West Seattle, Washington
16 Tuesday
(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
At Westside School (WSB sponsor), kids and teachers who came to school today enjoyed a Seahawks celebration without going downtown. They paraded through the halls and then around the school:
(This photo & next one by James Bratsanos)
The parade concluded with a group photo:
Westside also had planned to have video of the downtown event streaming in the multipurpose room.
Now that the parade is over, we’re tracking the trip home.
*SPECIAL WATER TAXI / SHUTTLE BUS SCHEDULE
*METRO ALERTS
We are continuing to monitor emergency communications – and hearing that downtown traffic is clearly still a challenge, to say the least.
2:37 PM: Tim just e-mailed to say, “Line to get on Water Taxi at Pier 50 stretches a block and a half down Alaskan Way.” (added) Cheryl‘s photo of the line at the dock:
(Firsthand reports on Water Taxi and buses appreciated in the next few hours – text 206-293-6302, e-mail editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!)
2:52 PM: From Luckie in comments, “If you’re taking the C from downtown to West Seattle, the further north you can catch it on 3rd, the better.”
3:25 PM: The CLink rally has just ended, which means tens of thousands more people joining the commute, which WSDOT describes as looking right now like it usually does at 5. (Minutes later) Metro says it’s canceled most parade reroutes, but: “Expect delays.”
3:40 PM: If you used Sound Transit light rail to get into downtown, ST just tweeted this: “If heading south on Link, Stadium Station your best bet for shortest waits, will still be crowds. Major backups in (downtown transit tunnel).”
4:15 PM: Catching RapidRide as far north as you can is the latest advice in comments. No massive problems reported on the roads; southbound Viaduct doesn’t look too horrible – here’s a camera:
4:37 PM: Update from Pier 50 – the Water Taxi is back to one boat and major waiting – you might want to try a bus home instead.
5:14 PM: I-5 southbound might be problematic – there’s a crash at mid-Boeing Field and that could mean domino effects getting out of downtown.
Today’s mega-event coverage pre-empted the big daily preview, but it’s not too late to look ahead to two meetings of note tonight:
SEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD TALKS TRANSPORTATION: Last month, the vote on changing transportation times – which affect bell times – was postponed, amid complaints that families hadn’t had enough time to find out about proposed changes, let alone comment on them. Tonight, a revised proposal goes to the School Board. See it here; the revised list of proposed arrival/departure times (NOT the same as bell times) is here. It’ll come up after 6 pm during the meeting at district HQ in SODO. (3rd/Lander)
SOUTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL TALKS PEDESTRIAN ZONING: She briefed the Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council last night, the Morgan Community Association two weeks ago, and tonight, Aly Pennucci from the city Department of Planning and Development will be at the Southwest District Council to talk about the city’s proposal for a “zoning overlay” changing some development rules in neighborhood business districts. Other topics include neighborhood road safety (SDOT’s Jim Curtin is the guest) and an update on the proposed California Avenue SW Historic/Notable Structure survey (here’s an earlier WSB report). The meeting’s at 6:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle. (California/Oregon)
(Our earlier coverage of West Seattleites heading to the parade, including via Water Taxi, is here)
(Part of a downtown crowd estimated at 700,000! Photo by David Christensen)
11:00 AM: It’s 11 am – time to start parade coverage. Regional TV is streaming as well as broadcasting; we start with links:
Live broadcast: KING5.com
Live broadcast: KIROTV.com
Live tweets/chat: SeattleTimes.com
Photos, etc., to come! (added) Mark Tabbutt shared this pre-parade-crowd video recorded while bicycling to work:
Remember that road closures/bus reroutes have kicked in downtown, so if you’re not at the parade or watching it, still a good idea to stay put until it’s all over.
11:12 AM: We’re listening to KING’s stream, and the parade has not yet started – the team HAS arrived at the staging area, though. And the fans there were just singing “We Are the Champions.”
11:30 AM: Still hasn’t started. But we have an update from Seattle Public Schools: 13,523 students absent today – that’s 1 in 4, and about five times yesterday’s absences. 565 teachers are out, about 1 in 5, and about double the usual rate.
11:54 AM: Parade has finally begun. This traffic cam downtown has a good view:
12:43 PM: Three high-ranking politicians suggest a Seahawk should join their profession:
Cantwell, @Mayor_Ed_Murray & @kcexec launch a new campaign: #Sherman4Prez. #Celebrate48 pic.twitter.com/RqzFLIBQWH
— Sen. Maria Cantwell (@CantwellPress) February 5, 2014
Seattle Police are estimating 700,000 people downtown for this – more than double the original expectation.
1 PM: One of the sweetest scenes so far, via TV helicopter extreme zoom:
Check out all the @Skittles around @MoneyLynch during #12parade Watch KIRO 7 now. Online here: http://t.co/BY6gViEEKh pic.twitter.com/CScnlzFFLS
— Casey McNerthney (@mcnerthney) February 5, 2014
(added) Ground version of the view, from Larry Murante:
1:22 PM: Tweeted by West Seattleite Kim Sharpe Jones:
#LOB #celebrate48 pic.twitter.com/8J3oHzSdUm
— Kim Jones (@seattlekim) February 5, 2014
2:03 PM: The parade’s almost over. (The 747 flyover just happened!) We’re adding photos – check back!
3:16 PM: Lots more photos – this is from Doug Branch, in the midst of the downtown crowd:
More from Larry Murante:
Adding more!
(SCROLL DOWN FOR UPDATES – we’ll keep this going until switching to official parade edition)
6:35 AM: Good morning! We’re here to help you get to the 11 am parade downtown as well as the usual commute info. You can see more cameras, and other info, on the WSB Traffic page. Links for starters:
(Photo by WSB’s Patrick Sand, substituted later Wednesday)
–WATER TAXI: Go here to see the special schedule for today only, shuttle buses included.
–METRO: Route alerts that kick in before the parade; general advice
–SOUND TRANSIT BUSES/LIGHT RAIL: One WSBer texted at 6:30 that the Tukwila parking lot was 90% full.
–WEATHER: Very cold – the wind chill could make it feel like the teens, forecasters say; Special Weather Statement still in effect.
–IF YOU HAVE TICKETS TO SAFECO SPILLOVER EVENT, here’s the FAQ
People are already staked out along the route, KIRO’s live helicopter view shows. From SDOT, here’s how roads will be affected:
The parade begins at Fourth Avenue and Denny Way, and heads south on Fourth Avenue to S Washington Street. From there it will proceed west to Second Avenue S, turn south on Second and then move into the North Lot at CenturyLink Field. Fourth Avenue and all cross streets from Third Avenue to Fifth Avenue will be closed to traffic starting at 10:30 a.m. and reopen after the parade passes, and Occidental Avenue will be closed at 8:30 a.m. “No parking” signs for the event are in place and prohibit parking along the route from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
7:33 AM UPDATE: We went to The Junction to see how buses were looking. Saw an empty C Line. Don’t wait too long to go – via Twitter, we’re seeing numerous photos of the streets downtown filling up.
7:50 AM UPDATE: The 7:45 am Water Taxi was reported to be “full and boisterous,” per Tim; Lise also said it’s full, and both mention parking in the area is busier than usual. We’re heading off to survey the scene. Remember there is a gap between the 8:45 am run from Seacrest and the added 9:30 am run.
8:05 AM UPDATE: Now the C Line is full, Mac reports. Remember that downtown reroutes kick in BEFORE the parade – see the link above.
8:30 AM UPDATE: 8:15 Water Taxi was at capacity with ~50 left at dock, our crew reports. No street parking left in area. (Note: The Salty’s lot appeared to have a few spaces left on the unpaved side.) Next run is 8:45, then 9:30. Line for 8:45 stretches to the street. Meantime, if you are DRIVING in, 4th Avenue northbound off the bridges is not a good bet – see the backup on the city’s camera.
8:59 AM UPDATE: Can’t stress it enough, if you are going, LEAVE ASAP. (Here’s a photo Metro posted to Facebook showing the 2nd/Jackson crowd close to end of parade route:)
We are watching traffic, transit, Water Taxi, and everything is jammed. Here’s a Water Taxi line pic from about 15 mins ago:
Thanks to Brian Presser from TouchTech Systems for that pic. Meantime, Cheryl, also at the dock, says it looks like the Vashon boat might have been added to the run too. We haven’t confirmed that but will try to. Buses are jammed – the 21s were full by the time they got to Morgan, Jeff reports via Twitter.
9:13 AM UPDATE: Water Taxi line past Marination ma kai (WSB sponsor) and down the block, tweets Micah. Meantime, Josh confirms that the 8:45 Water Taxi captain “shouted (to those in line)” that they were adding the Vashon boat to come pick up more people. And we’ve just received a photo from Sean showing a crowd packing onto a RapidRide C Line bus:
Thanks to everyone sharing photos – we are staying at HQ to keep track of all the info you need going there AND getting back (and other news), so we’d love a parade photo or two once it’s all under way – text to 206-293-6302, e-mail to editor@westseattleblog.com, or share at facebook.com/westseattleblog.
Traffic alert: Scanner says there’s a crash at Delridge/Thistle.
9:40 AM UPDATE: Micah says the extra boat is helping the Water Taxi line move fast.
(Added: Photo from HJ)
Meantime, buses are still very busy. Just in from Kindree: “Been at C line stop on Alaska at Fauntleroy for a while now. Last 5 or 6 buses ( C and 50 ) have been full and passed us by.”
9:50 AM UPDATE: Meantime, from downtown, a preview from the start of the parade route, just tweeted by a State Patrol public-information officer – note the Ducks (which the team apparently will ride in):
Troopers preparing at the staging area for todays parade. pic.twitter.com/s1wUnbcdM3
— Trooper Chris Webb (@wspd2pio) February 5, 2014
10:03 AM UPDATE: Water Taxi continues to move along well – aerial perspective from Sunny Kobe Cook:
While downtown is full of fans, no major problems are reported – we’re monitoring all scanner channels as well as Twitter. But one transportation route is VERY backed up south of here, texts Amy – she says thousands are in line for light rail from Sea-Tac.
10:25 AM UPDATE: Winding down this edition of traffic coverage since we sure hope everyone who’s going is there. We’re hoping to feature a streaming window once the parade begins, separate story page. Meantime, if you ARE there, there’s one big request from SPD and the rest of the city: “With record crowds lining downtown streets for today’s Seahawks victory parade, police and fire are asking people to please stay on the sidewalks and leave the streets clear for emergency vehicles.”
10:39 AM UPDATE: Still people awaiting the Water Taxi, but David Christensen says, “It’s moving fast.” And Spenser tweeted this after getting onboard:
Water Taxi captain: “everybody Hold on because we’re about to take off like Percy Harvin!” @westseattleblog @Seahawks
— spenserdavis (@spenserdavis) February 5, 2014
POST-PARADE NOTE: We have afternoon going-back-to-West-Seattle coverage here.
If you don’t already have a ticket to Sunday’s gala Benefit Tea helping local families via WestSide Baby – time’s ticking toward the deadline to get yours – 4 pm tomorrow (Wednesday). From WS Baby executive director Nancy Woodland:
500 people are already signed up for the 13th Annual Benefit Tea on Sunday (2 pm, Sea-Tac Hilton Conference Center) and we hope you will come too. It’s an afternoon of incredible impact and community support of local children in need.
The Tea supports WestSide Baby operations and programs, allowing us to serve more local children with critical items to keep them safe, warm and dry. Guests are asked to give in support of our mission to provide essentials to local children in need.
My personal promises to you as our guest:
1) You will be inspired by our Tea Speaker and program.
2) Your gifts will immediately serve local children in need.
3) You will leave knowing you are part of something amazing.
4) If this happens to be your first fundraiser, we’ll make it fun and very easy!
Keynote speaker is Joanne Samuel Goldblum, executive director of the National Diaper Bank Network. WS Baby says no, you do not HAVE to dress up fancy – they just want to see you there!
P.S. WSB is proud to be among the sponsors of Sunday’s event, along with more than two dozen other local businesses (among them are businesses who are also members of our sponsor team – Ventana Construction, Jackson, Morgan & Hunt PLLC, Wyatt’s Jewelers, Fauntleroy Chiropractic, Budget Blinds, West Seattle Design Build, and Massage Envy-West Seattle).
A sudden shutdown at Westwood Village – this is the last night of operation for Jamba Juice, which is on the east end of the shopping center’s east-west breezeway. After a tip from Edgar (thanks!), we went over to talk with the staff and confirmed the imminent closure (about half an hour from now).
The staff said they had only found out a day or so ago. We heard too late in the day to check with center management about whether another tenant is lined up for the space.
SIDE NOTE: Other changes are under way at Westwood – the liquor store has moved from the center of the mall to a space on the north side by DaVita; a Carter’s children’s-clothing store is still on the way, as we first reported in November, and is now affirmed on the Carter’s website (and the WWV leasing map). City permits say it’s going into the space the liquor store vacated.
If you were planning on going to Thursday night’s informational meeting about the reopening of Fairmount Park Elementary – the district asked us to help get the word out that the meeting is OFF, because of a family emergency that will keep newly appointed principal Julie Breidenbach from attending. The other meetings remain scheduled – starting with 6 pm February 12th in the Alki Elementary cafeteria; they’re all listed here.
There’s an update tonight on the sea lion mentioned here two weeks ago after WSB readers noticed its carcass near a driftwood log featuring a sea-lion carving. From Seal Sitters‘ Robin Lindsey:
Seal Sitters has been receiving calls about a deceased California sea lion on Alki Beach. We want to take this opportunity to update your readers.
This animal carcass washed ashore last month on a private beach along Beach Drive SW. Seal Sitters responded, documenting and marking it with non-toxic paint at that time. Since then, a succession of high tides has moved the carcass and it is now near the west end of the Alki promenade. Marine mammals can transmit disease, so please keep kids and pets at a distance. Seal Sitters has been in contact with Seattle Parks & Recreation and Animal Control concerning this animal and arrangements for removal are being made. We will continue to monitor this situation.
The California sea lions that forage and rest in Puget Sound are largely males and can reach 8 feet in length and weigh up to 850 pounds. Females rarely migrate to our waters. Healthy sea lions are extremely mobile on land and can be dangerous. Never approach or disturb live sea lions.
We’d like to remind all WSB readers that Seal Sitters is the NOAA designated marine mammal stranding network for West Seattle. As such, we respond to all calls regarding live or dead marine mammals on our beaches. There have been calls directly to NOAA and the Coast Guard concerning this animal and those calls are simply referred back to us by the respective agencies.
Seal Sitters MMSN thanks the West Seattle community for all the help protecting marine mammals. If there are any questions or to report marine mammals on the beach, please call our hotline at 206-905-7325.
(July 2010 crash at 8th/Roxbury, WSB/White Center Now photo)
Want to see SW Roxbury a whole lot safer than it is now? You’ll recall the campaign launched by the Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council with the support of other area neighborhood advocates. Now, it’s announced that the city has scheduled two meetings about the improvements to follow:
*6:30 pm Thursday, February 13th in White Center’s Greenbridge neighborhood, 9800 8th SW
*6 pm Wednesday, February 26th, at Roxhill Elementary School, 30th/Roxbury
The city’s official project page is here. And you can expect to hear about this at tonight’s WWRHAH meeting, 6:15 pm at Southwest Branch Library (meeting preview here).
Seattle Public Schools has just gone public with a clarification about its policy regarding absences tomorrow. Now SPS superintendent José Banda says each individual school can decide whether absences will be excused or unexcused. The district has released a message sent to principals – who then should be advising their respective school communities how they will handle it (below it, we’ll be adding whatever we hear from individual WS schools):
(UPDATED 1:30 PM: Special sailing, shuttle schedules for Wednesday, added)
(WSB file photo)
11:04 AM: Just got word from King County Councilmember Joe McDermott – the West Seattle Water Taxi WILL have midday runs tomorrow for Seahawks Victory Parade goers. Full schedule will be out shortly (the first and last run times of the day won’t change – what WILL change is that it will run all day, including the period when it’s idle in the winter, 9 am-3:30 pm). And shuttle bus schedules WILL match the runs.
Bonus – remember the WSB commenters who suggested that the Water Taxi be honorarily renamed after kicker Steven Hauschka since he wasn’t included in the Washington State Ferries‘ honorary renames? Councilmember McDermott says that will happen for tomorrow, especially appropriate since Hauschka scored (early) offensive points on Sunday. (Poster image from King County added 5:54 pm)
12:19 PM UPDATE: Here’s the special Wednesday-ONLY sailing schedule as a PDF – this image is from that document:
Shuttle-bus schedule still being finalized, we’re told; we’ll add it when it’s available. (And if you’re thinking about driving to the dock, see our note from last night about free parking at Salty’s on Alki [WSB sponsor].)
1:30 PM UPDATE: Here’s a PDF of the special Wednesday shuttle-bus schedule (with the sailing schedule alongside):
See you at the dock!
As part of safety improvements near Roxhill Elementary, SDOT is building a curb bulb by the school next week, which that means some restrictions for drivers Tuesday, February 11th, through Thursday, February 13th. Here’s the announcement:
As part of the Safe Routes to School Project for Roxhill Elementary School, the Seattle Department of Transportation will be installing a pedestrian improvement at the intersection of Southwest Roxbury Street and 30th Avenue Southwest. The construction will require restricting northbound turns from SW Roxbury to 30th Avenue SW beginning Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 7 am, weather permitting. This restriction will remain in effect 24 hours per day until 5 pm Thursday, Feb. 13. Southbound travel on 30th Avenue SW will not be affected.
This restriction will allow crews to build a curb bulb on the northeast corner of 30th Avenue Southwest and Southwest Roxbury Street. This curb bulb will shorten the pedestrian crossing distance and provide a calmer pedestrian environment.
Those wishing to travel north on 30th Avenue Southwest should continue west on Southwest Roxbury Street to 35th Avenue Southwest, north on 35th Avenue Southwest to Southwest Barton Street, and east Southwest Barton Street to 30th Avenue Southwest.
Safe Routes to School is a national program that makes it safer and easier to walk and bike to school. This project also includes building a new concrete sidewalk and planting strip on the west side of 30th Avenue Southwest between Southwest Roxbury Street and Southwest 97th Street. New trees will be added, as well as ground cover and additional street lighting. Work is expected to be complete in March.
Mary took that photo of a hawk in the “Seahawks Tree” at her South Admiral home BEFORE the championship. Today, we’re expecting more information about tomorrow’s big downtown parade and how to get there, so keep an eye out for West Seattle-specific details as the day goes on (and please note that through tomorrow, those details will have a home here). Meantime, other events roll on – so here are highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
MONTHLY COFFEE HOUR FOR VETERANS: 11 am-noon today, drop by the Senior Center of West Seattle. (California/Oregon)
BABY STORY TIME: Newborn to one year, your wee one is invited to enjoy this free fun event, 11:30 am at Southwest Branch Library. (35th/Henderson)
CHINESE NEW YEAR LUNCHEON: Entertainment and food to mark the Lunar New Year, 11:45 am at the Senior Center of West Seattle (WSB sponsor) – call to make sure there’s room; that info’s in our listing.
AFTER-SCHOOL NATURE HIKE: Naturalist Stewart Wechsler has a new series of after-school nature hikes in Lincoln Park, starting at 3:15 pm – pre-registration requested but you can check to see if there’s last-minute room; full details in our calendar listing. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
BALLOT MEASURE FOR BUSES/ROADS? The King County Council is presiding over a public hearing tonight at Union Station on the south side of downtown, before deciding whether to ask voters to approve a license-tab fee and sales-tax hike to stave off Metro cuts and road deterioration – details in our calendar listing. 5:30 pm signups, 6 pm comment time. (401 S. Jackson)
WESTWOOD-ROXHILL-ARBOR HEIGHTS COMMUNITY COUNCIL: Big agenda as usual for WWRHAH, including West Seattle’s second official briefing on the proposed “pedestrian retail zone” overlay – details in our Monday preview. 6:15 pm, Southwest Branch Library. (35th/Henderson)
OPERA PREVIEW: 6:30 pm, free preview lecture looking ahead to the Seattle Opera production of “The Consul,” West Seattle (Admiral) Branch Library. (2306 42nd SW)
MANY more listings on our calendar, for today and beyond – see for yourself here.
Quick update on the family whose Roxhill-area home was gutted by fire more than a week ago: One week after Kristine Elliott asked for help with finding a new rental home for her dad (who is a cancer patient), mom, and sister, she says they have found one – and it’s thanks to a lead from a WSB reader. So, thanks to everybody who responded with suggestions! We asked Kristine if there is anything else specific her family needs, besides what’s come in via this GoFundMe account; she says, “We are still trying to get all of that figured out.”
Nothing out of the ordinary so far this morning. “Live” views: Above, the eastbound West Seattle Bridge view and below, the northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct view:
More cameras, and other information, are on the WSB Traffic page. Perhaps most notable this morning – it’s below freezing, and the next few mornings will be even colder.
SEAHAWKS PARADE TOMORROW: Here’s the newest information. We’re expecting more details today about transit for the event, including whether the Water Taxi will add midday runs, so check back here later.
With open enrollment approaching (February 24th-March 7th) for Seattle Public Schools, and ongoing enrollment at many independent schools, it’s prime time for school tours and open houses. Today (Tuesday) we have two on the calendar for this morning – Madison Middle School (45th/Spokane) open for tours 8:30-10 am, Lafayette Elementary (California/Lander) having a tour for parents of incoming kindergarteners at 10 am (reservation required – call ASAP to see if there’s room). To see other tours/open houses listed on our calendar, go here and click “categories” underneath the introductory text, and choose SCHOOL on the dropdown list.
Two updates so far tonight on the Seahawks‘ victory parade planned downtown Wednesday – first, the city has just sent these details:
A welcome home Victory Celebration Parade is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 5.
The parade will begin just south of Seattle Center at Denny Way and travel south down 4th Avenue past Westlake Park and finish at the north entrance of CenturyLink Field, see a map of the route (here).
Participants include Seahawks Players, Head Coach Pete Carroll, Coaching Staff, Seahawks Executives, Sea Gals, Blitz and the Blue Thunder drumline. In addition, Governor Jay Inslee, King County Executive Dow Constantine, and Seattle Mayor Ed Murray will join the parade.
Seattle Police Department will close 4th Avenue at 10:30 a.m. and will reopen 4th Avenue as soon as possible. Fans are encouraged to gather early as big crowds are expected downtown and transportation delays are likely. There will be limited parking availability at CenturyLink Field. Fans should also try to carpool and utilize public transportation and dress warmly as the forecast calls for cold temperatures.
The City is deploying additional resources to ensure public safety and continuity of City services. Additional information about transportation options will be available midday on Tuesday, February 4.
Residents are encouraged to carpool or take transit to the victory parade. Parking will be limited and traffic is likely to be slow. For more information about the events on Wednesday, please visit Seahawks.com, where further details are available.
(We checked the Seahawks website but as of 9:30 pm, the item there had even less information, not more, but maybe it’s in the works.
Second – Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor) has just announced it’s offering free parking to anyone who’s taking the Water Taxi to the rally. We asked King County Department of Transportation this morning if they might add runs; we’re still waiting for the answer. If not, here’s the regular schedule – the last morning run from West Seattle is usually 8:45 am, with downtime until the 3:45 pm run from downtown to WS. We’ll have updates on bus schedules too, once those are out. We’re collecting all this information on the WSB Super Bowl page, which will stay up and running until the party’s over.
Two followups and a reader report in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
SUV-THEFT/BREAK-IN FOLLOWUP: Bail was set at $100,000 today for the 32-year-old man arrested at a house on 47th SW southwest of The Junction late Friday night, suspected of crashing this stolen SUV nearby:
(Friday night WSB photo)
According to probable-cause documents, the red 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe was reported as stolen Friday in Pierce County, less than an hour before it was found in West Seattle. As noted in our as-it-happened coverage, it had LoJack anti-theft technology, which is activated upon report of a theft, and that sounded an alert in a Seattle Police car south of The Junction. With the help of the Guardian One helicopter (as shown in the aerial/infrared video shared here Saturday), the Tahoe was tracked to the 4800 block of 47th SW, behind a home where the suspect used to live. As law enforcement converged, the vehicle started to pull away; police blocked the alley, so the SUV went into reverse and crashed through a fence. The driver then got out and ran, and though police say they confronted him twice and ordered him, at gunpoint, to stop, he kept running, and eventually broke glass to get into the house, whose residents, including a sibling of the suspect, told officers he hadn’t lived there “in months.” The documents say the residents did give police permission to go into the residence, but first, they used a loudspeaker to tell the suspect to come out, and just before midnight, he did. His next court appearance – by which time prosecutors must decide on charges – is set for Wednesday.
ROBBERY FOLLOWUP: We’ve obtained the report on the 16th/Henderson store-robbery reported here Saturday morning. The police report says the store owner identifies the ~18-year-old robber as a regular customer. He and the ~17-year-old girl who was with him had come into the store Saturday afternoon, the report says, bought some chicken and then went back outside, apparently to dine. Then the robber came back in, got ice cream and candy, took it up to the counter, said he didn’t have enough money but offered the store owner a dollar; the owner opened the register and then the robber pulled a gun and pointed it in the owner’s face, took all the cash from the register – about $250 – and the owner’s wallet, and ran out of the store. He wasn’t found but police did get prints. (Descriptions are in our original report.)
Now, the reader report – a neighborhood hit by mail theft, says a reader who doesn’t want to be identified:
Reporting a mailbox break in here in the 5000 block of California Ave. SW near The Junction.
I live in a condo and on Friday morning, we found our bank of locked mailboxes all pried open and all mail stolen. We are wondering if others had similar incidents late Thurs or Early Fri Morning ( Jan 30-31) especially other condos in the neighborhood? We did call the police, but they do not respond unless the value of mail stolen is $500+.
If you spot it as it happens, do call, police say – here, otherwise, is how to report mail theft (and prevention advice too).
(Updated Tuesday with reaction from CSIHS’s head football coach, mayor’s comment, and K-5 STEM teacher’s view)
(12th Man Flag at West Seattle Corporate Center, Thursday photo by Christopher Boffoli)
ORIGINAL STORY, 4:39 PM MONDAY: In case you were wondering: Seattle Public Schools superintendent José Banda says school WILL be in session on Wednesday – no day off for the Seahawks’ parade (though coach Pete Carroll suggested it). Here’s his message:
Congratulations to the Seahawks on an amazing season and Super Bowl win! It’s been so fun to see our school communities get into the spirit these last few weeks. I’ve enjoyed seeing the photos and videos of our students and staff celebrating the Seahawks.
We have received questions about the parade on Wednesday, which starts at 11 am. Seattle Public Schools will not close or dismiss school early because of the parade. Parents who wish to take their students out of school can, but per state regulation, it will be treated as an unexcused absence. While we support the team, academics must come first and it’s important not to lose a day in the classroom.
We know this is a historical event for our community and we also know that for many of our students, their school community is a place where they will celebrate and come together to talk about pride, sportsmanship and teamwork. We encourage our students and staff to wear blue on Wednesday in honor of the Seahawks.
We are working with the City on transportation issues for the day and we will work hard to minimize disruptions. However, families should expect bus delays in the afternoon on Wednesday.
Let’s hope this is the first of many Seahawk Super Bowl wins!
ADDED MONDAY MORNING: Head coach of the Chief Sealth International High School Seahawks‘ football team, Luther J. Carr III, has something to say about this (shared with us via e-mail):
Why aren’t the Seattle Public Schools released to attend tomorrow’s Seahawk Parade? As an employee of the Seattle Public Schools I am disgusted to hear that teachers and students are not allowed (in other words school is not out; NO SCHOOL) to attend tomorrow’s Seahawk Parade. Superintendent Banda has told students that they will be marked absent if they attend the Seahawk Parade. How unpatriotic is that?
Highline Public Schools, immediately south of West Seattle, will stay open but will allow excused absences.
12:41 PM UPDATE: Thanks to Laura for pointing out in comments that Mayor Murray is speaking out about this:
It is my hope that the school district will excuse absences for students who want to join their family during the #celebrate48 events
— Ed Murray (@Mayor_Ed_Murray) February 4, 2014
1:45 PM UPDATE: Another view from a local Seattle Public Schools teacher who says he’s also sending it to, among others, Richard Sherman of the Seahawks and Mayor Murray:
My name is Ronen Gluck, and I am a 3rd grade teacher at K-5 STEM Elementary School in West Seattle. I am writing as a representative of my students, but also as a representative of all students, staff, and families in our community.
Having taken an informal poll around the school this morning, we are looking at anywhere from 25%-50% of our students being absent from school tomorrow in order to attend the Seahawks victory parade. Assuming similar percentages across other sites in the Seattle Public Schools system, with nearly 50,000 students at 95 schools, we are facing a lost day of learning for a significant portion of our students. Regardless of Washington State OSPI requirements for instructional time and union-negotiated school days, this event has created a scenario in which we, as teachers, will be unable to serve our students.
We are not asking for the parade to be rescheduled (though you might consider holding the Seahawks’ Super Bowl XLIX victory parade on a Saturday or Sunday). We are simply voicing our concern over a loss of essential instructional time. What concerns us more, however, is the message that this sends to our students and to the community as a whole. Our students and their families have been asked to choose between a day at school and a day downtown celebrating the success of our local football team. Granted, understanding and promoting civic pride is an integral part of educating the next generation of socially conscious citizens, but when this pride is given higher status than the educational process that will create this informed citizenry, we need to reconsider where our priorities lie.
So much media attention has been given to Richard Sherman in the past few weeks, much of it focusing on his exemplary academic history as parallel to his stellar athletic performance. We are encouraged to believe that the professional athletes, who we as a nation hold in such high regard, are more than one trick ponies. The colleges and universities that groom them and send them up to the NFL tout the importance of education, and higher academic standards set by the NCAA in recent years will hopefully help to ensure that these institutions are held to their promises. Seahawks players have given their time and money to charities and other social causes, including making visits to local elementary schools, and for that they should be praised. But when an event of such size and significance as tomorrow’s parade is held during a school day, that message of “stay in school, kids” is irreparably undermined. As the arguments on both sides of the discussion regarding Mr. Sherman have repeated ad nauseam, actions speak louder than words.
And so I make a humble request of Mr. Sherman, his teammates, the Seattle Seahawks organization, Mayor Murray, and all those who claim to put our students’ education first: stand in front of the television cameras and microphones, take to the social media outlets, and let our students know where your priorities lie. Tell them that a single day of school is more important to their future than ditching class for a parade. Superintendent Banda has sent a letter reminding families that schools will not close or dismiss early tomorrow. Teachers such as myself and my colleagues have had their say. Now it’s time for our role models to be role models.
Thank you very much.
Ronen Gluck
2:31 PM TUESDAY: Now the district says it’s up to individual principals whether to excuse absences or not. We have put this in a separate story.
(Click image to see full-size citywide map)
Tomorrow is your next chance to find out more about the new kind of “zoning overlay” the city is proposing for some business districts – “pedestrian retail zoning.” We first reported on this last month after a presentation at the Morgan Community Association‘s quarterly meeting. Now, the same city rep who made that presentation, Aly Pennucci from the Department of Planning and Development, is coming to another local meeting – tomorrow night’s Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council meeting (6:15 pm, Southwest Branch Library at 35th/Henderson). The city has two “study zones” in the WWRHAH area, as noted in the map above – here are direct links to the city’s “preliminary recommendations” about each of them (scroll to the last page of each one for the site-specific information):
#50 – 35th & Barton
#51 – 35th & Roxbury
Ahead, tomorrow night’s entire agenda as shared by WWRHAH president Amanda Kay Helmick, featuring other major topics including the potential change in garbage-pickup service:
(Click image to see larger view)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
There is seldom solace to be found in “I told you so.”
That admonition could be ascribed to some of the longtime residents behind 3210 California SW, the site proposed for a block-long, five-story mixed-use project that they say is exactly what they feared might happen because of the upzoning they fought six years ago.
This Thursday (February 6th), the proposal goes back to Design Review, for its second major meeting in eight days. The first was this past Wednesday, a neighbor-requested meeting that included moments reminiscent of a neighbor-requested meeting six years earlier about the upzoning proposal.
As quoted in our coverage of the 2007 meeting, one of the then-property owners asked opponents, “Is 10 feet really that big a deal? With 30 feet (of zoned-at-the-time height), you’re talking three stories. With 40, this would be four stories.”
In response to that, skepticism remained. There was a suggestion of waiting until there was an actual proposal for the site, and pursuing a contract rezone instead that would be tied to the specific project. But the general upzoning moved forward, with a few years dormancy, without a specific project, and was finalized in 2010; then, exactly one year ago, a five-story development proposal appeared.
“At the time [in 2007], we weren’t thinking it would be five stories,” acknowledged Jerry Suder, a supervisor in the city Department of Planning and Development, at last Wednesday’s meeting, over which he presided along with Michael Dorcy, senior planner who has worked on 3210 California for years, including the end of the upzoning process. Suder said a few changes in city rules in the past few years opened the door for that extra story – particularly this one in 2012.
(Photographed this morning by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
Right now, the only snow you’ll see around here is atop the mountains – the Olympics have been peeking out today, with more frosting than they’ve had for most of this (mostly mild) winter. But that MIGHT change next weekend. WSB commenter MetPatrick mentioned over the weekend via Twitter that lowland snow is a possibility then – and now it’s mentioned in the National Weather Service‘s newest forecast discussion, too. No watches/warnings yet – but there is no question it’s getting colder, snow or no snow, as noted in the latest version of the NWS’s Special Weather Statement. Stay tuned!
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