West Seattle, Washington
16 Thursday
Earlier we mentioned that Fauntleroy UCC pastor Rev. Leah Atkinson Bilinski was just back from a trip to be Minnesota, where she and other faith leaders from the Northwest had gone to support community members standing against violence and violation of rights by federal agents. The video above, recorded by parishioner LeeAnne Beres, is what the pastor told a downtown Seattle anti-ICE rally this evening about what she saw in Minnesota – and, in one key moment, what she didn’t see.
She also mentions that she and the others were headed home when they learned federal agents had killed Alex Pretti. Meantime, another reader sent word that a rally and vigil in honor of Pretti, a VA nurse, is planned Tuesday night outside the Seattle VA hospital on Beacon Hill.
Alki Elementary currently has 265 students enrolled, but will be moving into a brand-new building this fall with a capacity for almost twice that many. Now the district is proposing making Alki Elementary a regional headquarters for a program that could significantly boost its enrollment. At last week’s School Board meeting, a briefing on the district’s Highly Capable (gifted) program included the announcement that Alki Elementary is proposed as a new Southwest Region site for the “cohort pathway” format of HC learning, along with Rainier View Elementary for the Southeast Region.
Right now, HC-identified students from those regions have to go to Thurgood Marshall Elementary to access a “cohort pathway” – self-contained classes offered there and at only two other SPS elementaries. So how many more students could that mean for Alki? Last week’s briefing projected that the Southwest Region will have 266 second through fifth graders identified as HC next school year:
Next school year is when the new Alki Elementary will open. Meantime, the proposal to make it and Rainier View sites for the HC program will be part of a proposal the board is scheduled to vote on February 11. (The full slide deck from the board meeting, which also touched on the feedback collected in community meetings around the district, is here. And thanks for the tips on this!)
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
ANOTHER VAN DUMPED IN GREENBELT: Kalem reported seeing this on Sunday, and then Craig sent photos today: “Just came across this van from Food Lifeline parked on the trail to the north of the Peewee fields.”
Craig says this area of the West Duwamish Greenbelt has been an intermittent problem for this kind of activity, both with access from below and above: “The van came and went from above this time. Some minor damage to the trail but between both events the trail and Peewee access are in rough shape.” He reports the van was gone when he went through the area hours later; another local community advocate, Kay, says the tow truck that was first brought in by SPD wasn’t able to extract it, so apparently they got a second one. The van found abandoned and burning in the same area earlier this month was described as belonging to another nonprofit (Navos).
GAS THEFT: Nate reports, “I just walked out to my Toyota Tacoma [this afternoon] to find someone drilled a hole in my gas tank and drained the gas. I live in Arbor Heights neighborhood on a dark, very quiet street, south of Roxbury on 33rd Ave.”
(WSB photo, 2022)
Some of the longtime RV-encampment areas along West Seattle streets have been addressed with added parking restrictions – Harbor Avenue SW and SW Trenton, for example – and 16th SW alongside South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) might be next. The college has just announced a community meeting, and though the announcement doesn’t specifically mention RVs, it does mention the city’s Unified Care Team, which works solely on encampments:
South Seattle College is hosting a community meeting for members of the campus community and neighbors of the college in the Puget Ridge neighborhood of West Seattle on the evening of Wednesday, February 4.
The City of Seattle contacted South Seattle College about the possibility of installing parking restrictions along a portion of 16th Ave SW in front of the college to address long-term vehicle parking.
This meeting will be an opportunity to hear from Seattle Department of Transportation staff and the Unified Care Team about the work they do and possible solutions for our area. We will then shift to a community conversation where folks can ask questions, share their experiences, and provide feedback to the city and college about preferred solutions.
Date: Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Time: 5:30 pm to 7 pm
Location: Cascade Hall, Room 107
South Seattle College Main Campus
6000 16th Ave SWCascade Hall is listed as “CAH” on the campus map. Parking in the North Parking Lot will be free, and closest to the building.
Local and state leaders all had Minnesota on their mind today. Three notes:
First:
(Governor’s Office photo)
“It’s outrageous in the extreme and it has to stop.”
That’s what Gov. Bob Ferguson said today about what’s happening in Minnesota, appearing at a media briefing with state Attorney General Nick Brown (a West Seattle resident). He wasn’t only speaking about the killings by federal agents of Renée Good and Alex Pretti, but also about their enforcement tactics, “plucking people off the street” and going into homes without judicial warrants.Ferguson and Brown detailed some of the steps they’re taking in case a federal escalation happens here, though they said they’re not revealing all the steps they’re taking in preparation, so as to not reveal their “playbook” to the feds. “We will not allow this administration to turn our nation into an authoritarian regime,” vowed Gov. Ferguson. Attorney General Brown said what’s happening has nothing to do with the president’s vow to “go after the worst of the worst” and described the administration as a “cabal of cruelty.” He also said it’s important to not just “hunker down and try to survive the next few years,” but to focus on preparedness and action. “Everyone in our state” has a role in that, they said. You can watch the entire news conference here.
Second:
Seattle City Councilmembers voiced their outrage at their weekly “briefing meeting,” where each member provides updates and observations. Our area’s Councilmember Rob Saka, noting that he’s a Minnesota native, decried the killing of Alex Pretti as “another horrific execution-style … murder of a resident.” Saka said it’s “appalling and outrageous” that federal agents are “running amok … killing people for no reason.” (His remarks are 47 minutes into the meeting video above.) Councilmembers reiterated the call to ensure the city is prepared, including the Public Safety Committee‘s chair Councilmember Bob Kettle, whose committee meets tomorrow morning.
Third:
We’ve learned that Fauntleroy Church‘s pastor Rev. Leah Atkinson Bilinski was part of a Northwest clergy delegation that went to Minnesota as a show of support. She is back and slated to speak during a protest rally at the Federal Building in downtown Seattle tonight, around 20 minutes into the 5 pm rally. We hope to speak to her about her Minnesota trip soon.
Seattle Public Utilities just sent the reminder – this is the last week for “free” composting of Christmas trees and other holiday greenery – either via curbside pickup, or transfer-station dropoff:
Remove all decorations, cut into sections 4-foot or less, and place trees or bundled greens next to your Food & Yard Waste cart on your regular collection day. Apartment residents may place up to two trees next to each Food & Yard waste cart at no charge. You can also drop off up to 3 trees less than 8 feet in length at a Transfer Station.
The “free” tree-cycling continues through Saturday (January 31). After that, you’ll have to chop up your tree so it fits in your yard/food-waste cart, or take it to the transfer station (South, in west South Park, is the closest)
(WSB photo, 2021)
A recent walk in Jack Block Park (2130 Harbor Avenue SW) inspired a reader to ask when its long-closed pier will be rebuilt as promised. It’s been closed for safety concerns for more than five years; our last followup was two years ago, at which time some money had been budgeted, and design was supposed to start before the end of 2024. But the project has not proceeded much if at all since then. This is in a Port of Seattle park; the Northwest Seaport Alliance – comprising the cargo ports of Seattle and Tacoma – is funding it, so NWSA spokesperson Melanie Stambaugh Babst responded to our inquiry about timeline, design, and $ status. She says construction is still at least two and a half years away:
The Jack Block Pier replacement is early in the design phase, so we do not have any design drawings to share yet. The current estimated project cost is between $10 – $14 million and our project team is exploring some design opportunities that account for this range. At this time, the estimated construction start is Q4 2028.
Funding for the pier and plaza repairs will come from the NWSA, but there are additional scope elements that will be funded by Port of Seattle.
The damage that ultimately led to the long-range closure was attributed to a vessel hitting the pier, though it’s never been disclosed which vessel did it, when, and how.
(Seen at Lincoln Park this weekend – photo by Betty Scott)
Here’s what’s on our list for the rest of today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
BABY STORY TIME: Noon at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW).
FREE HOMEWORK HELP: Drop-in assistance for K-12 students at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), 4-5:45 pm.
D&D: Long-running weekly D&D at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW). All welcome, first-time players too!
‘LISTENING TO GRIEF’ SUPPORT GROUP: 6:30 pm, ongoing weekly group gathering for people experiencing grief – you can participate once, weekly, or occasionally. Fee; RSVP here. (4034 California SW)
MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA X 4: Four venues for trivia/quiz tonight! Music Quiz at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW), 6:30 and 7:30 pm, free, all ages … 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander) … 7 and 8 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at Three 9 Lounge (4505 39th SW), 21+ … 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW).
CHESS NIGHT AT MISSION CANTINA: 7 pm, players welcome in the upstairs mezzanine! (2325 California SW)
MEDITATE IN ALKI: Monday night meditation at Alki UCC is back this week, doors open at 6:45, meditation at 7. (6115 SW Hinds)
POOL TOURNAMENT: Pool players are invited to enter The Corner Pocket‘s weekly tournament starting at 7 pm. $10 buy-in. (4302 SW Alaska)
MEDITATE IN FAUNTLEROY: Free weekly Zen sitting/meditation in the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
LIVE JAZZ: Monday night music with The Westside Jazz Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
SING! 9 pm Mondays, karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).
Thanks as always to everybody who sends info for our calendar; if you have something to add or cancel (or otherwise update), please send the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Local educational nonprofit Invest in Youth tells us that some of their best tutors come through WSB, so they’re again asking us to help with recruitment. If you can help with a small weekday gift of time, here’s how!
Are you interested in giving back to our community, narrowing achievement gaps for neighborhood students and promoting educational equity right here in West Seattle? Invest in Youth offers a unique opportunity to connect one-on-one with a local student.
Tutors meet one day a week with the same student in the classroom with other student-tutor pairs, and work on math and reading fundamentals, all while serving as a mentor to foster lifelong academic success.
No experience is necessary; just a commitment to show up for one hour, one day a week. Two local schools need tutors:
Roxhill Elementary at E.C. Hughes
Sanislo ElementaryVisit our website for more information or complete our tutor application to reserve your spot to begin tutoring.
6:02 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Monday, January 26, 2026.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
After another night in the 20s, today’s forecast is for clouds and a high in the upper 40s. Sunrise at 7:42 am; sunset at 5:01 pm.
(Sunday morning photo by Chris Frankovich)
TRANSIT TODAY
West Seattle Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service, fall/winter schedule.
Washington State Ferries – According to WSF’s alerts, the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route is back to three-boat service as of today.
Metro buses – Regular weekday schedule and routes today.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Here’s the westward view. Also note, maritime-opening info is 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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