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Beach Drive slides: City Council committee to be briefed
January 22, 2011 2:28 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from 12/12/2010)
With two major slides in the past year (January 2010 and December 2010) and a constantly wet, rutted road – with side effects like this recent ice sheet – the 6000-6200 block of Beach Drive has yet to find a permanent solution to the slope-vs.-street problem. Two city departments are involved, along with homeowners, and we’ll get the city’s latest take on it Tuesday – SDOT director Peter Hahn and DPD director Diane Sugimura are scheduled to brief the City Council’s Transportation Committee (chaired by West Seattle-residing Councilmember Tom Rasmussen) on the Beach Drive slide situation. The meeting is set for 9:30 am Tuesday at City Hall; if you can’t be there, you can watch live online at seattlechannel.org, or on cable channel 21.

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West Seattle Crime Prevention Council: Surprise!
January 19, 2011 1:20 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Crime Prevention Council: Surprise!
 |   Crime | Safety | Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Council | West Seattle news

“Welcome to 2011!” With that, West Seattle Crime Prevention Council president Dot Beard opened last night’s meeting at the Southwest Precinct, the first WSCPC meeting in two months – and her last one as president. As the meeting began, more than 15 people were on hand, not counting three uniformed SPD reps – Lt. Pierre Davis and Community Police Team Officers Jonathan Kiehn and Ken Mazzuca – plus soon-to-retire Crime Prevention Coordinator Benjamin Kinlow. Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen joined in time to deliver his assessment of the latest West Seattle crime trends – which included at least one surprise. That and other meeting toplines, after the jump:Read More

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Longtime Block Watch leader in West Seattle? This one’s for you
January 13, 2011 9:59 pm
|    Comments Off on Longtime Block Watch leader in West Seattle? This one’s for you
 |   Crime | Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

If you’ve long been involved with the Block Watch program in West Seattle – or know someone who has – there’s a special call out for you tonight, from the WS Blockwatch Captains’ Network, looking ahead to its next meeting – which also extends a special invitation to those wanting to say farewell to retiring Crime Prevention Coordinator Benjamin Kinlow (here’s our Tuesday report on his impending retirement):

What’s the History of Blockwatch in West Seattle? Are you part of the history? Do you know part of the history?

When: Tuesday, January 25, 2011 6:30-8
Where: SW Precinct 2300 S.W. Webster (Delridge & Webster)
Agenda: 6:00-6:30 Socializing and networking during setup
6:30-7:00 WSBWCN news and updates, crime prevention tip of the month
7:00-8:00 History of Blockwatch in West Seattle with Benjamin Kinlow
Open forum for sharing historical information, blockwatch stories and thanking Benjamin.
8:00-8:30 Socializing & networking during teardown.

Featured speaker: Retiring Crime Prevention Coordinator Benjamin Kinlow

The topic of our January meeting is focused on the history of block watch in West Seattle. Benjamin Kinlow who has many years of experience in blockwatch will regale us with his stories of how things used to be, how they have evolved and talk about some highlights of his career. We invite everyone in West Seattle who has participated in blockwatchs over the years to come say goodbye to Benjamin, hear about the history of blockwatch and bring their blockwatch stories to share. Especially if you have stories relating to working with Benjamin and how he has helped you with your blockwatch it would be great to send him off to retirement with a few stories he might have forgotten!

We are trying to round up historical memorabilia and/or photos of blockwatch history in West Seattle that we could scan and put in a slide show so if you have something please get in touch. E-mail: wsblockwatchnet@gmail.com or call 206-424-0040 and leave a message.

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Another car vs. bicycle crash, this time on 35th SW
January 13, 2011 12:34 pm
|      46 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle news

(Photo added 12:47 pm)
Second crash today involving a bicyclist and car colliding while both were in motion. This one just happened on 35th at SW Willow (map). We are at the scene, where only one northbound lane of 35th is blocked at this point. According to scanner traffic, the 41-year-old bicyclist is being taken to the hospital by a Medic unit – medics said he was not wearing a helmet and that he “T-boned” a vehicle while he was going about 30 mph and the minivan about 20. His injuries were described as possible facial fractures and a left arm injury. Our crew at the scene says the vehicle was a minivan and the driver is OK.

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About those potholes: ‘Much greater problem,’ says Rasmussen
January 13, 2011 10:02 am
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

(1/3/11 High Point-area photo by Deanie Schwarz)
As evidenced in discussions like this and this, potholes are on almost everyone’s mind as we roll down the rutted roads of West Seattle. After hearing the subject came up during the City Council Transportation Committee‘s meeting the other day, we asked the committee’s chair, West Seattle-residing Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, about his take on the holes we love to hate (and wish would get filled). He wrote this reply for WSB (in other words, for you):

All about Potholes and Road Maintenance
Tom Rasmussen
Seattle City Council

When he first became Mayor, Greg Nickels made potholes a priority. His goal was to have them filled within 48 hours of a complaint.

While his goal was laudable, and helped in the short term, the reality is that potholes are a symptom of a much greater problem which is that our roads are deteriorating and the City is not able to keep up with the need to properly maintain them.

On Tuesday, at the City Council Transportation Committee meeting, I asked Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) director Peter Hahn to tell us what the department is doing to repair potholes. You can view the meeting here:

We were told that SDOT has a backlog of about 500 pothole reports compared to the average of 200. Today the new goal of SDOT is to fill potholes within 72 hours.

Because of the backlog, the number of pothole crews was increased from three to nine in December. SDOT has a permanent street maintenance crew based in Lincoln Park that repairs potholes everyday in West Seattle. For this season’s emphasis, one of the added crews will go to West Seattle three to four times a week. The additional crews will continue their work at least through January.

Mr. Hahn stated that “potholes are a symptom” of deferred maintenance. When maintenance is deferred the deteriorating surface allows water to undermine the roadbed. Freeze and thaw conditions create breaks resulting in potholes. This winter has had such conditions.

Mr. Hahn pointed out that spot repairs don’t last very long and will have to be redone multiple times. SDOT is looking at a more enduring way of filling potholes with new equipment which it has tested last year.

Seattle does not have sufficient funds to maintain and repair its streets adequately. In 2006 with the passage of the nine-year, Bridging the Gap levy an additional $365 million became available for transportation maintenance and repairs.

However, since 2008, because of the recession, SDOT has experienced a significant drop in its traditional revenues sources. State Gas Tax revenue has declined by 2% and the General Fund (comprised of sales tax, property taxes, B&O taxes and utility taxes) has declined 21% and Real Estate Excise Tax has declined by 60%.

SDOT’s non-Bridging the Gap revenues (adjusted for inflation) have declined from $81 million in 2008 to $59.7 million in 2010. A decline of 26%.

To help meet the need to maintain our streets the City Council last fall approved the creation of a Transportation Benefit District and approved a $20 vehicle license fee. The vehicle license fee will go into effect this spring and will raise about $6.5 million annually for street repairs and maintenance and other transportation needs.

Please report any potholes or other street maintenance needs you may see by calling the ROAD line at (206) 684-ROAD (7623) or by using the online form at seattle.gov/transportation/potholereport.htm. Those contact methods get the information to Street Maintenance dispatch more directly than other methods.

If you have questions or comments, please write me at tom.rasmussen@seattle.gov

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City Light says 3 spots ‘giving off voltage’ found in West Seattle
January 3, 2011 8:18 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | Utilities | West Seattle news

Two companies hired by Seattle City Light are continuing citywide testing for potentially dangerous electrical current, ever since a dog was electrocuted on Queen Anne, and another dog’s behavior helped authorities find an “energized” pole in High Point (as reported December 8th). City Light has been publishing frequent updates on its Power Lines website, and tonight’s update brings word of three spots detected in West Seattle:

# a streetlight pole and utility hole cover near 56th Avenue SW and SW Bradford Street [map] with 103 volts. A crew repaired a connector that was touching the pole and energizing it.

# a water cap near Fauntleroy Way SW and SW Edmunds Street [map] with 97 volts. Power was cut off and crews are determining the cause to begin work on a repair.

# a utility hole cover near Marine View Drive SW and 42nd Avenue SW [map] with 84 volts. Power was cut off and crews are determining the cause to begin work on a repair.

In all, the city says it has found 12 cases of “contact voltage” around the city so far, including these three and the one in High Point, and has tested 18 percent of streetlights and “associated facilities.”

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Update: SDOT working to de-ice West Seattle trouble spots
January 3, 2011 1:09 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

In addition to the pothole-repair crews that have been out in West Seattle this morning (see our update here), SDOT tells us deicing work is under way on three major trouble spots from this morning. First, Highland Park Way – SDOT’s Marybeth Turner says they’re using brine and salt to work on ice that she says resulted from water that flowed down the hill when a nearby business’s sump pump broke. They’re hoping to reopen the lane as soon as possible. De-icing crews also have hit the dangerous patches on West Marginal Way. And they’re tackling the ugly patch on Beach Drive SW that we showed here yesterday – Turner says, “It will take several applications.” P.S. If you encounter a serious road hazard, whether it’s major ice, deep pothole, or something else, the city hotline is 206-684-ROAD.

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Update: West Seattle potholes fixed at site a driver warned about
January 3, 2011 5:22 am
|      24 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

(UPDATED 11:56 AM – scroll down for photos of pothole crew in the area)

If you’ll be driving Sylvan Way/Orchard between High Point and Delridge today – Gary sent that photo to warn you about the potholes by Home Depot‘s north entrance: “Watch out as this caused damage to my vehicle over the weekend.” That area’s apparently been rut city for awhile; this WSB Forums thread started by mentioning it two weeks ago. As noted here in storm last month, many West Seattle potholes lost their fill in the recordsetting mid-December rainfall; driving many major West Seattle streets this morning, we noticed that Alki/Harbor Avenue shows signs of recent repairs. But more may be on the way, according to this story by Mike Lindblom of the Seattle Times (WSB partner) – he reports the city’s adding pothole-repair crews starting today to deal with a major backlog resulting from more than a thousand December reports!

11:56 AM UPDATE: WSB contributor Deanie Schwarz says the “Pothole Rangers” went this morning to the area shown above – she caught up with them along another spot of Sylvan Way:

She says it looks like they filled most of the holes along a significant stretch from Home Depot westward. Reminder – to report a pothole or other serious road hazard, the city hotline is 206-684-ROAD. You can also make a report online.

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West Seattle Weather Watch: Beware of persistent road ice
January 2, 2011 12:30 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

People who live in the 6000-6200 block of Beach Drive (map), by the slope that’s seen two slides in the past year, put out the alert on this; we went by for a photo, and it truly is the worst icy patch we’ve seen so far – it stretches a ways, and there’s a bend to its south, so you might come hurtling along without knowing you’re about to hit a long icy patch covering the entire road. This spot is shady all day long, too, because of the slope on one side and trees on the other, so until the air warms in a big way, it may not melt much. Wherever you go, beware ice – especially on the roadsides – almost anywhere in the shade. Rain and temperatures in the 40s may return Tuesday, per the newest forecast. P.S. (added 2:45 pm) Weather-related reminder: There’s a Stage 1 burn ban right now, which means no fires in your fireplace or wood stove unless you have no other way to keep warm, and also means no outdoor fires (beach, or otherwise).

ADDED 10:34 PM: We don’t know yet if it’s been blamed on the ice, but there’s been a crash within the past half-hour on that exact stretch of Beach Drive – reported as 5900 block, with scanner traffic discussing the significant ice on the road. No serious injuries reported.

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Pedestrian taken to hospital, driver cited in Morgan Junction crash
December 21, 2010 9:13 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle news

We finally have key details on a Fauntleroy/California car-vs.-pedestrian crash this afternoon that several people e-mailed to ask about, almost all worrying that “it looked bad.” Seattle Fire had told us they didn’t take anyone to the hospital – but their records didn’t indicate whether that meant “nobody went to the hospital” or “private ambulance took someone to the hospital.” Tonight, Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams just found that information for us: He says a private ambulance did take the pedestrian to the hospital (which usually means the injuries were *not* life-threatening). He also says the driver who hit the pedestrian was “cited for right-of-way at crosswalk.”

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City Light: No further ‘contact voltage’ found in High Point
December 14, 2010 9:50 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | Utilities | West Seattle news

Seattle City Light just sent a late-night news release with an update on streetlight inspections following last week’s discovery of “contact voltage” by a light in High Point (reported by HP’s Wendy Hughes-Jelen after her dog and another one behaved oddly around it, and following the Thanksgiving contact-voltage electrocution of a dog): 270 more poles were checked in High Point and Greenbridge (a similar development in White Center), and no further cases of contact voltage turned up, according to the news release. But three cases were found in neighborhoods east of downtown. SCL says it’s figuring out whether it can speed up the citywide inspections that were to be done by May.

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Lincoln Park trail closed because of slide concern
December 13, 2010 5:20 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Hope you’re not going for a walk in Lincoln Park in this weather – but if you were planning on it, you might reconsider. One of the uphill trails is closed tonight, according to Seattle Parks‘ Joelle Hammerstad, “out of concern that it may slide.” West Seattle geologist and photographer Trileigh Tucker pointed out the problem, and took the photo above, showing what she described in e-mail to Parks as “a new ground crack, about 5-6 meters long, along the west side of Trail #3, which leads gradually up from Colman Pool to the bluff.” Parks sent an inspector, and what he saw led them to cordon off the area; Hammerstad says a parks engineer will go out tomorrow for a closer look at the situation.

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How would West Seattle survive a disaster with no hospital?
December 9, 2010 8:07 pm
|      26 COMMENTS
 |   Health | Safety | West Seattle news

By Jack Mayne
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

West Seattle residents and civic leaders met Wednesday to discuss what would happen if an earthquake or other disaster cut off the community from the rest of Seattle and its hospitals and other emergency facilities – considering there’s been no hospital here for some 20 years.

The “Hospital Without Walls” meeting at Delridge Community Center was sponsored by Senior Services of Seattle/King County, the non-profit that runs several area senior centers and other senior services.

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City Light finds West Seattle problem after QA dog death
December 8, 2010 7:56 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | Utilities | West Seattle news

You might have heard about the dog electrocuted on Queen Anne because of an “energized metal plate” over a streetlight power vault. Tonight, Seattle City Light reveals that a subsequent call from a worried High Point resident led them to a malfunctioning streetlight. From an SCL media advisory tonight:

“We received a call from a customer who believed that a streetlight in her neighborhood may not be working properly,” says Superintendent of City Light Jorge Carrasco. “Crews investigated the streetlight on Tuesday, found that there were exposed wires in the lamphead and immediately repaired it. There was no damage or injury associated with this malfunctioning streetlight.”

According to tonight’s advisory, Carrasco will brief the media tomorrow on the utility’s plans to check the system’s 20,000 metal streetlight poles and 10,000 metal streetlight-vault covers, and to fix any that need repairs. Meantime, if you suspect any kind of trouble with a streetlight – even if it’s just burned out – the city has long had a reporting system set up: Find the online form and phone number here.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Staying safer this holiday season
December 7, 2010 7:42 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

The Southwest Precinct sends holiday greetings and a wish for a (continued) low-crime season. Toward that end, precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen asked if we would share an SPD-provided list of holiday-specific crime-prevention tips with you. Even if you’re sure you’ve heard them all before – take another look. You’ll find the full list after the jump:

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West Seattle Weather Watch: On a slope? Be landslide-aware
November 15, 2010 3:06 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(WSB photos by Ellen Cedergreen)
With November so far being rainier than average – never mind that still-out-there possibility of snow showers this weekend! – the city wants people in landslide-prone areas to be on high alert (here’s one way the risk is tracked). This morning, they invited the media to an Admiral home for a demonstration of landslide-preparedness do’s and don’ts. Ellen Cedergreen was there for WSB; she reports that, in the top photo, Seattle Public Utilities landslide expert Bill Benzer is demonstrating the importance of keeping drains cleared – stormwater that has no place to go can run down slopes, adding to the landslide risk. Clearing drains tops this list of what to do:

1. Maintain drainage system (pipes, ditches, etc., on your property and keep street drains free of leaves and debris.
2. Direct stormwater away from steep slopes, if possible.
3. Perform periodic inspections of property before winter and during storms, keeping safety as the #1 concern.
4. Check weep holes on walls and keep them open.
5. Be alert during and following storms.
6. If you have an irrigation system, shut if off and check it out seasonally.
7. Keep fill and yard waste off slopes.
8. Leave stumps in ground on slopes
9. Call a professional if you have questions or a problem.

Part of the drainage check – annually checking downspouts for blockages:

Meantime, the landslide “don’ts”:

1) Don’t direct storm or other water onto a slope
2) Don’t denude vegetation on slope without a re-vegetation plan
3) Don’t cut into the toe (or bottom) of a slope.
4) Don’t remove tree stumps from slopes.
5) Don’t install a permanent irrigation system in landslide-prone areas
6) Don’t put fill or yard debris on a steep slope.

According to a study discussed at today’s event, 86 percent of landslides have some human involvement: broken pipes, uncontrolled storm water, excavating and filling holes. The city is taking a more active role in prevention since 1996-1997, when more than 300 landslides were reported, and no matter what kind of winter weather you’re facing, be ready! From the “Take Winter by Storm” campaign, Cornell Amaya showed off his emergency-preparedness backpack:

What should be in your kit? Here are some ideas (and don’t forget all the great resources at West Seattle Be Prepared). And you can get more tips about landslide awareness and prevention by going to a free city-sponsored workshop (previously mentioned here) that’s coming up on December 4th at South Seattle Community College‘s Judge Warren and Nobie Chan Education Center (across from the north parking lot), 10 am-noon.

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West Seattle scenes: Crosswalk countdown; market sign
November 4, 2010 4:51 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   High Point | Safety | West Seattle news

Two photos from a jaunt out-and-about during this spectacularly sunny afternoon: While we were in The Junction checking on a few things, Michael from Liberty Bell Printing pointed out that the crosswalk signals at Walk-All-Ways have been switched to the increasingly common “countdown” style – so now you know exactly how long you have to scamper diagonally (or otherwise) to the other side. Meantime, in High Point:

Thanks to Jake for sending word that the sign’s up for the market going into a spot on property owned by Hans’ VW at 35th and Graham. We reported on the new market three months ago, when support was being sought for a “change of use” permit to make it possible. We will keep checking to see if we can find out how soon it’s likely to open.

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Update: Downtown rescue ending, streets reopen
November 4, 2010 3:44 pm
|    Comments Off on Update: Downtown rescue ending, streets reopen
 |   Not WS but we're mentioning it anyway | Safety

3:44 PM: Various citywide news sources are going into the details of this more deeply than we will. Suffice it to say if you haven’t already heard: Public-safety personnel have closed off (this is changing rapidly) parts of 3rd, 4th, and 5th near the county courthouse and jail on the south end of downtown; they have been trying to rescue a woman who at least at one point was threatening to jump, and has walked atop the skybridge between the two buildings. The street closures are affecting bus routes as well. We will add information here if anything changes.

(For anyone needing help – 206-461-3222 is the 24-hour Crisis Clinic hotline.)

4:43 PM: Onscene reports via Twitter say the woman has been rescued. Metro alerts say streets are open again and buses returning to normal.

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Seattle city budget: Police Department up for discussion tomorrow
November 1, 2010 2:47 pm
|    Comments Off on Seattle city budget: Police Department up for discussion tomorrow
 |   Crime | Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle police | West Seattle politics

Three weeks till the Seattle City Council is expected to take its final vote on next year’s budget, with whatever changes they make to the original proposal that Mayor Mike McGinn presented five weeks ago. Next Budget Committee meeting is tomorrow – and one of the agenda items involves reviewing specific parts of the Police Department’s budget, including one that’s been of particular interest in communities including West Seattle – the Crime Prevention Coordinators’ status. The mayor’s proposal would eliminate three of the seven coordinators citywide; those coordinators are civilian employees who handle a wide variety of programs dealing directly with the public, including Block Watch and the annual Night Out. If you have something to say about this (or any other aspect of the city budget), this page includes a variety of ways to do that; meantime, tomorrow’s all-day budget hearing is scheduled to focus on SPD at about 3:15 pm (here’s the all-day agenda).

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Worried about aircraft flying low over West Seattle? New petition
October 31, 2010 3:06 pm
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   Highland Park | Safety | West Seattle news

We’ve covered discussion of this concern at recent Highland Park Action Committee meetings – and now HPAC is circulating an online petition. Received from HPAC chair Dan Mullins, with this explanatory text:

Please help keep our West Seattle neighborhoods safe
Stop dangerously low-flying aircraft.

The residents of south West Seattle are very concerned about neighborhood safety and insist that the FAA require pilots using King County Airport (Boeing Field) to follow the federal regulations with regard to required minimum altitude.

Please join us in demanding that King County Airport work with the pilots and the FAA to ensure that planes are operated in accordance with all current federal safety regulations.

Please click on the link below and sign our on-line petition and then forward this letter to your members and neighbors.

Here’s the petition link; if you click through to the site, you’ll also see more details of what the neighborhood is saying about low-flying aircraft. (We’re also checking with HPAC regarding what’s the next step – after this petition, what they hope to do next.)

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Bring back the graffiti officer, and other proposals from new group
October 27, 2010 10:03 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Safety | West Seattle news

A new citywide group has formed to try to get the city’s public-safety plans aligned with community priorities. The group is called Community Leaders for Public Safety, and one of its founding members, West Seattle’s Pete Spalding, shared its proposal with WSB. On the list – a strategy to fight graffiti vandalism, including bringing back the Seattle Police graffiti detective position.Here’s the full list of the CLPS priorities – remember, these are citywide, but many are certainly applicable to West Seattle:

Seattle Public Safety Initiative

Facilities
* Find a suitable alternative for Rainier Beach Community Center during the two-year closure, such as Rainier Beach High School, with a seamless transition to ensure continuity for critical programs.
* Fund the North Precinct facility. If existing building cannot be fixed, the precinct should move to a site like the Seattle School District facility on Wilson and Pacific. Parking for employees and the public must factor into the decision.
* Re-examine neighborhood substations and drop-in centers.

Community Policing
* Prioritize community policing in training programs and best police practices.
* Develop neighborhood engagement strategies so officers understand a place and its people. Reimplement Neighborhood Action Teams. Ensure that the City’s neighborhood plans reflect public safety principles, and that the City of Seattle honors the neighborhood plans.
* Fund current Crime Prevention Coordinator and Park Ranger programs, and re-examine using Community Safety Officers.

Community Programs
* Youth Initiatives: Build on current programs, with community-based advisory panels, emphasizing a long-term generational model. Support activities at playfields, schools, and community centers. Seek corporate funding and partnerships.
* Nightlife Initiative: Prioritize a socially responsible, vibrant nightlife, with clubs funding solutions to problems that originate in clubs.
* Public Alcoholism: Support successful models to house chronic street inebriates. Working with the Washington State Liquor Control Board, create an Alcohol Impact Area for Beacon Hill.
* Gangs and Graffiti: Implement a city-wide strategy to address gang-related crime, including prostitution, and a coordinated graffiti plan that reinstates the SPD graffiti detective.
* Social Services: Distribute facilities equitably throughout Seattle, with a moratorium on subsidized housing for neighborhoods that have reached capacity.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)
* Apply CPTED principles in public playfields, parks, and other green spaces, and to DPD building permits, neighborhood zoning, and landscape decisions, and the Urban Forest Management Plan.
* Work with the Washington State Department of Transportation to incorporate CPTED principles into state road development and maintenance projects.

Cooperation
* Leverage existing assets and interagency taskforces to address specific issues, and establish a public safety adviser in the Mayor’s office to lead interagency coordination and policy development.
* Schedule SDOT projects to allow for public safety response and more efficient emergency access.
* Fund programs that use Washington State DOC work crews and Seattle Community Court and Pretrial Diversion service workers, to support street cleanups, environmental restoration, vacant lot mitigation, playfield safety, and graffiti removal.

Policy
* Enforce the no trespassing ordinance, nuisance housing ordinance, and encampment protocols.
* Ensure citizen oversight, a comment period for proposed policy changes, and public notice of meetings by committees working on public safety-related policies.
* Establish a quarterly meeting between the Mayor and Community Leaders for Public Safety

Spalding says many of the founding members are from Precinct Advisory Councils (he chairs the one for West Seattle’s Southwest Precinct) or crime-prevention groups. They’ve already sent this proposal to Mayor McGinn, CIty Council members, City Attorney Pete Holmes, and Police Chief John Diaz; the cover letter, which you can see here, summarizes, “We believe the return on investment in community programs – that address the needs of youth, that counter gangs and graffiti, that encourage service and safe housing for homeless people and others at risk – will make a sustainable difference in the quality of life for all Seattle residents.” We’ll keep you updated on where this goes from here.

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West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network: How/why to call 911
October 27, 2010 8:01 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network: How/why to call 911
 |   Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

From last night’s meeting of the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network: Advice you can use even if you’re not a Block Watch captain – how and why to call 911. The advice came from an expert: Southwest Precinct Community Police Team Officer Jonathan Kiehn. His explanation included the best thing you can do once the dispatcher answers the phone. Read on:Read More

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New ‘how fast you’re going’ sign on Arbor Heights stretch of ‘I-35’
October 21, 2010 11:29 am
|      24 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

Thanks to MargL and Todd for the tip – a solar-powered sign showing approaching vehicles’ speed has just gone up on southbound 35th SW (which has been dubbed “I-35” along much of its length) near 100th (map). Signs like this are part of SDOT‘s Arterial Traffic Calming Program – read more about it here.

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