Search Results for 'lI'

[Ken]

While the legal aspect may be tilted in the business owners favor, (those gears do grind slow) This “smells” like a political issue that our city council members should be made aware of. Perhaps by registered letter. If he does have a city contract, he might be in violation of the terms of that contract which, as far as I know, can get examined pretty damn quick when some politicians are annoyed.

If you have exhausted all legal means at your personal level as a homeowner, don’t leave the political aspect out of it.

http://www.seattle.gov/council/committees/planning_comm.htm

Oh look. There are some newly elected members on the Planning, Land Use & Neighborhoods Committee

and the Chair Sally Clark, I suspect, needs a chance to counter the charges of “too business friendly”.

They were all very friendly when they were asking for endorsements from the 34th district. Some of them even got it.

Tom Rasmussen has a great staff and a good record of being responsive to neighborhood issues even when he is running unopposed.

[JoB]

flipjack… i know it’s probably a gender thing or maybe an age thing, but i really am not in favor of flash from either gender with my coffee, or in my case, tea. might be better with alcohol… might not. depends on the body:)

[Ken]

Are you familiar with the basic tools of IMAP and parcel view on the county web site?

http://www.metrokc.gov/gis/mapportal/iMAP_main.htm

A starting point only since the info is sometimes months out of date and typos are years getting fixed. But a good tool none the less.

[hopey]

There is a parcel two lots down from us. The house on the lot was demo’ed in September. I’ve been able to do enough research to figure out that it’s been approved as a short plat (two lots out of one), but in this housing market I am VERY surprised that there has been no further activity on the lot.

We are in an “environmentally sensitive” area near Fauntleroy Park. I am kinda wondering if there are environmental or other issues holding up the land owner’s plans, but I can’t find anything online. Any suggestions on how to continue researching this?

[karen]

Hey! I know that place! I’ve been wondering what the deal is! We don’t live right there but pass the area when I am out walking with the kids. I’ve seen the employees and we’ve started taking a different street because of all the people coming and going in the morning and afternoon. I was worried about the amount of cars and who all these people were.

I am NOT saying that there has been any trouble with the employees. However, with all the horrible things that happen to children, it does concern me to have so many people in and out of what is essentially our “backyard”.

Interesting to find out what’s up.

Thanks!!

[flowerpetal]

Jack, this is outrageous. You are so “right on” with your complaints. I would be happy to file a complaint with the DPD but I would need to know the address of this business. I live in Westwood too.

[Jack]

I live in the Westwood area of West Seattle. We have lived here for a long time. We like our neighborhood and chose to live here because it was residential and not commercial.

In October of 2005 our neighbor relocated his business to his home. He is a contractor who pumps raw sewage. He also contracts with the city to water Seattle public property. This means he has LARGE vehicles, stinky hoses, many employees, an office separate from his home (one of those mobile construction trailers), people coming and going ON OUR street that is ZONED residential. The mobile construction trailer apparently is not considered a violation because it can be “moved easily” and is “temporary”. If it didn’t have wheels he would be in violation and be considered “permanent”.

This does NOT make for a nice place to live. I thought it was a temporary situation. It is not. After about a year of what I thought was temporary, in November 2006 I contacted the DPD and made a complaint. He was in violation of the city code and was cited. He took this case to court and lost. The judge said he was in violation. BUT, he is still operating his business.

What makes me so angry is that we are rewarding him with a City Contract and he is allowed to violate the CITY code without having to give up his city contracts.

I have contacted the DPD (Dept. of Land Use whose is job it is to stop him), King5 News, my district Representative, Parking Enforcement, City of Seattle business licensing, Labor and Industry, ground water protection service, the Seattle Times, and more. There has not been ONE thing done except give my neighbor a citation. He has received one citation and has failed seven inspections. I was told by the DPD it has taken some cases up to 10 years to resolve. There are only a couple of inspectors for the entire city who investigate over 4000 complaints a year.

My other neighbors have complained as well. NOT just me. If everyone was fine with it I would rethink my concerns but my neighbors keep asking me what more I know and when this guy is going to move his business.

If I had wanted to live next to a large industrial business I would have lived down by the Port of Seattle. I live in West Seattle, which is considered to be a residential neighborhood. I would like it to keep it this way.

Is there anyone out there who knows how to stop this effectively without resorting to poor behavior? I would love it if the entire WS blog complained to the DPD to keep WS what it should be! Here is the link http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/Enforcement/Code_Compliance/Filing_a_Complaint/default.asp Case # 1010691 if you are so inclined. He is violating Zoning Codes and Parking Codes.

The WS Blog is such a wonderful place to find support and advocacy. Thank you for this venue.

–Name Withheld for fear of retribution. (This gentleman can be rather intimidating)

[JimmyG]

There’s no such thing as “new” money.

Our tax money comes from one source and one source only regardless of whether it’s from the Feds, State, or local government–it comes us, the taxpayers.

They can re-route taxes from one program to another, but the money isn’t “new”.

[JimmyG]

Cruiser you’re a smart guy.

Normally I’m partial to Americanos, but I am feeling like a latte after reading this post.

[JillNiaDiva]

Thank you everybody for your helpful info! I’ll be following up on your advice. To the velvet bulldog, while not using WS Blog as advertising…the house is a 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, 1998 very “gently-live in” construction–owned only by bachelors, meaning only a few rooms in the whole house have been used. Feel free to email jill@niadivas.com for more info.

[JoB]

cinnamon… jimmyG has a point.. you were serious, weren’t you jimmy;-)

you should let your children be alone in public when you feel they are ready to handle situations that make them uncomfortable in public. i don’t think there is a set age for that.

children will take their cue from you… so if you show them that people in the greater world often behave in ways that aren’t appropriate in your home and that the best way to deal with those people is to ignore them, they will be ready to walk alone sooner rather than later.

but, you knew that, didn’t you?

[JoB]

perhaps coffee shops and sandwich shops with free wifi should investigate creating a wifi area with accessible plugs for those who need them. I am sure customers like sue’s husband would appreciate them.

That might free up some area for customers who might actually like to interact to sit close enough to one another to have conversation.

And i second the request for more non-coffee choices in coffee houses. Mexican chocolate sounds wonderful to me.. tho not so sure about the chicory…

[WSMom]

I had a good experience at Jan’s Beauty Supply in the junction. I really like Shari who works there. She very nice and knowledgable about the products.

[Sue]

Charles, my husband spends considerable time in coffee shops with his laptop. He works from home, and for a change of scenery he goes to a different coffee shop a few times a week. I wouldn’t say he’s “squatting” because he is buying things throughout the time there – it’s not like he buys a small drink and nurses it for 4 hours – he’s buying food, drink, refills throughout that time. There are also places like Skylark which has wifi, and he’s buying a full lunch there. His laptop doesn’t have the greatest battery (no control over that – it’s company issue and they think it’s just fine) so he gets only about 2 hours out of it and requires a plug. I do have to say, however, that he definitely wouldn’t stand on a table to plug in his laptop. :)

[BobLoblaw]

I tend to drink my coffee out of a cup and put my food on a plate (sometimes a bowl — depends on the food). I rarely eat directly off a table. So feel free to stick whatever part of your body you’d like on tables I’m eating at. Just don’t step in my coffee cup or place your behind on my plate and I’m cool.

[credmond]

Jimmy G, Al, others,

–

The 54 serves a larger transit ridership because it goes through more neighborhoods than the 21. Metro chose the 54 for reasons which included the overall population served. Metro also knows that the 21 is due upgrades.

–

The new Rapid Ride service is “new” money and as soon as it’s implemented, circa 2011, the existing 54 service hours can be completely redirected here in WS. That’s probably enough hours to expand the 21 to 20 minute service, lengthen the service day for the 22, and probably increase the 128 to 20 minute service also. That’s what Metro plans to go over next year, this year they’re working on the alignment and station locations. That’s where the energy should be focused now.

–

Does RR improve the 54 service corridor? or does it improve some other service corridor? The present alignment includes the option of intersecting the RR service with the 21 or saving maybe three minutes and getting on the Fauntleroy Causeway directly. Most of us on the advisory board are arguing for the intersect even though it will “waste” 3 minutes. Anyway, send your comments in and attend one of the meetings next week – WSB has it on the events page. Metro is listening, honestly!

[JanS]

cruiser…I like conversation…and I sometimes feel that it’s becoming a lost art…no wonder there are other threads on here about Seattle Freeze….

[KatherineL]

Thanks, Velvet. Gregory, your group sounds like a great idea.

I love to talk gardening. I’m not a speed composter. All those rules you see are simply ways to make compost faster, and maybe to retain more nutrients. Basically, if you throw something on the ground, it’ll rot. Eventually. The busy woman method I worked out is: Mix green stuff (grass clippings, fresh weeds) with brown stuff (leaves, dead plants.) They compost faster if you can chop them. Strive for a tweedy look. Water in the summer when it dries out. Turn now and then. This fall’s leaves will be partly composted by summer, fully composted by the end of the summer.

Composting goes faster if you can add fresh horse, cow, chicken or rabbit manure, and if the pile or bin gets some sun. Never add cat or dog manure; they’re “cold” manures – they don’t heat up the pile and can spread pathogens.

I’d love to share seed with other people who start seeds under lights. I like to start a variety, but don’t have space to plant the whole package for every kind. I may have some extra currant tomato seed this year. I won’t know until I actually plant in late March.

A great place to get answers to your gardening questions is the Plant Answer Line at Elizabeth C. Miller Library, depts.washington.edu/hortlib/index.shtml. Call or email, if they don’t know, they look up the answer and get right back to you.

[Sue]

Aim, I have a similar doctor, which is why I’m willing to travel to Mukilteo to see her. It’s definitely worth the trip to be treated like that. They think I’m crazy to travel (I used to live in Lynnwood, which is how I originally found her), but I told her that she doesn’t know how rare and valuable she is and is definitely worth the trip.

[JimmyG]

I’m with m and others on this. RapidRide down California will do nothing to alleviate the commute, and doesn’t improve transit.

Metro should stick to getting it’s bus routes that all ready run throughout the city up to par before they go off on a whole new tangent of service.

I’ve never understood the waste of seeing a Metro bus followed right behind it on the identical route by a Sound Transit bus. What is the point of that? Get rid of the duplication of services and streamline what exists.

[Aim]

Barb, She also gives you a FULL hour. She puts it “this is your hour, you’re paying for it. How would you like to spend it?” So you can ask her about ANYTHING you might have wondered about. She’s simply awesome. I have to see my doc a lot, due to medical issues I have, so I am really picky about having a good one.

[JoB]

ok, so dirt is good for our immune systems. i’m ok with that.. i garden.

but i don’t think standing on tables in a coffee shop to plug in your computer is a good thing. i happen to know how easy it is to fall off chairs and tables when you are reaching over your head and although i might be ok with her footprints on the table i don’t think i would be ok with her in my lap or worse when she fell.

not to mention not wanting to be looking up her skirt or worse if i happened to be sitting next to her.

beyond that…

if there isn’t an easily accessible plug nearby, it is a good bet that you are expected to use your battery while availing yourself of the coffee shop’s free wifi.

I too am tired of those whose lack of consideration places powercords where i end up tripping over them.

[JoB]

We are also a renters and to be fair i have to tell you that i just followed cinnamon’s link to affordable housing and it probably isn’t realistic.

depending upon the size of the house and the amenities (does it have a view, is it near a park, schools, are you going to allow pets, etc>>>) rents here are higher than those posted.

you might try housingmaps.. just put them in google. that is where i found our current rental.

I think a lot of people who are transferring into the area use that system. It works really well… as does a good old fashioned sign.

You might want to consider a real estate service if you aren’t going to want to manage the property yourself… they do charge a percentage of the rent as a fee, but they do most of the work screening renters and some of them even arrange repairs for you. Just check out the contracts really carefully.

Too bad i won’t be looking for another place for at least 6 months… good luck!

[JoB]

I don’t know if this policy is progressive or discriminatory, but i have to admit i will probably be taking advantage of it:)

[JoB]

I was listening to NPR today and heard that Kucinich has decided to withdraw from the race.

I am truly sorry to hear that because whether he could win or not, i think he elevated the discussion by his presence.

He is making a formal announcement tomorrow that is supposed to include his desire to serve in Congress.

We need him there, but i shall miss him in this race all the same.