West Seattle, Washington
17 Friday
12:58 AM: Police are converging on the 16th SW/SW Holden 7-Eleven in Highland Park after a reported armed robbery. The clerk told them the robber said he had a gun and demanded register access. The description they’ve broadcast on police radio so far: White man, 20s, 5’6″, blue face mask, striped hat that says “Timberland,” black puffy jacket, black pants, possibly left on foot westbound on SW Holden. They say the clerk was not hurt.
1:04 AM: Moments later, there’s word of a robbery at the 4312 SW Admiral Way 7-Eleven too. The dispatcher reports “a language barrier” has prevented them from getting any description yet beyond “Black male, black mask, all-black clothing … ran northbound” SPD is getting help from two King County Sheriff’s Office K-9 teams.
(Vashon sailing approaching the Fauntleroy terminal, Tuesday)
By Anne Higuera
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Ferry service for all riders could see some temporary improvements under Washington State Ferries’ plans to adjust while the FIFA World Cup soccer matches and events are held in locations around the Seattle area this summer.
WSF released the annual Service Contingency Plan, as they have for the last several years, outlining progress, challenges, and a framework for how to provide service when something goes wrong. This year’s plan includes a temporary increase to staffing and decrease to response times to breakdowns when they happen during FIFA. One of the keys to making this happen is that maintenance is being scheduled to minimize the number of boats out of service at the same time.
Seattle is a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Six matches will take place in Seattle, and the region will see significant visitation associated with the event. There are nine “Fan Zones” in Washington state, including one in Bremerton, where fans can gather to watch matches and celebrate. In addition, seven matches will occur in Vancouver, British Columbia, and significant travel between Seattle and Vancouver is expected. We will make several adjustments to our normal contingency framework during the World Cup:
1. Relief vessels. We will have 20 of our 21 vessels available for service during the six weeks of the tournament. With 18 vessels needed to maintain full summer service, this means we will have two vessels available in relief in case a vessel must be removed from service. This will provide us with the flexibility to deploy an appropriate relief vessel if needed. These vessels will be docked at our Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility.
2. Additional vessel crew. We will have additional crew on standby at Eagle Harbor, where our relief vessels will be positioned, allowing quick response to any vessel-related issue in Central Puget Sound.
3. Additional terminal staff. We will have additional staff at terminals to assist passengers and manage crowds.
4. Relaxing of the “24-hour rule.” Because we will have relief vessels available, and to maintain service on Central Puget Sound routes where the heaviest event-related ridership is likely to occur, we may respond to issues more quickly by deploying a relief vessel. This includes the Seattle/Bremerton, Seattle/Bainbridge Island, and Edmonds/Kingston routes.
The “24-hour rule” usually means a replacement vessel is not assigned until a route is missing a boat for that time frame. The change may mean faster resumption of schedules on routes closest to Eagle Harbor on Bainbridge that have maintenance issues, though response time to the San Juan Islands is still about 6 hours.
This year’s plan pointed to an increase in ridership on the Triangle Route (Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth) of 4.7% over the previous year, and included a graph of average loading numbers from a single week in last November when the route had 2 vessels instead of the regular 3. The report said this is the type of data WSF uses to make service decisions. The system overall reached 20.1 million riders in 2025 for the first time at that level since 2019, and 5% more than in 2024. That was accomplished in part by an increase in hiring that made it possible for an additional 7,000 sailings, while cancelling 400 fewer than the previous year.
(Average number of vehicles loaded per sailing, week of Nov. 3, 2025)
Another new feature of the contingency plan this year is the “Terminal Contingency Framework,” which outlines most likely steps in the event that a terminal is out of service—either briefly or longer-term—while something is fixed. For the Fauntleroy dock, that is, “No service until repaired or consider moving service to Seattle.” For Southworth, it’s the same with a possibility of moving service to Bremerton. Vashon, with 2 slips and a spot on the dock where a boat is tied up overnight, has more complicated solutions: “If a vehicle slip fails, use other vehicle slip but there will be delays when vessels conflict. Will need alternate for overnight tie-up if one slip is not available.”
The service plan also provided an update on the hybrid-electric ferries that WSF has contracted to have built at Eastern Shipbuilding Group on the Gulf Coast of Florida. They are expecting steel to start being cut for the first boat this summer, with completion in 2030. The plan notes, “With limited vessel availability, we will be unable to operate full service on every route until new vessels are constructed and delivered.”
(WSB photo, Wednesday morning, 35th/Edmunds)
As promised, we asked the city followup questions about the sweep on Wednesday in the encampment area east of 35th, from West Seattle Stadium to Camp Long. Here are the answers we received late today:
WSB: How much stuff was removed?
REPLY: “During the restoration, approximately 2.5 tons of debris were removed.”
WSB: How many people were connected with shelter?
REPLY: “(The Unified Care Team) connected five people with shelter and one with case management services.”
WSB: What’s next?
REPLY: “Planning is underway in coordination with multiple City departments to maintain the area so that it remains clean and accessible for public use.”
We also noted that there was no hint of the sweep plan when the city answered our inquiry last Thursday about plans for the site; the notice we showed on Monday said it had been posted Friday, so it was clearly in the planning phase when we inquired. The city’s response noted: “The UCT does not share specific resolution dates externally due to staff safety and possible changes in scheduling due to resource constraints.”
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
A Seattle Parks update on the “skate dot” – mini-skatepark – planned for the Morgan Junction Park addition was the centerpiece of last night’s spring-quarter Morgan Community Association meeting.
The meeting’s location itself was a highlight – first time in six years, since right before the pandemic, that MoCA met at The Kenney, previously its regular in-person meeting site. The meeting also was open to online attendees (which is how we covered it, due to last-minute transportation challenges).
Here’s how the meeting – wrapped up in less than an hour and a half – unfolded:
CRIME STATS: SPD crime-prevention coordinator (a civilian position) Matt Brown came with Southwest Precinct (West Seattle and South Park) stats as well as Morgan Junction-specific stats:
Year-to-date through April 15th, compared to same period last year, SW crime data shows a nine percent drop; in Morgan Junction, the drop is seven percent (total reported incidents 67, down from 76 in the same period last year). Most of those, he said, are larceny/theft. He also had stats on confirmed gunfire – 24 incidents so far this year in the SW Precinct jurisdiction, compared to 25 last year (none in Morgan Junction so far in 2026) . This year’s tally included three incidents in which someone was injured (the SW Precinct had no homicides last year and none so far this year).
Brown also told MoCA that this was the last meeting at which they’d see him, as longtime CPC Jennifer Satterwhite will be back from maternity leave in May.
EV CHARGING LOT: MoCA president Deb Barker had quick updates from Seattle City Light about this project. As we’ve reported, construction work has begun, including trenching across Fauntleroy Way to get power to the site. That work is mostly complete but pavement restoration will take a while. Next, she said, SCL plans to do some work on the SW Morgan side, which means that sidewalk along the project site will be closed. SCL still says the site should be ready to open in August.
MORGAN JUNCTION PARK ADDITION SKATEDOT: Project team leaders from Seattle Parks presented this update on the project incorporating the currently fenced lot north of the existing park – here are their key slides:
The latest conceptual design, Parks said, has no major changes from the previous version, Parks said.
Despite the soil removal that’s been done, the site is still considered contaminated, so the soil piled at the northwest edge of the site needs to stay – “moving it could be quite expensive.” There’s also still a lot of behind-the-scenes technicalities the Parks team is dealing with, such as having to extend the site’s stormwater main, and working out what the status of the SW Eddy right-of-way between the existing park and the addition site – it might not simply be transferred from SDOT to SPR after all. Access to utility poles along the site’s rear alley is being worked on too.
Next steps include a community-engagement event, likely sometime in May, and more design work that should lead to an accurate cost that would help determine whether there could be “additives” to the project such as a “sentinel tree,” a natural play area, or adoptable benches. The newest projected construction timeline is for work to start in “late summer” of 2027.
EMERGENCY READINESS: Cindi Barker from Seattle Emergency Communication Hubs said this year’s West Seattle exercise for hub-volunteer training drill will in fact be at Morgan Junction Park, maybe even utilizing the expansion site if the fences are down by the event date, currently August 15. Watch for other community involvement opportunities before then, all summer long, including opportunities to talk about the hubs at tables during events such as West Seattle Summer Fest in The Junction (July 10-12). And if you don’t know what a hub is or why you should know – this video explains:
West Seattle has 15 hubs, but some are sometimes deactivated because of lack of community involvement, so if you’d like to be part of it, here’s info on getting involved ASAP!
DESIGN-REVIEW REBOOT: The Design Review program, long one of the few ways that community members could get word of and voice an opinion about major development projects, remains on the ropes; Deb Barker is a former Southwest Design Review Board and presented MoCA attendees with the same info she’d given the Alki Community Council about a new push to save and reshape it (scroll to the bottom of this story).
MoCA LEADERSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY: The group also had some of its own business on the agenda – first, the board election, in which the nominated slate got unanimous approval:
President – Deb Barker
Vice President – Conrad Cipoletti
Secretary – Christopher Miller
Treasurer – Michael Brunner
Business Liaison – Sierra Shea
MoCA is also working on organizational sustainability by working on potential paid memberships. Most other local neighborhoods have them, though they’re generally optional and meetings/events are open to everyone, paid member or not.
REMINDER, NO FESTIVAL THIS YEAR: Sustainability of a different type – the need for more volunteer/community help – was lacking last fall when MoCA’s board had to decide whether to have a community festival again this year, so there won’t be one (as reported here in October).
GATEWOOD ELEMENTARY’S HAVING ONE, THOUGH: In the greater south Morgan Junction/Gatewood area, Gatewood Elementary will be inviting the community to its Gator Fair on Saturday, May 30.
NEXT MEETING: MoCA meets every three months on the third Wednesday, so that means the next meeting is July 15.
By Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The Fauntleroy Community Association board met on Tuesday night at the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse for their April meeting, chaired by FCA president Frank Immel and featuring several updates in addition to special guests from Washington State Ferries talking about plans for the new traffic signal scheduled for installation starting this fall at the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal.
Meeting summary below:
SPD UPDATE: Crime prevention specialist Matt Brown and community service officer Jamie Heslin from the Southwest Precinct were in attendance to give an update, starting with some statistics:
Brown also noted that he followed up on the FCA’s board’s request from their March meeting to see if SPD can provide neighborhood support to help ease the potential “traffic nightmare” from the “dueling construction projects” planned for the area in a similar timeframe, including:
Brown said that requests for traffic support have been filed and that the SW Precinct captain (Krista Bair) is “definitely taking this seriously.” As Brown and Heslin departed the meeting for their next commitment, board members expressed gratitude for the support and action.
FERRY TERMINAL TRAFFIC SIGNAL: Next up was an update from WA State Ferries external relations director Hadley Rodero (who also lives in West Seattle) and Charlie Torres who serves as the project manager overseeing the design of the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal. The team provided an update on the new ferry dock intersection signal installation planned for fall 2026, and they explained the design, safety features, and how it will be maintained by SDOT with the timing of the signals adjusted based on performance data.
The team brought some updated visuals and renderings to share, including an overhead view of the new signals:
From Fauntleroy Way SW looking south:
From the ferry dock, looking east:
As well as the view from the bluff across the street, which has a lookout area known as Captain’s Park:
The team expects to award the construction contract in June, and construction work is scheduled to begin after September 8th to avoid the summertime “high season” rush as well as a construction moratorium related to the World Cup. The project will involve 3-4 months of construction work (which puts likely completion in late 2026 or early 2027). The signal will have sophisticated light controls designed to manage vehicle flow in different directions, with pedestrian safety being a key consideration. Rodero said there are plans to do extensive outreach to ferry customers and neighbors to provide information about the new system before it goes live. Torres said the signal is necessary due primarily to too many “close call accidents” in the area, as well as needing to improve overall traffic flow and efficiency with loading/unloading the boats.
FCA board members generally expressed support for the initiative but asked again about the aforementioned “dueling construction projects” in Fauntleroy, of which the new signal is one of them. The team acknowledged the challenges and agreed to have WSF representatives in attendance at FCA’s September board meeting (by that time, a contractor for the signal installation will have been selected and will likely be getting started), and again at the Fauntleroy Fall Festival in October to answer questions from the general public. The group also explored options for community engagement around the multiple related projects, including potential collaboration with the Rose Street crossing project, and potentially developing a community advisory group for the next environmental review phase.
Other points of Q&A:
FOOD FEST RECAP: FCA’s David Haggerty and Reed Haggerty, along with other FCA board members, talked about the group’s successful annual meeting and Food Fest event last month (WSB coverage here). There were over 175 people in attendance, and 21 vendors. There were 40 renewals of annual FCA dues, and 12 new households joining FCA. Feedback about the event was positive from vendors and attendees alike. Board members discussed strategies and ideas for future Food Fests and events.
FCA FINANCES: Treasurer Alan Grainger presented the group’s financial report, noting that dues and contributions from the annual meeting and Food Fest exceeded expectations, and highlighted the progress toward business member support goals. As of the beginning of April, the group is 46% of the way toward its annual goal for incoming contributions, thanks to the bump from last month’s Food Fest and egg hunt.
FALL FESTIVAL PREPARATION: Related to finances, the group also discussed fundraising for the group’s other big annual event, the Fauntleroy Fall Festival (scheduled for Sunday October 18). To raise funds between now and then, there are several events planned, including:
ROSE ST CROSSING: Immel noted that he had talked again with SDOT’s Ching Chan about the Rose St crossing project (involving pedestrian-operated flashing signals and a bus stop design with an island), and said that she wants to put together a joint community meeting with FCA and MoCA (Morgan Community Association) about the project, as a next-step. Details about that meeting are TBD.
OTHER FCA BUSINESS:
The FCA Board meets ten times per year on the second Tuesday of each month, at 6 pm in the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse board room. Meetings are open to the public.
The Seattle Public Library has announced its annual staff-in-service day shutdown – here are the details:
All locations of The Seattle Public Library will be closed on Thursday, April 23, 2026, for the Library’s annual in-service day for systemwide staff training and team-building. All book drops will remain open, so feel free to drop off your materials. No Library materials will be due on that day.
The Central Library garage at 1000 Fourth Ave. will be open, but all branch parking garages will be closed.
Regular operating hours will resume on Friday, April 24, 2026. Find our schedule at www.spl.org/Hours.
West Seattle has four SPL branches, Admiral (formally known as West Seattle), High Point, Delridge, and Southwest.
Also happening tonight: The Neighborhood restaurant/bar in Morgan Junction celebrates its first anniversary! 
The Neighborhood will be open 3 pm to 9 pm, regular hours but lots of celebratoryy extras – food specials, live music by Justin Kausal-Hayes, face painting by current resident artist Autumn Tranquilino from 5 pm-7 pm, gift-card raffle, and more. The Neighborhood is at 6503 California SW (and also just launched a new website).
We just got a call from Next-to-Nature Market pet-supplies shop in The Junction (4543 California SW), which is getting the word out that burglars hit their shop this morning. Police just arrived at the shop to take a report, so they had to cut the call short, but here’s what they say happened: Around 8:30 am, two women in a black Honda Civic broke in and got away with “thousands of dollars” worth of items: “They dug into the safe, stole electronics,” and more. The burglars’ faces were mostly covered and the shop owners don’t have security-camera images to share yet but the owners say what they can see so far suggests one white woman and one multiracial woman, one with blonde braids, and that they had a dog in their car, a “little black Chihuahua.” If you have any information, the incident number is 26-103643.
(Cascade Bicycle Club photos)
As we’ve reported previously, Cascade Bicycle Club is bringing back the Emerald City Ride this year on April 25, on a route including the westbound West Seattle Bridge. They’re sponsoring WSB right now to amplify the ride, with one week left to register – here’s their message!
Who We Are
Cascade Bicycle Club is the nation’s largest statewide bicycling nonprofit, serving bike riders of all ages, races, genders, income levels, and abilities throughout the state of Washington. We teach the joys of bicycling, advocate for safe places to ride, and produce world-class rides and events!
What We Do
Our signature programs include the Seattle to Portland, Free Group Rides, the Pedaling Relief Project, Your Streets Your Say advocacy training, the Bike Walk Roll Summit, Let’s Go, and the Major Taylor Project.
Emerald City Ride
Register for our upcoming Emerald City Ride and see Seattle by bike from a state highway! We’re taking over southbound SR-99 and the westbound West Seattle Bridge for an early morning spin around Alki and a jaunt south to Fauntleroy. This 20-mile ride offers a car-free experience for the first three and a half miles and takes you past some of the best lookout points and views of the Seattle skyline and Puget Sound’s islands.
Ten miles of nearly flat terrain transforms into a hill climb up from the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal. Riders are rewarded with a gradual downhill grade through Delridge on the return to downtown Seattle via the low bridge.
Come celebrate the return of the Emerald City Ride, which has been on pause since 2024.
Event Details
Date & Time: Saturday, April 25, 2026, 7:00 – 11:00 am
Location: S. Charles Street near Lumen Field Event Center | South Charles St, Seattle, WA 98134
Price: Varies, see registration (base registration $50-65)
Distance: 20.1 Miles
Elevation Gain: 965 Feet
Family friendly after-party at Lowlander Brewing starts at 10:30 am!
Additional details including FAQs, parking/transit, food breaks, ride support, etc. can be found on the Emerald City Ride Event Page.
Online registration closes on Thursday, April 23 at 11:59 pm. There is no registration available at the start line.
Join Our Community
Cascade Bicycle Club brings people together to experience the joy of bicycling through transportation, recreation, and friendship. We collaborate with members, volunteers, and community partners to inspire people to advocate for a safe, equitable, and sustainable Washington state.
We envision a safe and healthy future where bicycles bring people together, eliminate inequity, and create thriving communities. Join us on wheels or as a volunteer for the Emerald City Ride, and at any of our future ride events!
We thank Cascade Bicycle Club for choosing to advertise the Emerald City Ride by sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB. Interested in joining our sponsor team? Please email WSBAdvertising@wsbsales.com for information – thank you!
(Photo by Chris Frankovich)
Here are highlights for today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll find even more – thanks again to everyone who sends events for us to share!):
NO FREE PLAYSPACE TODAY: Church of the Nazarene program is closed for spring break.
FREE YOUTH SOCCER CLINIC: 10 am-noon at Delridge Playfield (Delridge Way SW and SW Alaska) today and tomorrow with Junction FC and Rhodies FC.
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: Whether you’re planting or planning – the center is open Thursdays-Saturdays 10 am-3 pm – north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus..
PRESCHOOL STORY TIME IN ADMIRAL: 10:30 am at West Seattle Library (2306 42nd SW).
ALKI CO-OP PRESCHOOL GARDEN DAY AND OPEN HOUSE: 11 am-1 pm, visit Alki Co-op Preschool at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW) with activities including seed planting and an outdoor scavenger hunt.
BLANKET FORT READING PARTY: 1 pm spring-break fun at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW).
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: From newbie to pro, all levels welcome at this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com to see where they’re playing today. (Even if you just want to know so you can go listen!) Often C & P Coffee, we’re told (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor)
HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: No local games/matches/meets on the Metro League schedule today.
TRIANGLE COMMUNITY SAFETY MEETING: As posted in the WSB Community Forums, 3:30 pm meeting of Triangle residents with SPD at Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster).
DROP-IN CHESS: High Point Library‘s weekly event is on today, 4-5:30 pm for players under 18. (3411 SW Raymond)
ALSO AT HIGH POINT LIBRARY: Teen arts and crafts, with comic-making and zines, 4-6 pm.
HPCS FOOD-TRUCK VISIT: First of two Thursday night events at HPCS this week – every Thursday, 4-8 pm, Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) gets a food-truck visit. Tonight it’s Paparepasc.
WINE TASTING WITH CLARK: Another regular Thursday event at HPCS, 5-7:30 pm – info here.
HELP HARVEST FOOD: Puget Ridge Edible Park (18th/Brandon) needs volunteers to help harvest fresh food that will be donated to food banks (and you can take some home too). Just be there 5-7 pm!
POSTCARDS 4 DEMOCRACY: Special evening happy hour, 5 pm at Great American Diner and Bar (4752 California SW).
RAT CITY ART WALK: It’s back on third Thursdays! 5-8 pm at locations around White Center and South Delridge, as mapped here.
MRS. B’S BLOOMING ART MARKET: As part of the Art Walk, Mr. B’s Mead Center is hosting this market tonight – vendor lineup in our calendar listing! (9444 Delridge Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Open 5-8 pm for your tool-borrowing needs. (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center)
VISCON CELLARS: This West Seattle winery’s friendly tasting room/wine bar is open Thursdays, 5-9 pm (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor), for wine by the glass or bottle!
BOOK SWAP WITH WINE AND AUTHOR TALK: 5 pm at Paper Boat Book Booksellers (4522 California SW), monthly book swap (free) with Darby Winery pouring ($10), followed at 7 pm this month by a talk with “Seattle Field Guide” authors!
POKEMON LEAGUE: 6 pm Thursdays at Fourth Emerald Games (4517 California SW, upstairs) – bring your own console.
WESTIES RUN CLUB: 6 pm, starting from Good Society (California SW and SW Lander), you’re welcome to join the Westies Run Club‘s Thursday night community run!
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: If you’d like to walk instead, meet at 6 pm at 47th/Fontanelle for tonight’s group walk – details in our calendar listing.
DUSTY THURSDAYS RETURN TO TIM’S: 6-9 pm, The Dusty 45s preceded by Joe Ross & The Birdwatchers, all ages, no cover, donations accepted for the musicians. (16th SW and SW 98th, White Center)
ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: 7 pm at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds), with agenda highlights including how the city’s newly proposed racquet-sports strategy would affect Alki, as previewed here.
LIVE AT EASY STREET: The Brudi Brothers live in-store at 7 pm, free, live, all ages. (4559 California SW)
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: Clocked In, Koi Baryon, Shadows in the Rain, Kilgore Trout, 7 pm, all ages, $10 cpver. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
PUB TRIVIA: Play tonight at 7 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).
CONSCIOUS CONNECTIONS: Make them at this monthly event at Revitalize Spa (8142 15th SW), 7:15 pm.
TRIVIA NIGHT AT THE VOID: One of the newest West Seattle trivia nights! 7:30 pm, with prizes, at The Void (5048 California SW).
‘WALDEN’ AT ARTSWEST: 7:30 pm opening performance of ArtsWest‘s new play. (4711 California SW)
AT REVELRY ROOM: Music happens tonight at Revelry Room (4547 California SW), with BYO Vinyl starting at 8 pm. 21+.
Are you planning an event that should be on our calendar and in our daily preview lists? Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
It’s a way to support the West Seattle Food Bank‘s work beyond donating and volunteering – if you don’t have your ticket(s) yet for “Nourish & Flourish” on Saturday, May 2, now’s the time, WSFB reminds us:
After a season of incredible community generosity this fall, West Seattle Food Bank is now in the quieter “winter gap” that many social-service nonprofits experience after the holidays. Meanwhile, the need for food, clothing, and housing support in our community continues every day.
Nourish & Flourish, coming up May 2, is both a celebration and a critical moment to carry that spirit of generosity forward. The evening brings neighbors together for great food, a lively program, a touch of humor, and a shared commitment to ensuring everyone in West Seattle has access to the essentials they need.
The event will also honor the volunteers, donors, and community partners who make this work possible, including this year’s Nourishing Neighbors award recipient. We truly can’t do this work without our community.
With final guest counts due soon, this is the last chance to be part of what promises to be a meaningful and uplifting night in support of our neighbors.
Tickets and event details: bit.ly/NAF2026
WSB is media sponsor of this year’s Nourish & Flourish – see you there.
6:00 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Thursday, April 16, 2026. Seattle Public Schools spring break continues.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
Mostly sunny today, high in the mid-50s. Sunrise at 6:18 am; then tonight, the year’s first 8 pm sunset.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – Regular schedules.
West Seattle Water Taxi – Now on “summer” schedule, which means extra Friday/Saturday/Sunday runs including later-night runs tomorrow and Saturday.
Washington State Ferries – Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route still on a two-boat schedule with a third, unscheduled boat. Check WSF’s alert page for last-minute changes.
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 (25 mph speed limit):
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 trouble 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!
On a day when our part of the city yielded three crashes of note, District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka called for an audit of SDOT‘s “Vision Zero“ safety initiative. That’s one of two City Council notes we have tonight. Saka’s call for an audit was announced in an emailed news release one day before the committee he chairs, Transportation, Waterfront, and Seattle Center, gets a Vision Zero briefing. That’s on the agenda for Thursday’s 9:30 am committee meeting; in the news release about the audit, Saka is quoted as saying, ““Vision Zero is about saving lives, and while we are seeing some real progress, the fact remains that too many people are still dying and suffering serious injuries on our streets. This audit will help us take a hard look at what’s working, what’s not, and where we need to sharpen our approach to prevent further tragedies on our roads.” SDOT presented its latest review of Vision Zero during this council briefing three months ago.
Meantime, Saka was one of two councilmembers who showed up this past Monday for a new monthly media availability in which the council’s communication team sends invites to reporters to come to City Hall for open Q&A with councilmembers. We couldn’t go to the first one but decided to go downtown for this one; it’s voluntary for them to participate, and only two signed on this time – Council President Joy Hollingsworth and Councilmember Saka. The half-dozen or so of us newspeople who showed up sat in a conference room facing each of the participants in turn, for about 20 minutes apiece. Hollingsworth went first; we recorded audio of both just in case anyone might be interested in what happened in unrestricted Q&A with councilmembers (spoiler alert, nothing revelatory).
Hollingsworth was asked about the latest budget forecast, encampment policy, neighborhood foot policing as recently announced for two neighborhoods, potentially auditing the Human Services Department (she said she’d “welcome an audit in any department”), the mayor’s call for more density in the Comprehensive Plan, the library levy, and construction costs (observing that those affect people building backyard ADUs as well as professional builders and saying “I think we should look at everybody as a developer”). Here’s the unedited audio:
Next, Councilmember Saka, who was asked about some of the same topics – neighborhood policing (“West Seattle could benefit from a similar program”) and the Comprehensive Plan, as well as whether anything should be done to rein in rising rents.
We asked about last weekend’s gunfire incidents, with bullets through home windows in two West Seattle neighborhoods;
he said he’s “aware” of them, noted he meets regularly with SPD Chief Shon Barnes, said we “need to get creative in prevention” and touted some money he secured in last year’s budget for a late-night teen program in High Point (one of the neighborhoods where there was weekend gunfire). Later in his Q&A, we asked about the east-of-35th encampment sweep, having just learned about it; Saka said he’d been calling for “remediation” of that area (his operations director Erik Schmidt, who was in the room, told us afterward that they’d just learned about the sweep plans that morning). Here’s unedited audio of the Q&A with Councilmember Saka:
Councilmembers have several committee meetings most weeks, plus full-group meetings at 2 pm Mondays and Tuesdays – all the agendas can be found here.
If you are – or know someone who is – a West Seattleite who’s going to Boston to run the renowned marathon on Monday, Joe Drake wants to hear from you! He’ll be there again this year, and he’s already got a plan to meet up with other West Seattleites like last year, but in case there’s someone with whom he hasn’t connected yet, he asked us to put out the call! So anyone going from here who isn’t already planning to meet up for the West Seattleites’ group shot, please email him at jnldrake@gmail.com – thank you!
One week from tonight – at 11 pm Wednesday, April 22 – registration for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2026 ends, and our sale map/list work begins. We’re going on 375 sales so far, so this year’s tally will certainly top 400 – how many more depends on the number of would-be sellers waiting till the last minute to decide. Amazing variety of sales again this year as usual, and a long list of interesting items we’ve noted while reviewing and proofreading listings. Among the latest: Alpaca scarves, a drone, a crab pot, a vintage alto saxophone, a handmade iron wine rack, a dory, classic typewriters, an outboard motor … If you have something nobody is likely to find anywhere else, be sure to mention it in your up-to-20-word listing when you register, which you can do right here, right now.
THE BASICS: WSCGSD, founded in 2005 and coordinated by WSB since 2008, is the second Saturday in May – Saturday, May 9, 9 am-3 pm (you’re welcome to start earlier and/or end later, just include that in your listing; if you plan to continue Sunday, mention that too), sales of all sizes, all over West Seattle (and a bit south – we have some in White Center, South Park, and Top Hat too). We’ll make the map and list available online one week in advance (so look here on May 2).
8:14 PM: Thanks for the tip. Another crash of note: 16th SW and SW Kenyon. No injuries but 911 dispatch said a “crosswalk pole” was hit, so the aftermath might be visible for a while. For now, the crash is blocking 16th SW southbound.
8:24 PM: SPD is calling for two tow trucks.
9 PM: Police just told dispatch that 16th is fully open again.
That Seattle Police video published today tells the story of why Officer Albert Khandzhayan got the department’s “Medal of Courage” for an incident that began in West Seattle. We reported on it the morning it happened – May 3, 2025 – though it got little other attention as it happened on a Saturday morning and was over relatively quickly. It started north of The Junction with a scene that terrified onlookers, not to mention the mom and children involved – her ex-boyfriend breaking out the window of her car, pulling her out, and driving away with the children. Officer Khandzhayan rescued them – and arrested him – in Boulevard Park.
4:57 PM: Seattle Fire has a “full response” headed to a 4400 block of Beach Drive [map] residence where a fire is reported inside. Updates to come.
5:01 PM: SFD units arriving confirm there’s a fire at the house, which is just north of Me-Kwa-Mooks Park.
5:04 PM: The fire’s reported to be on the first floor of a two-story house, and the people inside are reported to be out OK… Firefighters are also noting there’s construction work under way at the house.
5:15 PM: Beach Drive is reported closed to all traffic at the scene. Meantime, SFD says the fire might hae extended into the attic, so it’s still an active firefight. “We have improving smoke conditions on the exterior,” one firefighter reported.
5:40 PM: Still a few hot spots left, firefighters say, but otherwise they’re dismissing some of the responding units.
6:05 PM: Thanks to IP for the photo – Beach Drive is still blocked, and police told dispatch it’s likely to remain closed for “15-20 more minutes.”
6:15 PM: As for the fire, it’s out, and SFD is investigating the cause.
ADDED NOON THURSDAY: SFD tells WSB, “Fire investigators determined the cause of the fire was accidental, likely ignited by charging lithium-ion batteries that overheated. Estimated loss is $90,000.”
(From Seattle Metro Pickleball Association website)
Nine days after Seattle Parks released its “draft racquet-sports strategy” – here’s our first story – the Seattle Metro Pickleball Association has launched an online petition drive urging the city to at least “pause … all pickleball court removals.” The organization says the “strategy” – which would separate the two sports, which currently share many dual-striped courts – would remove 36 pickleball courts in seven locations, including four at Alki (lighted courts, the organization notes) and four in High Point. Next steps for the proposal include a discussion at tomorrow night’s Alki Community Council meeting and an official briefing at the 6 pm April 23 Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners meeting downtown (which includes a public-comment period).
3:27 PM: Thanks to Mike for the tip. We’ve already had one round of “chunky rain” and the National Weather Service has an alert out for at least the next half-hour saying more could be headed this way: “Winds in excess of 30 mph and half-inch hail” are possible.
3:50 PM: Just got a bit more hail/graupel/ice pellets here in Upper Fauntleroy, but nothing close to a half-inch.
6:05 PM: The NWS confirms reports of a water-spout sighting off Magnolia during all this.
(Reader photo)
2:28 PM: Just as the rain returns – a bit icy this time – there’s been another crash toward the west end of the West Seattle Bridge: This time involving a motorcycle officer from the SPD Traffic Unit. He has told dispatch he’s not hurt but SFD is being sent to check him out; other officers are arriving at the scene.
2:31 PM: Reader photo added.
2:39 PM: Same reader (thank you!) just texted this one showing the location more widely:
Officers have just told dispatch that all westbound lanes are blocked, though they’re “working to move everything to the right shoulder” in hopes that won’t last long.
2:50 PM: Tow truck hasn’t arrived yet but police say the westbound lanes are open again.
12:30 PM: One lane is reported blocked by a crash toward the west end of the westbound West Seattle Bridge. It’s described as involving one car, whose driver hit the barrier(s), which are reported to now be in need of repositioning. (We do NOT know where this is in relation to the repeat trouble spot by the Dancing on Logs (etc.) pullout, as the traffic camera there has been broken for years, and the dispatch/crew communication has mentioned both Fauntleroy and Admiral as location points.) No injuries are reported so SFD is canceling, but police and SDOT are responding.
12:34 PM: The scene is apparently near that spot as police have just asked for SDOT’s incident crews to block the left lane “before the blind corner” and have said they’re “just east of Fauntleroy” (though not visible on the 35th/Fauntleroy camera).
12:38 PM: The displaced barriers are affecting the eastbound side too, according to radio communication, so SDOT will be on that side as well until fixed. Meantime, a commenter below confirms the location. (And the radio check of the vehicle’s license also confirms what the commenter’s photo partly shows, that it’s a pickup truck.)
12:56 PM: Just received that photo showing, from the eastbound side, the crash’s location. And here’s the SDOT crew blocking the left lane at the eastbound Fauntleroy/35th entrance while they work on the barriers – which may close the entire eastbound entrance shortly, per radio communication:
2 PM: Had to leave the keyboard for a while; the scene has since cleared, both directions.
By Macey Wurm
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The Seattle City Council has voted to put the Seattle Public Library levy renewal/expansion on the August ballot. (Document links are on their weekly agenda.)
If approved by voters, the new levy would kick in after expiration of the 2019 property tax levy, which allocated $219.1 million to maintain and enhance library services over the last seven years.
Up until last Wednesday at the Select Committee on the Library Levy meeting, the levy as proposed by Mayor Katie Wilson sat at $410 million. As we reported, councilmembers opted to add almost $70 million, which brought this 2026 levy up from what was already an almost 50 percent face-value increase from 2019.
While councilmembers ultimately voted 8-0 to move the bill forward, they expressed an array of sentiments.
Councilmember Maritza Rivera, who chaired the levy committee, said she did not support the amendments increasing the levy’s cost because it would “diminish our ability to address other city needs as well as it contributes to our city’s affordability problem,” but she did ultimately vote to pass the bill out of the select committee. “Of course we need to fund our libraries, but this is simply more than I think was needed when there are other pressing issues at the moment.”
Immediately following, councilmembers Dionne Foster and Alexis Mercedes Rinck took a slightly different approach, focusing more on the essentiality of libraries and a justification for the added funds the levy will bring in if voters pass it.
“Part of the reason that this levy is larger is also because it takes into account cuts that the library has absorbed over the last several years.” Foster said. She went on to add that she voted to increase the levy in order to incorporate HVAC systems, English for Speakers of Other Languages classes, and other retrofits as some examples.
Other councilmembers including Dan Strauss echoed each other’s comments about a flawed state tax code contributing to increased “workaround to allow our levies to provide operating costs instead of simply capital costs.”
District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka concurred, adding that there needs to be change at the state level so that the city isn’t forced to ask voters for these things which have “non- trivial impacts on affordability.”
Despite those concerns, the attitude toward the levy was overarchingly positive among the council.
Before the final vote, Rivera concluded by urging for transparency as to what councilmembers are asking of voters. She went on to say that this includes an understanding that the library levy may not leave much money for future levy renewals.
“Ultimately, however, it’s up to the voters to decide,” she acknowledged.
Your turn to vote will be this summer, starting when your ballot arrives about three weeks before Primary Election Day on Tuesday, August 4.
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