day : 10/09/2024 12 results

Eight weeks from tonight, voting ends and vote-counting begins. You’re well-aware that the races to be decided include president, governor, and one City Council seat. You probably recall that the renewed/expanded Seattle Transportation Levy will be on your ballot too. But did you know you’ll be asked to approve or reject four statewide initiatives too? Today the campaign against one of them, I-2117, came to West Seattle. From the state voters’-guide website, here’s how it will appear on your ballot:

Initiative 2117 would repeal the state’s Climate Commitment Act, which seeks to result in a 95 percent reduction in carbon emissions within the next quarter century. Its provisions raise money to help with environment-related programs, and that’s what today’s news conference was about. The “No on 2117” campaign gathered supporters at Southwest Youth and Family Services, the nonprofit headquartered just east of Delridge Playfield, to talk about how approval of 2117 would take away funding that they say is needed by schools as well as nonprofits like SWYFS to upgrade their indoor-air systems. We recorded the 15-minute briefing by SWYFS’s new executive director Essence Russ, Seattle teacher Andrew Echols, and pulmonologist Dr. Vin Gupta:

As Russ explained in response to our question at the end, and as local State House Rep. (and House Majority Leader) Joe Fitzgibbon affirmed, SWYFS is in line for $273,000 in Climate Commitment Act funding to help cover the cost of an HVAC overhaul. That’s one of several local commitments shown on this map – others in our area include electric-vehicle charging stations in various areas and a utility-meter upgrade at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor).

Those gathered in support of the speakers at today’s event included local advocates and even former SWYFS executive director Steve Daschle, who left the organization last year after 35 years.

THE OTHER SIDE: 2117 backers’ main argument is a contention that the Climate Commitment Act has been a “hidden gas tax” and repealing it will save people money.

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FOLLOWUP: Highland Park Improvement Club still awaiting thumbs-up for teardown

September 10, 2024 8:24 pm

| Comments Off on FOLLOWUP: Highland Park Improvement Club still awaiting thumbs-up for teardown

| Highland Park

In late July, Highland Park Improvement Club trustees hosted a farewell gathering to say goodbye to their century-old building, on what was supposed to be the eve of its demolition, next phase of their rebuilding project after a fire three years ago. They explained to those gathered that a few late-breaking bumps in the permit process meant the teardown wasn’t imminent after all.

Six weeks later, the old building is still standing. So we asked HPIC trustees about the status. Here’s the explanation we received from Kay Kirkpatrick:

As you know, we were initially shooting for demo early in August, but we ran into a couple of delays with permitting, scheduling and the like. We also found out that we had asbestos elements in the old building, so we needed to get an abatement plan in place for that. So our target is now mid-Sept to get the hazardous materials removed, then our demo contractor can do the big job – pulling down the burned hall. The current plan is to get all this completed before the end of the month of September.

Bottom line, you should see work at the 12th/Holden site soon. They’re also still fundraising for the new building.

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UPDATE:2 injured, 1 in custody in Westwood-area stabbing incident

September 10, 2024 6:07 pm

| 28 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

6:07 PM: Seattle Fire is sending a “scenes of violence” response to the Westwood area for a report that a woman has been stabbed. SFD is staging near 30th/Trenton but police are also responding to a scene on Cloverdale, and have a possible suspect detained.

6:12 PM: We don’t yet know exactly where it happened; circumstances sound relatively chaotic. Police are also checking on a report of a fight near the 26th/Trenton RV encampment.

(Added: WSB photos)

6:23 PM: Our crew reports a woman being treated on Trenton and is headed over to the 24th/Cloverdale scene where a man is reported to have a stab wound to the knee. No life-threatening wounds reported; the weapon is described as scissors. The circumstances now are being referred to as “domestic violence.”

6:33 PM: That’s also what a police sergeant tells us at the scene, adding that the man in custody, suspected of attacking the injured woman, is the man with a leg wound.

ADDED: SFD said both were in stable condition when taken to Harborview; the man is 26, the woman 24.

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UPDATE: Technology trouble to keep Highline Public Schools closed for third day, but they’re expected to reopen Thursday

September 10, 2024 4:22 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| Not WS but we're mentioning it anyway | West Seattle news | White Center

FIRST REPORT, 4:22 PM: Highline Public Schools – the district serving communities including White Center and Burien – will be closed again tomorrow. It’s the third day without classes since the district disclosed it was dealing with “unauthorized activity” in its technology systems. Highline is an out-of-district draw for its Raisbeck Aviation High School and Maritime High School, so the closure’s effects reach beyond the district’s borders. Today’s announcement is here.

7:41 PM: As noted by K in a comment, Highline says it’s expecting to reopen schools on Thursday because they’ve “taken steps to allow us to restore certain segments of our digital network in a secure manner.” Details of how they’ll reopen are on the district website.

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CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Wrong-way DUI driver who killed two 18-year-olds on West Seattle Bridge pleads guilty

September 10, 2024 2:30 pm

| 41 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

(SDOT camera image from shortly after crash)

A year and a half after two 18-year-olds died when a wrong-way, high-speed DUI driver hit them on the West Seattle Bridge, their killer is awaiting sentencing. After a reader question today, we checked on the status of 37-year-old Delfino Lopez-Morales, charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and one count of reckless driving two and a half months after the crash, and discovered he pleaded guilty to all charges last month. He is scheduled to be sentenced in November for killing Khalea Thoeuk and Riley Danard, both from Snohomish County and on their way to Alki shortly after 12 am March 22, 2023, to celebrate Riley’s birthday, when Lopez-Morales hit them head-on going 100 mph. Three hours after the crash, he tested at a blood-alcohol level of .14, nearly twice the legal limit, and was shown to have recently consumed THC as well. He was in the hospital for weeks after the crash, and charges were filed before he was moved to jail. Case documents from his plea agreement say the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office will recommend 11 years, 4 months in prison – the top of the standard sentencing range for vehicular homicide – followed by one year in jail for the reckless-driving count, plus 18 months probation. Documents say Lopez-Morales, who had been living with his disabled father in the Westwood area, was not licensed to drive; his record only shows a citation for driving without insurance in 2016; the pickup truck in which he hit the victims was borrowed from a friend. King County Superior Court Judge Angela Kaake will sentence him at 1 pm November 1.

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WHALES: Back in this area

September 10, 2024 12:36 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | Whales

Thanks to Kersti Muul for the tip: Groups of transient orcas are approaching Brace Point, spread out, northbound. Let us know if you see them!

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FOLLOWUP: Memorial vigil planned at Alki Beach for Aysenur Ezgi Eygi

September 10, 2024 12:09 pm

| 15 COMMENTS

| West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

Thanks to everyone who sent the link. A memorial vigil for Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, who grew up in West Seattle, is planned for Wednesday night at Alki Beach. She is the 26-year-old recent UW graduate – and former West Seattle HS (yearbook photo at right), Madison MS, and Alki Elementary student – shot and killed by Israeli soldiers during a protest in the West Bank last Friday. The memorial announcement posted on social media says that Alki was one of her favorite places and invites people to gather 6:30 pm-9 pm Wednesday on the beach across from Blue Moon Burgers (57th SW and Alki SW). Meantime, the Associated Press reports today that the Israeli military says Ms. Eygi was likely shot “indirectly and unintentionally” by its soldiers, also reporting that her family released a statement saying in part “we are deeply offended by the suggestion that her killing by a trained sniper was in any way unintentional.” They have called for the U.S. to launch its own investigation.

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UPDATE: Car-on-side crash at Highland Park Way/West Marginal

September 10, 2024 10:00 am

| 28 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS breaking news

10:00 AM: SFD is sending a “rescue extrication” response to a 2-vehicle crash reported at Highland Park Way/West Marginal. Updates to come.

10:03 AM: SFD has rescued one person from a car on its side.

(WSB photos)

10:13 AM: We are in the area. The HP Way hill is blocked at the bottom if you are headed downhill – you have to turn around at Pioneer Industries.

10:19 AM: SFD is leaving.

10:47 AM: Added a photo we took (from passenger seat) while driving by after approaching from a different direction. This was at the bottom of the hill on the eastbound/downhill side.

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WEST SEATTLE TUESDAY: 15 options

September 10, 2024 9:33 am

| 11 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Live traffic cam from the heart of The Junction)

Here’s the list for the rest of today/tonight (remember that you can always preview what’s scheduled hours, days, weeks ahead via our Event Calendar):

ORIGINS GRAND OPENING: Special events throughout the day at new West Seattle location of Origins Cannabis (4822 California SW; WSB sponsor), including DJ set, food truck, meet-and-greet with growers, more.

INTRO TO QI GONG: 10 am every Tuesday at Viva Arts (4421 Fauntleroy Way SW) – info in our calendar listing.

POSTCARDS4DEMOCRACY: Long-distance advocacy via handwritten postcards to be sent to voters in other states – drop in 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), all welcome.

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 MEETING: Regular weekly full City Council meeting, 2 pm in council chambers at City Hall downtown. The agenda document explains how to comment, either remotely or in person. Watch live via Seattle Channel.

DANCE CLASSES FOR KIDS: Fall sessions continue at Seattle Parks facilities – 3 pm today, first Creative Ballet session for 4- to 6-year-olds at High Point Community Center (6920 34th SW)

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

DROP-IN WINE TASTING: 5-7 pm Tuesdays at Walter’s Wine Shop (4811 California SW) – $10 fee, $5 off with bottle purchases.

PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE: We’ve heard of two venues committed to sound-up viewing, if you want to watch with others – The Good Society at California/Lander, co-sponsored by nearby West Seattle Realty (WSB sponsor), and Whisky West, 6451 California SW. Others? Please comment below, or email us at westseattleblog@gmail.com so we can add to the list.
Added: Also, Mission Cantina at 2325 California SW.
SCRABBLE NIGHT: 6-10 pm tonight, play Scrabble at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW).

FREE TRACK RUN: Seasons change, weekly run continues – all runners welcome! Meet up 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).

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

TRIVIA X 4: Four trivia options 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).

LISTENING PARTY: Early chance to hear Miranda Lambert‘s new album, 7 pm at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW), with giveaways – free, all ages.

Planning an event? Tell your West Seattle neighbors via our event calendar – just email the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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UPDATE: Apartment fire on Fauntleroy Way

September 10, 2024 7:58 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

7:58 AM: Seattle Fire crews are at Maris, 4722 Fauntleroy Way SW [map], for a reported apartment fire. It’s already under control.

(Added: Reader photo, sent by Tony)

8:03 AM: SFD reports the fire’s out. The unit above the one where the fire happened was affected by smoke, so they’re ventilating.

8:10 AM: SPD reports Fauntleroy is currently blocked both ways at the scene, “probably for another 15 minutes,” though SFD is starting to reduce the response.

(Added: WSB photo)

8:13 AM: SFD tells our crew at the scene that this was a kitchen fire and no one was hurt.

8:58 PM: Tony, who sent the first photo, reports that people have been allowed back into Maris. And police have just told dispatch that all lanes of Fauntleroy Way are open again.

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER, ROAD WORK: Tuesday notes

September 10, 2024 6:00 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:00 AM: Good morning! It’s Tuesday, September 10.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Today’s forecast: Mostly cloudy, possible pm showers, high around 70. Today’s sunrise will be at 6:40 am, while sunset will be at 7:30 pm.

SPOKANE ST. VIADUCT, AND OTHER ROAD WORK OF NOTE

*This week, work on the Spokane Street Viaduct resurfacing project is focused on the westbound side – nightly closures of the two left lanes are planned, 8 pm to 7 am.

Other projects:

*For the Admiral Way Bridge seismic project, the north half of the bridge remains closed, with one lane each way on the south side; Fairmount Avenue remains closed under the bridge.

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

*The East Marginal Way S. project continues, with a temporary routing change for bicycle riders (explained at that link).

TRANSIT NOTES

Water Taxi today – Regular schedule for both routes.

Metro buses today – Regular schedules.

Washington State Ferries today – 2 boats on the Triangle Route. The “unscheduled third boat” should be back today.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

High Bridge – Here’s the main camera:

High Bridge – The Fauntleroy-end camera:

Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:

Low bridge: Here’s the main view:

1st Avenue South Bridge:

South Park Bridge – Looking east:

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.

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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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 7-11 robbery

September 10, 2024 12:31 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Police are investigating an armed robbery that happened at the 35th/Barton 7-11 store around midnight. The clerk reported being held up at gunpoint by a man described as white, wearing a black or blue mask, black coat, and blue pants. He was reported to stolen the store’s “cash box” before leaving on foot, headed southbound on 35th. The clerk was not reported injured. The robber also apparently took the clerk’s cell phone, which was just found nearby. If you have any information, the SPD incident # is 24-256968.

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