WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: What City Light says it’s doing about latest round of bridge-darkening wire theft

Seattle City Light says it’s working on plans to tamper-proof the West Seattle bridges’ electrical system, after the latest round of dark lights on both the high and low bridges, blamed on theft and tampering. City Light provided an update late today on the latest trouble. And spokesperson Jenn Strang says it’s not just lights:

We estimate approximately 71 streetlights of the more than 200 lights on the high-rise sections of the [high bridge] and approximately 15 streetlights on the [low] bridge east approach are affected. When crews investigated, they found that there were additional components including a streetlight cabinet and handholes that required repair.

Strang says crews first noticed the low-bridge lights out in early August. After research and mapping, they’re trying to restore the lighting, she added, but: “Because the damage is so extensive, we are discovering additional issues as we work to assess and fix. Further work is needed to make additional repairs and ensure the future tamper proofing of the system. This will likely include civil work and permitting to move forward.”

Some of the tamperproofing is fairly simple: “Temporary ecology block(s) are proposed to be placed in front of the electrical cabinet on the north side of S Spokane St to prevent entry and unauthorized tampering.” After that, it gets more complicated, both in terms of more complicated work, and figuring out how to deal with locations where criminals have plenty of privacy: “We have been actively securing our facilities wherever possible. However, certain areas continue to experience higher levels of streetlight wire theft and vandalism, particularly locations with lower public traffic where perpetrators have greater seclusion. As we discover these vulnerabilities, we’re adapting and developing preventative solutions.”

The utility also is trying to step up its game in getting a sense of how serious the wire theft problem is; Strang says SCL has “recently established an internal process to help us to better track when wire theft is the cause.”

Meantime, if you see suspicious activity near poles or other electrical installations, call 911. Strang suggests four ways to know if they are City Light employees:

-City Light employees will always be wearing hardhats and vests or jackets with the City Light logo.

-If asked, they will show their ID badges.

-They drive City Light vehicles, often the large yellow trucks.

-Line crews always work in teams. One exception is that an engineer may inspect a site alone, but only during regular business hours.

City Light has been dealing with bridge-light trouble for more than a decade, our archives indicate, including under-the-bridge light trouble blamed on thieves (here’s our 2020 report on that).

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UPDATE: Crash at 39th/Barton

September 17, 2025 8:37 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

8:37 PM: Police and Fire are on the scene of a crash at 39th SW/SW Barton in Upper Fauntleroy [map] and have just told dispatch that Barton is completely blocked. The initial report was that a driver crashed into parked cars.

(Added: Reader photo)

8:39 PM: The driver was initially described as a man around 60 years old, and they’re now saying this was a “medically related collision.”

8:43 PM: Police say eastbound traffic on Barton has resumed but “westbound’s going to be blocked for a while.”

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REZONING: Thursday will be the big voting day for City Councilmembers

September 17, 2025 8:27 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle housing | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Quick recap of what happened when City Councilmembers met today to start voting on updates to the city’s Comprehensive Plan, particularly rezoning: They passed both “consent packages” of amendments, but they didn’t include any of the most-discussed amendments, such as the one rezoning part of Alki and other non-West Seattle areas as Neighborhood Centers with denser housing and businesses, and the ones changing the boundaries proposed for potential Neighborhood Centers including Endolyne/Fauntleroy and High Point, as well as the boundaries for the Morgan Junction Urban Center. Those are all likely to be discussed and voted on during the council’s meeting – again as the Select Committee on the Comprehensive Plan – starting at 9:30 am tomorrow, with an afternoon session scheduled at 2 pm. As promised, today’s meeting included an hour of spoken comment, much of which advocated for tree-related amendments, but tomorrow’s meeting does not include spoken comment, so if you have any final words for councilmembers before they vote, email them. Documents for tomorrow’s meeting are all linked from the agenda.

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WEST SEATTLE SUNSET: Smoke-framed setting sun

September 17, 2025 7:30 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Again tonight, the setting sun was framed by a layer of wildfire smoke over the Olympics – this time, a band of smoke, rather than the billowing clouds we saw last night. The photo above is from Michael Burke; the one below, from Carol Ann Joyce:

Good news for the smoke and fire – rain is expected this weekend. (The sun is due back in time for a potential appearance at Alice Enevoldsen’s fall-equinox sunset watch Monday night.)

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COUNTDOWN: One week for advance tickets to Taste of West Seattle

September 17, 2025 5:51 pm

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| West Seattle news

Got your ticket to the West Seattle Food Bank-benefiting Taste of West Seattle? It’s eight days away – and WSFB has announced it’ll extend advance ticket sales until the night before:

The West Seattle Food Bank has extended pre-sales for Taste of West Seattle tickets through Wednesday, September 24, at 11:59 p.m. Purchasing pre-sale tickets guarantees entry and helps WSFB plan for capacity — and every ticket sold directly funds critical programs.

Proceeds support WSFB’s work beyond groceries, including clothing, rental assistance, and other essential services that help families and seniors remain stable with dignity.

“Extending pre-sales gives more neighbors a chance to join the celebration — and every ticket makes a real impact in sustaining our programs at a time when seniors and families truly need us,” said Robbin Peterson, Development Director at the West Seattle Food Bank.

Go here to see the list of local food/beverage businesses providing tastes and sips for the event, which is at The Hall at Fauntleroy, with VIP early entry at 5:30 pm, general-admission entry at 6 pm. Get your ticket(s) here!

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WATER TAXI: Vashon Island to get Saturday service

September 17, 2025 3:31 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| King County Water Taxi | West Seattle news

West Seattle has had weekend King County Water Taxi service for years – and now Vashon Island is getting it too. When the fall/winter service schedule starts on October 11, the Vashon Island to Downtown Seattle run will get eight round trips on Saturdays. The schedule also will include an added Friday night sailing, from downtown to Vashon at 7:30 pm Fridays. As noted in the full announcement, this is a one-year pilot program, with the $1 million cost allocated by the state Legislature.

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THURSDAY: Interested in robotics? RSVP ASAP for Skunk Works open house

September 17, 2025 2:11 pm

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| West Seattle jail sites | West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

A robotics organization that includes youth from West Seattle and points south wants to remind you about its open house tomorrow night!

The Skunk Works Robotics open house is Thursday, September 18th, 6:15 pm, at Highline College. The Skunks are a robotics team for high school students and compete in the FRC division of FIRST Robotics.

FRC teams offer an opportunity to learn high-level skills from industry mentors that can be applicable to careers or college. Skunk Works gives you a chance to gain expertise in CAD, programming, business presentations, marketing, data analytics, building circuit boards, 3D printing, and more.

If you would like to join us at the open house, please fill out the form at forms.office.com/r/7Bxc8z49Hr, We will get back to you with more information. Our website is www.skunkworks1983.com.

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FOLLOWUP: Road closure begins for drainage project at east end of Sylvan Way

September 17, 2025 1:21 pm

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| Delridge | Environment | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

We’ve been watching for the “mid-September” start of the road closure for resumption of a drainage project along Sylvan Way just west of Delridge Way [map], and just found crews setting out cones, barricades, and signs a short time ago. Seattle Public Utilities announced three weeks ago that the project would resume after three years on hold. Here’s the official construction notice for the work, expected to continue through the end of the year.

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PHOTOS, VIDEO ADDED: Second day of helicopter drill in southeast West Seattle

September 17, 2025 11:06 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| Helicopter | Myers Way | West Seattle news

(WSB PHOTOS BY OLIVER HAMLIN, VIDEO BY TRACY RECORD)

11:06 AM: We’re back at the Joint Training Facility, where day 2 of helicopter rescue training with a Washington National Guard Black Hawk is under way.

So far they’re practicing hoists and lowering over the landing area and will then move to a 5-story building on the west side of the JTF. (Added: Watch below as participants attach themselves to the hoist in a little over :30, then get lifted – you’ll also hear what the propeller-generated wind was like:)

11:55 AM: The helicopter just left for refueling at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, but is expected back. (That’s when the media photo ops ended, so we don’t have visuals of the drill involving the building.)

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen blue F-150 pickup truck

September 17, 2025 10:35 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Crime | West Seattle news

Sent by Justine:

Our truck was stolen overnight:

2016 Blue Ford F150, 4 doors, Canopy on the back
License plate C46278J

Stolen from SW Dawson St between 50th Ave S and 51st Ave SW at 12:36 am (according to a neighbor’s camera) on 9/17.

If seen, please call 650-279-1030

When reporting to 911, refer to incident # 25-271545.

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The list for your West Seattle Wednesday (updated)

September 17, 2025 9:54 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Sunrise reflected on windows across Puget Sound – photo by James Bratsanos)

Here’s what’s happening for summer’s last Wednesday, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

HELICOPTER DRILL: Reminder that 10 am-2 pm today is the second of two days you might see a Washington National Guard Black Hawk helicopter over southeast West Seattle, South Park, and/or White Center as part of a disaster drill with the city. (We visited the SFD Joint Training Facility for the first round Tuesday, cut short because of a hoist problem.)

WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: 10 am Wednesday walks leave from 47th/Fauntleroy (this is a last-minute reminder, so would-be walkers can set their calendars for next Wednesday morning!).

TODDLER READING TIME AT PAPER BOAT: 10:30 am at the bookstore. (4522 California SW)

NO AMERICAN MAH JONGG TODAY: Afternoon meetups are still on hold until The Missing Piece reopens in its new West Seattle Junction location.

REZONING VOTES: The first of at least two City Council meetings this week to consider the Comp Plan/rezoning, including amendments, is at 2 pm; the agenda explains commenting and viewing.

FREE ALL-AGES MOVIE: “Lilo and Stitch,” 2:30 pm at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW).

FREE KIDS’ ART WORKSHOP: With Rec’N The Streets at Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW), 3 pm.

DOG SWIM TIME AT ARBOR HEIGHTS POOL: The annual “Dog Days of Summer” are back this week! Arbor Heights Swim and Tennis Club (11003 31st SW) opens its pool for dogs-only swimming, right before it’s drained for the offseason cleaning. 4-7 pm daily through Friday this week plus noon-5 pm on Saturday. $5/session per dog. (Here’s our story from day 1.)

HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: (updated) There IS one local event on the Metro League schedule – cross country meet at Lincoln Park this afternoon featuring Chief Sealth IHS, West Seattle HS, and other schools. (Thanks for the correction.)

FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Fix that broken item instead of throwing it out! Weekly event, free (donations appreciated), 5:30-7:30 pm at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center).

FREE ART CLASS: 6 pm, pay what you can, all levels invited to explore watercolors at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW).

WEST SEATTLE URBANISM: All are welcome at the group’s weekly happy-hour meetup, 6-8 pm at Great American Diner & Bar. (4752 California SW).

WEDNESDAY NIGHT RUN WITH HOKA DEMOS: An energetic way to enjoy your end-of-summer evening – the weekly 6:15 pm group run with West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) – all welcome – this week, try HOKA shoes!

LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer lineup. (7902 35th SW)

MUSIC BINGO x 2: Weekly music bingo at at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm, and monthly MINGO at Three9 Lounge (39th/Oregon), 7:30 pm.

TRIVIA x 4: Four West Seattle trivia locations on our Wednesday list: Admiral Pub (2306 California SW) at 7 pm … Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) has Wednesday trivia at 8 pm … Quiz Night also starts at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … and it’s an 8:30 pm start for trivia with Phil T at Talarico’s (4718 California SW), all ages until 10 pm.

SKYLARK OPEN MIC: You can be in the spotlight tonight – 7:30 pm signups for West Seattle’s longest-running open mic. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

KARAOKE AT ADMIRAL PUB: The singing starts at the pub at 8:45 pm. (2306 California SW)

Planning something that’s open to community participation/observation? Please send us info so we can add it to West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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ORCAS: Southern Residents off West Seattle again

September 17, 2025 8:32 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Whales

8:32 AM: Whale advocates have sent word that Southern Resident Killer Whales from J-Pod are headed this way again. Kersti Muul reported they were in the Seattle/Bainbridge Island ferry lanes as of about an hour ago and says they are currently off Blakely Rock. Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail says she plans to be at Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook (across from Me Kwa Mooks park, 4500 block Beach Drive SW) with binoculars to share. Good luck whale-watching!

7 PM: We did a bit of that with The Whale Trail at the overlook before sunset, as the whales headed back north, close to the west side of the Sound, so most of what we saw was just blows, but exciting enough!

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TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Wednesday info

September 17, 2025 6:02 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:02 AM: Good morning! It’s Wednesday, September 17, 2025 – fall officially arrives in five days.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

After a record-tying high of 91 degrees on Tuesday, today is expected to be sunny and in the mid-70s. Today’s sunrise will be at 6:50 am; sunset will be at 7:16 pm.

ROAD WORK

-That portable crane was blocking a northbound lane of California just north of Oregon again Tuesday for the 4448 California project, so be aware that may continue.

–59th SW in Alki is closed for a month by the school-construction zone.

-“Natural drainage” construction toward the east end of Sylvan Way is scheduled to resume (let us know if and when you see work there – we weren’t able to check Tuesday).

TRANSIT TODAY

Metro buses – On regular schedule and routes today.

Washington State Ferries – WSF has three-boat service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas, M/V Issaquah, and M/V Sealth. Vessel Watch will show you which boat is where.

Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; summer/early fall schedule, with later runs on Friday and Saturday nights.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:

Low Bridge – Here’s the view looking west. Also note, opening info is again available via X (ex-Twitter):

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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