West Seattle, Washington
02 Saturday
Election Day is five days away. Three notes tonight:
HOW MANY HAVE AND HAVEN’T VOTED? We’ve been checking in on this stat. As of tonight, 43 percent of King County ballots are in – 56 percent via dropbox, 42 percent via USPS. (The city of Seattle is a little ahead of that, 44.6 percent.) If you go eight pages into the stats, you’ll find out how many ballots have been collected from each dropbox. The box in The Junction has the fourth-highest total – almost 9,000 – behind KC Elections HQ, Ballard, and Redmond.
ELECTION NIGHT PARTIES: So far, we have four on the list – The Skylark, Circa, Alpha Kappa Alpha graduate chapter at Brockey Center, and Pacific NW Black Pride at Youngstown Flats. We’re updating the list in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar. Who else? Email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – or comment below.
PRE-ELECTION PRAYER VIGIL Pre-election rallies are fairly common. Pre-election prayer vigils, not so much, but Peace Lutheran Church in Gatewood is offering one before Election Day. You’re invited to visit the church (39th/Thistle) between 5 and 7 pm on Sunday (November 3) for a “safe, contemplative space for people to gather in anticipation of Election Day.” This is nonpartisan – the church stresses that “all are welcome.”
The first big event of the night has 16th SW closed to traffic between Roxbury and SW 100th, as White Center’s “Halloweentown” welcomes trick-or-treaters, among others – actually “trunk or treaters,” with decorated low-rider cars on the west side of the north block:
Go admire the decorated trunks and grab some candy.
Even well before dark, the ghosts and goblins were out marauding.
Individual venues have activities too – travel through the scary-clown inflatable arch at Big Mario’s Pizza/Alpine Diner (WSB sponsors) and you’ll find pumpkins to paint:
More grownup fun is part of the party later in the evening too – Halloweentown is in the spirit until 2 am.
If the season has your family in school-shopping mode, you might be interested in an open house coming up Saturday. Independent West Seattle K-5 Tilden School (WSB sponsor) is opening the doors on Saturday afternoon, 1-3 pm, for prospective families to come visit. Tilden is just north of The Junction, co-housed with, but not affiliated, with First Lutheran Church of West Seattle (4105 California SW). You can RSVP for the open house by going here.
(WSB photo, October 13)
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has filed a charge of second-degree murder against 26-year-old Donte E. Duran, the man arrested in the shooting death of 53-year-old Oton Garcia Ruiz at Shree’s Truck Stop in southeast West Seattle on October 13. The charging documents confirm that Garcia Ruiz and Duran didn’t know each other, and that Duran allegedly fired a gun toward the gas station aiming for people with whom he had been in a fight moments earlier – Garcia Ruiz just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Security video from a nearby business captured “seven clear gunshots”; Garcia Ruiz was killed by one that struck him as he sat in his car. After police released security images of what they described as a man “involved” in the deadly shooting, people who said they recognized Duran from his job in the warehouse at Food Lifeline in South Park. He then turned himself in. Prosecutors say he does not have a significant criminal history; he remains held on $2 million bail, awaiting arraignment on November 13.
Two and a half weeks after community members sang and drummed to call the coho into Fauntleroy Creek, salmon have arrived, Judy Pickens reports:
Veteran salmon watcher Dennis Hinton not only saw the first spawner of the season enter Fauntleroy Creek late yesterday (10/30) but also took the first photo (above). Volunteers report more spawners poised to enter from Fauntleroy Cove.
Sunday (11/3) the public can come have a look when the Fauntleroy Watershed Council hosts an all-ages “open creek” 1:00-3:00 pm. Dress for the weather and make your way to the fish ladder viewpoint at SW Director and upper Fauntleroy Way SW (on the bluff across from the ferry terminal). A volunteer will invite you down to creek level to check out the habitat, ask questions, and maybe see spawners. Children should bring a parent and dogs should be on leash.
(Photo courtesy Kristin)
That’s a 2023 photo of the Arbor Heights “Haunted Alley,” on SW 102nd between 35th SW and 36th SW. “It’s spooky but also family friendly,” says Kristin, who emailed us about it this morning. Here are other highlights from our Halloween list:
TODDLER PUMPKIN PALOOZA: Fun for little ones at High Point Community Center (6920 34th SW), 10 am-noon. Admission is a food donation for West Seattle Food Bank.
RON & BRIAN’S HALLOWEEN EXTRAVAGANZA: We’ve been previewing this one. See it tonight on 47th SW between Hanford and Hinds.
WHITE CENTER HALLOWEENTOWN BLOCK PARTY: Celebrate Halloween in the street! 16th SW between Roxbury and SW 100th, 4 pm-2 am.
MEEDS MANOR HAUNTED HOUSE: 5:30-9 pm, famous neighborhood haunted house, collecting donations for youth basketball. (3011 45th SW)
HENRY’S HAUNTED HOUSE: Around the corner from Meeds Manor, 11-year-old Henry has built a haunted house you can see 6-9 pm – 47th/Hanford.
‘NIGHTFALL’ CHARITY HAUNT: Annual spooky experience, 5:30-9:30 pm, with a “trick-or-treat trail” for the first hour. Private West Seattle residence – go here for more info.
NIGHTMARE ON 44TH: This might be the last year for David Williams‘ front-yard animatronics show, 6-9 pm on 44th between Charlestown and Andover.
REVELRY ROOM HALLOWEEN SOIREE: 8 pm-2 am, costume contest and more. (4547 California SW)
SKELETON SKATE: 8:30 pm at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW).
See other Halloween sights in our archive; for non-Halloween events, see our West Seattle Event Calendar.
9:28 AM: Police are searching in Sunrise Heights/Westwood for two people, at least one of whom bailed out of a vehicle that had two punctured tires. The Guardian One helicopter is joining the search. Police apparently know who they’re looking for because they say both have warrants. The person they know is on foot is described as a white man, tall, thin, dark clothing, in the company of a small dog. The vehicle they’re looking for is a 1988 black Chevrolet pickup. Call 911 if you’ve seen either the suspect or pickup.
9:47 AM: Guardian One hasn’t seen evidence of the truck or suspect(s), so it’s departing the area.
9:53 AM: Police just found the truck in the 7500 block of 24th SW, no one inside.
Local salon owner Karie Koltz (above right) and stylist friend Linda Turner (above left) are embarking on a trip to Cambodia to volunteer with Justice and Soul, whose founder Matthew Fairfax is also a West Seattleite. Karie explains, “The foundation provides cosmetology education to at-risk youth and sex-trafficked young men and women. We are going for 4-5 weeks to volunteer our services and teach workshops for the graduates.” The trip is explained here; they’re crowdfunding to help cover the cost and welcoming donations – go here to chip in.
6:00 AM: Good morning! It’s Thursday, October 31st, three days to go until Daylight Saving Time ends (early next Sunday, we “fall back” one hour, into Standard Time).
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Cloudy with showers today, high in the low 50s. Today’s sunrise will be at 7:53 am, while sunset will be at 5:52 pm. Watch out for trick-or-treaters tonight!
ROAD WORK
*The Admiral Way Bridge seismic project continues; traffic is expected to move from the south half of the bridge to the north half at the end of this week.
*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.
TRANSIT
Washington State Ferries today – Regular 2-boat service on the Triangle Route this morning; check here for last-minute changes.
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!
10:02 PM: Police and fire are arriving at a crash dispatched as a “rescue extrication” response in the 6300 block of 48th SW, with an unconscious driver. They’re closing 48th north of Graham. Reader Al says the driver appears to have crashed into another car. Police say the driver will have to be cut out of the vehicle. Updates to come.
10:09 PM: SFD is reported to be doing CPR on the driver.
(Photo sent by Deb)
10:24 PM: One witness says the driver’s Volvo was “flying” down 48th before slamming into the parked car. SFD has just declared the driver, believed to be a 31-year-old man, dead. The street will be closed for some hours to come while SPD investigates.
10:45 PM: Traffic Collision Investigation detectives are on the way, dispatch was just told.
EARLY THURSDAY MORNING: As of 2 am, Al updates us, the road was open again. … Here’s the SPD Blotter summary (though we’ve already reported most of the info).
ADDED THURSDAY AFTERNOON: Neighbor Al sent this photo, saying friends of the man killed in the crash have been by to memorialize him at the site:
His ID hasn’t been officially released yet – possibly later this afternoon.
3:32 PM: He’s been identified as Riley G. Kestner. Radio traffic while the incident was unfolding indicates he lived nearby.
(Seattle Public Schools photo)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The word “devastated” came up repeatedly when more than 50 people gathered tonight outside Sanislo Elementary to talk about Seattle Public Schools‘ proposal to close it.
The community-organized gathering – whose leaders asked that video not be taken – was a chance for parents, teachers, neighbors, and students to talk directly to school board director Gina Topp about how they feel, as well as, as an organizer put it, a chance for their voices to be heard in the process, where they had not been heard previously.
They told their stories about what the school is like for them and their kids. Every student is known, every student is greeted, every student is understood, many participants explained. The school has 145 students, according to district data, and is proposed to be merged into Highland Park Elementary, with 276, for a combined population of 421,
It was a diverse crowd – including an immigrant parent who said that after coming to this country “looking for something better,” she discovered a school that was “like a family – received us with open arms.” She also appreciated that Sanislo is a “multicultural school.” The school is 78 percent BIPOC, 74 percent low income. Its staff is diverse too; one of the bilingual teachers who attended the meeting has been at Sanislo for 35 years.
Some of the participating parents have or had multiple children there. More than one expressed sadness that if the closure plan for next year and beyond goes through, their younger children won’t be able to attend the same school as their siblings. One mom was a Sanislo alum herself.
Topp said she was mostly there to listen. Both she and a union rep stressed that there’s not much information yet about how this will all play out – except that the board’s final vote is due in January, after a round of hearings at the four elementaries around the city, including Sanislo, that are proposed for closure. She said she didn’t know yet how she would vote on it. But she stressed that the district’s $94 million budget gap has to be closed somehow – and that the overarching issue is the need for more state funding to fully cover the cost of education.
But that big issue is hard to get your arms around when what you see is a plan to close your child’s school. Some of the staff will be able to move with the students, but not all: “Our librarian dressed up as Mary Poppins yesterday,” recounted one attendee. “She can’t go to Highland Park because it will be kept as a half-time position there,” and that position already is filled. The uncertainty of staffers’ fate “compounds the situation,” one attendee observed.
Some attendees were angry at the injustice they see in the closure plan. One pointed out that eastern West Seattle already has seen other school communities disrupted in recent years – Roxhill Elementary and Cooper Elementary, for two.
Organizers assembled fact sheets, including a refutation of what they say some school-board directors claimed, that Sanislo has a high educational cost per student. Larger West Seattle Elementary, for example, costs only $333 less per year per student. The fact sheet also notes that the “well-resourced school” to which Sanislo students would be moved isn’t necessarily going to be more “well-resourced” than their current school once its population balloons – they say it’ll mean “less time in the library and less specialist time in Art and Music.” Some students who live north of Sanislo will be bused more than two miles to Highland Park, though they are less than half a mile from Boren STEM K-8
Other arguments organizers are making to try to save Sanislo: “Highland Park and Sanislo will BOTH be needed as neighborhood schools to keep up with population increase. By closing Sanislo, Highland Park will be the only neighborhood school for all of Delridge, which has a population of 32,044.” They contend it should be rebuilt rather than closed.
What about the Sanislo building being in bad shape? That’s the district’s fault, organizers contend, neglecting to invest in building improveents for many years: “The building’s disrepair is the result of the District’s neglect, hich now students are paying for.” But the school has an incredible asset in their “green space and city-protected wetlands.”
The fact sheet ends with a plea to “keep Sanislo open.”
Early in the meeting, one participant described Sanislo as a “little sanctuary.” Asked how best to have a say in its fate, Topp replied, “Talk to me, talk to other board directors,” and help them figure out how to fix the budget long-term. “We need everyone heading in the same direction to make our education system work.” (You can reach her, for starters, at gktopp@seattleschools.org.)
Two notes about places you might want to go on Halloween:
(File photo)
NIGHTMARE ON 44TH FINALE? David Williams says this might be the last year for his animatronic extravaganza in a yard on 44th SW, between Charlestown and Andover. Halloween night only, go see it, in case you never get another chance!
R & B’S PREVIEW: Back on October 5, we showed you the early edition of R & B‘s annual extravaganza on 47th between Hanford and Hinds. R & B have sent an update:
We said we had more to show you and we meant it. Here’s our “Dress Rehearsal” YouTube video!
There will be Halloween videos playing on the Skeleton Theater and plenty of candy for the Trick o’ Treaters.
Happy Halloween!
(No relation to the former Skeleton Theater that hung up its [bone] spurs after last year.)
(WSB file photo)
The rain and the leaves are falling – so here’s hoping your nearest drains are clear. “Make sure rain can drain,” is the Seattle Public Utilities advice. In hopes of helping, a reader suggested we remind you that residential yard-waste customers can have more bags collected in November at no extra charge. SPU spells it out:
Household food and yard waste customers can set out up to 10 extra bags of leaves each collection day in November for no additional charge. Please put extra yard waste (no food) into a paper or compostable lawn and leaf bag (not plastic) or a reusable container with a lid. Please do not put leaves and other yard waste in plastic bags. Composting your yard leaves keeps them from blocking storm drains and/or building up in the stormwater system.
SPU has a bucket of other wet-weather-related info here – even the dates for the highest fall/winter tides.
(Reader photo, August)
A commenter just noted that signage is going up on Admiral announcing the impending change of direction for the Admiral Bridge earthquake-strengthening project. Almost simultaneously, SDOT replied to our request for information on its status:
We will likely shift traffic near the end of this week (November 1, 2024), but this will depend on the weather. When we do make the change, traffic will move from the south bridge to the north bridge, with one lane going westbound, the other going eastbound, and pedestrians using the sidewalk on the north side of the bridge. This will have to happen in two steps, which may take some time (it won’t be instant):
Step 1 – We will move the temporary concrete barrier to the south side of existing curb at/on the Center line of the bridge. There will be one eastbound lane and one westbound lane on the outside lanes of both bridges in this step.
Step 2 – Traffic will be moved to the north bridge with one eastbound lane and one westbound lane. The south Bridge will be closed to traffic.
The project is expected to continue into early next year; Fairmount Avenue remains closed to all traffic under the bridge. It’s been two months since the top-deck lane closures began.
Two biznotes for kids of all ages …
TAILS TO ASTONISH: One of the fans of West Seattle’s only comic-book-store, Tony, sends word that Tails to Astonish is doing great in its new location and, two nights from now, “They are holding a Halloween extravaganza! They’ll be open from 1 – 8 pm, giving away free candy, comics and awarding prizes for the best costumes! So all those Batmans, Wonder Women, Power Rangers, and other spooks should stop by! They are located at 5633 California Ave SW, Suite C. Can’t miss their store – there are a ton of Comic-Book-related posters in the window.”
SOLDER & BUBBLEGUM: The North Delridge makerspace (4025 Delridge Way, #140) has launched a new Scout group that meets for an activity on Friday nights. It’s called Ada Scouts, and it’s described as “a new kids-focused scouting group, ([the name is] a nod to Ada Lovelace). Note that there’s no ongoing commitment.” They’re meeting again this Friday, November 1, 4-6 pm, $20 fee. Solder & Bubblegum has lots more going on, too, as evidenced by the calendar on their website. They’ve also finalized their membership rates for the space – see those here.
(Seattle Police photo)
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has filed three felony charges against the man arrested last Thursday for firing a gun at Camp Second Chance, the tiny-home encampment in southeast West Seattle. 73-year-old Steven N. Phillips is charged with second-degree assault, unlawful gun possession, and unlawful firearm discharge. The charging documents say he was not allowed to possess a gun because of convictions including attempted residential burglary in 2009. He has older charges in three other states going back to 1975. The charges recap what was previously alleged – that Phillips started firing from his unit around 12:30 pm, about six shots. That’s according to the staff member who went to check on him; he allegedly then fired two rounds toward her, though neither she nor anyone else was injured. A friend of the suspect who lives at CSC told staffers that Phillips is a veteran with PTSD; she said he would not harm anybody and was “only going through an episode of his paranoia.” The SWAT team responded and, police say, Phillips fired another two rounds after their arrival. They talked him into surrendering and got a search warrant for his tiny house, where they found a 9mm gun, shell casings, a magazine with eight bullets, and two boxes of ammunition. Phillips’ bail is set at $400,000.
(Patterns on smoke-tree leaves, photographed by Suzanne Krom)
Here’s today’s list of what’s happening, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you can always look ahead, and where you’ll find even more events than we spotlight in the list):
FOOD/CLOTHING DRIVE CONTINUES, WITH EXTENDED DROPOFF: Third day of the dropoff drive at West Seattle High School (3000 California SW) to benefit students and families served by the Care Center, until 4 pm inside the school or 4-5 pm today outside the “historical entrance” on the school’s north side.
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: Meet at 47th/Fauntleroy at 10 am. Details in our calendar listing.
TODDLER READING TIME AT PAPER BOAT: 10:30 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).
SOUTHWEST ARTIST SHOWCASE: Final days to see what community artists are showing at the Southwest Library (9010 35th SW), open today noon to 8 pm; you can visit to see the display any time.
HOMEWORK HELP: 4-7:30 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), volunteers are there to help K-12 students with their homework.
SANISLO ELEMENTARY MEETING: As announced at school-board director Gina Topp‘s meeting last Sunday, a community-organized meeting is planned for the proposed-for-closure school’s community at 5 pm today on the school playground. Translators for Vietnamese, Spanish, and Somali. (1812 SW Myrtle)
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Fix it, don’t toss it! Weekly event, free (donations appreciated), 5:30-7:30 pm at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center).
HEALING THROUGH CREATIVITY: Second week for a 14-week online group following “The Artist’s Way” meets starting tonight, 6 pm – info in our calendar listing.
TRIVIA x 4: Four trivia options tonight: At 6 pm, Locust Cider (2820 Alki SW) offers trivia … Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 7:30 pm … Quiz Night begins at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … and at 8:30 pm, trivia with Phil T at Talarico’s (4718 California SW).
FREE GROUP RUN: All runners, all levels, are welcome to join the weekly West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) group run – meet at the shop by 6:15 pm.
SCHOOL LEVIES INFO MEETING: 6:30 pm online meeting with info about next February’s proposed Seattle Public Schools levies. Connection and call-in details are here.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer slate. (7902 35th SW)
MUSIC BINGO X 2: One night, two games! Play at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm … At Three 9 Lounge (39th/Oregon), you can play MINGO music bingo, hosted by Mingo Maniac, at 7:30 pm Wednesdays.
KUNDALINI YOGA AND GONG BATH: 7 pm with Inner Alchemy at Move2Center (3618 SW Alaska), $35; ticket link is in our calendar listing.
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: Your turn in the spotlight! 7:30 pm signups for West Seattle’s longest-running open mic. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Planning an open house, reading, tour, fundraiser, sale, discussion, show, meeting, presentation, etc., that’s open to the community? Please send us info so we can add it to West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
9 AM: A group of orcas that had been heading southbound off Brace Point has just turned around and is now northbound in the Fauntleroy ferry lanes, reports Kersti Muul. She says there are at least eight at last count. Let us know if you see them!
9:04 AM: Kersti says a second group is northbound off Lowman Beach.
3:33 PM: That’s one of half a dozen photos commenter Svenry has posted below – this was J-Pod again. … We also just received these photos from Robin Sinner, shooting from the Alki Point vicinity:
The Chief Sealth International High School PTSA has a reminder this morning:
Last chance to get your tickets for Soaring with Sealth, the Chief Sealth IHS Annual Fundraising Dinner and Auction. We’re raising money to support the PTSA, Performing Arts, and Athletics. Please join us for an evening of fun at the Brockey Center on Saturday, November 9, 2024 at 5:30 pm. Get your tickets at this link by October 31st.
So, just one day to go. The venue, Brockey Center, is at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor).
6:03 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Wednesday, October 30th, four days to go until Daylight Saving Time ends (early next Sunday, we “fall back” one hour, into Standard Time).
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Rainy and breezy today, high in the low 50s. Today’s sunrise will be at 7:51 am, while sunset will be at 5:54 pm.
(An encore of the Monday sunset, photographed by Jeff Johnson)
ROAD WORK
*The Admiral Way Bridge seismic project continues; half of the bridge remains closed, with one lane each way on the open side. Fairmount Avenue remains closed under the bridge.
*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.
TRANSIT
Washington State Ferries today – Regular 2-boat service on the Triangle Route this morning; check here for last-minute changes.
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!
10:30 PM: Police have blocked Beach Drive in both directions near Canada [map] because of a standoff with a suspect believed to be in crisis. Avoid the area.
11:04 PM: They’ve just taken the man into custody. We still haven’t heard what led to this, but will follow up.
11:18 PM: Police just told dispatch they’re reopening Beach Drive both ways.
ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: Here’s the summary we just obtained from police:
On 10/29/24 at approximately 2110 hours [SPD responded] to reports of a domestic violence disturbance in the area of 62nd Av SW and Alki Av SW. Upon arriving on scene, I was not able to locate victim and (we) learned … the victim left the scene for safety concerns. The victim was contacted a short time later and was met at their residence.
The victim felt threatened by the suspect and the suspect threatened self-harm. Officers established probable cause to arrest the suspect.
Patrol officers attempted to contact the suspect several times inside a residence and eventually made contact. The Sgt was able to talk the suspect into exiting the home and he was taken into custody without incident at approximately 2303 hours.
The suspect was arrested for Investigation of Burglary-DV and booked into King County Jail.
Tomorrow, the City Council‘s budget chair, Councilmember Dan Strauss, officially presents his “balancing package” – changes to the mayor’s budget – but the document went public tonight. We just finished reading through the 60-page document, and here are some West Seattle sightings:
DUWAMISH HEAD PARALLEL PARKING – Residents near Duwamish Head have long been agitating to get the angle parking at the viewpoint changed to parallel. And a proposal by District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka that made it into the “balancing package” would do it. Cost: $175,000. As we’ve reported before, SDOT has been somewhat resistant to the idea.
DELRIDGE/HOLLY ACCESS – Long before he ran for council, Saka raised concerns about the hardened median near the Refugee and Immigrant Families Center preschool near Delridge and Holly (as first reported by South Seattle Emerald). The “balancing package includes $2 million for “transit and roadway improvements on Delridge” in that area.
TURF FOR FAIRMOUNT PARK: Another Saka proposal, $1.5 million to convert the “baseball infield at Fairmount Park” to turf. (You might recall he ran a survey last month about turf-conversion sentiment earlier this year.)
Two other Saka proposals in the “balancing package” caught our eye:
RV STORAGE PROGRAM: Saka proposal to help RV residents transitioning to housing, Cost – $1.5 million.
FOOD DESERTS: Saka proposal requesting a report on city strategies to “attract food retailers to food deserts.”
So what’s next? Formal presentation tomorrow at 9:30 am, including overview info to contextualize the entire budget (preview that here). Then another round of comments and reviews, including the second and final major public hearing on the budget at 5 pm November 12. Here are other ways to comment.
Two election notes tonight, with one week to go until Election Day:
BALLOT-RETURN UPDATE: Have you sent your ballot in yet? Twelve percent more of Seattle’s voters have since we last mentioned it – 35.4 percent of ballots have been received. We’re even beating that here in the 34th Legislative District (which also includes Vashon and Maury Islands and White Center) – 36.5 percent of ballots are in, 56 percent of those by dropbox, 43 percent by USPS mail. Here again is the list of dropbox locations, with four in West Seattle.
HAVING AN ELECTION-NIGHT WATCH PARTY? With one week until voting ends and counting begins, it’s time to ask the big question: Who’s having a public watch party? Are community members welcome? What time? Several readers have asked, and we want to know for coverage-planning purposes, too. You can reply in a comment below, and/or email us at westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
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