Taste of West Seattle, WS Transportation Coalition meeting, AI ‘civic conversation,’ more for your Thursday

September 28, 2023 10:01 am

| Comments Off on Taste of West Seattle, WS Transportation Coalition meeting, AI ‘civic conversation,’ more for your Thursday

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(WSB photo – seen in Upper Fauntleroy)

Here are highlights of what’s happening today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll see even more):

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.

THURSDAY FOOD-TRUCK POP-UP: 4-8 pm at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW), Mexicuban will be visiting.

HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: Also at HP Corner Store, meet up at 6:30 pm for a 3-mile run!

CIVIC CONVERSATION ABOUT AI: Another chance to chat about AI in a conversation convened by James Boutin, 5-7 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).

TASTE OF WEST SEATTLE: This benefit for the West Seattle Food Bank is back to its original format – multiple food and beverage purveyors offering tastes at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW), 5:30 pm VIP entry, 6 pm general admission. UPDATE: Yes, some tickets are available at the door, $75 general admission.

WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet at The Good Society (California/Lander) at 6 pm for a 3-mile run – more in our calendar listing.

WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION: Meets online and in-person at Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon) at 6:30 pm.

1) Jonathan Lewis, SDOT will be presenting on the Seattle Transportation Plan, which SDOT is currently conducting outreach for and seeking public comment.on.

2) Both of the D1 City Council candidates have been invited to attend to learn more about the city’s transportation planning, and what their future constituents top concerns are. We will have a casual conversation with each of them about their priorities for transportation in our district.

3) We will also discuss Sound Transit’s plans for outreach to our community about light rail probably next month and thoughts about the local group pushing to “Rethink the Link.”

Join Zoom Meeting
us02web.zoom.us/j/82137643056?pwd=cHpBY09ja1NkUHJIMERUNVpXbFpUZz09

Meeting ID: 821 3764 3056
Passcode: WSTC

BLUES NIGHT: 7 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), every Thursday you can listen to the blues.

THURSDAY NIGHT CORNHOLE: Go play at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), 7 pm.

‘MATT & BEN’: Final week begins at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7:30 pm. Check for tickets here.

THURSDAY THROWDOWN: All-vinyl DJ night at Revelry Room (4547 California SW, alley entrance), 8-11 pm.

We publish these daily lists as reminders, but you can look ahead any time, to any day, by visiting our calendar!

Share This

SATURDAY: West Seattle community mini-walk for Alzheimer’s awareness

September 28, 2023 9:00 am

| Comments Off on SATURDAY: West Seattle community mini-walk for Alzheimer’s awareness

| Gatewood | How to help | West Seattle news

Once again this year, at the same time as the regional Walk to End Alzheimer’s downtown, an unofficial mini-walk is planned in West Seattle. Here’s the invitation:

The local Alzheimer’s Caregivers’ Support group invites anyone who wants to join us for an easy, fairly level walk around the neighborhood, staying on sidewalks. Meet up with the West Seattle group if you don’t want to go downtown.

Meeting at 39th and SW Holden
Saturday 9/30 at 10:00 am
FREE

All are welcome. Wear purple if you can!

Share This

TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Thursday watch, with westbound bridge crash

September 28, 2023 6:03 am

| 7 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

7:55 AM: Another rollover crash is reported on the westbound bridge. The driver is reported to have gotten out of the car and SFD says they’re in “stable condition,” so an initially large response has been reduced.

8:03 AM: Only one engine is still on this call.

8:28 AM: Thanks to the reader who just texted a photo of the vehicle, which went on its side near the Welcome to West Seattle sign.

There have been multiple crashes in that area in the past few days and a report yesterday of a “slick spot” nearby too – we’re checking with SDOT.

Earlier:

6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Thursday, September 28th.

WEATHER AND SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Showery, possible thunderstorms, high in the low 60s. Sunrise today is at 7:04 am; sunset, 6:55 pm.

ADVANCE ALERT

Another reminder that the low bridge will be closed to surface traffic October 7-14, SDOT announced Monday.

TRANSIT TODAY

Metro – Regular schedule; check advisories here.

Water Taxi – Regular schedule.

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 cam:

1st Ave. S. Bridge – alternate 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!

Share This

Jim Price search, ‘bump-and-robs,’ other topics in Q&A with police at HPAC

September 27, 2023 10:30 pm

| 11 COMMENTS

| Delridge | Highland Park | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

The first fall meeting of HPAC – the community coalition for Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge – tonight lasted less than 40 minutes, as one guest was a no-show. But the online meeting’s first scheduled guest was there – on behalf of the Southwest Precinct, second-watch commander Lt. Grant Ballingham. He answered a variety of questions from attendees.

One was whether there’s anything new in the search for Jim Price, the 86-year-old Pigeon Point man who’s now been missing for nine days.

Lt. Ballingham said officers had responded to a few possible sightings, and in two of those cases, they found and talked with the person who was the subject of the sighting, but it wasn’t Jim. Otherwise, he said, all officers have the bulletin flyers with them and are on the lookout.

The Kia/Hyundai thefts aren’t slowing down, he said, though he didn’t have numbers. He said the cars often are stolen where others are dumped. The most-concerning trend, he said, is the “bump-and-rob” carjacking attempts. He said both people who were targeted for those in West Seattle one day last week escaped by simply driving away. He echoed the advice about driving to a safe place rather than getting out of your car.

As we’ve already added to our earlier story, he said Junction TrueValue had to deal with two incidents today, a “robbery by force” and then later the harassment/death threat incident we reported. He said a suspect had been arrested in the latter. And while he acknowledged there are many serious incidents, he said that judging by the number of Significant Incident Reports he sees from around the city each day, the Southwest Precinct has the least amount of violent crime in the city. He also voiced optimism about city leaders’ plans to supplement police with alternate responders. And finally, he thanked community members for their watchfulness and for reporting things (like all those stolen/dumped cars).

ALSO AT HPAC: Next month, HPAC will again join with Highland Park Improvement Club and Highland Park Corner Store for a combination tree giveaway and Halloween event (with a pet-costume contest!), Trick or Trees, noon-4 pm at the store (7789 Highland Park Way SW). … HPIC will soon have another Town Hall to update the community on the rebuilding project and the fundraising to facilitate it.

NEXT MEETING: HPAC usually meets online, fourth Wednesdays, 7 pm – watch hpacws.org for updates.

Share This

UPDATE: What the ‘stabbing’ reported in Morgan Junction turned out to be

September 27, 2023 8:59 pm

| 19 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

8:59 PM: Seattle Fire is sending a “scenes of violence” response to California SW in the Zeeks/Whisky West/Beveridge Place Pub area for a report of a stabbing. Police have already detained two people and recovered a knife. More to come.

9:04 PM: Police have told dispatch that the victim’s injuries are minor. We are headed to the scene to try to find out more.

9:19 PM: SPD and SFD at the scene tell us they’re still trying to sort out what did, and didn’t, happen.

9:23 PM: So far, here’s what police tell us they have: A man saw two juveniles tagging in The Junction. They followed him to Morgan Junction (by bus) and a confrontation ensued outside Whisky West. “Somebody” pulled a knife, apparently one of the two teenagers are who police detained, at least one of whom is being taken to the precinct. The reported victim has left the scene, and SFD told us they didn’t wind up treating anyone.

ADDED 1:59 PM: Commenters who were there have added much to the story. As for police, here’s the summary they provided us today:

-Police responded to reports of a stabbing in the 6400 block of California Ave SW yesterday at approximately 8:53 pm. The incident began some time earlier when a witness saw the two suspects vandalizing a mural several blocks away. The suspects saw the witness watching them and then proceeded to board the same bus as the witness. The suspects verbally engaged with the witness on the bus and attempted to spit on him. The witness disembarked from the bus and the suspects followed him, throwing beer bottles toward him.

The suspects followed the witness (now a victim) into a bar, entered the bar and started a verbal altercation with staff. The altercation quickly escalated to a physical fight. One suspect used brass knuckles and a knife to assault two people and was arrested for those crimes. The second suspect was arrested for misdemeanor assault and misdemeanor harassment (making threats).

SPD said someone WAS treated for non-life-threatening injuries, which hadn’t happened while we were at the scene, so we’re circling back with them.

Share This

BIZNOTE: Burger Planet enters White Center orbit this Saturday

September 27, 2023 8:55 pm

| 15 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants | White Center

Thanks for the tip! Saturday is set as opening day for Burger Planet, going from food truck to bricks-and-mortar at 9614 14th SW in White Center, former home of Zippy’s Giant Burgers. After hearing about a note on the door announcing the date, we stopped by this evening and found owner Marco and chef Marco, who invited us in for a look:

The decor is “Star Wars”-themed, in keeping with the “planet” name. There are games, as there were in Zippy’s.

They’re planning to open 4-11 pm and promise “new menu items” in addition to what their truck has offered (you might remember it from a stint at the 30th/Roxbury gas station in 2017), along with local beer on tap.

Share This

BIZNOTE: Next reopening date for Tony’s Market

September 27, 2023 7:02 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

As noted when we reported three weeks ago on the seasonal shutdown of Tony’s Market, proprietor Joey Genzale told us he’d be reopening as usual for pre-Halloween pumpkin sales. And we noticed this afternoon that a sign’s up outside the canopied market at 35th/Barton: Open for pumpkin sales September 29th (this Friday)!

Share This

FOLLOWUP: Here’s the reason for the work during next week’s planned water outage in three West Seattle neighborhoods

September 27, 2023 4:13 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Utilities | West Seattle news

If your home is among the 650+ Seattle Public Utilities customers that will be affected by a planned overnight water outage next week – first reported here yesterday – watch your postal mail for the official notice. (We’re affected and received ours this morning.) Notification is one of the things we asked SPU’s Sabrina Register about when following up on the announcement of the outage, scheduled to start at 9 pm Thursday, October 5th, ending by 4 am Friday, October 6th, affecting 650+ customers in Morgan Junction, Gatewood, and Fauntleroy. The notice said crews would be replacing three valves, so we asked where and why, and whether it was related at all to the frequent brown-water reports earlier this year. First answer: The work will be done at California/Frontenac. As for the rest, it’s explained as mostly preventive maintenance:

The valves are additions to the existing system and do not replace old equipment. This won’t alter pressure or increase capacity, and the work is unrelated to discolored water occurrences. The purpose of the valve installation is to increase flexibility for how we send water through the distribution system. Additionally, the valves will reduce the number of customers impacted during future outages, whether during emergency repairs or planned shutdowns such as the one that will occur on October 5. Specifically, this work will allow for isolating the feeder main in California Ave north or south of the intersection. Generally, we are working to add valves throughout the system where we have long stretches of main with valves spaced far apart.

The official notice – most of which we featured in yesterday’s report – is here.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Store incident; 4 reader reports

September 27, 2023 2:05 pm

| 15 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

In Crime Watch this afternoon:

STORE INCIDENT: If you noticed police in The Junction – they are investigating a report of what was first reported as a shoplift-turned-robbery at Junction TrueValue but is now described as a case of felony harassment/threat to kill. It happened after 1 pm. The suspect is reported to have said he had a gun. According to what officers told dispatch, was described in part as Hispanic, late teens to early 20s, around 6 feet tall, thin, carrying a black skateboard, headed southeast toward the nearby 7-11.

7:20 PM UPDATE: At tonight’s HPAC meeting (still under way), second-watch commander Lt. Grant Ballingham said that suspect had been found and arrested. He also said it was the second incident of the day at TrueValue, after a “robbery by force” earlier – no arrest in that one.

(back to original report) We’ve received several reader reports since last night:

CAR BATTERY THEFT: Sent by Dustin:

Just wanted to report a car battery theft at 42nd and Genesee last night! I haven’t seen this happen before in this neighborhood. Jeep Wrangler, no damage to the exterior of the vehicle. Just a popped hood.

SLASHED TIRES: From A: “Two tires slashed on my SUV Tuesday, 8-11 pm – parked east side of Avalon, bridge-side of the Rapid Ride stop.”

ABANDONED CAR: A texter spotted what appeared to be another dumped Kia near Hanford/California this morning:

Reminder that the Southwest Precinct is giving out steering-wheel locks again tonight, 5-7 pm, for people with Kia/Hyundai cars.

NEW TACTIC? Last but not least, this alert from Dan, who sent it late last night – what happened wasn’t a crime but he is concerned it might be a new tactic for setting people up:

Last week you reported the rear-end attempted carjackings and now it looks like they have evolved into a new method. I just had a van pull up beside me and honk their horn at me. The guy pointed back and I rolled my window down. He told me my tail lights were out. He was in a van and seemed to have a passenger or 2 in back. I got an uneasy feeling and when I looked in my mirror I could see the red glow in the car behind me of my tail lights working. Wonder what would have happened if I got out to check them. Please advise our community to watch out for this move.

Share This

Here’s what Metro’s next new electric buses will look like when they enter service

September 27, 2023 1:05 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news

Just unveiled this morning – the new look for the new electric buses Metro puts into service. According to the announcement:

… The new design is the first major change for the look of Metro’s fleet since 2004 and is intended to be a visual reminder of the transition away from Metro’s hybrid (diesel-electric) buses to the zero-emission fleet. There will be two separate designs: a color mix of blues, yellows, and greens across the top of Metro’s standard fleet, and the color purple joining the familiar red that represents Metro’s RapidRide fleet across the top of those buses. Metro’s original zero-emission fleet, the electric trolleys, will continue sporting purple. … The new liveries will be phased in as the new battery-electric buses start going into service, which is scheduled to begin in 2025. The new design will be painted at the factory for new vehicles as they replace the hybrid fleet.

This is just for new buses – it will NOT be painted on any of the ones already in the fleet, Metro’s Al Sanders confirms.

Share This

TRAFFIC ALERT: Slick spot on westbound West Seattle Bridge

September 27, 2023 11:42 am

| 16 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

If you are, or someone you know is, headed for the westbound Fauntleroy end of the West Seattle Bridge any time soon, be forewarned – there’s a slick of some kind, and it’s reported to have caused some drivers to lose control. No injuries reported so far, according to police/dispatch exchanges, but some have hit the barrier. SDOT has been dispatched for a cleanup.

Share This

HPAC meeting, RainWise workshop, more for your West Seattle Wednesday

September 27, 2023 10:12 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Osprey in The Arroyos, photographed by Mark MacDonald)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here’s what’s happening in the hours ahead – nothing on the list affected by the power outage or weather so far, but we’ll update if that changes later:

TODDLER READING TIME: 10:30 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).

FALL-PREVENTION WORKSHOP: 1 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon) – check in advance to be sure there’s room.

STEERING-WHEEL LOCKS: If you have a theft-risk Kia or Hyundai vehicle and want one, the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster) is giving more away 5 pm-7 pm tonight.

FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Don’t replace it – repair it! Weekly event, 5:30-7:30 pm at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center).

INJURY SCREENS FOR RUNNERS: 6 pm at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor).

TRIVIA x 5: Five places to play tonight. At 6 pm, Locust Cider (2820 Alki SW) now offers trivia … there’s 7:30 and 8:30 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at The Lodge (4209 SW Alaska); trivia starts at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW); Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 8 pm … at 8:30 pm, trivia with Phil T at Talarico’s (4718 California SW).

FREE GROUP RUN: Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for the weekly free group run at 6:15 pm – this week it’s a birthday run – if you have a September birthday, you’ll be celebrated!

RAINWISE WORKSHOP: Perfect time to talk about how you can find an alternate way of dealing with rainwater – a raingarden? cistern? An in-person RainWise workshop is set for Peace Lutheran Church (39th/Thistle) tonight at 7 – RSVP here.

LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer slate. (7902 35th SW)

HPAC’S FIRST MEETING OF FALL: The community coalition for Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge meets online tonight at 7 pm – all are welcome! Connection/agenda info is here; topics with guests include crime/safety and the recent Myers Way encampment outreach/clearing.

(added) HIGH-SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL: Both local teams (both of which have 5-1 records) have home matches tonight, both at 7 pm: Nathan Hale @ Chief Sealth IHS (2600 SW Thistle) and Bishop Blanchet @ West Seattle HS (3000 California SW).

LIVE PIANO MUSIC: 7 pm at Otter on the Rocks. (4210 SW Admiral Way).

MUSIC BINGO: Play weekly at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.

SKYLARK OPEN MIC: 7:30 pm signups @ West Seattle’s longest-running open mic – no cover to watch. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

If you’re planning a presentation, meeting, performance, reading, tour, fundraiser, sale, discussion, etc., and it’s open to the community, please send us info for West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

Share This

UPDATE: Power outage for 4,500+ West Seattle customers; some restored after hour and a half, others after 4 hours

September 27, 2023 6:49 am

| 106 COMMENTS

| Utilities | West Seattle news

6:49 AM: Thanks for the tips. 4,500+ customers are out of power in West Seattle. More info to come …

6:55 AM: Here’s a screengrab of the Seattle City Light map showing who’s out. No word yet on the cause – let ud know if you see SCL crews near you. (Jay texted to say “wires were popping and flashing down in Delridge again,” so that may be a clue. Avalon Way residents report hearing what sounded like “transformers blowing,” too.)

7:06 AM: Multiple commenters in and near North Delridge also report “three booms” preceding the outage. The footprint is slightly different from previous outages traced to a similar cause.

7:16 AM: Zooming in on the map, it appears to be skipping the schools that are in/near the affected areas, but please let us know if you hear anything from school leadership.

7:26 AM: Readers note that the 35th/Fauntleroy and 35th/Avalon signals are out. Remember – if a signal’s out, that intersection becomes an all-way stop. … Texter reports Avalon/Genesee and Genesee/Delridge signals also are out.

8:10 AM: Some are back on – the map shows the outage down to 2,580+ customers. … A commenter mentions that Tilden School on the north edge of The Junction (WSB sponsor) is affected and planning a late start as a result.

8:25 AM: Here’s the updated outage map with the remaining 2,580+ customers who are still out:

8:42 AM: Allison noted low water pressure in the Admiral area. She reports SPU (always report water trouble to 206-386-1800) told her a pump station is affected by the outage, and that’s caused the pressure problem.

9:18 AM: City Light says on Twitter/X, “Crews are still working to determine the cause of the outage to make necessary repairs.”

10:39 AM: A few hundred more customers are back on, as commenters note. Map says it’s now 2,329 customers (each home/business/etc. equals a customer, regardless of how many people are served there).

10:59 AM: Thanks again for the updates. SCL map now shows everybody else back on. (If you’re not – be sure they know – 206-684-3000.) … Per SCL on Twitter/X, “The cause was determined to be a tree branch that fell on a line along California Avenue.”

Share This

TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Wednesday begins

September 27, 2023 6:03 am

| 10 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

7:40 AM: Just a note that multiple signals – including 35th/Fauntleroy, 35th/Avalon, Avalon/Genesee, and Delridge/Genesee – are reported to be out as part of a sizable power outage we’re covering here.

7:50 AM: Outside the outage zone – SFD and SPD are responding to a report of a 45-year-old woman hit by a driver while on foot at 35th/Barton. Minor injuries reported.

8:50 AM: The dark signals are helping contribute to a backup getting to the eastbound bridge. Meantime, Mel reports that Seattle Public Utilities has unclogged “the storm drain that was causing big puddle near Public Storage by Home Depot.”

Earlier:

6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Wednesday, September 27th.

WEATHER AND SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Rainy, breezy, possible thunderstorms, high near 60. Sunrise today is at 7:03 am; sunset, 6:57 pm.

(Monday rainbow over Admiral Way – photo sent by Jackie)

ADVANCE ALERT

We’ll be reminding you daily that the low bridge will be closed to surface traffic October 7-14, SDOT announced Monday.

TRANSIT TODAY

Metro – Regular schedule; check advisories here.

Water Taxi – Regular schedule.

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 cam:

1st Ave. S. Bridge – alternate 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!

Share This

LIGHT UP THE HOLIDAYS! Get ready to design light art for The Junction’s GLOWS celebration

September 26, 2023 10:02 pm

| 29 COMMENTS

| Holidays | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL TUESDAY NIGHT REPORT: This year, the West Seattle Junction Association plans to expand its celebration of light during the holidays – and you’re invited to help design the biggest event of all.

Starting in mid-October, WSJA will accept community submissions of AI-powered art that would be projected, in light, onto the big blank side of Alaska House that faces Junction Plaza Park. This will be the centerpiece of the Glorious Lights Of West Seattle (GLOWS) celebration on Saturday, December 9th – the night that also will bring the Christmas tree lighting, the Night Market, another light-costume contest, even an arch of lights down a Junction alley. WSJA executive director Chris Mackay has been dreaming of this for a long time, and this year GLOWS will really get going. Watch for more details in October about exactly how to contribute … and even if you don’t want to submit a design, set your calendar for December 9th and plan to spend that night in The Junction!

ADDED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON: We asked WSJA’s Mackay if she had any comment regarding the discussion this announcement has generated, particularly voicing concerns about AI replacing human artists who might otherwise been used. Here’s the response:

The AI Light Show steering committee would like to express how we (a bunch of creatives) feel about this incredible AI Light Show for the West Seattle Community and why we are doing it.

GLOWS – Glorious Lights of West Seattle – is designed to show how we all glow as individuals and maybe first-time artists. Using AI is not limiting our creativity but expanding it. A machine does not create art on its own. People are creating this art with their ideas and prompts. By using AI, everyone can be involved, even if they have never created a piece of art in their lives. This is about the novelty of the technology and the opportunity to put it in the hands of people who enjoy the idea of being part of a light festival.

What we are doing with this event is all done by humans working together to create something wonderful and full of light and joy for the entire community. From creating the idea, to editing the presentation, and working with the accompanying music; it’s all human. Join in the JOY!

Share This

UPDATE: Another eastbound West Seattle Bridge crash at 99

September 26, 2023 8:37 pm

| Comments Off on UPDATE: Another eastbound West Seattle Bridge crash at 99

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

8:37 PM: In the midst of another wave of rain, there’s been another crash on the West Seattle Bridge. Two lanes are blocked on the eastbound bridge at 99 for what’s been described as a one-vehicle collision – the driver “hit the wall” (the jersey barriers, as best we can tell). So if you have to head toward I-5 any time soon, give yourself extra time or consider an alternative.

8:54 PM: No serious injuries reported, and the scene has just cleared.

Share This

Expanded West Seattle SFD staffing reaffirmed, crime-fighting tech, and other notes from mayor’s budget announcement

September 26, 2023 7:43 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

(WSB photo – Ladder 13 on a call last January)

Last year, when the City Council finished its budget work, we noted that it included Councilmember Lisa Herbold‘s push to keep expanded Seattle Fire resources that were added during the bridge closure, Ladder 13 (added to Station 37 in Sunrise Heights) and Medic 26 (added to Station 26 in South Park). Mayor Bruce Harrell‘s original proposal then did not include them. But today, when the mayor unveiled his proposed budget adjustments for the coming year, it affirmed funding for the extra staffing – 24 full-time equivalents – required to keep those resources permanently. Here’s the mayor’s budget speech, given at “affordable high-rise” Blake House on First Hill (he starts speaking six minutes in):

You can read a summary of the budget toplines here. Several city departments have sent out their own lists of highlights. Regarding public safety, the mayor’s proposal notes:

With record-low numbers of police officers in 2023, the City must use technological support to boost the effectiveness of public safety strategies. Mayor Harrell is reinvesting $1.8 million of salary savings in the SPD into a new crime prevention pilot to implement automatic license plate readers, CCTV cameras, and acoustic gunshot locator systems to deter criminal behavior and hold offenders accountable. These technologies will be most successful when strategically integrated with SPD’s Real Time Crime Center to triage and coordinate patrol/emergency responses to crime events. These technologies will require an assessment to comply with the City’s surveillance ordinance and approval by the City Council.

There’s some hope for increasing those “record-low numbers” – the mayor said in his speech that applications for open police-officer jobs are at a two-year high, averaging 150 to 200 a month. Meantime, for housing and homelessness, the overview says you have a role to play:

2023 is the final year of the 2017 Housing Levy. The 2023-2024 Proposed Mid-Biennial Budget Adjustments assume passage of the proposed 2023 Housing Levy by Seattle voters in November 2023. Passage of the new levy would generate an estimated $88 million for affordable housing in 2024. When added to other funding sources, including $137 million from the Payroll Expense Tax, the proposed budget adjustments include $334 million for affordable housing in 2024, a 32% increase from the 2023 Adopted Budget.

And on transportation SDOT, meantime, would get $1.5 million more to fill potholes. But, according to this excerpt from the overview, some bridge maintenance would be deferred:

Facing reductions in bridge maintenance funding in the Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) Fund, SDOT is prioritizing staffing investments now that can build SDOT’s capacity to implement complex bridge maintenance activities on improved timelines and realigning planned spending accordingly. REET budget and planning assumptions for the Bridge Painting and Structures Major Maintenance capital projects are reduced by $2 million in 2024 and $1.8 million in 2026, deferring some maintenance work in these projects. Even with these reductions, SDOT will meet maintenance work planning expectations without impacting service levels or commitments relating to any grant awards.

There’s a lot more in the mayor’s proposal, and City Councilmembers start digging into it when they meet as the Select Budget Committee tomorrow morning, 9:30 am – the agenda is here, including the slide decks that will be used for the overviews to be presented during this first of many budget meetings over the next month and a half.

Share This