West Seattle, Washington
12 Monday
West Seattle entrepreneur Malika Siddiq wants you to think of “sipping and shopping” all in one place.
Hers.
Behind her Lika Love Boutique at 4547 California SW, she’s opening In The Heart this Saturday night.
It’s a New Orleans-style speakeasy, holding up to 29 people in a cozy 600 square feet of what used to be a storage area, now decked out with brass barstools, upholstered furniture, crystal chandeliers, and a wall of what Siddiq describes as “empowering” art.
Siddiq’s two businesses will have some overlapping hours so you really can “have a drink, then go buy a new outfit.” Or just stay for gumbo, red beans and rice, and other New Orleans-style fare. (Here’s the food menu; here’s the drink menu – limited menus for the opening, expanding from there.)
She’s had the idea for In The Heart for almost two years; the New Orleans inspiration is because her parents are from there. As with so many things, the pandemic shelved her plan for a while. But now, the state gets ready for reopening, and her new venue is opening: “Perfect time!” she enthuses. Beginning with a 5 pm ribboncutting on Saturday (June 12th), In The Heart will be open 5-11 pm. The space will be available for event rentals, too.
Seattle Public Schools‘ last day of the year is June 18th, a week from Friday. The following Monday (June 21st), summer meal programs start up, and four sites are planned to operate in West Seattle, 11 am-1 pm Mondays through Fridays (except July 2nd and 5th):
Arbor Heights Elementary (3701 SW 104th)
Denny International Middle School (2601 SW Kenyon)
Highland Park Elementary (1012 SW Trenton)
Roxhill Elementary (7740 34th SW)
They’ll offer sack breakfasts and lunches, as well as reheatable meals, to all students/families – more info (and menus) can be found here.
(WSB photos)
Different plan, same goal as Lou Cutler returned to Pathfinder K-8 – where he taught PE for many years – this morning to start the annual tradition of doing laps on the field, accompanied by students and staff, to raise money for Make-A-Wish.
Pre-pandemic, hundreds would join him on the field at the beginning and end of the one-day fundraiser – in which Lou would run/walk one lap for every year of the age he turns in late June. Last year, since nobody was at the school, Lou walked one big “lap” around the peninsula with friends. This year, at Pathfinder, small groups are joining him for two laps at a time, a total of 70 laps split between today and Thursday.
While Lou’s been doing this for almost two decades, he’s been a Make-A-Wish volunteer even longer, and before today’s first lap, he told the students about Avery, who’s about to have a bone-marrow transplant, and hopes to go to Disneyland – her “wish” – afterward. He’s inviting the students to write messages for her. You can help him raise money to make wishes come true by donating here.
11:27 AM: From Lori McConnell at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) in Admiral:
We wanted to let you know that we were broken into. We discovered it coming in to open the shop this morning. They didn’t trip our alarm – the broke a panel to the side of our door and crawled in that way.
They used a reader board from the Luna Apts to smash the window in. They got more merchandise than we are happy with. But nobody was here or hurt and we are focusing on that. Thought it might be good to get word out for other businesses. We are going to look at ways to beef up security in fear that things are getting worse in the hood.
This isn’t the first time West Seattle Runner has been hit by burglar(s) – our archives show at least two other break-ins, in 2019 and (at their original location south of Admiral) in 2013.
1:50 PM: WSR’s Tim McConnell just emailed with this update: “SPD just called to say they found a lot of our items in a tent camp in Lake City. They are collecting and cataloging it and will return it to us shortly. That’s all I know right now, I’m just happy to get some stuff back. We would like to say we appreciate their hard work in helping us limit our losses.”
Thanks to SG for the photo above and Stacy for the photo below. That car’s driver went up onto the sidewalk and into a staircase at the Sea Cliff Manor Apartments (2650 Alki Avenue SW) around 5:20 am today.
SFD and SPD responded. Nobody was hurt, Stacy reports. We’re following up with police to see if they have any additional information.
(Bee buzzes California Poppies, photographed by Jerry Simmons)
Here’s what’s happening for your Tuesday:
LAPS WITH LOU: Today and Thursday, it’s a pandemic-era edition of retired PE teacher Lou Cutler‘s annual fundraising laps at Pathfinder K-8 to help Make-A-Wish. No spectators this year but donations/pledges welcome – you can do that here.
FAUNTLEROY CHILDREN’S CENTER ONLINE AUCTION: Bidding continues around the clock through Sunday night – our Monday report has the backstory and how to participate.
CITY COUNCIL: The Public Safety and Human Services Committee, chaired by West Seattle/South Park Councilmember Lisa Herbold, meets online at 9:30 am. The agenda (which includes information on viewing and commenting) features two presentations related to reimagining public safety, including this report on “Realigning Seattle’s Criminal Legal System.”
DEMONSTRATION: One year ago this week, thousands of West Seattleites demonstrated for racial justice. One neighbor perseveres with twice-weekly streetcorner sign-waving. From organizer Scott:
Black Lives Matter sign-waving
Tuesday, June 8, 4 to 6 pm, corner of 16th SW and SW Holden
Thursday June 10, 4 to 6 pm, corner of 16th SW and SW Holden
Come build awareness & stimulate actions to tear down the systems that have oppressed Black lives for over 400 years on this continent. Hold signs, meet neighbors, and stand for racial justice. Scott at Puget Ridge Cohousing, endorsed by Hate-Free Delridge. Signs available.
fAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: From crime to ferries, the FCA board has lots to talk about tonight – here’s the agenda. Community members are welcome at the 7 pm online meeting but pre-registration is required to get the link – do that here.
6:03 AM: Good morning! More sunshine in today’s forecast, though the temperatures will remain below normal (high in the 60s; Monday’s high was 63, 7 degrees below normal). Thanks to Marc Milrod for the photo of last night’s colorful sunset:
ROAD WORK
Delridge project – Overnight striping/lane configuration work this week near Delridge/Dakota. Also, work continues on the west side of the Delridge/Barton/Henderson intersection, and utility work continues along Delridge between Holden and Thistle, among other work zones – here’s the full weekly update.
SW Yancy – Still closed west of 28th SW; no new estimate for reopening.
FERRIES/BUSES
Regular schedules today.(Watch @kcmetrobus for word of bus cancellations, @wsferries for major WSF changes.)
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
442nd morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here are the views of other bridges and routes:
Low Bridge: 22nd week for automated enforcement cameras; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends, when the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are available for some categories of drivers.)
Here’s a low-bridge view:
West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:
Highland Park Way/Holden:
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
And the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):
For the South Park Bridge (map), here’s the nearest camera:
Are bridges opening for boats or barges? The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed is working again. The 1st Ave. S. Bridge openings also are tweeted on @wsdot_traffic.)
See all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also shown on this WSB page.
Trouble on the streets/paths/bridges/water? Please let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.
Three reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
HOUSE SHOT AT: Police investigated a reported drive-by shooting in the 5600 block of 23rd SW. A resident said someone shot at the house and then drove away. No one hit/hurt.
GGUNS SEIZED: Police included these photos with a report of officers seizing the two guns when arresting a man:
This happened around quarter past 5 this evening near Delridge and Findlay. The preliminary police summary says four people were arguing “over a past assault.” A woman, “in an effort to defend her son, began bragging about owning a firearm.” A man said he owned one too. She expressed doubt. He went to his car and brought out one of the guns, “causing the victim to feel intimidated.” She called 911. They searched his vehicle and “recovered two semi-automatic handguns and their respective magazines loaded with ammunition.” The 31-year-old suspect was booked into King County Jail for investigation of unlawful use of a weapon.
HIT-RUN: From Rose:
My car was parked outside Luna apartments, 2745 California Ave near PCC, around 2:30 pm today and someone smashed the hood of my car – there was blue and white paint on the hood. I was wondering … if anyone saw anything.
Tonight’s roundup of local pandemic-related information:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Seattle-King County Public Health daily summary:
*110,417 people have tested positive, 79 more than yesterday
*1,602 people have died, unchanged since Saturday
*6,231 people have been hospitalized, 3 more than yesterday
ONE WEEK AGO: No week-ago numbers tonight, since last Monday was Memorial Day and the county didn’t update the dashboard.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Check the state dashboard.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 173.5 million cases, 3,734,000+ deaths – 597,000+ in the U.S. See the other stats – nation by nation – here.
VAX STATS: In King County, 75.4 percent of people 12+ have had at least one dose; 65.2 percent are fully vaccinated. In West Seattle, the most-vaccinated zip code remains 98136 – 87.5 percent of people 12+ have had at least one dose. (Maps and stats are here.)
VACCINATION LOTTERY TOMORROW: Tuesday brings the first drawing in the “incentives” the governor announced last week. If you’re still worried you aren’t going to be part of it, here’s what the state wants you to know:
The Washington State Department of Health recognizes many people have experienced challenges while trying to confirm their records were transmitted to the Washington State Immunization Information System and they are eligible for the “Shot of a Lifetime” lottery drawing. DOH also recognizes that many people were not able to verify their COVID-19 vaccine record in MyIR Mobile. However, the records have been transmitted to the WAIIS, which means DOH is able to access immunization data and will be able to pull winners from the pool of eligible vaccine recipients in the state.
In the meantime, people who have further questions about their eligibility should call the state’s vaccine hotline at 1-833-VAX HELP or visit walottery.com/vaccination.
Washington joins several other states in offering a vaccine lottery. Hitting the 70% statewide initiation of vaccination goal is an important component of our collective success against COVID-19, and we look forward to continued progress so we can restore our economy and get people back to living their normal lives.
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
Just before the pandemic, in January 2020, friends and family threw a 95th-birthday party for Adah Rhodes Cruzen.
(January 2020 photo by Clay Eals)
She made it to 96 this past winter, but it wasn’t much of a time for parties. And now Ms. Cruzen is gone. Family and friends have been notified that she died today.
In her final years, Ms. Cruzen drew considerable local admiration for her generous support of local organizations and projects – perhaps most notably, the campaign to restore the murals created ~30 years ago in a civic project headed by her husband Earl Cruzen (who also made it to age 96 before dying four years ago).
(Earl and Adah Cruzen, 2013 photo by Clay Eals)
“He left me a bunch of zeroes,” she joked in 2018. And she made good use of them. Her donation that year kickstarted the project to restore and repair the murals. Also in 2018, she made news with gifts to the Senior Center of West Seattle and to the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, along with funding a new “Welcome to West Seattle” sign at the southwest end of the West Seattle Bridge.
In 2019, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce honored her with the Westsider of the Year award. Longtime friend Clay Eals shared with us the script from that presentation, which noted that Ms. Cruzen had been a West Seattleite since she and first husband Bob moved here in the 1950s. After his death, she met second husband Willard Rhodes at Fauntleroy Church, and became friends with Earl’s then-wife Virginia Cruzen. Years aFter their respective spouses died, Adah and Earl married on his 80th birthday in 2000. After his death in 2017, she decided to carry out his wishes to continue to support their community, to which she shared Earl’s devotion. Eals recalls.a plaque that hung in Ms. Cruzen’s kitchen when she and Mr. Cruzen lived in a condo at Duwamish Head: “I wasn’t born in West Seattle, but I got here as fast as I could.”
Arrangements are being made through Evergreen-Washelli; we’ll let you know when there’s word of memorial plans.
Three nights until the next West Seattle Art Walk, which happens on second Thursdays every month, all year long. Art Walk organizers say more venues are hosting in-person artist receptions this time, so you have more places to explore. Those include Zelda Zonk in Admiral and Flying Apron in The Junction, both of which spotlighted “during business hours” displays during the pandemic but are now returning to welcoming visitors during Art Walk hours. Plus, Art Walk coordinator Reeve Washburn says, “We have an Art Walk ‘first’: Warren Pope, local 3-D artist, is doing an artist open house in the Fauntleroy neighborhood.” Along with visiting venues showing art, you can also stop by restaurants and bars supporting the Art Walk with food and drink specials – they’re listed in Thursday’s official preview , too! The Art Walk officially starts at 5 pm Thursday but as you’ll see in the preview, some events start earlier, some later. Wide variety of art, too – from painting to photography to quilting.
(WSB is a West Seattle Art Walk community co-sponsor.)
Two notes in West Seattle Crime Watch:
TWICE-STOLEN TRUCK: From Andrea:
Last night my truck was stolen for the 2nd time in 2 months from in front of my house on 45th SW. It was locked and had a club in it. License number B30800H. Red F250 HD with a matching canopy and a black construction rack. Attached is a picture. (When stolen) ot did not have the Kayaks or the bike rack on it.
Call 911 if you see it. (WEDNESDAY NIGHT UPDATE: A commenter spotted it and called it in; we have confirmation from Andrea that they got it back.)
ASSAULT ARREST: A reader asked about the sizable police response to an encampment area near 1st Avenue S./S. Cloverdale near the southeast edge of West Seattle. The preliminary SPD summary says a woman was arrested for assaulting a man who lived there. She was there to visit another man, described in the report as her boyfriend, but instead barged into the structure where the victim was sleeping. Police say she woke him up, hit him, and demanded he leave, then tried to stab him; he suffered a finger injury while fending off the attack. Police responded and told her to come out and surrender; she did, and was booked into King County Jail.
1:32 PM: Though what brought an initially large SFD response to Aura (4435 35th SW) turned out to be a “very small fire,” firefighters at the scene tell us they’re still there because it set off sprinklers elsewhere in the building too, so there’s a water cleanup to deal with. No injuries. But southbound buses are being rerouted while the outside SB lane of 35th remains blocked.
2:12 PM: The call has closed, meaning all SFD units have left.
That rendering from Atelier Drome Architecture is part of the “early design” proposal for 9038 21st SW [map], an apartment building planned for rapidly redeveloping South Delridge. It’s on a site that’s been upzoned from single-family to lowrise. We first mentioned the plan last September. Now it’s going through the city’s Streamlined Design Review process, which means public comments are accepted but no public meeting will be held. As part of that, the design packet is available (90 MB document). The plan is for a 3-stories-plus-basement building with about 24 apartments, no offstreet vehicle-parking spaces (none are required because of transit proximity), 24 long-term bicycle-parking spaces. The formal notice isn’t out yet but if you have comments on the project, send them to theresa.neylon@seattle.gov.
From the “eat local” department: A year and a half after we brought you first word that Rebellyous Foods had moved to the West Seattle Triangle, it’s just announced a big new deal that will make its plant-based nuggets, tenders, and patties available in hundreds more stores, including three more in West Seattle. Rebellyous says its products will be available starting this week in 200 Safeway stores in the Northwest. In West Seattle, you can already buy Rebellyous products at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) in Morgan Junction and Wildwood Market in Fauntleroy. Rebellyous also notes that its nuggets are now award-winning, honored last month with the New Product Award in the Plant-Based Protein category as part of the Specialty Food Association’s 2021 sofi™ Awards. The company – which also focuses on food-manufacturing technology development – notes that the plant-based food industry is now a $7 billion-per-year retail market, with 27 percent growth in just the past year.
Fauntleroy Children’s Center, located in the historic schoolhouse, welcomes you to join in this year’s fundraising auction starting right now, wherever you are! Here’s the announcement:
The Fauntleroy Children’s Center 34th Annual Auction is going on now online! Now until midnight on Sunday, June 13th we are excited to extend to our Greater West Seattle Community the opportunity to bid on the over 160 fun items and experiences all while supporting FCC. Click on our online auction link to sign up, browse the catalog, and bid high (and often!).
Our goal of our fundraiser is to fill FCC’s annual budget gap, which funds continuing education and staff appreciation, as well as tuition assistance for families in need and other critical projects like technology and play-structure upgrades.
For additional information, please visit the Fauntleroy Children’s Center website or email the FCC auction committee at auction@fauntleroychildrenscenter.org.
Fauntleroy Children’s Center is a nationally accredited nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the community and families of the greater West Seattle area since 1977 by offering high quality childcare in an educational environment. Our skilled, professional staff provides a secure, stable and diverse environment where children want to be. Our mission is to work in collaboration with the families we serve and the community to enrich each child’s social, emotional, intellectual and physical growth.
7:13 AM: Tree reported down on southbound West Marginal north of Highland Park Way.
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6:12 AM: Good morning. After a chilly – the 55-degree high was 14 degrees below normal – and showery Sunday, today’s forecast includes some sunshine.
ROAD WORK
Delridge project – Overnight striping/lane configuration work starts this week near Delridge/Dakota, work continues on the west side of the Delridge/Barton/Henderson intersection – here’s the full weekly update.
SW Yancy – Still closed west of 28th SW.
FERRIES/BUSES
Regular schedules today.(Watch @kcmetrobus for word of any bus cancellations, @wsferries for major WSF changes.)
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
442nd morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here are the views of other bridges and routes:
Low Bridge: 22nd week for automated enforcement cameras; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends, when the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are available for some categories of drivers.)
Here’s a low-bridge view:
West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:
Highland Park Way/Holden:
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
And the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):
For the South Park Bridge (map), here’s the nearest camera:
Are bridges opening for boats or barges? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed. (Note: It stopped last Wednesday – if it’s still down when you check, you can find 1st Avenue South Bridge openings on @wsdot_traffic.)
See all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also shown on this WSB page.
Trouble on the streets/paths/bridges/water? Please let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.
Two incidents to briefly note:
CRASH: A utility pole was damaged at California/Admiral by a hit-run driver this past hour.
FIRE: A mid-size SFD response is on the scene of a fire in an RV at 9th/Thistle right now. No word of any injuries; the fire has been extinguished. The SFD investigator has been requested but according to dispatch, isn’t immediately available because of a larger response in the area, a house fire at 12th South/South Cloverdale in South Park.
Tonight’s pandemic notes:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the King County Daily Summary Dashboard page:
*110.338 people have tested positive, up 80 from one day earlier
*1,602 people have died, unchanged from one day earlier
*6,228 people have been hospitalized, up 4 from one day earlier
One week ago, those three totals were 109,658/1,592/6,159.
WEST SEATTLE TRENDS: Sunday is the night we check these numbers, shown in two-week increments on the “geography over time” tab of the countywide daily-summary dashboard. For WS status, we combine the totals from the West Seattle and Delridge “health reporting areas” (HRAs): For the past two weeks, 50 positive test results; 84 in the 2 weeks before that; 156 in the two weeks before that. … We also are noting two other West Seattle stats each week. The total deaths for the entire pandemic in the two HRAs comprising West Seattle: 69, up one since last week. And a look at hospitalizations: 195 total have been attributed to people in the two peninsula HRAs since the start of the pandemic, adding one this week.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here (but again, note there was no update this weekend).
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 173.2 million cases and 3,726,000+ deaths, 597,000+ of them in the U.S. – see the nation-by-nation breakdown here
SCHOOL VACCINATION CLINICS: Three this week at which the district says students and family members are welcome, first or second shots: Chief Sealth International High School on Monday, West Seattle High School on Tuesday and Friday.
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
The report and photos are rom Amy:
Our car was the unfortunate target in the high-car-prowl area at Westcrest Park today. We were parked in the playground lot between 1:15-2:15 pm.
The thieves broke out two windows (passenger side and left rear), ripped out the rear privacy screen, and took a cell phone. Everything else was left intact. We were able to track the time of the break-in as well as their route due to the GPS locator on the phone, and tracked the phone to the last known location, just a few blocks away at SW Barton between 16th and 17th Aves SW though were not able to recover it.
Reporting to help others be aware… it was a cool and rainy afternoon, lot was not busy at all, but no observed obvious car sitters when we pulled in.
A police report has been filed.
Two guests headlined the latest West Seattle Transportation Coalition meeting:
HOPELINK: When you think of transportation, does Hopelink come to mind? No? This service would like to change that. Hopelink’s Bebhinn Gilbert was the guest, explaining what Hopelink’s mobility-management service is and does. Here’s her slide deck:
Hopelink’s service area includes all of King County, and its goal is to try to help people navigate their transportation options, so that transportation is a resource, not an obstacle. Hopelink itself is both a provider and a coordinator – as explained here. Non-emergency medical transportation is one of their services, as is helping people better utilize the transportation options that are available from a variety of providers. One big emphasis right now: Helping people get to COVID-19 vaccine providers. If you need help with that, you can reach them via findaride.org or 425-943-6706.
In Q&A, Gilbert was asked if the West Seattle Bridge closure has been an obstacle. She says they’ve worked with all the transportation providers to ensure that’s factored into any trip to or from West Seattle.
Speaking of the bridge …
SDOT UPDATE: West Seattle High-Rise Bridge Safety Project director Heather Marx recapped the recent announcement that a contractor has been chosen for both the high-bridge repairs and low-bridge work (WSB coverage here). She also recapped the status of low-bridge access authorization (same stats reported here).
In Q&A, Marx was asked if capacity restrictions were expected when the high bridge reopens next year. Answer: No. Another attendee asked for clarification on who’s getting low-bridge warnings and who’s getting citations. She said that the first time you’re caught crossing the low bridge without authorization, you get a warning; second violation and beyond, you get a citation with a $75 fine.
WSTC BOARD RECRUITING: One position remains open. Interested? Email info@westseattletc.org.
NEXT MEETING: 6:30 pm June 24th, still online, with Washington State Ferries expected to send a guest.
Family-photo time as we start this gallery of reader-contributed West Seattle bird photos! Look closely at Kersti Muul‘s photo above – that’s a baby Killdeer under mom’s tailfeathers. Below, Samantha Burton‘s nestbox attracted Nuthatches:
Mark Wangerin photographed a fledgling Pileated Woodpecker today, explaining, “I had noticed a change in the adult Pileated Woodpeckers vocalization over the past few days. Today this new fledgling appeared! It swooped from trunk to trunk within the forest”:
This morning, Lynn Hall caught a Canada Goose family looking out at Elliott Bay:
For a closer view of a gosling – Stewart L. sent this long-lens photo:
Stewart also sends this view of a Violet-green Swallow:
Next, a House Finch, from Michelle Green Arnson:
An Anna’s Hummingbird from Jerry Simmons:
And another hummingbird from Janelle, followed by the explanation of why she was holding it:
I wanted to share this photo of a stunned hummer who flew into my window the other day. I picked him up when he was laying sideways stunned and held him for about 5 minutes until he was able to fly to a nearby tree, where he sat for another 20 minutes or so, then flew away.
I’ve heard numerous bird thuds on my windows in recent days, prompting me to research and order some Window Alert decals to help save birds from window strikes.
Thanks again to everyone who shares photos – from birds to breaking news – westseattleblog@gmail.com is the best place to send non-urgent photos!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Vaccination and relocation were among the updates at this month’s meeting of the Camp Second Chance Community Advisory Committee, held online this afternoon. CSC is the only city-supported tiny-house encampment in West Seattle, located on the city-owned Myers Way Parcels [map], managed and staffed by the Low-Income Housing Institute.
CAMP UPDATES: New manager Scott Harris (introduced last month) said May was a busy month. 57 residents are at CSC now: “40 men, 14 women, 3 gender-nonconforming people.” 5 exited in May – 4 who “just left,” 1 who found an apartment, 1 “involuntary exit after numerous violent episodes.” Five 911 calls, one related to the person who was booted; he was arrested that day. (He started causing trouble in November, Harris said, and was allowed to stay if he followed the rules, but did not.) The other four were medical calls.
Speaking of medical, a UW Health van was there today to offer care to camp residents, and tomorrow King County Public Health is coming for another vaccination clinic (second shots for more than a dozen people, first shots to those interested). Though they don’t have an official stat, he believes more than half the camp’s residents have started the vaccination process. The camp has not had any COVID cases. Also tomorrow, maintenance crews will be out to connect the showers (one trailer with two stalls) to permanent electric power so it won’t have to recharge a battery between showers. The camp also has three new grills – one donated by a former resident – so cooking capacity has been boosted.
More people are about to exit the camp for housing. José Ruiz has been working in case management and said housing had become available for camp residents he had placed on a waiting list for the LIHI-owned Clay Apartments microhousing building on Capitol Hill. At least 3 are moving soon – one has a moving date this week, two are waiting for the moving date; they’re working out some logistics for a fourth. Section 8 vouchers – also a program with a long waiting list – are becoming available to help people, too; Ruiz said four people from CSC got help from those, including two moving out of state, one moving to Renton. His work at the camp will be ramping down because a new case manager starts at CSC this week.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS’ UPDATES: Committee chair Willow Fulton, a resident in the camp vicinity, said they’re working to get others involved with the committee. Other members at today’s meeting were Alki UCC‘s Cinda Stenger and White Center CDA‘s Aaron Garcia, who had one announcement: WCCDA is hosting a Pride event 1-4 pm at Greenbridge Plaza on June 25th.
NEXT MEETING: First Sunday in July is Independence Day, so the meeting will be moved – Fulton will confer offline with committee members to decide on rescheduling.
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