West Seattle, Washington
13 Sunday
(SDOT camera image)
The alert is just in from SDOT, for repaving work next week:
Delridge Way SW between SW Genesee St and SW Dakota St
8 AM Mon. October 16 through 5 PM Mon. October 23 *
*Weather permitting SDOT will replace several damaged concrete panels in the northbound lanes.
The northbound bus and travel lanes on this section of Delridge Way SW will be closed 24 hours a day from 8 AM Mon. Oct. 16 to 5 PM Mon. Oct. 23
o During this time, the two southbound lanes will be temporarily converted into one northbound lane and one southbound lane.
o No detours will be in place. Traffic will continue using Delridge Way SW.
Some on-street parking in the area may be temporarily closed for use byconstruction equipment.
o Any parking restrictions will be posted prior to taking effect.
Sidewalks will remain open at all times.
This project is comparable to the project SDOT crews completed earlier this year in the southbound lanes of this same section of Delridge Way SW.
The man charged with a North Delridge murder and South Delridge shooting in one night last year has been found guilty by a King County Superior Court jury. 44-year-old Jaycee C. Thompson was arrested and charged days after the crimes. In June 2022, he shot and killed 56-year-old Anthony “Gonzo” Gonzalez, described as a “friend,” at an encampment at 26th/Juneau, hours after shooting and wounding a 35-year-old man at 16th/Barton. Charging documents said Thompson shot Mr. Gonzalez dead after forcing a man, at gunpoint, to take him to the structure in which the victim lived, where he reportedly first said something like “Where’s the money and drugs?” before opening fire. Thompson, a convicted felon, had been released from jail one week before the shootings, over prosecutors’ objections, as explained in our original story on his arrest. The jury in this case found him guilty of first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, first-degree attempted robbery, and first-degree kidnapping, as well as “special verdicts” that he committed crimes while armed with a gun. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 26th; we’re awaiting information from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office on the potential sentencing range.
(WSB photo from West Seattle Ski Swap day 1)(WSB photo, 2022 West Seattle Ski Swap)
Quick reminder that one of this weekend’s biggest events will be the West Seattle Ski Swap, presented each year by Mountain to Sound Outfitters (WSB sponsor) at the VFW Hall (3601 SW Alaska) both days this weekend. If you have something to sell – skis, snowboard, boots, gear – you need to preregister ASAP and drop off your items this afternoon, 3-7 pm. Here’s where to find the link to sign up. Otherwise, if you’re just shopping, sale hours are 10 am-5 pm Saturday, 10 am-4 pm Sunday.
Transient orcas were in Elliott Bay and visible from West Seattle shores for much of the day on Thursday, as noted here. West Seattle photographer Jamie Kinney caught some amazing views – the first four photos are his, and you can see many more in this gallery on his website.
As reported by Kersti Muul starting Thursday morning, these were transient killer whales (though Southern Residents were seen yesterday too).
The whales brought out a crowd, too – here’s a Thursday photo from Duwamish Head, received from an unidentified texter:
No reports of whales in the West Seattle vicinity yet today, but Orca Network commenters have seen several in the South Sound, so eventually they’ll have to head back this way again.
(Dragonfly, photographed at White Center Pond by Steve Bender)
Highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: Open 10 am-2 pm for plant shopping, north end of South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
STAY ‘N’ PLAY: Free drop-in indoor gym for kids 5 and under and their caregivers, 10-11:30 am at Arbor Heights Community Church (4113 SW 102nd).
SOUTHWEST ARTIST SHOWCASE CONTINUES: 10 am-6 pm, Southwest Library (9010 35th SW) is open – drop by to see the work displayed by community members in its annual Southwest Artist Showcase.
ALKI ARTS POP-UP: Multiple artists’ work on display and available for purchase, 11 am-6 pm at California/Oregon, daily through this Sunday.
SCRABBLE CLUB: You’re invited to play 12:30-1:30 pm at Margie’s Café inside the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon).
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: Tasting room/wine bar open 1-6 pm on the north side of South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor), student-produced wine by the glass or bottle.
VISCON CELLARS: Tasting room/wine bar open – wine by the glass or bottle – 5-9 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).
OKTOBERFEST DINNER: The White Center Eagles are having an Oktoberfest celebration and membership drive today and tomorrow, all welcome, starting with dinner tonight:
White Center Eagles, located at 10452 15th Ave SW, is holding a membership drive on October 13th & 14th. The public is welcome to come find out what the Eagles are all about and all of the charitable work we do in our community. We have been part of White Center since 1946. The membership drive coincides with our annual Oktoberfest event on both Friday & Saturday. Friday features a traditional Jagerschnitzel dinner from 5 to 7 pm with music by the Tim Turner Band from 7 to 11 pm. Saturday we’ll be open at noon for the Huskies game and then join us for the Bierlympic Games from 2 to 5 pm. The Bierlympics include cornhole, beer pong & a stein holding contest. Dinner on Saturday will be brats, sauerkraut & German potato salad from 5 to 7 pm.
More info on tonight’s dinner is on this flyer.
KENYON HALL CABARET AND PRE-SHOW COCKTAIL HOUR: Drag show at 7 pm at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW), all ages, preceded by 6 pm 21+ cocktail hour with the queens at The Locol next door. Info on both in our calendar listing.
LIVE AT C & P: 7-9 pm, the monthly Songwriters’ Showcase at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), no cover.
FOOTBALL: One home game tonight, 7 pm at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex, Chief Sealth IHS hosts Nathan Hale. Also at 7 pm, at West Seattle Stadium, Seattle Prep plays Eastside Catholic.
DANCE NIGHT AT THE SPOT: Fridays are DJ Dance Night at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), 7-10 pm.
CRYSTALS 101: Learn about them at Inner Alchemy (3043 California SW), 7 pm, $35.
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: Not Dead Yet, Memphis Radio Kings, Knathan Ryan, an all-West Seattle bill, as previewed here – 8 pm at The Skylark, $10 cover. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
DJ NIGHT AT REVELRY ROOM: Music 9 pm-1 am on Fridays! (4547 California SW)
Something to add to our calendar? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Here’s another opportunity to invest just a little time to make a big difference in a young person’s life. Dozens of students at West Seattle High School are awaiting adult mentors – here’s the announcement we were asked to share with you:
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound is looking for 40 volunteers to mentor 9th through 12th graders once a month at West Seattle High School in a program called “MentorU.”
One in three kids in America are growing up without a sustained, positive adult mentor in their lives and over 30 kids at West Seattle High School are on Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound’s wait list for a mentor. The gap between mentorship and youth who need it most continues to widen due to perceived barriers of the time and expertise needed to become a mentor. Understanding the critical need, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound seeks to engage and galvanize community members to help bridge the gap between people and possibility.
The MentorU program engages local adult volunteers and 9th through 12th graders in 1:1 mentoring relationships with meetings just once each month during the academic year. Using a social-emotional learning methodology, youth participants are guided through personal development and beyond high school planning activities with volunteer mentors at their side for support and guidance. To be a great mentor you don’t need to have a specific title, a degree, or any special qualifications other than being compassionate, patient, and accepting. Even the littlest moments can grow into big ones – sometimes all we need is a little encouragement, a little hope, and a little inspiration.
The program uses a cohort-based approach, working with incoming 9th graders, with the goal of ongoing student participation from 9th through 12th grade. Most mentors will be matched with incoming 9th graders. It just takes a little time, a little encouragement and a laugh or two, so that every child has what — and who — they need to achieve a BIG and bright future. Volunteer mentors in MentorU simply sit and talk with a high schooler during one 90-minute facilitated mentoring session per month. It truly takes little to be big.
Mentoring has a long track record of proven positive outcomes, in particular, 100% of young people matched with mentors through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound graduate high school. A staggering 79% of youth with a mentor last year experienced improvement in or reported no worsening of depressive symptoms – a goal which MentorU’s social-emotional programming directly supports.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound is looking for 40 volunteers of all gender identities, ethnicities, nationalities, and backgrounds who are willing to spend just an hour and a half per month to help kids at West Seattle High School in MentorU achieve their BIGGEST, brightest futures. The program dates are generally on the last Wednesday of each month from 2:30-4:00 PM:
October 25th
November 29th
December 13th
January 31st
February 28th
March 27th
April 24th
May 29th
June 12thLearn more and get started at inspirebig.org/mentoru or apply now at bit.ly/3FtLFpX
Questions? Email Match Support Specialist Erin Escobar at erin.escobar@bbbsps.org.
8:39 AM: Noticed while heading back from an interview just now, the signals at 26th/Barton are in flashing-red mode.
Earlier:
6:03 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Friday, October 13th.
WEATHER AND SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Partly sunny today, possibly rainy tonight, high in the upper 60s. Sunrise today is at 7:25 am; sunset, 6:25 pm.
(Thursday photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
TWO NOTES
-No Seattle Public Schools classes today.
-1 am Saturday through 3 pm Monday, the ramp from Beacon Hill to the westbound West Seattle Bridge will be closed.
TRANSIT TODAY
Water Taxi – Regular schedule today. Remember – this is the last Friday of the season for later-night service, and there’s no West Seattle service this Saturday and Sunday.
Metro – Regular schedule today; check advisories here.
Washington State Ferries – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route. Check alerts for changes, and use Vessel Watch to see where your ferry is.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Henderson), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Oregon.
High Bridge – the main camera:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
Low Bridge – which has been open since Tuesday:
1st Ave. S. Bridge – southeastern route across the river:
Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander:
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges feed on Twitter/X shows whether the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.
If you see trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/bay, please text or call us (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if applicable). Thank you!
That’s “Running for Love” by West Seattle band Not Dead Yet, which the band describes as their “second video in 10+ years … a postcard of our favorite running routes in Seattle, set to our feel-good rock ‘n’ roll.” The band’s first video was “West Seattle Hey,” featured here in 2012. They’re so excited about the new one, they’re playing The Skylark in North Delridge tomorrow night (Friday, October 13th). Doors open at 7 pm, show’s at 8, and Not Dead Yet says they’ll be joined by “two West Seattle favorites, Memphis Radio Kings and Knathan Ryan.” $10 cover. You can go early and have dinner – The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW) is a restaurant/bar as well as a music venue.
Thanks to Joan for the photo and tip. The standalone Bank of America ATM in Morgan Junction (between West Seattle Thriftway [WSB sponsor] and Ezell’s Famous Chicken) is out of service after a break-in attempt early this morning. 911 was called just before 3 am by someone who reported two people using “hammers and crowbars” to try to get into the ATM. When police arrived, they were gone – leaving a tool behind that officers described to dispatch as “Jaws of Life,” apparently stolen from King County Fire District 2 (Burien and vicinity).
ADDED FRIDAY: Thanks to JB for providing this photo in a comment below:
ADDED SATURDAY: SPD released a short summary of the incident today, saying that the two people actually fled just as police arrived – in a blue Hyundai with no plates, “at a high rate of speed.”
6:29 PM: The sky’s clear and it’s as good as a fall night gets for seeing art …
Florence Weintraub is one of the artists we’ve met so far tonight while visiting a few West Seattle Art Walk stops. You can meet her and see her work at the Discovery Shop (4535 California SW) until 8 pm tonight. Here’s a verse she wrote, featured on the Art Walk website:
OLD WOMAN JOURNEY
monologue, catalogue
chronicle of the times
of my mind
landscape mind
with this earth
now
containing all that has ever been
my mind
our minds
vastness filled
with unexplained jewels
beyond our knowing
See the Art Walk venue list – from North Admiral to Morgan Junction – and artist spotlights here, and remember that until 7:45 pm you can catch three free Art of Music performances too!
6:47 PM: As noted in our preview, some participating venues have more than one artist. Among them, this week’s Alki Arts pop-up, curated by Diane Venti, at California/Oregon – we met some of the featured artists tonight, including Joanne Shellan:
And Debbie Bianchi:
The Alki Arts pop-up is open until 8 pm tonight for Art Walk, and then continues daily through this Sunday, 11 am-6 pm.
7:06 PM: Also participating tonight – Doris Goulet, with cards, at Verity Credit Union (4505 California SW):
Doris is no stranger to The Junction – she owned the craft store Friends and Company for a dozen-plus years until closing in 2010 – that’s the spot where Click! Design That Fits used to be, now Seattle E-bike. Her cards are made from beeswax and napkins, and she scours stores looking for the perfect napkins to use! She’s at Verity tonight until 8.
ADDED 8:56 PM: Verity also hosted one of tonight’s Art of Music performances – we recorded a bit of Lana Sparks‘ mini-concert:
West Seattle Art Walk happens on the second Thursday every month, year-round, so set your calendar for the next one, November 9th.
We learned from a parent that Highland Park Elementary was briefly in shelter-in-place earlier this afternoon. For anyone else wondering about it, here’s what we found out about the reason: Police were dispatched to a reported “disturbance” at the school around quarter till 3. Dispatch told officers the call was somewhat convoluted, involving an off-campus dispute over a possible burglary and people including a parent showing up at the campus, arguing. We asked SPD how it ended up, and here’s the summary: “There was an incident that occurred by the school with a parent and approximately three high school kids. A parent accused the high schoolers of burglary. When officers arrived, all subjects had left the scene. The school was put into shelter in place briefly and has subsequently been lifted.”
(Photo by Mark Dale, July 28, 2022)
Thanks for the tips. Fourteen and a half months after the state ferry M/V Cathlamet hit an offshore structure at the Fauntleroy terminal, the National Transportation Safety Board has announced the results of its investigation. First, here’s the NTSB summary:
Fatigue and complacency led to a Washington State Ferries passenger and car ferry striking a mooring structure, or dolphin, at a Seattle ferry terminal last year, the National Transportation Safety Board said Thursday. The contact resulted in $10.3 million in damages to the vessel and $300,000 in damages to the dolphin.
The Cathlamet had crossed Puget Sound with 94 people on board and was approaching the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal on July 28, 2022, when it struck the ferry terminal dolphin. One minor injury was reported.
The master did not take any action to correct the ferry’s course, slow down or sound the alarm before the contact. He also did not recall what happened and seemed unaware of how the ferry ended up striking the dolphin. Investigators found these events were all consistent with incapacitation from a microsleep, a brief period of sleep lasting a few seconds, due to fatigue.
“Fatigue affects all aspects of human performance, including decision-making, alertness, and reaction time,” NTSB investigators said in the final report. “Mariners should understand the performance effects of sleep loss and recognize the dangers of fatigue, such as microsleeps. When affected by fatigue, mariners should arrange for a qualified watchstander to serve in their place and avoid being on duty when unable to safely carry out their responsibilities.”
The NTSB also found the Cathlamet bridge team exhibited complacency by not complying with Washington State Ferries’ policies when undocking and docking the ferry. The Cathlamet quartermaster did not actively monitor the master as the ferry approached the dock, as required by company policy. Had he done so, he could have quickly taken the helm when the master became incapacitated.
“Complacency occurs when operators repeatedly complete a task without consequence, desensitizing them to its inherent risk,” the report said. “To combat complacency, operators should comply with procedures, such as operating checklists, that are in place to prevent single points of failure, and companies should train operators on the importance of following procedures.”
The full 18-page investigation report is here. It includes this:
Coast Guard Investigators interviewed the master on the day of the casualty. When asked if he felt rested when he arrived at the vessel on the morning of the casualty, the master said, “Well, I don’t know if I’d call it 100% rested … I mean, it was hot out, very hot, you know, trying to sleep.” (At the time of the casualty, there was a heat wave occurring in the Seattle area.) The master informed investigators of a family member’s medical condition and overall health, which had been deteriorating, and that the situation had been bothering him. The master told investigators, “I got engagement, and the next thing I know I hit, I hit the dolphin. That’s all I know.”
The master retired from WSF the day after the casualty, surrendered his Coast Guard credential, and would not provide any additional information to investigators.
Washington State Ferries released its own report back in March (WSB coverage here), as the repaired ferry was finally returning to service. The federal report lists a higher cost ($10.6 million) for the ferry and structure damage than WSF cited ($7.7 million) back in March
Want to have a Halloween-season block party on your non-arterial street? SDOT is offering the Trick Or Streets program again this year:
We encourage anyone who is interested to apply for this free permit and close your street to vehicles during the week of Halloween and Día de Muertos for safer trick-or-treating and community-building festivities!
This year, Trick or Streets are available from October 28 through November 5. One of the coolest things about this program is that you can close your street until 10 pm.
There are multiple ways to apply; the deadline is next Tuesday (October 17).
Three reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
DELRIDGE PLAYFIELD WIRE THEFT: Thanks for the tips. Days after resurfaced Delridge Playfield reopened, local sports programs discovered they couldn’t use the field at night because the lights weren’t working, apparently because of wire theft. We inquired with Seattle Parks and got their response this morning, confirming the theft: “The wiring was stolen during the final leg of the field-replacement project. It will be replaced in a couple of weeks and will be secured to reduce theft.”
EASY STREET VANDALISM: We followed up today on a snippet of police-radio traffic late last night about vandalism at California/Alaska. Someone broke this window on the south side of Easy Street Records:
It was not described as a burglary attempt and store staff told us nothing was missing.
GUN-WIELDING SHOPLIFTER: This happened Sunday but the police-report summary wasn’t available until a few days later. The address is at Westwood Village, but the business was not identified in the summary:
At 10:45 (am), the suspect walked inside a business in the 2500 block of Southwest Barton Street. The suspect grabbed merchandise and started walking out. It was reported to police that a customer inside the store hinted to the suspect where the line to pay was located. The suspect then pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the customer. The suspect exited the business and left the location in a silver truck. The suspect was not located.
Here are highlights for the rest of today/tonight:
SOUTHWEST ARTIST SHOWCASE CONTINUES: Until 6 pm, Southwest Library (9010 35th SW) is open – drop by to see the work displayed by community members in its annual Southwest Artist Showcase.
CANDIDATES & COMMERCE: West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s monthly lunch features the candidates for King County Council District 8 and Seattle City Council District 1, 11:30 am at Alki Masonic Center (40th/Edmunds). Online registration is closed but you can call to see if there’s room.
GET HELP … with transportation and/or passport issues, at High Point Neighborhood House (6400 Sylvan Way SW), noon-1:30 pm.
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome to this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com to find out where they’re playing today.
WEST SEATTLE ART WALK, WITH THE ART OF MUSIC: Tonight’s the night – second Thursday! Art Walk receptions start as early as 4 pm; the three Art of Music performances run 6-7:45 pm. Details are in our previews: Art here, music here.
PEOPLE’S BUDGET VOTING POP-UP: 4-8 pm at West Seattle YMCA (36th/Snoqualmie, WSB sponsor), community-engagement volunteer Danitra Hunter is hosting another event at which you can vote on how to spend the $27 million the city allotted for “participatory budgeting,” as explained in our Wednesday report. (You can also vote online any time, here.)
THURSDAY FOOD-TRUCK POP-UP: 4-8 pm at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW), Where Ya At Matt? will be visiting.
HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: Also at HP Corner Store, meet up at 6:30 pm for a 3-mile run!
WORDS, WRITERS, SOUTHWEST STORIES: Online presentation with Michelle Liu, talking about “What Laughter Tells Us: Asian Americans, Comedy, and Belonging,” presented by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society. Our calendar listing has details and the registration link.
WESTIES RUN CLUB: New location! Meet at Future Primitive Beer Bar (2536 Alki SW) at 6 pm for a 3-mile run – more in our calendar listing.
BLUES NIGHT: 7 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), every Thursday you can listen to the blues.
THURSDAY THROWDOWN: All-vinyl DJ night at Revelry Room (4547 California SW, alley entrance), 8-11 pm.
We publish daily lists like this as reminders, but you can look ahead any time, to any day, by visiting our calendar!
Add another business-district trick-or-treating event to your pre-Halloween list – Alki Beach Trick-or-Treat is back for a third year! Participating businesses along Alki Avenue SW between 63rd SW and 57th SW will have treats for costumed kids, noon-2 pm on Saturday, October 28th. Plus, organizers add: “Don’t miss a surprise performance by Debbie’s Delridge Dancers at 1 pm, at the Statue of Liberty Plaza!” (That’s at 61st/Alki.) See the map and participant list here (and check back for updates before the big day).
P.S. If you missed the earlier announcements, the other two major business-district trick-or-treat events announced so far are Admiral, 3-6 pm Friday, October 27th, and The Junction, 11 am-2 pm Sunday, October 29th.
9:04 AM: Visibility’s a bit of a challenge at the moment, but orcas are out there, according to a texted update from Kersti Muul – a southbound group of transients was off the Bainbridge ferry terminal about half an hour ago, and another group of orcas was further north. Let us know if you see them!
10:03 AM: In addition to her update in comments below, Kersti texted: “Here they come! Southern group of whales now spread out SB from Shilshole to Bainbridge.”
4:54 PM: In addition to the updates all day in comments – thanks! – we have a text from someone who says four are in view right now from the Alki Beach volleyball courts.
4:59 PM: That texter now thinks they might actually be seeing dolphins.
6:25 PM: Kersti in comments and Erin via email tell us there are whales very close to shore along Alki Avenue, off Duwamish Head! (added) Erin sent this photo:
6:01 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Thursday, October 12th.
LAST REMINDER: LOW-BRIDGE CLOSURE ENDED EARLY
One last reminder – the West Seattle low-bridge closure that was expected to last until Saturday instead ended Tuesday,
WEATHER AND SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Becoming sunnier as the day goes on, high in the low 60s. Sunrise today is at 7:23 am; sunset, 6:27 pm.
(Wednesday photo by Tom Trulin)
LOOKING AHEAD
-No Seattle Public Schools classes tomorrow (Friday).
-1 am Saturday through 3 pm Monday, the ramp from Beacon Hill to the westbound West Seattle Bridge will be closed.
TRANSIT TODAY
Water Taxi – Regular schedule today. Remember – no West Seattle service this weekend.
Metro – Regular schedule today; check advisories here.
Washington State Ferries – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route. Check alerts for changes, and use Vessel Watch to see where your ferry is.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Henderson), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Oregon.
High Bridge – the main camera:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
1st Ave. S. Bridge – southeastern route across the river:
Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander:
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges feed on Twitter/X shows whether the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.
If you see trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/bay, please text or call us (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities). Thank you!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
In just one week, ballots will be mailed out for the general election, and you can vote as soon as you get yours. The two West Seattleites contending in the highest-profile local race, Seattle City Council District 1, continue an intensive campaign schedule in the meantime, with another side-by-side Q&A forum Tuesday night.
This one was presented by Westside Interfaith Network, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and the League of Women Voters, at OLG’s Walmesley Center, moderated by local journalist/broadcaster Brian Callanan (serving in a volunteer capacity). The questions for candidates Maren Costa and Rob Saka spanned a variety of topics; after an hour of asking questions planned by forum organizers, Callanan turned to audience questions submitted in writing during the event. (We counted about 40 people in attendance.)
Our video, unedited, starts and ends with the opening and closing statements from each candidate. Below it, we briefly summarize the questions and answers, in the order they were asked and answered.
Unless a phrase/sentence is within quotation marks, it’s our summary, not a direct quote, and we’ve kept our summaries to the portions of the replies that answered or attempted to answer the questions. For the full replies, watch the video.
Two reader reports tonight:
ANOTHER HYUNDAI TAKEN: Texter reports:
My light blue Hyundai Elantra was stolen off Glenn Way SW last night. Plate BJY4666. Police report # 23-295212.
PACKAGE THEFT: The photo and report are from Lance:
Had a package stolen off my porch this afternoon @ 2:37 pm.
8400 block of 36th Ave SW.
Tomorrow night, it’s a pre-Halloween thriller – the October West Seattle Art Walk, with a freebie:
Art Walk director Mia Manzulli sent the photo and tells WSB, “Art Walk visitors on Thursday night can get a head start on their Halloween celebrations by picking up a glow stick at businesses along the way.” Here’s the list/walking map for October, with venues where you’ll find art as well as food/beverage stops which offer specials on Art Walk night:
If you’re wondering who you’ll see and what kind of art they make – some of the featured artists are spotlighted on the West Seattle Art Walk website. Several stops feature multiple artists, like the Alki Arts pop-up at California/Oregon, and Jet City Labs (4547 California SW). The peak time for artist receptions is 5 pm to 8 pm, but some venues start earlier. And as previewed here, you can enjoy music tomorrow night too – three Art of Music performers and venues with mini-concerts 6 pm to 7:45 pm, one in each Junction (Admiral, Alaska, Morgan) – details are here. (WSB is a community co-sponsor of the Art Walk – see you tomorrow night!)
Tonight’s featured West Seattle Halloween display looks great both day and night. Above is a daylight photo Jesse sent of the display at 46th/Thistle, just east of Lincoln Park:
We have 35 skeletons and one 15′ Phantom. This includes four 12′ Skeletons, one 12′ Inferno Skeleton, animal skeletons, and several 5′ and 3′ skeletons. There are several 5′ skeletons climbing the house too. All of them are also lit up at night. There will be more additions in the coming weeks.
We went by tonight for this view:
We’ll be showcasing more displays as Halloween approaches – please send suggestions, with or without photos, to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(WSB photo)
We photographed Danitra Hunter, Telitha Floyd, and Fundisha Tibebe at the West Seattle Food Bank this afternoon, at the first People’s Budget Voting Pop-Up in our area since Participatory Budgeting (PB) moved to the voting stage. Danitra – a West Seattle artist/writer we’ve introduced you to before – is a Community Engagement Partner in the PB process, which has been slowly unfolding since the “racial reckoning” of 2020. The city budget allocated $27 million for community members to decide how to spend, and that long process is culminating now, with voting, Here’s the announcement from the city Office of Civil Rights:
As the historic Participatory Budgeting process comes to a close, the Seattle Office for Civil Rights (SOCR) and third-party administrators Participatory Budgeting Project (PBP) acknowledge and appreciate all the work the broader Seattle community has graciously offered to arrive at this point. This includes community members and groups that advocated for this major City investment in truly safe, healthy, and thriving community-driven solutions equaling $27.25 million. The PB process has been designed and led by communities that are often not included in critical decisions impacting their lives. SOCR and PBP thank them for their time and engagement.
To ensure that the PB process was genuinely community-driven, it moved at the pace of community. Intentional vetting and feasibility assessments of community-developed proposals were prioritized, leading to delays in the timeline. SOCR is grateful to the community for their patience and continued diligence during one of the largest participatory budgeting programs in the United States.
SOCR and PBP look forward to hearing from community members as they vote for their preferred proposals from (now) to November 12th. In mid-November, PBP will announce the winning proposals, and in January 2024, the Seattle City Council will put forward standalone legislation appropriating the $27.25 million to the City departments implementing the proposals.
Seattle community members can visit PBSeattle.org link to vote and keep updated on PB events. Any person age 15 or above who lives, works, or plays in Seattle is eligible to vote.
You can also vote on paper ballots, in person, at pop-ups including the one that Danitra is leading right now at the food bank (35th/Morgan) until 7 tonight. She is planning another pop-up tomorrow (Thursday, October 12th) at the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor), 36th/Snoqualmie, 4-8 pm. Remember, the voting age for this is 15 and up, so bring your teen(s)! Danitra says she particularly wants to engage student voters and will be working to do that at local schools as well as at pop-up events.
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