West Seattle, Washington
14 Thursday
(Seattle Police photo)
The 73-year-old man arrested on Thursday after gunfire at Camp Second Chance, the tiny-house village on Myers Way, remains in jail tonight. Seattle Police have released more information on the incident. They describe the suspect as a convicted felon, which is why he faces a potential charge of unlawful firearm possession. The initial report that brought them to the scene was a report that he was shooting from his unit toward “the common areas,” and then when an employee checked on him, he “shot another two rounds through the door.” Neither the employee nor anyone else was hurt, but police say the suspect fired more rounds even after their arrival. Hostage Negotiation Team officers arrived and convinced him to surrender after almost two hours. Police say they found the gun and “ballistic evidence” after getting a search warrant. Next step is to see whether charges are rush-filed by early next week. His name is fairly common, so it’s hard to tell from court records what he had a prior conviction for; the newest case against someone with that name was in 2000.
Avoid 35th/Morgan for a while – there’s a two-car crash on the southwest side of the intersection. One was briefly described as flipped but then “back on all fours”; the two cars are described as a Toyota Prius and a Honda CR-V. No word on injuries yet.
From the bottom of Charlestown Hill come tonight’s spotlight decorations – J sent the photos:
We are at the corner of SW Charlestown and 48th are again excited for this Thursday. Weather permitted, we intend to flood the streets with fog again and have a spookier-than-ever trick or treat night!
That’s a reminder, the spookiest night of the year is now just six nights away. But we’re still accepting decoration pics – westseattleblog@gmail.com; go here to scroll through what we’ve already shown!
(WSB photos)
4:26 PM: The first big event of Hallo-weekend 2024 is happening now – from north to south throughout Admiral, businesses are welcoming costumed visitors with candy galore. The Admiral Neighborhood Association is coordinating this year’s candyfest, and it’s sweet. More pics later – and send us yours! westseattleblog@gmail.com is the best way to reach us. This is one of a half-dozen-plus trick-or-treat events (listed here) around the peninsula this year.
ADDED 5:22 PM: The scene above is from Admiral Theater, where they were handing out kid-size bags of popcorn as well as candy – and it was going out as fast as they could set it out! Around the area, it was a trick-or-treat traffic jam:
Tiny trick-or-treaters, too:
You still have time to go join the fun – till 7 pm.
Don’t forget to wander far and wide – toward West Seattle Grounds and Mioposto (WSB sponsor) in the north, and Little Donkey in the south.
8:23 PM: Thanks to Scott at Seattle Dive Tours for this photo:
And a couple pics from the ANA crew in North Admiral:
The Admiral District’s next Hallo-weekend events are tomorrow – Halloween movie screenings and a bar crawl!
Thanks to West Seattle photographer Holli Margell for the photos of the new mural wrapping around the Center for Active Living in The Junction. She says she happened to find out that muralist Brady Black was wrapping up his work while she was in the area on Thursday.
Holli notes, “Fun note is that all of the people in black and white on the mural are referenced from photos of members and employees of The Center.”
You can compare it here to the concept the artist showed off during the center’s August open house.
By Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The Alki Community Council gathered last week for their October meeting, to talk about upcoming events and neighborhood concerns, with a visit from Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison.
The meeting was held in “hybrid” format, with attendees in-person at Alki UCC as well as online via Zoom, and was facilitated by president Charlotte Starck:
Starck credited Kevin Kramer (the group’s new Board Chair of Operations) with facilitating the technology for the hybrid meeting, to make things run smoothly. Starck thanked attendees for being there, noting the mix of neighbors, group leaders, business owners, city staff, and law enforcement (including two SPD community-service officers who were there in-person).
SPD Officer German Barreto from the Southwest Precinct provided an update via Zoom. He said that for the Alki area, looking at the past month compared to 2023, there has been an increase in sexual assault reports, but everything else (including thefts) is down. He noted the previously reported drive-by shootings on Alki on July 29th, September 6th and 14th, as well as an earlier incident on the 2100 block of Harbor SW. He said it was good news that detectives were able to thoroughly investigate where appropriate. He reminded attendees that the precinct has a new leader, in Captain Krista Bair (who took the position in June). An attendee asked about the “boundaries” related to the crime stats, and how much of West Seattle is included in those. Baretto confirmed that for the stats he cites in each community group meeting he attends, he tries to use data relevant to that specific area of town — in the case of the Alki group, it’s basically the 98116 zip code.
SW Precinct Operations Lt. Nathan Shopay (also attending online) said that for the upcoming weekend, they would be conducting “an experiment” in which dedicated officers would be patrolling the Alki/Harbor area specifically during the “hot time” (9 pm and later) and “won’t be pulled off Alki to go anywhere else.” He said that the precinct with gather data and findings from the experiment to help inform future patrol assignments. Several meeting attendees thanked Shopay for this, and one noted that “I walk on Alki multiple times a day, and have noticed an increased law enforcement presence every day. I really appreciate it!”
Next up were remarks from Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison, who attended in-person, and is in the third year of her term:
She had talked to the Alki group just over a year ago, and referenced that visit several times during her remarks (she had to cancel a follow-up visit in May 2024), and thanked attendees for being there and for getting involved. She said that it’s important for civic leaders to “be knowledgeable on a local level, where the rubber meets the road” and that the strives to “make myself accessible and take the ‘front desk’ on the road.”
Davison said she has a staff of more than 100 and is the only elected city attorney in Washington (most others in the state and across the country are appointed to their positions). She said that she takes that responsibility seriously as an elected official and an independent prosecutor.
From the “civil side,” she cited her efforts in suing the carmakers as part of ongoing issues with Kia/Hyundai vehicles being easy targets for theft because the manufacturers “knowingly sold vehicles” that were prone to theft, thus “promoting criminal activity.” She said she was the first in the country to file suit, and now 16 other government entities across the US have joined in. “We want manufacturers to recall the cars and put in anti-theft technology,” she said, noting that such requirements were already being met in Canada and Europe but the carmakers declined to do it here. She said the suit is a “strategic move to help law enforcement partners, who are already too busy” and that customers have been losing their car insurance and a whole host of other problems.
She also noted her office’s work with the $160mm Monsanto settlement announced in July, the highest for any municipality in the country, as being a major win for public health and the community. She also cited her work as part of an amicus brief for the Grants Pass v Johnson case dealing with urban homelessness, saying that she wants to “let local policy makers make their choices” for these difficult issues.
From the “public safety side,” Davison said her office has made huge progress dealing with the backlog of roughly 5,000 criminal cases that she faced when taking the job three years ago. She said her office’s goal is to close new cases within five business days, and they’re currently at seven days “and should meet the goal within a week or two” — and that they’re “staying on top of things.”
She said that she’s a big advocate of “data transparency” and providing the public with lots of information. “It’s cutting edge,” she said, “and not what most prosecutors want to do.” She said this is crucial to help her and other leaders make informed decisions — “we don’t want it to be anecdotal” — and that everything gets published to her office’s website including annual and quarterly reports.
Davison cited her partnership with the Seattle City Council in last month’s 8-1 council approval of the creation of Stay Out of Drug Areas (SODA) areas, targeting drug-related criminal activity in key areas (such as parts of Belltown and the International District) and authorizing courts to prohibit someone from entering those areas if they commit a drug-related criminal offense in those zones. She said that she lives in the north end and has had hard conversations with her kids while driving through areas like north Aurora Ave. “Public areas need to be protected; the anti-drug zones should help,” she said, noting that October 23 (one month after passage) would be the effective date for the new law. After it goes into effect, “I’ll see what the referrals are like. I’m the second leg of the process; SPD is first, then I get referral and can act accordingly.”
Davison closed her remarks by saying she’s lived in the city since 1996, when she first started working for the Seattle Supersonics basketball team “the year we went to the NBA Finals!” and is proud to have gotten involved with public service. “I never thought I’d be doing this kind of work,” she said, but that she’s been drawn to taking action on behalf of the community, and doing her part.
Some Q&A from attendees:
Davison thanked attendees for coming and departed for another commitment, and the group took a break for some raffles. Then, group vice president Lindsey Pearsall (attending via Zoom) talked with the group about a new idea that came out of discussions with the Alki Elementary PTA, regarding the creation of a partnership to display student artwork in local businesses. Such a program existed years ago, and they’d like to bring it back, ideally by the beginning of 2025. Attendees agreed that this was a great idea and they were “all in,” and Lindsey encouraged anyone interested in helping to contact her at lindsey@alkicommunitycouncil.org.
Next, board member Robyn Fritz (the board’s Chair of Parks) encouraged attendees to do what they can to help Seattle Parks staff to keep the area beautiful and safe. She said she has lived on Alki since 1987, and is out every day walking her dog. She plans to create and manage an online list of projects (such as broken park benches, areas of overgrown or unhealthy greenery, etc) that people can contribute to, and she’ll take the lead on working with Parks staff to get things done. She encouraged neighbors to ask themselves: “What do we need to do to make Alki even better than it is?”
Attendee Steve Pumphrey, who is an organizer of an Alki/Harbor neighborhood group (focused on the three blocks around Don Armeni and Duwamish Head), then talked about safety issues relevant to that area. He said he lives across from the diagonal parking and boat launch, in the apartments on Harbor Ave. He said the area is a popular place for groups to meet and then go to Alki Beach and back. He said that his group was pleased to recently get a group from the city to come out and walk the area, and that the group included SPD leaders and someone from mayor’s office. He said they walked between the parking lot area and the boat launch, and talked about the problems, and were able to show the broken glass and tire-burn marks, and that he expects a status report from the group soon. Pumphrey encouraged attendees to attend the budget meeting on Nov 12th at 5pm at the council offices city hall, at which Councilmember Rob Saka will propose speed-activated cameras and a study for addressing diagonal parking. “We need a big crowd to testify in favor of these things,” Pumphrey said. He added that typically the signups open at 4pm and then the meeting starts at 5pm. Robin Fritz noted that big crowds were on the beach recently for the northern lights, walking around, and Pumphrey said the area is always crowded but usually for no good reason. “Between 930-10pm it’s mostly people racing around; at 11pm it’s supposed to be ‘no parking’ but nobody pays attention to that.”
The next portion of the meeting was a quick update from Sean Blackwell from the city’s CARE Department (Community Assisted Response and Engagement), who confirmed that the program plans to expand its number of Community Crisis Responders (CCRs) from 11 currently to 28 eventually, which will include an expansion into the South Precinct and into West Seattle’s Southwest Precinct in the first quarter of 2025. He said the CCRs aim to support and complement police and fire responders, and to focus on crisis mitigation including connecting people to necessary services.
The group then highlighted two upcoming events:
Have you been impacted by power outages in West Seattle in recent years? If so, group member Wyatt Carlock wants to hear from you, he is a design intern for a startup called PwrOn whose mission is to improve residents’ experiences during power outages (particularly for refrigeration and internet service). He said that areas like Alki are susceptible to this. If you’re interested in getting involved and sharing your experiences, contact him at: wyattcarlock@gmail.com.
As the meeting came to an end, members noted that their annual election of officers will occur in next month’s meeting, and they’ll need to identify candidates and renew memberships. They’ll be doing their budget as well (yes, the group is a 5013c), and they’ve been talking with other neighborhood groups like Fauntleroy to get ideas.
The Alki Community Council can be contacted at hello@alkicommunitycouncil.org. The group meets on the third Thursday of each month, with upcoming meetings as follows:
Two reader reports:
RUNAWAY TRAILER: Mike is hoping you know whose trailer hit his car:
At 9:50 a.m. a truck with construction utility trailer driving southbound on 38th Ave SW between Juneau and Raymond hit a speed bump and the trailer disconnected from the truck which then crashed into a vehicle parked on the street. The damage is considerable. The contents of the trailer consisted of drywall and mint green painted wood which is clearly from a remodel project in the area. Are you or a neighbor doing construction? A policy report has been filed and the trailer impounded. There are no plates on the trailer and there is an investigation to locate the contractor.
Police report # is 24-302885.
ABANDONED-LIKELY-STOLEN CAR: Coleman spotted this Honda Accord:
Looks like someone dumped a car around the corner from my house on Holden and 32nd.
Plate is CKU9733, and there’s internal damage further suggesting it was stolen.
As mentioned in our morning traffic/transit notes, the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry route has been down to one boat since early this morning because of a fueling-vessel problem. But as of a short time ago, Washington State Ferries says, it’s returned to two-boat service.
Two bits of news from Chief Sealth International High School cross-country – first, from athletic director Ernest Policarpio:
Congrats to the Girls X-Country Team for winning the 2A Metro Championship this week at Lower Woodland.
Federica Dilley is your 2A Individual Metro Champ with a time of 19:11 in the 5K.
And tomorrow morning, the cross-country program is cleaning up the campus and neighborhoods to raise money from the program, 9 am-noon Saturday, in partnership with A Cleaner Alki – here are the details, including how to contribute:
(Photo sent by Amy, no location given)
Hallo-weekend begins! The first major trick-or-treat event on the peninsula is part of what’s happening in West Seattle and vicinity for the rest of today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (go there any time to look into the future), First, the Halloween/fall events:
PUMPKIN JUNCTION: Annual celebration of pumpkin beers and ciders! At The Beer Junction (4511 California SW), open noon-midnight.
ADMIRAL DISTRICT TRICK-OR-TREATING: Coordinated by the Admiral Neighborhood Association, with participants from North Admiral to South Admiral, 4-7 p.
‘NIGHTFALL’: This haunted experience, benefiting charity, continues tonight at a West Seattle private residence, 5:30-9:30. See our calendar listing for details.
BENEFIT MOVIE: The West Seattle High School Key Club is raising money for UNICEF by showing “Hocus Pocus” tonight at 6:30 pm – get a discount if you show up in costume! (3000 California SW) **CASH ONLY**
MEEDS MANOR HAUNTED HOUSE: One of West Seattle’s most-famous haunted houses is open for the first of three nights tonight, at 3011 45th SW, accepting donations for youth basketball. 7-9 pm.
WEST END GHOULS: West Seattle’s monthly drag extravaganza is for tonight a drag spooktacular! Doors at 7 pm at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW).
Now, everything else that’s up:
PET FOOD DONATION DRIVE: Another reminder that you can still donate at All The Best Pet Care (4722 Fauntleroy Way SW; WSB sponsor), as announced earlier this month – open until 7:30 pm tonight.
INDOOR PLAY: Need an indoor place for your little one to play? 10 am-11:30 am, you’re welcome to “Stay ‘n’ Play” at Arbor Heights Community Church (4113 SW 102nd).
SOUTHWEST ARTIST SHOWCASE: Visit the Southwest Library (9010 35th SW) to see the art in this year’s Southwest Artist Showcase. The library is open today 10 am-6 pm.
SSC GARDEN CENTER: As we get further into fall, season-appropriate plants await you at the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus, 10 am-3 pm.
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: Visit the home of West Seattle’s history, noon-4 pm. (61st SW & SW Stevens)
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY TASTING ROOM: 1-6 pm, open in the north lot of South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor).
VISCON CELLARS: Season’s just right for this cozy tasting room/wine bar, open for wine by the glass or bottle – 5-9 pm – at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).
SUMMIT ATLAS FUNDRAISER AT KENYON HALL: 6:30 pm “End of Eras“ fundraiser for Summit Atlas at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW).
COMEDY AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: 7-9 pm, steel guitarist Fraser Havens at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
THE BUG CLUB: Live at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW), 7 pm, free, all ages.
AT THE SPOT: Fridays are Live Artist Showcase nights at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), 7-10 pm.
FOOTBALL: One local team plays tonight at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) – Metro 2A champs Chief Sealth IHS vs. Lincoln at 7:30 pm.
BENEFIT SCREENING: “Call Me Dancer” at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle), to benefit the theater program as well as West Seattle Performing Arts. Ticket info in our calendar listing.
MAKE IT LOUD: Tonight’s music at Southgate Roller Rink is: The Brittany Davis Group with special guests Lil Lebowski. 9 pm doors, $30 cover at the door, $5 skates, 21+. (9646 17th SW)
REVELRY ROOM DJ: 9 pm, DJ Epop tonight! (4547 California SW)
JARAY’S DJ: 9 pm, DJ Buzsy at Jaray’s Lounge (2216 SW Orchard).
Are we missing anything? If you have something else to add to our event lists and calendar, please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
For the next two weeks, a community donation drive is planned at West Seattle High School to support students in need. Here’s what they’re hoping you can donate:
Help Support Food-Insecure Students at West Seattle High School!
Join us in making a difference for our community! From October 28th to November 8th, we’re hosting a donation drive to benefit the care center at West Seattle High School, which provides essential support for food-insecure students and their families.
In-School Drop-Off: Donations can be dropped off between 9 AM and 4 PM at bins located outside the ASB Store (Room 131).
After-Hours Drop-Off: We’ll also accept donations on Wednesday, October 30th from 4-5 PM outside the Historical Entrance, as well as at the WSHS Home Volleyball Game on October 31st at 7 PM.
Most Needed Items:
Food: Canned goods (tuna, chicken, vegetables, fruits, beans, soups), rice, pasta, tomato sauce, shelf-stable milk, oatmeal/cereal, and non-perishable Thanksgiving foods.
Hygiene Products
Clothing: Men’s sizes needed, including winter coats, windbreakers, socks, hoodies, and pants.
Your contributions can make a significant impact in the lives of our students. Thank you for your generosity!
West Seattle High School is at 3000 California SW.
6:00 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Friday, October 25th.
LOW-BRIDGE CLOSURE
By 7 am, the West Seattle low bridge is expected to close – likely through Sunday – for cylinder reinstallation. Check the “live” image here:
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Partly cloudy, high near 60. Today’s sunrise will be at 7:43 am, while sunset will be at 6:02 pm.
BE MINDFUL OF TRICK-OR-TREATERS
*4-7 pm tonight, the Admiral District welcomes trick-or-treaters.
*Noon-2 pm Saturday, businesses all along Alki Avenue will welcome trick-or-treaters.
*11 am-2 pm Sunday, the West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival means an expanded street-closure zone on Sunday – adding the Summer Fest-footprint blocks of California south of Alaska and Alaska between 42nd and 44th. Costume parade, trick-or-treating, chili cookoff, Thriller dancers, more!
ROAD WORK
*The Admiral Way Bridge seismic project continues; the north half of the bridge remains closed, with one lane each way on the south side, until the project switches sides, likely next week. Fairmount Avenue remains closed under the bridge.
*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.
EAST MARGINAL PROJECT ZONE CHANGES
One more reminder – as announced by SDOT:
Starting this week, people biking and walking are routed onto the new curb-separated asphalt path on the west side of E Marginal Way S between S Spokane St and S Horton St. At S Horton St, people biking and walking will shift back to a temporary, vehicle-separated shared-use path in the center of E Marginal Way S.
At approximately S Holgate Street:
Northbound travelers are routed back to the existing sidewalk on the west side of the street
Southbound travelers are routed back to the existing bike lane on the west side of the street
TRANSIT
Washington State Ferries today – Update: 1 boat service on the Triangle Route this morning, explained in bulletins – a malfunction with a fueling vessel has taken M/V Kittitas out of service.
Metro buses today – Regular schedule.
Water Taxi today – Regular schedule.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: Besides 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; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call our hotline (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
11:17 PM: Police have found at least one casing in the 3100 block of SW Elmgrove, where they’d gone after reports of a man who said he’d been shot or shot at. They haven’t found that man, who may be on foot somewhere in the area – white or Hispanic, 50s, “scruffy gray stubble,” black jacket over gray hoodie. No description of the shooter(s) but officers are reviewing at least one residence’s security video.
ADDED FRIDAY AFTERNOON: Here’s the SPD summary:
At 2300 hours, SW Patrol responded to a report of a male who had knocked on a door claiming to be shot in the 3100 block of SW Elmgrove St. This possible victim fled the scene westbound on foot on SW Elmgrove St prior to police arrival. The scene was located in the 3100 block of SW Elmgrove St where one 9mm FCC was recovered. An extensive area check was conducted on foot and in vehicles, but no victim was located at the time of this SIR. There was no other evidence, property damage or additional victims located at this time. No possible suspect information was available.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
With only two “no” votes, the Sound Transit Board officially approved the “preferred alternative” for West Seattle light rail as the routing and station-location plan for the extension currently planned to launch in 2032.
As with the System Expansion Committee earlier this month, the full board had very little discussion about the merits of any particular routing options. The overarching point of discussion was again the potential $7 billion price tag that surfaced with the Final Environmental Impact Statement. But ST staff assured them repeatedly that this vote isn’t committing them to actually building the project – just to moving into design.
Before the vote, there were two presentations. Project leader Jason Hampton (here’s the full slide deck) began with a recap of what’s led up to this, in the past few years:
He recapped that construction would not begin before 2027, and went through some other points presented at the System Expansion Committee, including what ST feels the project would accomplish, both for West Seattle (redundancy when the West Seattle Bridge is closed, for example) and for the entire system (providing a new connection to ST’s Operations Maintenance Facility, for example). Hampton said the preferred alternative minimizes displacements, compared to the others.
As explained, this decision would advance the West Seattle project toward the end of environmental review and allow the project to move into design in a timely manner.
In Q/A/comments, board chair Dow Constantine, King County Executive, observed that in essence, this would get the project to the “shovel-ready phase.” Board member Cassie Franklin, Everett Mayor, wondered why this is so high-priority compared to some other projects in queue, and Hampton recapped its importance. She then asked whether costs could be cut by, for example, reducing park protection – “I love parks but I really want to get the spine built.” Hampton responded, “We’re going to look at everything to try to reduce costs.” She pressed, “Is this the more expensive route?” Not in a big way, he said, and in some cases, like the Duwamish Crossing – the new bridge that’ll be built to get the line across the river – the not-chosen north alternative, would not affect parks at all, but would be much more costly.
Board member Girmay Zahilay, King County Councilmember, said he was surfacing some concerns/questions from his fellow councilmember Teresa Mosqueda (who’s not on the board), such as the West Seattle Health Club impacts. Has ST engaged with her and/or addressed her concerns? Constantine said he had spoken with her often. CEO Goran Sparrman also said they’d engaged in “multiple conversations” regarding mitigation, and turned it over to Mestas for details. She promised “more open houses and roundtables to get feedback.” She said they’re working with the health club “on different options.”
Board member Dan Strauss, Seattle City Councilmember, said he’d heard concerns about the alignment but “staff has assured me” they can work through it, so he supports the preferred alternative: “We can’t stop now.” Mestas again said they’re looking at “how businesses operate” and so they’re examining construction methods – modular, off-site, for example – to reduce direct impacts. Strauss said he’s more focused on longterm impacts such as sidewalks, trash pickups, for example. Board member Jim Kastama, Puyallup Mayor, was worried that advancing this project could cause harm to Pierce County projects further down the line. McCartan said, no, it won’t, because these are design dollars – construction dollars could be a different story but they’ll get there when they get there. “You can move forward this project without imperiling extensions to Everett or Tacoma.”
Board member Bruce Harrell, Seattle Mayor, said he wants to be certain that it be easy for people to get involved with Sound Transit and this “megaproject,” whether small businesses or residents, “to make sure their concerns are heard.”
Board member Nancy Backus, Auburn Mayor, also voiced concerns about “subarea equity,” being sure that folks in all areas paying into ST are getting something for their money.
Board member Christine Frizzell, Lynnwood Mayor, said she’s heard the most from constituents and community members about the “sticker shock,” so she’s wanting to be assured that this and other projects are being presented with the most accurate approach. Mestas said this and other projects would all be evaluated with the same methodology. Frizzell pressed further: “Where did we go so wrong” on estimates? Mestas recapped the factors that had been mentioned previously, from “market conditions,” such as lack of competition, to “scope evolution.”
Board member Claudia Balducci, King County Councilmember, said, as she had at the System Expansion Committee, that absolute clarity on the board’s “levers” is vital. In recapping her committee’s discussion before the vote, she reiterated that “time is money” and things will only get more expensive if they wait.
Board member Bruce Dammeier, Pierce County Executive, said he’s excited about the budgetary discipline that the workplan (more on that later) will bring to this project and others – so he’s “cautiously optimistic.” But he said, “I still have concerns …” and he doesn’t see how even all the ideas for cost savings will cut the projected price tag by billions, so he is “very concerned that this project jeopardizes the ability to get to the spine.” So he said he would vote no, and he did.
Strauss added an amendment to the final resolution, summarized in Sound Transit’s post-meeting news release as follows:
The Board’s approved resolution included an amendment to move forward with the development and implementation of the workplan to improve the agency’s financial situation and move the West Seattle Link Extension through design. This amendment also directed the agency to continue working to reduce identified project impacts during the design phase and advancement of the workplan to achieve cost savings and to minimize community impacts in SODO and West Seattle, while continuing to provide enhanced transit integration and station access and engaging with impacted residents and businesses.
Before the final vote, Harrell reiterated that Seattle residents voted overwhelmingly in favor of ST3, and “we’ve done a lot of work to get to this point,” so “this is the right vote to take to support this project … at this point.”
And Constantine – who led the push to include West Seattle in ST3 almost a decade ago – recalled the board choosing a preferred alignment in 2022, making the project “a little more real.” Yes, he acknowledged, everyone is frustrated by the costs of delivering infrastructure projects. “We are seeing this EVERYWHERE,” he stressed. But “I really need us to keep our focus on moving projects forward even in times of financial volatility.” The design work and workplan will help them move beyond the only ways they’ve cut costs in the past, “scope reduction and delay. … If we become paralyzed, continuing that pattern of delay, and reducing what we’re willing to build, we’re going to (fail to) keep the promise we made to the voters.” He insisted that this isn’t just a stub, it builds capacity for the extension to Everett. “We’re going to learn how to deliver a capital program under these changed circumstances.” And he underscored that a vote to approve this action is not a final commitment to deliver the project at any cost. But he urged support for delivering light rail “to the 100,000 people who live on the Duwamish Peninsula.”
The resolution passed, 14-2, choosing the preferred alternative, as the “project to be built.” Dammeier and Kastama were the two “no” votes.
Earlier:
WEST SEATTLE WORKPLAN: As they had done at the System Expansion Committee two weeks ago, deputy CEO Terri Mestas and Hampton talked about the workplan that board chair Constantine had requested, including some toplines about ways they will look for cost savings. Here’s the full slide deck. Mestas noted that the next phase of this project will be “design validation” but many other milestones follow, including 80 percent design, when a key decision about going ahead with construction would be made.
A big part of the workplan also is setting up systems – such as dashboards – for “real-time monitoring” and reporting progress. Responding to some criticism at the committee meeting that the presentation was too generic, some details were added about touchstones for cost savings:
She also showed a funding timeline. Construction will take about 86 percent of the project funding.
The board also heard from Brian McCartan, a former ST CEO who has come on board as a consultant. He talked about four “buckets” for “financial opportunities,” and two later phases of financial focus. Mestas then showed three touchstones for next year, including board approval of a design-services contract, and “programmatic” planning such as reviewing lessons learned from ST2:
Right of way (ROW) acquisition had been mentioned a few times, so Mestas was asked at the end of the presentation about criteria for that. Hampton said that basically, it depends. Any way to prioritize properties that wish to be acquired? Hampton said there’s federal criteria for considering that, so it’s a possibility.
WHAT’S NEXT? A whole lot of activity – more intensive property acquisition talks, for one – and also an official step called the “record of decision.” Then, those touchstones – including “baselining” in the next few years to determine when and how much will be spent. See more details on the project website.
As we continue showcasing West Seattle Halloween sights – one week to go until the big night! – thanks to Joey for the “Ghostbusters“-evoking pics of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, in the 5300 block of SW Manning.
Got decorations? Send us a pic – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
4:04 PM: The list is out. Seattle Public Schools superintendent Dr. Brent Jones is finally out with his promised short list of school closures/consolidations – four in all, including Sanislo Elementary on Puget Ridge, consolidating it into Highland Park Elementary. Here’s his full message:
Dear SPS Families, Staff, and Community,
Thank you for your unwavering dedication to our students and schools. We are incredibly grateful for your ongoing support and commitment to helping us navigate these challenging times.
Balancing our budget is no easy task, especially as we face a significant shortfall. However, our guiding mission remains clear: ensuring that every student receives an excellent education in an environment that fosters learning and growth.
Our Budget Challenge
Like many districts across the state and nation, Seattle Public Schools (SPS) is grappling with a persistent budget shortfall. Declining enrollment—driven by rising housing costs, the ongoing impact of COVID, and a shift towards home-based instruction and private schools—has compounded the issue. Additionally, state funding for public schools continues to fall short.We find ourselves at a critical financial juncture. Yet despite these challenges, SPS remains a place where excellence thrives. We proudly serve nearly 50,000 students, offering enriching academic experiences, extracurricular activities, and vital special education services. Our goal is to preserve these opportunities and ensure every student, in every school, has access to high-quality education and the support they need to grow.
Our Path Forward
We know many of you have experienced frustration as we’ve worked through these difficult decisions, and we are grateful for your passion and feedback. We face a $94 million shortfall for the 2025-26 school year. To address this, we are pursuing several strategies:1. School Consolidations: After careful consideration and listening to your concerns, we are moving forward with a smaller plan to merge four schools in the 2025-26 school year.
This consolidation is part of a larger strategy to stabilize our finances. By closing these four under-enrolled schools, we will start to build a stronger, more sustainable school system. This is the best way forward in ensuring our district continues to provide the high-quality education our students deserve.
My preliminary recommendation to the School Board will be the following:
Northwest Region: Closing – North Beach Elementary Consolidating with Viewlands Elementary at Viewlands
Northeast Region: Closing – Sacajawea Elementary Consolidating with John Rogers Elementary at John Rogers
Central Region: Closing – Stevens Elementary Consolidating with Montlake Elementary at Montlake
Southwest Region: Closing – Sanislo Elementary Consolidating with Highland Park Elementary at Highland Park
We understand this change is difficult. We chose these schools based on factors like building condition, space, and the goal of minimizing disruption to students and families. A dedicated transition team will be working with the impacted communities to ensure a smooth and supportive process for everyone involved.We recognize the deep connection that our community has with its schools, and we are committed to a thoughtful and transparent process. Starting next week, we will hold engagement sessions at impacted schools, offering in-person support weekly through November 23. Additionally, a districtwide information session will take place on Thursday, Nov. 14, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
2. Advocating for Legislative Support: We are actively seeking full support from the state legislature to help cover our budget shortfall, particularly in areas like special education, transportation, and operational costs. In addition, we are advocating for an extension of our interfund loan and seeking to fully utilize our levy authority.
3. Central Office Reductions: To keep cuts away from classrooms, we are identifying operational reductions within our central office, including staff reorganizations and adjustments.
4. Changing School Bell Times: We will transition to a three-tier bell schedule, which will allow us to reduce transportation costs by running more bus routes with fewer buses.
5. Renewing Levies: In February 2025, we will ask voters to renew two critical levies—the Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) Levy and the Building Excellence (BEX VI) Levy—which provide vital funding for school operations and maintenance.
Efforts to Increase Enrollment
To attract more families back to SPS, we are conducting an enrollment study. This study, expected to be completed by December, will guide our efforts in recruitment and retention, helping us build a stronger, more vibrant school community.Building a Sustainable Future
Seattle Public Schools has been in existence for more than 150 years. While this may be a difficult moment in time, we must continue to seek viable solutions. This will require our community’s ongoing partnership and support.This approach will begin to help us stabilize the budget for next year. I am committed to continuing this conversation with families, staff, and the School Board as we work toward sustainable fiscal solutions. Together, we will create a future where every student in Seattle Public Schools can thrive.
More info to come. And remember that West Seattle/South Park School Board Director Gina Topp has set her next community-conversation meeting for this Sunday, 11 am-noon in person at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
ADDED 6:21 PM: The anti-closure community coalition All Together For Seattle Schools reacted:
We are disappointed that Seattle Public Schools is moving forward with closing four public schools. They are proceeding despite evidence their justification for closures is flawed, evidence that closures harm students, and overwhelming public opposition. We strongly oppose this proposal and will rally the community to oppose it and any other closure plans. … Rather than make closures that harm students and won’t come close to addressing our budget gap, SPS should join us in asking the legislature to close the entire budget deficit for districts across Washington State.
By Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Neighbors gathered Wednesday afternoon at the site of West Seattle’s future second off-leash area (OLA) dog park to learn more about the project and to give feedback to the project team.
Members of the public are encouraged to share feedback by taking the online survey, which is open until November 11th. Project information from Seattle Parks is available online here.
As we previewed here, the “West Seattle Stadium Off-Leash Area outreach event” was held at the proposed site just south of West Seattle Stadium (4432 35th Ave SW), as illustrated in this 2023 image from Seattle Parks:
The location for the site was finalized 6 months ago, and this Seattle Parks visual from yesterday’s event gives a closer look at the overhead view of the site:
The site area is 16,000 square feet (.37 acre) and the team is in the early stages of gathering community feedback. The project charter is to “turn the current unpaved overflow parking lot into an OLA (off-leash area) featuring a fenced area for unleashed dogs, seating, and a planted stormwater bioretention area.”
After the survey closes on November 11th, the team will work on design options to bring back to the public for feedback in February/March 2025, and then more detailed construction designs will be created. Actual construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2026 and be completed in fall 2026. Seattle Parks is providing $3.1 mm for the planning, design, and construction of two OLAs, including this one at West Seattle Stadium as well as one at Othello Playground (4351 S Othello St.)
Team members on-hand Wednesday included project planner Colin Campbell from Seattle Parks, landscape architect Steve Nowaczyk from HBB Landscape Architects who will work on the site designs, and Alec Rodenhauser the chair of COLA (Citizens for Off-Leash Areas) who work with Parks and do local advocacy for OLA projects.
Team members said there was a steady stream of people (as well as 4-legged canine citizens) stopping by on Wednesday afternoon, some who intentionally made the trip, and others who were walking through the area and happened across the event (which project planner Campbell said is “encouraging” and “tells us we’ve got the right spot.”)
Attendees provided their feedback verbally, via note cards as well as sticky notes and stickers, regarding desired features and preferred usage of the OLA:
Project signage is also posted at the site:
The West Seattle area’s only current OLA is further south at Westcrest Park (9000 8th Ave. SW).
For questions about the West Seattle Stadium off-leash project, visit the project website or contact project planner Colin Campbell at 206-790-6642 or Colin.Campbell@seattle.gov.
Also, not far from West Seattle, the project team will also be at Othello Playground (4351 S Othello St, southwest corner of the park) today, Thursday, October 24th, from 4-6 pm to gather community feedback about a similar off-leash project that’s planned for that location.
12:52 PM: Police are converging on West Seattle’s only tiny-home village, Camp Second Chance (9701 Myers Way S.), after a report of gunfire from a unit on the south side of the complex. No word of injuries so far. Police are advising people at the camp to evacuate. People in the area might see the Guardian One helicopter joining the search for the suspected shooter, whose identity police apparently know. Myers Way is closed in the vicinity.
1:02 PM: The suspected shooter is likely still in his unit, police are saying.
1:43 PM: This is basically a standoff now, No resolution yet.
2:07 PM: Guardian One left because police are confident the situation is contained to the camp – they are not searching beyond it.
2:14 PM: The suspect is reported to be talking with officers about surrendering.
2:25 PM: The suspect is in custody, per SPD.
2:43 PM: Myers Way has not reopened yet, so use alternative routes a while longer.
Two items in West Seattle Crime Watch:
STOLEN TRAILER: Be on the lookout for Jennifer‘s utility trailer. stolen this morning in Highland Park:
This morning our utility trailer was stolen from in front of our house. It’s a Karavan trailer, license plate AJ7365. We have video of the vehicle that stole it, but no plate number for that vehicle. Black Dodge SUV with stuff strapped to the top of it with yellow straps. Police report: 24-301790.
UPDATE: As noted in comments, a WSB reader found it, and Jennifer had it back.
ROBBERY ARRESTS: A commenter asked about arrests in Seaview on Tuesday. We had trouble matching an incident to that scene – but now an SPD summary reveals that’s because the arrests happened some distance from the crime, which was at the High Point Walgreens store:
At 1345 hours, Officers responded to a Strong-Arm Robbery Call in the area of 35 Av Sw/ SW Morgan St. The victim advised that he observed two suspects shoplifting at the store. The victim confronted the suspects regarding the stolen items, and the suspects punched the victim multiple times with a closed fist. Officers located the suspects at 42 Av SW/ SW Graham St and were detained. A short time later, the victim positively identified the suspects from a field show-up. The suspects were then arrested for Robbery. The suspects advised that they had ingested drugs, so SFD arrived on the scene to provide medical attention. The victim declined medical attention.
(Photo by Jerry Simmons)
Mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here are highlights for the rest of today/tonight:
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: Shop fall plants at the center, open Thursdays-Saturdays 10 am-3 pm, north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus. Annuals, perennials, sun, shade, natives, edibles, ground covers … wide variety!
PUMPKIN JUNCTION: Annual celebration of pumpkin beers and ciders! At The Beer Junction (4511 California SW), open noon-11 pm.
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome to this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com for info on where they’re playing today.
SOUND TRANSIT BOARD: 1:30 pm today is the meeting at which the board will consider officially choosing the West Seattle route and station locations. The agenda has info on how to comment and how to participate remotely, or you can go downtown for the meeting (401 S. Jackson).
STRONG BODIES, STRONG BONES: 2:30 pm yoga class at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon).
MONSTER DASH PACKET PICKUP: Signed up for this Saturday’s West Seattle Monster Dash? You can stop by West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) 3-6 pm to pick up your packet.
HPCS FOOD-TRUCK VISIT: Every Thursday, 4-8 pm, Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) gets a food-truck visit. Tonight it’s Paparepas.
VISCON CELLARS: The West Seattle winery’s tasting room/wine bar is open 5-9 pm (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) for wine by the glass or bottle!
PNW WINE TASTING SERIES: 5-6:30 pm at West Seattle Wine Cellars (6026 California SW), details in our calendar listing.
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: Meet at 6 pm at 47th/Fauntleroy for a group walk in Lincoln Park – details in our calendar listing.
WESTIES RUN CLUB: New meeting spot for the 6 pm weekly run – now departing from Future Primitive on Alki (2536 Alki SW).
‘FAMILIES EMBRACING ANTI-BIAS VALUES’: As previewed here, this 6:30 pm screening presented by two local school groups will include a chance to talk with the film’s producer. At South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) Olympic Hall (6000 16th SW).
HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: 6:30 pm, meet at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) for a 3-mile run through the neighborhood. (Walking option, too!)
TRAUMATIC LOSS GRIEF-SUPPORT GROUP: 6:30 pm with Listening to Grief, meeting at Counseling West Seattle (6957 California SW), preregistration required – info in our calendar listing.
QUIETING THE INNER CRITIC: 7 pm presentation at West Seattle Coworking (9030 35th SW) – free but preregistration requested – here’s how.
YALE WHIFFENPOOFS WITH ENDOLYNE CHOIR: The Endolyne Children’s Choir presents the Yale Whiffenpoofs, “America’s oldest collegiate a cappella group.” 7 pm at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church (3050 California SW) – get your ticket(s) here.
TRIVIA: 7 pm at Burger Planet (9614 14th SW).
Planning an event that should be on our calendar and in our daily preview lists? Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
They called, you answered. Today, Invest in Youth has a new request for volunteers at local schools. Here’s the announcement we were asked to share:
Thank you West Seattle for your amazing response!
Can you give 1 hour a week on Tuesday or Thursday afternoons to a local elementary student?
Here are our current needs:
–Roxhill Elementary (Tuesdays @ 2:40 pm-3:40 pm) – 2 tutor openings left
–Sanislo Elementary (Thursdays @ 3:40 pm-4:40 pm) – accepting applications for on-call substitute tutors
–Beacon Hill International Elementary (Tuesdays @ 3:40 pm-4:40 pm) – 5 tutor openings leftWe would love for every student to be able to receive 1:1 learning support from a caring community member.
What makes Invest in Youth unique is its dual focus on academic support and relationship based learning. Tutors work with the same student for the course of the school year, developing a meaningful bond.
The first day of tutoring begins next week (10/29) and runs through May 2025. Our program follows the Seattle Public Schools calendar and has a dedicated teacher on-site each week. No tutoring experience is necessary and we welcome highschoolers and adults of all backgrounds and experiences.
Help make a difference in a young person’s life and become a volunteer tutor in your community! Apply here.
Learn more about what we do and all the schools we partner with at InvestinYouth.org
8:50 AM: Collision at West Marginal/Highland Park Way – the live camera suggests it’s on the southwest side of the intersection.
9:30 AM: All lanes now open again, police just told dispatch.
Earlier:
6:00 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Thursday, October 24th.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Cloudy, becoming sunny, high in the mid-50s. Today’s sunrise will be at 7:42 am, while sunset will be at 6:03 pm.
ROAD WORK
*The low bridge will be closed Friday through Sunday (October 25-27) for cylinder re-installation, scheduled to start at 7 am Friday.
*The Admiral Way Bridge seismic project continues; the north half of the bridge remains closed, with one lane each way on the south side, until the project switches sides, likely next week. Fairmount Avenue remains closed under the bridge.
*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.
ANOTHER WEEKEND CLOSURE ZONE
*Sunday’s West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival means an expanded street-closure zone on Sunday – adding the Summer Fest-footprint blocks of California south of Alaska and Alaska between 42nd and 44th.
EAST MARGINAL PROJECT ZONE CHANGES
From an SDOT update:
Starting this week, people biking and walking are routed onto the new curb-separated asphalt path on the west side of E Marginal Way S between S Spokane St and S Horton St. At S Horton St, people biking and walking will shift back to a temporary, vehicle-separated shared-use path in the center of E Marginal Way S.
At approximately S Holgate Street:
Northbound travelers are routed back to the existing sidewalk on the west side of the street
Southbound travelers are routed back to the existing bike lane on the west side of the street
TRANSIT
Washington State Ferries today – 2 boats on the Triangle Route, no “unscheduled third boat” this week and likely next. Keep updated via bulletins.
Metro buses today – Regular schedule.
Water Taxi today – Regular schedule.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: Besides 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; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call our hotline (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
A new tradition was born on Wednesday night – the first Halloween Lights Run sponsored by West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor), in the spirit of their annual Christmas Lights Run, heading out from the shop and along a curated route with decorated homes. Our video shows the spirited runners as they departed.
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