City budget ‘balancing package’ just out. Here are three things in it for West Seattle, and a few other notes

Tomorrow, the City Council‘s budget chair, Councilmember Dan Strauss, officially presents his “balancing package” – changes to the mayor’s budget – but the document went public tonight. We just finished reading through the 60-page document, and here are some West Seattle sightings:

DUWAMISH HEAD PARALLEL PARKING – Residents near Duwamish Head have long been agitating to get the angle parking at the viewpoint changed to parallel. And a proposal by District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka that made it into the “balancing package” would do it. Cost: $175,000. As we’ve reported before, SDOT has been somewhat resistant to the idea.

DELRIDGE/HOLLY ACCESS – Long before he ran for council, Saka raised concerns about the hardened median near the Refugee and Immigrant Families Center preschool near Delridge and Holly (as first reported by South Seattle Emerald). The “balancing package includes $2 million for “transit and roadway improvements on Delridge” in that area.

TURF FOR FAIRMOUNT PARK: Another Saka proposal, $1.5 million to convert the “baseball infield at Fairmount Park” to turf. (You might recall he ran a survey last month about turf-conversion sentiment earlier this year.)

Two other Saka proposals in the “balancing package” caught our eye:

RV STORAGE PROGRAM: Saka proposal to help RV residents transitioning to housing, Cost – $1.5 million.

FOOD DESERTS: Saka proposal requesting a report on city strategies to “attract food retailers to food deserts.”

So what’s next? Formal presentation tomorrow at 9:30 am, including overview info to contextualize the entire budget (preview that here). Then another round of comments and reviews, including the second and final major public hearing on the budget at 5 pm November 12. Here are other ways to comment.

grass October 29, 2024 (9:37 pm)

I’m so sad about the turf. The last wsb post comments have all the info why this is a step backwards for our community.

WSB October 29, 2024 (10:16 pm)

This isn’t necessarily a done deal, so do comment to the council if you haven’t already.
- Ulti October 30, 2024 (8:23 am)
  
  I think you can make a live public comment during the council’s meeting this morning.
  
  I’d like to call out Rob Saka publicly for calling my concerns “total bulls–t” during his office hours, but honestly I’m concerned he would use his position to execute some kind of retribution against me.
  
  He seems completely at ease using his position to advance his personal agenda.
Shoe fits October 30, 2024 (7:56 am)

Yes please raise your voice!

Ulti October 29, 2024 (10:30 pm)

Converting Fairmount Park into artificial turf is Saka’s personal crusade. I spoke to him during his office hours about my concerns and he told me to my face that my concerns were, “total bullshit” and “Fairmount Park is probably at the top of the list”. A week later I made a comment to the parks commission and they said, “because Fairmount park has no lights, the parks commission would not consider installing turf there”. So he’s just running completely rogue trying to get this built.

cljskis October 29, 2024 (11:13 pm)

The proposal to remove the hard center lane barrier is Rob Saka’s response to being inconvenienced by not being able to turn left into his kids preschool going NB on Delridge. He’s hostile to bike lanes so the fact that the safety of the Delridge bike lanes would be compromised is a win win for him. 2 million just to satisfy a personal grievance.

Shoefits October 30, 2024 (7:55 am)

Sounds about right. It seems like Saka is in it for himself.
- K October 30, 2024 (8:54 am)
  
  I mean, he ran on a platform of being a Harrell stooge, and that’s been Harrell’s MO all along (remember the gym he had built for himself at city hall? And how many friends and relatives either got cabinet spots or consulting contracts worth $180k/year with the city?). You can say a lot about Saka, but he’s keeping his campaign promise.
Kyle October 30, 2024 (8:33 am)

$2M? Yeah this seems like earmarking for personal projects. Would love to see the objective scoring criteria used here. Are there not construction funds left over for oversights like this? Google maps suggests shaving off 5 feet of that barrier would allow left hand turns easily, or is it more about parking?Additionally they removed the left hand turn for the delridge community center so you now must drive through the neighborhood to reach it.
K October 30, 2024 (8:46 am)

This reminds me of when he threw a fit over bike infrastructure that included a median/divider on Genessee where there have been numerous issues with safety on that greenway. I was in the meeting with him and the way he talked to people was shocking. I understand why none of his challengers endorsed him.
Arbor Heights Resident November 1, 2024 (10:38 am)

Saka is a clown who only cares about using his position for projects which will benefit himself. I’m ashamed to have him as my representative.
Patman November 2, 2024 (10:57 am)

The Urbanist describes the Delridge “border wall” situation here: https://www.theurbanist.org/2024/10/31/saka-seeks-to-remove-delridge-lane-divider/#:~:text=Seattle%20Councilmember%20Rob%20Saka%20has,it%20was%20installed%20in%202021. Spending $2m to improve convenience for a city council member at the expense of safety for pedestrians, bikes, and oncoming cars isn’t what I vote for.

Eric 43 October 29, 2024 (11:36 pm)

City budget balance seems like we should cut Rob saka job out of the budget I would save us money seems like he’s all about just wasting money wherever

Libra October 29, 2024 (11:40 pm)

What defines a “food desert”? West Seattle has many grocery stores so is the issue that there isn’t effective ways to get to them?

CAM October 30, 2024 (1:25 am)

Those grocery stores are almost all located on or near California and/or Alaska. There’s lots of West Seattle that isn’t walkable to those locations and those areas without grocery stores also tend to be lower SES and have less access to reliable transportation. Thus “food desert.”
K October 30, 2024 (4:22 am)

Grocery stores are concentrated in some areas (Jefferson Square Safeway, QFC, Trader Joe’s) and then other areas, like Delridge, have a hike to get to one. It’s nice to have grocery stores spread out enough that those on bike, foot, or bus can get to one within a few minutes. Often times, where grocery stores are scarce, locals will resort to buying food at convenience stores, which lack the variety of healthy options grocery stores tend to have.
- Rob November 1, 2024 (11:57 pm)
  
  Seems like some great opportunities for entrepreneurs to open a grocery store.
Amy October 30, 2024 (5:37 am)

Have you spent much time on Delridge? Zero grocery stores from Trenton going Northbound.
Scavenger October 30, 2024 (7:27 am)

Often defined as communities that live a mile or more from an affordable grocery store. Think mid Delridge, Highland Park, and the areas near the Community College (to name a few). As you mention transportation is frequently a compounding issue.
Brian October 30, 2024 (7:28 am)

I spent four seconds looking this upThe USDA defines it as any census tract where at least 20 percent of people earn below the poverty line and 33 percent live more than a mile from a supermarket (10 miles in rural areas). There are 17 such tracts in King County, mostly in South Seattle, but extending down through Tukwila to Auburn and Federal Way.
- Kyle October 30, 2024 (12:28 pm)
  
  Delridge and Highland Park are the only two census tracks in the city that still qualify

CarDriver October 30, 2024 (5:59 am)

I can remember 5 small and 2 mid-size grocery stores dotted around the northern half of WS. That’s not counting the big chain stores. They all closed because, while people would go in for last minute items or snacks, they’d all drive to the big chain stores as their prices were always cheaper.

SLJ October 30, 2024 (7:18 am)

Why do the residents want parallel parking instead of angle? I looked at the link provided but didn’t see the reasoning.

WSB October 30, 2024 (8:18 am)

Because then it doesn’t become as much of a gathering spot – far fewer spaces.
Kyle October 30, 2024 (9:00 am)

Because instead of pushing for enforcement of existing laws the solution proposed is just to reduce access so less people go there.
Look Both Ways October 31, 2024 (10:34 am)

Because the privileged people who live there think they can diminish existing parking access for visitors or other area locals who want to park and walk / enjoy the view. This is a nonsense use of funds. Speak up to the city.

jissy October 30, 2024 (8:17 am)

Please say no to more turf. Turf in the US is made by Monsanto, yeah, a reputable company concerned about health, let alone children’s health. It’s SO toxic and dangerous, look at the studies done on goalie’s specifically.

Jason October 30, 2024 (8:47 am)

Does Saka actually listen to us or…. like what the heck? I don’t know anyone personally who doesn’t want the divider he idiotically called a “Trump wall” on Delridge… how come he is refusing to listen to the people he represents? What a joke… oh yeah I noticed now that it’s not campaign time, Rob stopped his riding the bus grift. I never see him now after the first few weeks.

Joe Z October 30, 2024 (10:09 am)

Maren Costa, if you’re reading this, please run in D1 again next time.

WS98 October 30, 2024 (12:24 pm)

Parking on Duwamish Head should not be changed in order to capitulate to wealthy homeowners. People will continue to gather in the parallel spaces (e.g. Alki) and besides, it’s public space used the majority of the time by law abiding citizens enjoying the waterfront year round. CCTV has been proposed, perhaps the money should instead go towards that. There is sufficient research supporting it as a deterrent/monitoring system.

F October 30, 2024 (1:16 pm)

No on turf, yes to more enforcement on p—k off-leash dog owners who destroy the fields

Nwe October 30, 2024 (9:26 pm)

I encourage folks to make a public comment to council. There are a lot of projects that should get funding ahead of sakas personal pet projects.

Roger R. November 1, 2024 (11:06 am)

I responded to his survey about artificial turf. It is wrong on so many counts, including the environmental havoc it wreaks and the overheating it is prone to. I guess my formerly positive opinion about Rob Saka has changed.

Craig November 1, 2024 (7:00 pm)

I noticed there is $5million earmarked for “capital investments” at the Chinese Gardens. Any idea were those dollars are going towards?Additional District 1-Specific Investments include:

$5M for 2025-26 for Seattle Chinese Garden for capital improvements, located in West Seattle (with sponsors Councilmember Strauss and Councilmember Woo).

WSB November 1, 2024 (7:09 pm)

Yeah, he has several things on the announcements he’s made that I hadn’t caught during my first run through the “balancing package” when it first appeared online.
- Craig November 1, 2024 (7:34 pm)
  
  That’s large sum. Do you know where to find details on the allocation?