movable bridges are open for vessel traffic.

If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call our hotline (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!

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