West Seattle, Washington

23 Tuesday

46℉

Safety 1623 results

Followup: Stats on the California/Dawson “crosswalk sting”
July 28, 2009 2:00 pm
|      39 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(Monday photo by Kevin McClintic)
Thanks to City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen and his staffer Brian Hawksford (both West Seattleites, incidentally) for sharing a report they received on the Seattle Police “crosswalk sting” at California/Dawson yesterday (here’s our original report). Turns out it was one of two conducted in the city yesterday afternoon – the other one was earlier, on lower Queen Anne. Neither spot had been “worked before,” according to the report they forwarded, which includes this excerpt:

From 3 PM to 4 PM, the squad worked the crosswalk at California & Dawson. Here we wrote 16 pedestrian right of way citations, plus 7 proof of insurance, 3 expired tabs, 1 seat belt, 1 no front plate, and 1 green arrow, for a total of 29 citations. Additionally, we issued a pedestrian right of way warning.

As noted in yesterday’s report, 92-year-old Rosemary MacCorkindale was killed crossing at that same spot last fall. Between the two locations worked yesterday, the forwarded report says, 221 crossings were made in all — 133 by officers and 88 by citizens — and 14.5% resulted in citations. SPD says the operation showed a “need” for such enforcement at both locations, so they’ll likely be back.

Share This

West Seattle “crosswalk sting”: Stop for pedestrians, or else
July 27, 2009 6:08 pm
|      28 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle news

Thanks to Kevin for that photo from the crosswalk at California/Dawson (by Rite-Aid, south of The Junction) where several people tell us there was quite the police emphasis this afternoon. This is the same spot where a 92-year-old pedestrian was hit and killed last September. Kevin reports:

Here are a couple of pictures I got of a significant crosswalk sting at California and Dawson, the crosswalk in front of Rite Aid on Monday 7/27.

I had stopped at Rite Aid about 4 PM and noticed what was going on when I came back to my car.

They had about two patrol cars, four or five motorcycles, and two undercover cops. acting as pedestrians. Male and female decoy. Quite an elaborate setup! I even managed to help catch one vehicle myself as I grabbed a flag and stepped into the intersection on my way to talk to the cops! Too bad they did not stop for the flag. :( The officers I talked to said that people on the receiving end get more upset than speeders when ticketed.

There were evidently enough folks milling around watching that they decided to move their act further north and start in again fresh. They must have stopped at least a dozen cars during the time I was there. … You might want to empathize what the cops told me, in that you are REQUIRED to STOP if the pedestrian has STEPPED into the street. I suspect a lot of folks are not sure about the exact definition.

I should add that the decoys did not use the cross walk flags – which is more than fair since few intersections have them. I USED a flag and they went after the one that did not stop for me.

Before anyone considers an indignant comment – police have told us that reporting on “stings” like this – whether they’re pulling over speeders or patrolling school zones – is not seen as a hindrance to them; they would rather people just obey the law in the first place, and if a report about a sting gets them to do that, all the better. Meantime, we’ll try to find out how many tickets were issued. (Thanks also to Richard for his note about this via Facebook — find us there at facebook.com/westseattleblog — including the line: “The heat brings out The Heat!”)

Share This

West Seattle weekend scenes: 2 from Alki
July 19, 2009 3:56 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle news

Thanks to Ron Richardson for sharing photos from Saturday’s Alki Classic Car Show.

(Added later: Thanks to MargeC for these next two.)

(Missed it? No worries, the 2nd annual West Seattle Junction Car Show – co-sponsored by WSB – is going to be a biggie, and it’s just two months away – Sept. 20 – more info here.) Also from Alki, thumbs-up to the kids who got special “citations” from West Seattle Engine 29 firefighters visiting the beach on Friday:

(photos courtesy Seattle Fire Department)
The “citations” for kids found to be wearing their helmets property included coupons for free Subway sandwiches.

Share This

Alki Community Council: Guns in parks, plus: Paper or pixels?
July 17, 2009 7:41 am
|      24 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

From last night’s Alki Community Council meeting (held at Alki UCC because the Alki Community Center‘s closed till July 25th):

PARK GUN BAN? The ACC has sent city leaders a letter urging support for a ban on guns in parks. Even if it’s not the city’s jurisdiction – if that would have to go through the state Legislature, as was suggested after the mayor proposed such a ban last year – ACC’s Paul Carr says they hope the city would lobby strongly for a guns-in-parks ban. The ACC’s support for this is a result of discussions that followed the May 1st Alki shooting (photo at left). Carr stresses that this is not a challenge to individual gun-ownership rights – but if firearms can be off-limits in a particularly vulnerable public place like a school, he asks, why not parks?

Ahead: Paper or pixels? And politics … Read More

Share This

Happening today: Playground, “citations,” Fun Fest, coronation …
July 17, 2009 6:48 am
|    Comments Off on Happening today: Playground, “citations,” Fun Fest, coronation …
 |   Safety | West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival | West Seattle news

DELRIDGE PLAYGROUND-BUILDING DAY: As previewed here last night. It’s been less than four months since first word that a new playground at Delridge Community Center could happen largely thanks to donated materials, time and labor, and today’s the day, with hundreds of volunteers on site.

“SAFETY CITATIONS”: 10-11 am, firefighters from Engine 29 will be on Alki looking for kids wearing their helmets properly – and they’ll get “safety citations” good for free Subway sandwiches!

HIAWATHA FUN FEST: Noon-3 today at Hiawatha Community Center – games, activities, prizes.

WEST SEATTLE HI-YU JUNIOR COURT CORONATION: During the Fun Fest, starting around 12:45 pm, the new Hi-Yu Junior Court will be announced and coronated (look for the stage on the east lawn @ Hiawatha).

FREE GUIDED ECO-HIKE: Once a month, the West Seattle-based Nature Consortium< offers a free guided hike through the West Duwamish Greenbelt, where it works on forest restoration, and today’s the day – 1 pm, meet at trailhead at 14th SW/SW Holly (here’s a map; RSVP if you can to lisa@naturec.org).

Share This

Psssst, don’t tell the kids: Sandwich surprise tomorrow at Alki
July 16, 2009 5:35 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Safety | West Seattle news

Here’s hoping they don’t need the incentive to wear their helmets properly anyway – but just in case a little encouragement helps, the Seattle Fire Department says West Seattle’s own Engine 29 will be out on Alki between 10 and 11 am tomorrow, “handing out Safety Citations to children who are properly wearing their helmets. The program will continue through the summer at Fire Stations throughout the City. Each citation entitles the child to a free child-size sandwich at participating Subway locations. The goal of the program is to reduce the incidence of childhood head injuries.” Engine 29 is also scheduled to be in the West Seattle Grand Parade on Saturday.

Share This

SW District Council: Traffic-calming how-to, plus backyard cottages
July 16, 2009 4:13 am
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Development | Safety | Southwest District Council | Transportation | West Seattle news

The Southwest District Council usually meets the first Wednesday of the month but moved and shortened its meeting this month to combine with an SDOT presentation about neighborhood traffic calming – and that brought out more than a dozen extra attendees. At left, SDOT’s Christina Legazpi with a radar gun, which her colleague Jane Rebelowski explained is often the first tool to determine if your neighborhood really needs help. If you sign up and get at least four more people on your street to join you, you’ll be able to take a class on how to use a radar gun, which will be loaned to you. She suggests neighbors work in pairs to track how fast cars are going and what type of cars are seen speeding. They notch two hours of logged observations to gauge the speed problem. Then comes the next phase – SPD enforcement and/or installation of calming measures. They can include signs, humps, chicanes, chokers (chicanes right across from each other) … all explained here, all potentially funded by money you can apply for. So how effective are the various measures? she was asked – and: Why not put up more stop signs? She says the federal government outlaws simply using stop signs for traffic calming – and they’re easily ignored anyway. Some attendees said they’d applied for traffic calming and gotten turned down; Rebelowski said she’d take a look at the specifics of their applications. If you’re interested in finding out more about how to confirm whether your neighborhood has a problem, and then figure out what to do about it, e-mail her: jane.rebelowski@seattle.gov – and note that this year’s deadline to apply for projects like traffic circles is fast approaching, end of the month.

The group also heard from Andrea Petzel with the same presentation on “backyard cottages” that she gave to the Delridge District Council last month – the city is considering allowing them in more areas. One attendee asked if there would be a vote or whether the City Council would “just ram it down our throats.” Junction Neighborhood Organization president Erica Karlovits expressed concern about density; Petzel said the cottages would only be allowed on single-family lots, but Karlovits pointed out that in The Junction, single-family residences are in close proximity to the ongoing new high-density building. Petzel countered by saying the city planned a maximum of 50 permits per year and she didn’t think that would ultimately affect density. (According to the “backyard cottage” program website, they’ve been allowed in Southeast Seattle for three years, but only 18 permits have been sought.)

Share This

Sharrow-painting soon on Gatewood stretch of California SW
July 8, 2009 2:47 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Gatewood | Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

First of 2 road-work updates we have for you this afternoon: During Sustainable West Seattle‘s Bike-A-Palooza meeting in April (WSB coverage here), city rep Gina Coffman mentioned one of the next WS road stretches to get sharrows would be California SW between Fauntleroy and Thistle, and indeed, the prep work has begun: They’ve been roughed out this week along part of that stretch in Gatewood; we took the photo on the northbound side at Holden (map). “Sharrows” (full explanation here) indicate road stretches which bicyclists and drivers are supposed to share and have already been painted on several West Seattle arterials; to see where else they’re scheduled to go in the future, check the city’s Bicycle Master Plan – specifically, this map section (zoomable) shows what’s planned/proposed for West Seattle streets.

Share This

Bike Smart Seattle: West Seattle events about to kick off
July 5, 2009 7:26 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

(4/22 photo from Sustainable West Seattle “Bike-A-Palooza” at Camp Long)
When we covered the Sustainable West Seattle “Bike-A-Palooza” meeting in April (story here), speakers included a Cascade Bicycle Club rep who mentioned that the annual Bike Smart Seattle program would include West Seattle events this summer. Postcards for this city-sponsored program have since arrived in West Seattle mailboxes, and now the events are beginning. From the Bike Smart Seattle calendar page, here’s the July list:

Tuesday 7/7, 6:30 pm: Basic Bike Maintenance Clinic, Southwest Community Center
Saturday 7/11, 11:30 am: Sweet Summer Cycle Ride, leaves from Alki Beach Park
Friday 7/17, 11 am: Helmet sale during Hiawatha Fun Festival, Hiawatha Community Center
Sunday 7/19, 10 am: Women’s ride to Olympic Sculpture Park, leaves from Alki Beach Park
Tuesday 7/21, 6:30 pm: Intro to Commuting Clinic, Southwest Community Center
Saturday 7/25, 10 am-2 pm: Helmet sale during Alki Art Fair
Saturday 7/25, 10 am: Around and Around Alki Ride, leaves from Alki Beach Park
Sunday 7/26, 10 am: Kids and Parents Ride Clinic, Southwest Community Center
Sunday 7/26: 12:30 pm: Family Ride to Lincoln Park, leaves from Alki

Browse the calendar to see the August and September events in West Seattle (and events elsewhere for the entire summer, too); you can also become a fan of Bike Smart Seattle via this page on Facebook (and be sure to look us up on FB at facebook.com/westseattleblog).

Share This

Holiday safety: Protect West Seattle forests – by visiting them
July 3, 2009 1:57 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Holidays | Safety | West Seattle news

thetrail.jpg

(2008 WSB photo from West Duwamish Greenbelt)
A different twist on holiday fire prevention, shared by Sheila Brown from Camp Long:

Fireworks and Our Urban Forests: West Seattleites Can Help

West Seattle has 800 acres of urban forest, fully 1/3 of the forests of all Seattle. Many of the forests have active volunteers restoring and maintaining them for present and future generations, led by Forest Stewards in the Green Seattle Partnership network. Our Forest Stewards would like your help in preventing fires this holiday.

Take a walk in an urban forest this weekend, get out of the heat and enjoy. And while you’re out there, keep an eye out for smoke or other signs of fire danger. The more people use our trails, the less likely mischief makers will set off illegal fireworks.

Fireworks pose a fire hazard to property and present a safety risk to those who use them. Every year the Seattle Fire Department responds to fireworks-related fires and injuries. Each and every one of these incidents could have been prevented.

Private use, sale, or possession of fireworks is prohibited in the City of Seattle. Make the right choice, the safe choice and leave fireworks to the professionals. If you want to include fireworks in your July Fourth celebration, plan to attend a public display, such as those scheduled for discharge over Lake Union.

On the 4th of July, 9-1-1 centers become overloaded with non-emergency fireworks calls. DO NOT call 9-1-1 unless you have a life-threatening emergency and need immediate help from police, fire or medics. Unnecessary 9-1-1 calls block people with real emergencies from reaching 9-1-1. Any fireworks-related fires or injuries should be reported directly to 9-1-1.

Fireworks violations may be reported by calling the Seattle Police non-emergency number (206) 625-5011.

“Fireworks are a huge risk for starting an unintentional fire,” said M.J. Harvie, Aviation and Fire Staff Officer. Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds the public to be aware of any fire restrictions in place around the state due to the rising fire danger. Because the weather is warming up and vegetation is drying out, fires can ignite quickly.

As the busy Fourth of July holiday approaches, the forest professionals would like to remind everyone that fireworks of any kind are prohibited on public lands. “Each year there are instances of fires caused by fireworks in the forest,” said Forest Supervisor Jose Linares.

Share This

8 days till July 4th: Rules for fireworks, and where to see them
June 26, 2009 5:09 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | Safety | West Seattle news | White Center

Driving through White Center this afternoon, we noticed fireworks stands like that one set up in a few spots. In unincorporated King County and the few other places where personal fireworks are still legal, they go on sale at noon Sunday, but you’re only allowed to use them 9 am-midnight on July 4th (except for Normandy Park, where the use period is the same as the sales period). Here’s the full King County list of fireworks rules – note they are banned in Seattle and in Burien, which is relevant to part of White Center, since that means a change if the “North Highline South Annexation” proposal passes in the August 18th election. And if somehow you haven’t heard, reminder, NO Elliott Bay fireworks on the Fourth, since Ivar’s canceled them; if you’re still trying to decide where to go instead, here’s the full statewide list of fireworks shows.

Share This

From partner site White Center Now: Crime update, and more
June 26, 2009 1:36 am
|    Comments Off on From partner site White Center Now: Crime update, and more
 |   Crime | Delridge | Safety | White Center

Just published at White Center Now, our roundup from Thursday night’s South Delridge/White Center Community Safety Coalition meeting. The headlines: Crime’s not the same on both sides of the line; White Center’s getting a walking map; and the group bids one of its leaders goodbye. Story and photos here.

Share This

Police responding to trouble spots around Alki, Admiral tonight
June 19, 2009 9:44 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle news

We’ve mentioned this on Twitter (where we sometimes post short bursts — police scanner traffic, etc. – that may never become full WSB stories) and been asked about it on Facebook, so it seems like it’s now worth a note here too: Police have responded to several trouble reports tonight on Alki and Schmitz Park; one of the Alki cases reportedly involved teenagers beating up at least one other teen, and there was also a report of some teens getting pepper-sprayed, with two of them turning up in Starbucks. No serious injuries that we have heard of so far but if this is any relation to the end of school, police did say at the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting earlier this week that they had a plan not only for campus today, but for gathering spots tonight. Still, they’ve said it frequently – if you see anything that looks like trouble brewing, call 911.

Share This

Safety at the beach: Alki Community Council action plan
June 19, 2009 12:06 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Safety | West Seattle news

(Photo taken mid-May along Alki Avenue)
As we reported from the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting Tuesday night, police say things have been quieter on Alki in the month and a half since the May 1 shooting, but the Alki Community Council is taking nothing for granted. Following up on last month’s discussion with Southwest Precinct police leaders, the ACC held a “working meeting” last night to follow up on public-safety issues, and has come up with an action plan – including some components with which you can help. ACC officer Paul Carr has just published a summary to the ACC e-mail group – read on:Read More

Share This

Use your iPhone, save a life: New CPR/choking info app
June 9, 2009 11:30 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Health | Not WS but we're mentioning it anyway | Safety

If you have an iPhone (or Android), the county Health Department has come up with an app(lication) you can add to it to have handy in case of emergency – apparently it’s been out for a while so you may have it already, but if not, read on for the newly issued reminder:Read More

Share This

Monitoring the “Whole Foods hole”: Citizen Q, city A
June 6, 2009 10:56 pm
|      36 COMMENTS
 |   Development | Safety | West Seattle news

While much of the attention regarding the stalled Whole Foods development at Fauntleroy/Alaska/39th has focused on what will happen to, and in, the huge hole – one WSBer has been worrying about the road alongside the hole. She contacted the city to express her concerns and wanted to share the e-mail she received, regarding how it’s being monitored — read on:Read More

Share This

West Seattle Weather Watch: Protecting your pets from heat
June 3, 2009 10:36 am
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Pets | Safety | West Seattle news

You may have heard some of this before but it’s vital to hear again when we’re in a situation like today/tomorrow with near-record heat expected (here’s the latest forecast) – the Seattle Animal Shelter has sent out words of warning – not only is it the right thing to do, but it’s a crime if you DON’T protect your pet – read on (P.S. that’s WSB mascot Miles sunbathing at left):Read More

Share This

Seattle Public Library proposes changing “rules of conduct”
May 21, 2009 2:28 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle news

With four Seattle Public Library branches in West Seattle, it’s likely a lot of people will want to know about this – so we’re sharing the announcement just in from SPL re: proposed “rules of conduct” changes (with a public hearing set for next week). If you remember a WSB Forums thread about someone who said they got in trouble for taking off their shoes in a local library, one of the rule changes will be of note:Read More

Share This

Delridge problem properties: 1 permit, 1 councilmember update
May 16, 2009 2:02 pm
|    Comments Off on Delridge problem properties: 1 permit, 1 councilmember update
 |   Delridge | Safety | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

Six weeks after two city councilmembers joined a Delridge delegation on a tour of problem properties – long-vacant houses used by squatters, or otherwise threatening neighborhood health and safety (WSB coverage is here and here) – we have two updates. First, 4117 Delridge (map) – where we got the above video clip during the April 3 tour, with North Delridge Neighborhood Council‘s Mike Dady talking about the frustration that site has caused him for years – now has a demolition permit, issued just yesterday. (We saw a work crew at the site earlier today, though no backhoe in sight.) The permit says demolition will resolve a DPD case. Meanwhile, one of the councilmembers who joined in the tour, Sally Clark, mentioned her action plan in her monthly newsletter that’s just been e-mailed out:

… As a result of the neighborhood’s advocacy we will be looking at a change in the land use code to allow quicker demolition of a single family house. Right now you can’t demolish unless you have a plan and permit to rebuild. This concept makes sense in protecting housing stock and should be retained for multi-family areas. In single-family zones the requirement prevents owners who want to do the right thing from removing derelict homes. It’s not a perfect solution. I would rather see these houses reclaimed and lived in, but for some neighbors the wait for the perfect solution has already been too long. Watch for PLUNC to take up this idea this summer. If you’d like more information or have feedback about the idea of allowing demolition of single-family homes without a new building permit in hand, please contact me.

Here’s Councilmember Clark’s contact info; PLUNC is the Planning, Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee that she chairs — track its meetings and agendas here. Councilmember Tim Burgess was on the tour too and promised at the time to pursue a proposal to make property owners more accountable, though it hasn’t come up yet before the Public Safety (etc.) committee he chairs.

Share This

“Walking celebrity” joins Highland Park walk to Sanislo Elementary
May 12, 2009 9:35 am
|    Comments Off on “Walking celebrity” joins Highland Park walk to Sanislo Elementary
 |   Highland Park | Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

That’s a photo we took outside Sanislo Elementary just before the morning bell today; at left is Jen Cole from the pedestrian-advocacy group Feet First, and at right, the man she describes as a “walking celebrity,” Mark Fenton from the PBS series “America’s Walking.” He joined a group of Sanislo families and Highland Park neighbors in a “walking school bus” this morning, traveling more than a mile from 11th/Thistle to Sanislo @ 21st/Myrtle, and then talked with students and parents outside the school. Along the route were a couple of crossings that have been high on local radar for safety improvements, including 12th/Holden in front of Highland Park Improvement Club – here’s our video as we crossed that busy route to and from eastern West Seattle:

While at that crossing, Highland Park Action Committee chair Dan Mullins, who was along for part of the walk, pointed out it’s one of the spots where HPAC’s new Traffic Committee (WSB story here) is working on safety improvements — that’s him on the left side of this next photo from the start of the walk:

You can see Fenton speak at Union Station downtown (map) tonight, 6 pm, during an event as part of the city’s Pedestrian Master Plan launch, spearheaded by SDOT (whose Jennifer Wieland joined this morning’s walk too).

Share This

Tomorrow night: WSHS musical, SNAP in Fauntleroy, fire heroes
May 6, 2009 1:26 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Safety | West Seattle people | West Seattle schools

Wanted to get you advance reminders of three big things happening tomorrow night, starting with this: The photo is from one of the final rehearsals of “Merrily We Roll Along,” the West Seattle High School student musical that opens tomorrow night. Marketing manager Sumeet Chadha sends this info too:

West Seattle High School Drama Club has been hard at work over the past few months putting together an adaption of Merrily We Roll Along. This musical features a variety of talented students singing, dancing, and performing at their best. If you haven’t checked out a West Seattle High School Production, now is the time to be pleasantly surprised at what high school theater is capable of.

“Merrily We Roll Along” shows for the following two weekends: May 7, 8, 9, 15, 16 at 7:30
Special Benefit Performance: May 14th at 8:00
$5.00 with reservation, $10.00 at the door. For tickets call: 206-252-8834
Performances at:
WSHS Theater, 3000 California Ave SW

ALSO TOMORROW – SNAP IN FAUNTLEROY: 6:30 pm is the time, Fauntleroy Church is the place, find out how to be ready for anything, as the Fauntleroy Community Association presents a free preparedness workshop with Seattle Neighborhoods Actively Prepare.

LAST BUT BY ABSOLUTELY NO MEANS LEAST – FIRE DEPARTMENT HONORS HEROES: Tomorrow night in the Bertha Knight Landes Room at City Hall downtown, the Seattle Fire Department holds its annual awards ceremony. Recipients include a West Seattle-residing firefighter/paramedic whose story we brought you earlier this spring, Dave Pedras (read that story here).

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch: Protecting yourself
April 30, 2009 5:10 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Safety | West Seattle news

The Southwest Precinct Public Safety Newsletter is out, and it includes burglary and scam prevention tips – read on:Read More

Share This

Happening now: WestSide Baby car-seat inspections/recycling
April 29, 2009 10:12 am
|    Comments Off on Happening now: WestSide Baby car-seat inspections/recycling
 |   Not WS but we're mentioning it anyway | Safety

The photos are courtesy of WestSide Baby’s Nancy Woodland, who’s at IKEA in Renton right now for the car-seat safety event that her group is co-sponsoring till 1 pm – first photo, the cars lined up as it began an hour ago, photo below, the car seats that had been brought in for recycling. If you can make it to Renton and are interested, full details are in our original preview on partner site White Center Now.

Share This