West Seattle, Washington
13 Monday
After 911 calls reporting what sounded like gunfire in or near Westcrest Park, a police officer just told dispatch they’ve found evidence – shell casings in “the main parking lot.” No report of anyone hurt, so far.
The mayor’s office says the city has reviewed 70 possible sites for adding shelter space in its push to get 500 people off the streets by June. That was one headline from a briefing today, delivered by mayor’s office reps to the City Council, which will have to approve some components of the plan. Here’s Seattle Channel video of the meeting:
The 70 potential sites weren’t listed in the meeting documents, and our request for the list so far has gone unfulfilled. But the mayor’s-office team told councilmembers they expect to announce five sites before the end of the month. Many of the 500 spaces – but not necessarily all – would be in “microshelters,” which seems to be the alternative name for “tiny houses.” They promised to work with district councilmembers regarding sites for “shelter acceleration” in three types:
In working with the neighborhoods where shelter would be added, they said they had plans for how safety would be safeguarded:
Of the 70 sites they said they’ve “assessed,” about a third are publicly owned. The first five sites, they said, won’t require the mayor’s newly proposed legislation in order to move forward, but others will, so that was part of why they were at the council meeting, to promote that legislation, which she announced at the Hope Factory tiny-home (microshelter) construction facility twelve days ago (WSB coverage here).
(WSB photo at The Hope Factory in Georgetown, March 4)
That March 4 announcement was brought up by Councilmember Dan Strauss in Q&A, noting a mention in the presentation of each tiny house costing $28,000, while he recalled that the microshelters are built by volunteers.
So will the city be paying for them? Strauss asked. The mayor’s-office team told him, “We’ll get back to you.” They did say part of the costs are from the plan to make these shelter facilities “service-rich environments,” explained this way:
There was no mention of the forthcoming West Seattle tiny-homes-and-RV-lot site Glassyard Commons, so we don’t know if it’s going to be considered one of the five sites or not. It’s continuing to make its way through the city permit system.
(See the full slide deck from today’s presentation here.)
After hearing a police dispatch last night for someone finding a possible “human skull” at the Waste Management transfer station on West Marginal Way, we followed up with police today. Here’s all the info they provided:
On 03/15/2026 at about 7:30 p.m., officers responded to a Waste Transfer station in West Seattle, where a security guard reported finding what appeared to be a human skull. Unable to determine its authenticity, it was photographed in place and entered into evidence. Homicide was contacted as well as the King County Medical Examiner, and a report was written.
The initial dispatch said the possible skull was found “amongst recycling.”
If you or someone you know is in need, this Saturday’s free community store at Denny International Middle School can help. The community store will be stocked with 37 pallets full of food and household supplies to be given away to whoever needs them, 9 am to 2 pm on Saturday (March 21). The store is courtesy of Partnership for Hope, which collaborates with other organizations and volunteers to support people in need. It’s for “students, staff, and the whole broader community,” we’re told. Here’s how to register. And if you’re not in need, but would like to help out, volunteers are gathering the day before as well as during the event – you can sign up here to volunteer. Denny IMS is at 2601 SW Kenyon.
Most of West Seattle’s only official off-leash area, at Westcrest Park, will close for four days next week, according to this announcement from Seattle Parks:
We need to temporarily close the Westcrest Off Leash Area (OLA) from March 23rd through March 26th.
During this time, crews will deliver wood chips (Engineered Wood Fiber) to the terraced area near the shelter and picnic table. We planned this maintenance effort in close consultation with our COLA stewards at Westcrest Park to improve the play space for your pets.
While the main area is closed, the small and shy dog area will remain open and accessible to all dog owners. Because this space is much more confined than the main park, please pay close attention to your dog’s behavior to ensure a safe environment for all visitors.
We recognize this temporary closure might disrupt your routine, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work to maintain the park. If you have any questions or concerns about this project, please call us at 206-684-4075.
This Thursday morning during the twice-monthly meeting of the City Council committee chaired by District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka, two North Delridge business owners are scheduled to participate in a roundtable discussion about strategies for dealing with light-rail-related displacement. The roundtable discussion is on the agenda for the 9:30 am Thursday (March 19) meeting of the Transportation, Waterfront, and Seattle Center Committee; the local participants are Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) proprietor Erin Rubin and Ounces proprietor Laurel Trujillo. Both of their businesses will have to move under the current plan for the Delridge station, which at this point wouldn’t be changed by the newest cost-cutting proposals. Thursday’s roundtable participants also include reps from two city departments and the nonprofit Rainier Valley Community Development Fund, which has been working with local businesses. As always, the meeting will be streamed live, and recorded, by Seattle Channel.
Along with the Fauntleroy dock/terminal replacement project, Washington State Ferries‘ Triangle Route also will be getting a new building at the Southworth terminal.
(WSF photo of current Southworth dock/terminal)
Today WSF launched an online open house with information on design concepts and a survey seeking opinions. The Southworth dock has become increasingly busy as a hub for Kitsap Transit foot ferries too. The main question WSF is posing is, where on the Southworth dock to locate a new building, and it’s unveiled four options. Today through April 5, you can review them and answer a survey by going here. The timing on the WSF website suggests some potential overlap with the Fauntleroy project, though in this case they’re only replacing the Southworth terminal building in the first phase, with a dock trestle replacement in a later second phase.
Thanks to the texter who asked us about a sizable police response in the 2300 block of California, just north of Admiral Way, around 8 this morning. It was logged simply as “suspicious/onview” – the latter word indicates something an officer saw and decided to check out – but listening back to the radio archives, we found there was much more to it. The officer noticed something suspicious about a parked car, and running its plates revealed it was associated with a Silver Alert issued hours earlier for 85-year-old Robert, missing from Mill Creek, last seen leaving a medical facility in Bellevue last night. No one was in the car but it was “still warm,” reported the officer, so he and others looked around the area, and eventually found him nearby. Last we heard, they were talking with police in Bellevue, to arrange to get him back. Why he came here, more than 20 miles away – we haven’t heard.
ADDED: Turns out, according to an SPD summary, that the car attracted the officer’s attention because an Automated License Plate Reader detected its involvement in the alert.
Late last night, 911 reported “a lot of calls” about possible gunshots in the High Point area. They dispatched officers to look around the areas the calls came from. One officer radioed in that he found “evidence of fireworks.” We don’t usually report on “possible gunfire” reports that aren’t verified, unless we get questions about it; multiple people have asked us about it this morning, so in case you wondered too – that’s what they found. (Police consider gunfire verified if they find a victim, shell casings, property damage such as bullet hole(s), and/or if someone actually saw a person firing a gun.)
(WSB photo: Harbor Seal seen at Jack Block Park on Sunday)
Here’s what’s on our list for the hours ahead, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FREE TAX HELP: 11 am-4 pm drop-in help at Alki Masonic Center. (4736 40th SW)
BABY STORY TIME: Noon at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW). Free.
LEARN ABOUT SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE: 1 pm in-person South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) information session at Cascade Hall, northwest side of campus at 6000 16th SW. Full details and RSVP link in our calendar listing.
‘SOLUTIONS, NOT RESOLUTIONS’: Weekly speaker series continues with 1 pm presentation on “Tech for Health and Wellness” at Brookdale West Seattle (4611 35th SW). Our calendar listing explains how to RSVP.
SPEED-UP-SHELTER BRIEFING: During today’s 2 pm City Council briefing meeting, a team from the mayor’s office will present where Mayor Wilson’s plan to quickly expand shelter capacity is at. The agenda explains how to watch.
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; before you go, RSVP/register here. (4034 California SW)
MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA X 2: Two venues for trivia/quiz tonight! 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander) … 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way 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)
COMEDY AT OTTER ON THE ROCKS: 7 pm, with headliners Rodger Lizaola and Ariel Ehrlich. Our calendar listing has ticket info. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
POOL TOURNAMENT: Pool players! 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.
JAZZ AT THE ALLEY: Monday night music with The Westside Jazz Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
KARAOKE AT TALARICO’S: 9 pm Mondays, karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).
Big thanks to everybody who sends info for our calendar; if you have something to add or cancel (or update), please send the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
By Macey Wurm
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The 2026 Washington State Legislature session and the 2025-2026 biennium officially ended last Thursday (March 12). Since our last update, two additional bills primarily sponsored by your 34th District legislators – State Senator Emily Alvarado, House Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, and House Rep. Brianna Thomas – have been signed into law by Governor Bob Ferguson. Apart from these, five bills have been delivered to the governor’s desk, awaiting action.
SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
The following bills have been signed by Governor Ferguson are now considered session laws. This version is created by the Code Reviser’s Office, and is considered the law until the legislation is officially codified in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW).
HB 2367 – Rep. Fitzgibbon
Exempts emissions from a coal facility occurring before January 1, 2026 from the Cap-and-Invest Program. Makes it so that the limitation on state agencies creating more emission performance standards on a coal facility in operation before July 22, 2011 doesn’t apply after December 31, 2025 to a coal facility subject to the memorandum of agreement. Sales and use tax exemptions for coal purchased or used at a coal facility in operation after December 3, 1969 and before July 1, 1975 are repealed.
HB 2355 – Rep. Thomas
Creates labor protections for domestic workers including minimum wage and overtime requirements. Domestic workers include any employee or independent contractor working in a private residence for four or more hours a month. Allows domestic workers to bring a private cause of action under the Washington Law Against Discrimination in some instances.
HB 2303 – Rep. Thomas
Prohibits employers from microchipping employees. An employer cannot request, require, or coerce an employee to have a microchip implanted.
DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR
The following bills have been delivered to the governor’s desk but are awaiting action. Since they were delivered within five days of the end of the 2026 legislative session, the governor has 20 days from their delivery to take action. All of these bills were delivered to the governor on either March 11 or 12.
SB 6026 – Sen. Alvarado
Certain local governments must include residential development in commercial and mixed-use zones. Prohibits requirement for ground-floor commercial and mixed-use in these zones– subject to exceptions. Prohibits local governments from imposing ground floor commercial and mixed-use requirements on subsidized affordable housing.
SB 5911 – Sen. Alvarado
The Department of Children, Youth and Families cannot apply benefits, payments, funds, or accrual paid to or on behalf of young adults receiving extended foster care as of January 1, 2027. Aims to strengthen the financial stability of persons in the care of DCYF. Specifies when DCYF can assess whether someone is eligible for such benefits.
SB 6027 – Sen. Alvarado
Changes the allowable uses for local sales and use tax for housing and related services. Changes the eligible uses of funding in the Affordable Housing for All Account. Updates the definition of emergency housing for property tax exemptions for low-income persons or victims of domestic violence.
HB 2215 – Rep. Fitzgibbon
Reduces emissions threshold determining covered entity status and compliance obligation in the Cap-and-Invest Program for certain fuel suppliers starting January 1, 2027 for suppliers that began supplying fuels after Jan 1, 2023. Requires them to report emissions to the Department of Ecology. Prohibits state from awarding a procurement contract to certain fuel suppliers, with some exceptions.
HB 2251 – Rep. Fitzgibbon
Repeals three of the Climate Commitment Act funding accounts and replaces them with the Climate Commitment Act Operating Account and the Climate Commitment Act Capital Account. Renames the Carbon Emissions Reduction Account to the Climate Commitment Act Transportation Account. Makes changes to the use of CCA funding and distribution of revenue.
NEXT YEAR
The 2027 legislative session will be a regular session, lasting 105 days, compared to this year’s short session lasting just 60 days. The 2027 session will begin on January 11, marking the beginning of the next legislative biennium.
6:00 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Monday, March 16, 2026. Spring arrives Friday morning!
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
Rainy, breezy forecast – high in the mid-50s. Sunrise at 7:19 am; sunset at 7:16 pm.
1ST AVENUE S. BRIDGE REMINDER
All lanes are open again, both ways, but the speed limit remains 25 mph.
TRANSIT TODAY
West Seattle Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service, winter schedule through April 10.
Washington State Ferries – Check WSF’s alert page for any changes to the 3-boat schedule.
Metro buses – Regular weekday schedule and routes.
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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