West Seattle, Washington
17 Friday
Meeting for a second night in White Center, the King County Boundary Review Board has just given what amounts to preliminary approval of Seattle’s proposed annexation of White Center. Its members voted 8-1 to prepare an approval motion for a final vote at its next official meeting (in July). This followed two nights of testimony from local residents as well as from representatives of Seattle, King County, and local agencies. Major concerns involved how fire service would be provided to the now-unincorporated area as well as how White Center’s libraries would be managed; the notorious Myers Way encampment/RV area also was brought up often, with questions about how Seattle would manage public safety in North Highline if that situation couldn’t be handled. We have full coverage of both nights on our partner site White Center Now – first night here (with video), second night here (with video to be added).
ORIGINAL REPORT, 8:35 PM TUESDAY: Patricia sent the photo of the West Seattle Corporate Center flag at Delridge/Andover, the area’s largest and most prominent flag, showing the note someone has put up in protest:
She writes, “Obviously I’m not the only one offended” by the flag not being lowered to half-staff as a sign of respect for the Orlando massacre victims. (Here’s the presidential proclamation the note alludes to, regarding lowering U.S. flags until sundown Thursday.) We will contact the building’s management tomorrow to ask about this.
9:40 AM WEDNESDAY: Co-publisher Patrick Sand went to the building and was about to go into the office to ask about the flag, when he noticed someone had just lowered it:
A reader just e-mailed a reminder that tomorrow is the City Council hearing about the proposal to regulate short-term rentals. The reader included a link to the following video by another West Seattleite concerned about the proposal – she says enforcement of an existing city rule shut down her AirBnB:
It’s been almost two weeks since we published the city’s announcement of the proposal to limit how many days a year some units could be rented out via tech platforms such as AirBnB and VRBO. Another West Seattleite, Rhonda Porter, has said she plans to comment tomorrow too; she and her husband have a Beach Drive bungalow that’s available as a vacation rental. She wrote in the discussion section on our June 1st story that “90 days is not enough time to break even on a vacation rental” – that’s the proposed limit for some rentals. Tomorrow’s hearing is at City Hall downtown, 9:30 am, before the Affordable Housing, Neighborhoods, and Finance Committee.
(WSB photo, this morning)
1:08 PM: Following up on the discovery yesterday afternoon that a Seattle Parks crew had removed the Orlando-sympathy sash and banner from the Alki Statue of Liberty because of “complaints,” less than a day after West Seattleite Sam Samaniego had placed it there:
Yesterday evening, two hours after we first reported on the removal, Parks said it was a mistake and would return it today. However, as noted this morning thanks to a photo tweeted by Heather, only the banner – covered with signatures – was returned. We’ve been waiting to hear back from Parks spokesperson Dewey Potter before publishing a separate followup. Now we have. Her reply starts with something else we had requested, details on the “complaints” cited yesterday as a reason for the removal:
A member of the grounds crew was at the statue yesterday afternoon. A man approached her and identified himself as a veteran. He said he was offended by the way the banner was attached to the statue and asked her to take it down. She tried to reach her crew lead by phone and could not reach him. It was late in (her workday) and she took it down. It is now back up on the statue. The crew chief reports that the sash was not in the truck with the banner.
Good news, though – while we were writing this, Potter e-mailed again to say the sash has been found and that Parks “will have it back up late today or tomorrow.”
In her first e-mail this afternoon, she also included this:
Seattle Parks and Recreation welcomes and supports spontaneous community events whether they are to celebrate a happy event or to mourn and grieve a horrendous one. Parks are gathering places where people come to be with their neighbors, and we welcome the expressions of happiness or grief that come along with those events. We regret that the banner was removed, and hope to identify local groups who may want to make a permanent home for it, as we did after 9/11 when the Southwest Historical Society Log House Museum made a home for the artifacts left at the statue then.
At Cal Anderson Park, we are waiting 30 days before we remove any remembrances, and are trying to identify groups who might have left items they would like to claim. It is our practice to post a sign at a site with items left behind giving a date when items will be removed, to give people an opportunity to collect them.
That was noted in our original report, looking back at several instances of guerrilla art at the plaza a few years ago that had warnings posted before removal – something that did not happen in this case. We will of course be checking back to see when the sash returns (let us know if you see it first!).
5:11 PM: As noted in comments, the sash is back (albeit windblown) – we drove by about 45 minutes ago; Parks says it was put back in place at 3:20 pm.
Three weeks ago, we reported on the call for 11-to-25-year-olds to vote in the Youth Voice, Youth Choice “participatory budgeting” process – with $700,000 in city money to be spent on the winning projects, themselves the result of a series of discussions around the city.
3,065 people voted, the city says, and here are the results, as announced in a city news release. (We added the descriptions, dollar amounts, and locations as listed on the “sample ballot,” where you can also see the projects that didn’t make the cut.)
· Houses for People Experiencing Homelessness – Youth collaborate with carpenters to build 10 tiny homes for people experiencing homelessness.
Estimated Cost: $128,500
Location: City-wide
· Youth Homeless Shelter Improvements – Physical improvements for a youth homeless shelter such as installing lockers, washers and dryers, and new paint.
Estimated Cost: $42,000
Location: Central, North Seattle
· Job Readiness Workshops for Homeless Youth – A term-limited expansion of existing services for youth experiencing homelessness focusing on job readiness.
Estimated Cost: $43,600
Location: City-wide
· Homeless Children and Youth Liaison Services – A term-limited expansion for school liaison services connecting youth experiencing homelessness to needed resources.
Estimated Cost: $70,400
Location: City-wide
· Wi-Fi Hotspot Checkout – A term-limited expansion of the Seattle Public Library’s checkout system to include more Wi-Fi hotspots, which increase internet access.
Estimated Cost: $165,000
Location: City-wide
· Park Bathroom Upgrades – Creating a map of public bathrooms in the city and implementing improvements at 1-2 bathrooms in parks in most need of repair.
Estimated Cost: $205,000
Location: South, West Seattle
· Safe Routes to Schools – Improve crosswalks in areas near schools to create safer routes to school for students.
Estimated Cost: $145,000
Location: South, West Seattle
The announcement says, “Now that the choices have been made, City staff and local agencies will implement the projects.” (We’re following up with a few questions, including location and final cost tally, since it appears the estimated costs are about $100,000 over that $700,000.)
(Monday night sunset, photographed on Charlestown Hill by Zack Malson)
Second Tuesday of the month brings multiple neighborhood meetings and more. From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and inbox:
REFLECTION ON ORLANDO: 6-7 pm, you’re invited to Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) for reflection, meditation, and prayer, as explained here. (3940 41st SW)
WEST SEATTLE MOTORCYCLE CLUB: Second “ride-in” for the new club at Pizzeria 22 in The Admiral District, 6 pm. (4213 SW College)
ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: 7 pm at The Sanctuary at Admiral, public welcome. Agenda highlights from ANA president Larry Wymer:
Jesseca Brand – Strategic Advisor for the city’s HALA effort – will give a presentation describing HALA and their current strategies and recommendations for improving housing affordability, mainly through increased density.
We will also continue our discussion of recent efforts to align Department of Neighborhoods personnel and resources with the City Council Districts.
Finally, we will discuss and finalize planning for the Summer Concert Series at Hiawatha Park, and the 4th of July Kids Parade.
(42nd SW/SW Lander)
FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: 7 pm at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, the FCA board meets; public welcome. From the Fauntleroy Flash e-newsletter: “This month’s agenda includes tree grinding in the roundabout, a proposed dog park at Jack Block Park, Endolyne Triangle revisions, motorcycle noise, ADUs and DADUs, the Fauntleroy Fall Festival, and committee reports.” (9131 California SW)
WHITE CENTER ANNEXATION HEARING, NIGHT 2: 7 pm at Bethaday Community Learning Space in White Center, it’s the second night of the King County Boundary Review Board‘s hearing on Seattle’s proposal to annex White Center and vicinity. Signups start at 6:30 pm. Here’s our White Center Now report on Night 1, including video. (605 SW 108th)
SPRING SCHOOL BAND CONCERT: 7 pm at the Chief Sealth International High School auditorium, CSIHS and Denny International Middle School bands perform. Free. (2600 SW Thistle)
Some have asked if any events/vigils are planned in West Seattle in the aftermath of the Orlando massacre. We just received this:
Reflection, meditation, and prayer at Tibbetts UMC this evening from 6 pm – 7 pm in the sanctuary:
Please join us in the sanctuary for a time of reflection and lifting up the families and victims of the massacre. This will be a time of meditation, prayer and reflection on the state of our nation.
Tibbetts (a WSB sponsor) is at 3940 41st SW.
Two updates on West Seattle Little League teams who played District 7 championship games last night:
Thanks to Jeremy Fredericks for the photo and update on the 50/70 Red Socks, who “handily defeated South Highline National Little League 14-3 to win the District 7 Tournament of Champions!!!”
And James Ross sends the photo and update on the Dust Devils:
They finished in second place for District 7, after what he calls “a game for the ages, with both teams battling back and forth for the lead. The Renton Little League team was able to prevail in extra innings.” Leading up to last night’s game, he says, the Dust Devils “went 6-1 in the End of Season tournament to become 2016 West Seattle Little League Champions in the Minors Division.”
Anybody else? Let us know – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:34 AM: Good morning! So far, no incidents in/through/from West Seattle. Reminder for tonight:
OVERNIGHT BRIDGE CLOSURE STARTS LATER: The ongoing closures of the west end of the bridge start later if a major event is expected to have a certain level of attendance, and that’s the case tonight because of the big Copa America Centenario soccer game downtown. Tonight’s closure is scheduled for 11 pm-5 am. (If you haven’t been on the westbound bridge on a late night during the closures, it means you will have to exit at Delridge.)
It’s been more than a month since the Southwest Design Review Board met – but a project has just turned up on their calendar: The third review for 9021 17th SW is tentatively set for July 21st, six months after the second one (official city report here). The plan is still for a 32-apartment building with 32 offstreet parking spaces; its new design doesn’t seem to be in the city’s online system yet.
7:05 PM: If you’re interested in tonight’s Boundary Review Board hearing – the next major step in Seattle’s proposal to annex White Center and vicinity – but couldn’t be there, we wanted to let you know we’re chronicling it live on partner site White Center Now – just go here.
9:36 PM: The first night of the hearing is over; more people are on the list to testify, and that will resume at 7 pm Tuesday. When everyone who wants to speak has spoken, the board will deliberate; if that’s not done within a few hours tomorrow, the board also has set aside Thursday as a potential third night.
(WSB photo, Sunday afternoon)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 4:07 PM: Less than 24 hours after West Seattleite Sam Samaniego and her wife put up that banner at the Alki Statue of Liberty expressing condolences for the Orlando massacre and inviting people to sign it – as reported here on Sunday afternoon – it’s gone:
We went by at midday and thought maybe Sam had removed it – but she said it wasn’t her. So we asked Seattle Parks if their crew had for some reason removed it – as has happened on occasion in the past (though, in this 2013 incident, with warning). Spokesperson Dewey Potter just responded to say yes: “The crew removed it after receiving complaints.” She added that Sam would be able to retrieve it.
6:01 PM UPDATE: Parks has just tweeted that “removing the banner was an error and it will be replaced in the AM.”
8:33 AM TUESDAY: Heather tweeted this photo showing the signature section of the banner is back, but not the sash:
Well, the banner for signatures is back, but @SeattleParks employees couldn't find the sash. @westseattleblog pic.twitter.com/fTdHLcHELS
— Heather Campbell (@RealLowVibe) June 14, 2016
We were just about to head down to Alki to follow up, and were already planning to check with Parks.
Thanks to Matt for the tip via Twitter. West Seattle no longer has a 24-hour-a-day QFC supermarket. Orange flyers on the Junction QFC doors announced that as of yesterday, the store’s hours are 5 am-midnight; same hours are posted at the Westwood QFC. Too late in the day for us to reach their corporate spokesfolk now, but we’ll be asking tomorrow; at least one other store in the region cut overnight hours in the past year. West Seattle still has other around-the-clock grocery stores, including Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) and the Safeways.
(September 2015 photo by Cameron Harris, USA Baseball, used with permission)
Thanks to everyone who tipped us that the Seattle Mariners‘ recent draft picks included West Seattle High School standout Morgan McCullough, seen above in a photo from last fall, when he was on the USA National team that won the world title in Osaka. The Mariners chose McCullough in the 33rd round. Before publishing that news, we checked with his mom Jane Muxen McCullough, to ask about his plans, since WSHS had celebrated his signing with the University of Oregon just last fall. She tells WSB, “Although he is proud and honored to be drafted, months ago Morgan decided he planned on going to college and communicated as much to the MLB. After graduation, he will play for the Cowlitz Black Bears and then head to the University of Oregon in August.”
SIDE NOTE: Tipster Mark also points out that the most recent WSHS star drafted by the M’s, Sam Hellinger in 2013, continued with his college plans too and now plays for Gonzaga.
With three of Seattle Public Schools‘ “international schools” in this area, the program’s future is of great interest. The district has a task force studying it right now; its recent community meeting at Chief Sealth International High School wasn’t widely publicized, but another one has been scheduled, this time at Concord International (Elementary) in South Park, 6-7 pm June 20th (one week from tonight). This flyer has full details. The district says Mandarin, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese interpretation will be provided.
10:03 AM: Thanks for the tips about a big police response at Cal-Mor Circle in the 6400 block of California SW. Officers responded to a report of a gunshot in the building. No reports about any victim(s) so far. But SPD confirms SWAT is being called out. We are at the scene and working to find out more.
10:16 AM: Some of the building’s residents have been evacuated. Also, police are closing off the California/Fauntleroy intersection.
10:29 AM: Avoid the area – California is blocked off between Holly and Graham, Fauntleroy about one block each side of California, and the side streets you’ll be detoured onto are mostly one lane because of parking on both sides.
By the way, if you’re seeing/hearing the helicopter, it’s TV, not law enforcement.
10:42 AM: To be clear (in response to questions in comments), there is no one “on the loose” or being sought here. Police have confirmed that the person they are focused on, who they believe fired a shot, and who they’ve apparently had contact with before, is in his apartment. Again, please stay away from California/Fauntleroy because police have it blocked off until this is resolved.
10:57 AM: The person is in custody. The roads will be reopened shortly. No injuries reported.
11:18 AM: Bus reroutes (128, C Line) also lifted. We’re still at the scene waiting to ask police a few more questions.
11:23 AM: The person who was taken into custody will be taken to Harborview Medical Center to be evaluated. Meantime, the building’s residents are being allowed back into their apartments. We don’t know yet if a gun was found.
1:44 PM: We just checked back with SPD. So far, no gun or related evidence found, but the incident “remains under investigation.” (Also, we’ve added a few more of our photos from this morning.)
(Cedar Waxwing, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for today/tonight:
BLOOD DRIVE: Peace Lutheran Church in Gatewood was already planning to host a BloodWorks Northwest mobile donation drive, and it’s sadly all the more timely, as BWNW has answered a call from Orlando and needs to replenish local supplies. The van is there 1-7 pm, closed 3-4 pm for a break. (39th/Thistle)
WSHS CHEER FUNDRAISER AT TALARICO’S: A portion of tonight’s proceeds at newly remodeled Talarico’s Pizza go toward the West Seattle High School cheer squad, for uniforms and camp. 5-10 pm. (4718 California SW)
PHYSICAL THERAPY NIGHT @ WSR: West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) hosts Lora from Biojunction Sports Therapy for free injury assessments – drop in between 5:30 and 7 pm. (2743 California SW)
NORTH DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL IN THE PARK: This time of year, NDNC meets outdoors when it can, and that starts tonight, 6:30 pm, at Dragonfly Pavilion:
Please join us for our monthly meeting of the North Delridge Neighborhood Council as we kick off our annual Summer in our Parks series.
Tentative Agenda:
1) Focus Group on our SPD Micro-Policing Plan with Jennifer Burbridge
2) Meet the new Director of DESC’s Cottage Grove Commons, Colin Fournier-Maloney
3) Development in North Delridge
4) “Put the Arts in Parks” — Learn more from Brian Judd, Seattle Parks & Recreation
5) And learn about other events happening around Delridge this summer!
(28th/Dakota)
WHITE CENTER ANNEXATION? The next major step toward whether Seattle annexes White Center and vicinity starts with the King County Boundary Review Board’s public hearing tonight and tomorrow at Bethaday Community Learning Space in Dick Thurnau Memorial Park. Speaker signups at 6:30, hearing begins at 7, previewed on our partner site White Center Now. (605 SW 108th)
EVENING BOOK GROUP #1: 6:45 pm at Southwest Library. This month’s title is “Just Kids” by Patti Smith. (35th SW/SW Henderson)
EVENING BOOK GROUP #2: 6:45 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library. This month’s title is “The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven” by Sherman Alexie. (2306 42nd SW)
SEE OUR COMPLETE CALENDAR here, for more of what’s up today/tonight/beyond!
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:33 AM: Good morning. No incidents to report so far in/from West Seattle.
BRIDGE CLOSURES CONTINUE: Again tonight, the west end of the West Seattle Bridge will close 9 pm-5 am for the Fauntleroy Expressway seismic-safety project. As announced last week, the closures start later Tuesday and Thursday nights.
VIADUCT CLOSURE NEXT SATURDAY: Early reminder that the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon is next Saturday (June 18th), and that means road closures including the northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct from 4 am-10:30 am.
From the website of Bloodworks Northwest, the regional blood bank: “Our inventory has been low in the past few weeks, yet we have shipped blood components to OneBlood, the blood center in Florida, in response to their emergency appeal. We have now been notified that their immediate needs for blood have been satisfied as a result of additional shipments from us and others.” But that means Bloodworks NW needs to replenish the local supply, and if you can donate, there happens to be a blood drive already scheduled for tomorrow in West Seattle, 1-7 pm at Peace Lutheran Church in Gatewood (39th/Thistle) – more information in our calendar listing.
For five years, OutWest Bar has been West Seattle’s only LGBTQ bar. Today, after news of the massacre at LGBTQ nightclub Pulse in Orlando, OutWest opened its doors early; a small table outside holds a card and flowers, with messages of sympathy and solidarity.
The Alki Statue of Liberty has long been a place to gather, a place for tributes, and today it becomes that again: Sam Samaniego decided to make a sash for Lady Liberty, as a show of love in the wake of this morning’s Orlando massacre. It’s inscribed ‘From Our Coast to Yours’ and as we write, they’ve added a banner along the base that you’re invited to sign:
Sam says she’ll of course be sending the banner to Florida – but before then, she sees power in the photographs people will take, and hopes that they’re seen in Orlando so people there know people here care:
15 years ago, Alki’s mini Statue of Liberty became a gathering place to mourn the 9/11 victims, and five years ago, it drew hundreds for a tribute on the 10th anniversary of the attack.
‘PEACE TO ORLANDO AND EVERYWHERE’: On a fence in West Seattle, photographed by a reader:
BANNER PLANNED: In a comment on our earlier report of the mayor’s statement about the Orlando massacre, Sam announced plans for a support banner at Alki Statue of Liberty around 3:30 pm this afternoon.
STREET MARKET BENEFITING PRIDEFEST: Today’s Luna Park Street Market was long planned as a benefit for Seattle PrideFest – we stopped by for a photo as a reminder it’s happening now:
Artists, music, barbecue, and drinks, outside Ola and Duos in the 2900 block of SW Avalon Way, until 4 pm.
ADDED 3:15 PM: A card and flowers are outside OutWest Bar (California/Brandon).
(Photo courtesy Peter Yanacek)
10:44 AM: If you’re wondering about the big Seattle Fire response at Fauntleroy Church right now: It is categorized as an automatic fire alarm. Scanner reports indicate sprinklers went off, possibly because of an electrical fire. We are en route to find out more.
10:56 AM: Church member Peter Yanacek, who also posted this in comments, says the fire was in the library, and happened during the Music Sunday service; everyone is reported to be safe outside.
(WSB photo)
SFD has dispatched its investigator. Our photographer just called in and said the sprinklers discharged “a lot of water,” according to SFD, so that will require cleanup.
11:06 AM: Church attendees are being allowed back in to get their personal items. The church also has put out a call for wet-dry/shop-type vacs that they could use with the cleanup. The co-housed Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) is closed, we’re told, for water cleanup, and they don’t yet know if they’ll reopen later today.
3:33 PM: Rev. Leah Atkinson Bilinski sent this to her church’s congregation:
This morning, during our worship service, we experienced a small fire in our fourth floor library. The fire was accidentally caused by a child (who was not physically harmed, but who is quite emotionally upset). The sprinkler system worked as it should, and the fire was contained to a very small area within the library.
Water did soak walls and flooring on the fourth floor outside the library, office floor below (outside of offices), lobby, and one bathroom in the narthex as it came through the ceiling.
A big thank you to all of our volunteers who jumped right to work cleaning up what water we could before the professionals arrived this afternoon. Bless you, bless you, bless you!
Our annual meeting will be rescheduled and we will be in touch with that new date within the next few days. If pieces of Music Sunday are able to rescheduled, we’ll also let you know that.
The fire was small, and we are a strong, healthy church. All will be well!
As we rejoice in that wellness, let us remember to pray today for those who are not well, notably those involved in the horribly tragic loss of life in Orlando. Let us pray for those lost, their families, LGBTQ families everywhere and a world in which so much hate still exists and is allowed to fester.
And to those prayers, I ask a smaller, but special additional prayer — for one very scared child and her family today, who need to know us as their church family. Love is so powerful, and I thank God for a church that loves well and adds love to a world in such desperate need of it.
5:28 PM: We stopped by a short time ago. The water cleanup continues:
A professional cleanup crew is on site now, but Rev. Bilinski says they are thankful for the many volunteers who pitched in earlier today.
5:42 PM: The Fauntleroy Y will reopen tomorrow.
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