West Seattle, Washington
26 Saturday
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Knowledge is power.
That saying seemed to be the prevailing sentiment as dozens of North Delridge neighbors gathered tonight at Cottage Grove Park in hopes Seattle Police could tell them more about the gunfire incidents that even Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Krista Bair agreed were “horrible.”
And it was clear that community is power, too. They resolved to share more real-time information between themselves – house to house, street to street, micro-neighborhood to micro-neighborhood – in hopes that will help police make arrests, and might even deter people from using their neighborhood as “target practice.”
Bair, Community Liaison Officer German Barreto, and Community Service Officers Jamie and Helene were there. The captain offered a detailed briefing on where things stand and what police are doing. We captured much of it on video, in progress as we arrived a couple minutes late:
City Councilmember Rob Saka, who lives nearby, was not there, but his chief of staff Elaine Ikoma Ko and district director Erik Schmidt both were, explaining that Saka had conflicting family commitments. Ko and Capt. Bair both spoke about Saka’s planned May 14 community-safety town hall (first reported here Monday after he announced it during the City Council’s regular “briefing meeting”); there’s now a start time – 6:30 pm – but no location yet; Ikoma Ko promised that would be announced tomorrow. Ikoma Ko warned that “we don’t have all the answers” but hoped the town hall would at least be a positive step toward providing/obtaining some.
Bair did have some tidbits – for example, she said they don’t believe the gunfire suspect arrested after a neighbor grabbed him in High Point is related to the 100-plus-shots-fired incident in North Delridge, though she did observe that since his arrest, things have been a lot quieter.
As Officer Barreto had told last month’s HPAC meeting, SPD is doing “emphasis patrols,” and one attendee said that was likely a factor in the quieting down, too – “a heavy presence makes a big difference.” Bair agreed, although she also warned that when officers are assigned to “emphasis patrols” – not just in North Delridge, but in other SW Precinct areas such as Alki, Westwood, and South Park – that takes them out of the mix for some911 responses.
Much talk centered on the belief that the 100-bullet-plus gunfire was related to gang activity, and a vigil that night for an apparent gang member recently murdered in another part of the city. Why was that vigil held here? One theory in circulation, Capt. Bair said, was the fact that the park lends itself to an easy getaway route. She also affirmed that though SPD doesn’t currently have a Gang Unit in name, there are gang specialists in what’s currently known as the Gun Violence Reduction Unit.
Talk also turned to a problem house in the neighborhood that neighbors said had been raided repeatedly, and yet is still a source of crime. Focusing home security cameras on trouble spots like that might help provide police with the evidence needed to make arrests, some suggested. A fair amount of energy was displayed around the concept of flooding the area with home cameras, since new types of official police/government anti-crime cameras didn’t seem to be expected any time soon. Bair encouraged the discussion, saying police appreciate having video evidence.
One camera supporter, who said he’d lived in the neighborhood 26 years, said that on the night of the 100+ bulleets, “the last time I heard that many bullets was in Iraq.” Bair and Ikoma Ko indicated the city would like more camera coverage, with the partnership of community members, maybe finding new ways to feed community information into a “real-time crime center.”
Bair also cautioned that there could be higher standards for what’s considered evidence – if casings are collected, they check for their “fingerprint” to see if they could be linked to any other shootings.
Other proposed solutions were voiced – flooding a dark SW Brandon intersection with light (“they shoot there because it’s dark”), close problematic parks early (a la Alki). Some things are already being “worked on,” promised Capt. Bair.
This is why next week’s town hall will include city department heads empowered to take action, noted Ikoma Ko – from new Police Chief Shon Barnes to leaders from City Light and Parks, to the mayor’s public-safety director Natalie Walton-Anderson (a West Seattleite).
But grass-roots power would triumph, Officer Barreto insisted: “Because of you guys, we’re going to find out what’s going on.”
And organizer Doug suggested that simple community gatherings could reclaim the space too, and voiced the hope that more would follow, not just solemn-purpose get-togethers like this one.
A good motivation for that was in view on the park’s gentle green slopes all around the circle and tables where the neighbors gathered: The youngest members of the community, depending on the grownups to keep them safe.
WHAT’S NEXT: We’ll update the May 14th community-town-hall info as soon as it’s announced.
Thanks for the photos of this afternoon’s sky sight. First, from Richard at Constellation Park around 4:20 pm:
Then about 15 minutes later, a photo by Dharmamitra:
Online consensus seems to be that this is simply a “halo,” caused by ice crystals.
We received two West Seattle Crime Watch reports about what appears to be the same multiple-mailbox break-in. First Charles sent this photo and report:
Well, we had our mailboxes broken into again this morning at 5451 California SW. Must have happened just before 6 AM as I could hear the mailboxes being opened while I was in the shower.
The second report noted that “mailboxes were vandalized and mail stolen … about 20 (mailboxes) in total.” No police report number(s) yet.
Think fall! The Fauntleroy Fall Festival is powered by volunteers and donations, and you can help with the latter via a dine-out benefit and basket raffle happening right now at Endolyne Joe’s (9261 45th SW). Just look for the festival crew in the back room – and the table full of baskets you can try for!
From adult beverages to kid activities, this year’s baskets offer a variety of fun. And merch from local businesses too, like The Birdhouse:
You can buy four raffle tickets for $5 or “an arm’s length” for $20. The raffle will happen a little before this benefit ends – Endolyne Joe’s is donating. part of the proceeds till 9 – and you don’t have to be present to win.
(WSB photo from 2016 water-tower removal)
Nine years ago, that was the scene as Nucor‘s old West Seattle water tower was being removed. Now, another big visual change is ahead: Today was the first day of about five weeks of work at the Nucor mill on a removal project that’s been four decades in the making. Nucor is removing three smokestacks that were decommissioned in 1985. They won’t be blown up or otherwise demolished – we’re told they’ll be removed in sections, to be scrapped and recycled, in keeping with the Nucor plant’s status as our state’s largest recycler. A spokesperson for Nucor tells us that two of the three smokestacks date back to 1957, when the mill was under different ownership (Nucor has owned it since 2002, 97 years after it started steelmaking). They were used to service “soaking pits” for reheating iron ingots; the third smokestack was moved from elsewhere on the property in 1967 to do the same thing. But in 1985, those “soaking pits” were decommissioned, and so were the stacks. The Nucor spokesperson says they’ve all been tested for hazardous waste, “with negative results.” Dickson Demolition will remove the smokestacks in sections; their steel will be recycled – where else? – onsite.. Nucor Seattle’s general manager Mark Davis said in a statement, ““The old smokestacks have been unused for 40 years and are from a bygone era of steelmaking that is disconnected from modern steelmaking.” Work is expected to continue for the next five weeks or so during regular operating hours.
If registering for this year’s West Seattle 5K is still on your to-do list, instead of your “done” list, here’s an incentive to take a couple minutes and do it now: The prices go up this Saturday (May 10). The West Seattle 5K is now only 12 days away, a chance to enjoy your morning running and/or walking along Alki, from 61st/Alki to Anchor/Luna Park and back, on Sunday, May 18. It’s organized by, and benefiting, the West Seattle High School PTSA, which launched the 5K more than 15 years ago as a way to raise more money for the school’s educational needs. To register, just go here, and we’ll see you at Alki on Sunday morning, May 18th! (And if you have a WSHS student in the family, check to be sure they’re participating in the competition to see which class registers the most participants!)
Today, we welcome Better Than Robots as a new WSB sponsor. New sponsors get to tell you about themselves – here’s the Better Than Robots story:
Better Than Robots is Angie and Sandy: two Highland Park neighbors who first bonded over love of our small dogs before meeting properly as crew members of the West Seattle Mutual Aid Party. Once we learned that we shared a belief in our ability to learn any new skill along with a drive to build community, our friendship was cemented.
We realized we’re both the ones who friends and family call for help with the random and weird, with Sandy’s friends repeatedly suggesting they work as an organizer for folks with ADHD and Angie volunteering to complete chores that friends and neighbors found inaccessible. In 2024, while daydreaming about our ideal job, it occurred to us that we could be that business! Two friends with the skills to help people with the same struggles we have and one goal – to show up, get some things done, and leave you better off. Better Than Robots was born!
How does Better Than Robots work? We are here to help you finish the tasks at the bottom of your list that you never have time for. BTR is who you call when you want help but aren’t sure who to hire. Are you daunted by the idea of sorting and organizing your doom garage/closet/spare bedroom? We evaluate and we don’t judge. We’ll show up as your extra pair of hands, ready to help strategize and keep your momentum going, and then we’ll take the trash piles and donatable items away. We’ve also helped clients with random tasks like fixing weird tv issues or figuring out where to consign a great piece of furniture. Last year, we saved a client several hundred dollars returning online orders, a task they always struggled to complete. We’ll hang your art, catalog your books, weed your garden, help you learn how to meal prep, put together a starter kit for a new hobby such as hiking or knitting, even prep your monthly expense reports. And for work we don’t do, we can research and create a short list of professionals such as house cleaners, contractors, or even doctors.
Better Than Robots can save you time, money, and sanity. Check out our offerings at betterthanrobots.com. Mention that you saw us on West Seattle Blog for 10% off your first project with us, up to two hours!
We thank Better Than Robots for choosing to advertise their business by sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB. Interested in doing the same? Please email WSBAdvertising@wsbsales.com – thank you!
12:02 PM: According to police-radio exchanges, a tree hit by a truck has fallen into overhead cables across part of the 3200 block of Harbor Avenue, and it’s causing trouble as other trucks continue hitting it, so police are working to close that stretch of the street until it can be removed. We’re heading over for a look.
12:47 PM: Couldn’t get a photo but avoid the Harbor/ Spokane intersection. Drivers are being diverted east and uphill via City View to Admiral and it’s gridlock on very narrow streets.
1:32 PM: Not resolved yet. We tried to get close enough for a photo from the north end, but that closure starts blocks north of the scene.
1:38 PM: According to radio exchanges, a tree crew is on scene now and hopes to have the tree removed within an hour.
2:08 PM: Officers just announced Harbor Avenue has reopened both ways.
A property company working with Rite Aid has released a new list of properties and leases for sale/assignment in its new bankruptcy filing, and the list includes the Westwood Village Rite Aid location. The company’s new filing comes just eight months after it emerged from Chapter 11. After seeing this, we went over for a photo of the WWV Rite Aid, and discovered this posted at the entrance:
We’re checking to see if local Bartell Drugs have similar postings. (Update: We found one at the Jefferson Square store.) As for the WWV Rite Aid, one of the property company’s documents says the current lease is up in a year but there are 10 years worth of options; current base rent is $21/square foot (the building is just under 17,000 sf). We don’t yet know the plan for the California SW Rite Aid location – also leased – and the two West Seattle Bartell Drugs stores (Admiral and Jefferson Square), also leased. Rite Aid says it has financing to help it continue operations while it seeks a buyer for the company.
11:02 AM: Spectacular day to be on in view of Puget Sound, even without the added possibility of whale-watching, but we have that too: Kersti Muul just texted us to say orcas are northbound in the Fauntleroy ferry lanes. She says they’re the T23C group of transient orcas (aka Bigg’s Killer Whales), just the other day making their first appearance in the area. Let us know if you see them!
12:08 PM: Kersti says they’re now “passing Alki Point, east of mid-channel, continuing northbound.”
(Nicely gardened traffic circle in Gatewood, photographed by Troy Sterk)
Later than usual – sorry, we were out covering an early-morning event – here’s our list for your Tuesday, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FAUNTLEROY FALL FESTIVAL FUNDRAISER: All day until 9 pm, dine/drink at Endolyne Joe’s (9261 45th SW) and help the Fauntleroy Fall Festival continue. 5-9 pm basket raffles, too!
POSTCARDS4DEMOCRACY: Weekly advocacy gathering, until noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor). Sign up here before you go, if you’re a first-time participant.
ROTARY CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE: Noon lunch at West Seattle Golf Course (4470 35th SW), spotlighting Seattle Repertory Theater.
CHESS CLUB: Tuesdays 1:30-3 pm, at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon). All levels welcome. (Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.)
SPORTS: Must-win Metro Tournament softball game, 4 pm at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2800 SW Thistle), for West Seattle HS vs. Ingraham.
WEST SEATTLE LITTLE LEAGUE DINE-OUT FUNDRAISER: Get food at/from West Wings 4-8 pm and part of the proceeds will benefit West Seattle Little League. (2329 California SW)
HOMEWORK HELP: 4-5:45 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), volunteers are available to help K-12 students with their homework.
DROP-IN WINE TASTING: 5-7 pm Tuesdays at Walter’s Wine Shop (4811 California SW) – $10 fee, $5 off with bottle purchases.
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.
NORTH DELRIDGE COMMUNITY SAFETY: Neighbors are organizing an informal meetup at 6 pm at Cottage Grove Park, as previewed here.
WEST SEATTLE INDIVISIBLE NEWCOMERS MEETING: Find out how to get involved, 6 pm at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW).
WEST SEATTLE RUNNER TRACK RUN: More daylight means more time for evening runs – tonight at 6:15 pm, meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for WSR’s free weekly track run.
TOASTMASTERS 832: Hybrid meeting, 6:30 pm – online or at Brookdale West Seattle (4611 35th SW) – details in our calendar listing.
AUTHOR INTERVIEW WATCH PARTY: 6:30 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library (2306 42nd SW):
Join us to watch a recorded interview between Karin Slaughter, author of the Will Trent book series, and Ramón RodrÃguez, star of the TV series.
MAKE POTTERY: Weekly 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).
WOMEN’S MEDITATION CIRCLE: Weekly small-group event at Mama Be Well Healing Studio (4034 California SW), 7 pm. Our calendar listing has details on signing up before you go.
BINGO X 2: Play – free! – Tuesday night Belle of the Balls Bingo at The Skylark, 7 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW) … Talarico’s Pizzeria also offers 8 pm bingo (4718 California SW).
TRIVIA X 4: Four trivia options tonight – 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).
Hosting an event, class, performance, gathering, etc.? Tell your West Seattle neighbors via our event calendar, from which we draw our daily lists too – just email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(File photo, past Mini-Cheer Camp)
West Seattle High School‘s cheer team is offering a mini-camp later this month – and signups are open now! Here’s the announcement we were asked to share with you:
West Seattle High School Co-Ed Cheer Team is hosting a Mini Cheer Camp for ages K-6th Grade!
Are you ready to cheer your heart out? Join the WSHS Cheerleaders for a fun-filled day at our Mini Cheer Camp on May 31st, 2025, from 10 AM to 1 PM at the West Seattle High School Gym for ages K-6!
What’s in Store?
Fun Cheers & Crafts: Learn exciting cheers and create awesome crafts with our talented cheerleaders!
Swag Bag: Each camper will receive a stylish camp T-shirt and an official cheer hair bow.
Memorable Moments: Capture your cheerleading spirit with a picture alongside your favorite cheerleader!Cost: Only $70!
Registration Deadline: May 28, 2025 (to guarantee your T-shirt) Please click the link below to register. https://tinyurl.com/27b8a537
Spaces are limited, so don’t miss out! Register early to secure your spot in this exciting camp!
Questions? Contact Coach Nadine Nguyen at nmnguyen@seattleschools.org
(Added: Photo by Mark Bauschke)
Thanks to the texter who points out that a former Navy submarine under tow is soon to pass West Seattle this morning. The vessel under tow by the Gary Chouest is reported to be the “moored training ship” MTS-635, formerly the USS Sam Rayburn. It’s being towed to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton to be scrapped and was inactivated in Norfolk – this story has an abundance of background.
6:01 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Tuesday, May 6, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Warm day ahead! Sunny and upper 70s expected! Today’s sunrise was at 5:43 am; sunset will be at 8:29 pm.
ROAD WORK
-Street work for the Alki Standby Generator Project could start as soon as this week on Beach Drive SW just south of 63rd – details and map here.
-The Admiral Way Bridge’s outside lane on the eastbound/southbound side is still closed; here’s a project update.
TRANSIT TODAY
Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; spring/summer schedule, with later-evening sailings Fridays and Saturdays.
Metro buses – Regular schedule.
Washington State Ferries – Regular service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas and M/V Cathlamet, plus M/V Salish is serving as the “bonus boat”. P.S. Next round of community meetings – online, systemwide – have been announced for later this month.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: In addition to 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 (including links to live video for most); for a quick scan of West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras, see this WSB page.
See a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water? Please text or call our hotline (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
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