West Seattle, Washington
28 Saturday
7:11 AM: Thanks for the texts. More than 3,700 homes and businesses have lost power, including Westwood, South Delridge, and White Center. No hint yet of the cause. Updates to come.
7:28 AM: No indication yet what caused this. Note that the outage zone includes parts of Roxbury and 16th SW, both arterials, with signals, so if you travel through an intersection that’s affected, it’s a four-way stop. Also remember that SCL’s restoration estimates are just guesses. (Added: The latest guess has already changed dramatically, from 2 pm to 8:54 am.)
7:51 AM: We have one report that power’s back. The SCL map lags so we won’t get the full picture for a bit.
8:01 AM: Map shows one pocket remains, almost 400 customers in the Greenbridge area. We’ll update later when we find out the cause. (So far, SCL has attributed it to an “underground issue.”)
8:15 AM: Checking the archives – this outage footprint, and cause, is similar to this December outage. We’re following up on that.
6 PM: City Light spokesperson Julie Moore responded: “Today’s outage was due to a switch failure that caused a substation feeder breaker to lock out. It was the same breaker as the Dec. 12 incident, so that’s why we saw a similar footprint. However, it was a different switch in a different location on the feeder that failed this time.”
6:12 AM: It’s Thursday, January 21st, the 304th morning without the West Seattle Bridge.
ROAD (ETC.) WORK
Low bridge closure – SDOT plans to close the low bridge 8 am-1 pm Saturday to all but emergency vehicles, so it can be inspected. Here are the bus-reroute plans:
Delridge project – The SW Thistle closure continues between Delridge and 20th. Here’s what else is in this week’s plan.
California and Myrtle – The sewer-repair project continues – if driving/riding on California, watch out for the bumps, even though the grade has been improved.
Sylvan Way work – Also be aware of the bumps left after last weekend’s drainage work until permanent road repairs are done.
CHECK TRAFFIC BEFORE YOU GO
Low Bridge: Second week for automated enforcement cameras, while restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily. Here’s a bridge view:
West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:
Highland Park Way/Holden:
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
The main detour route across the Duwamish River, the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) . Here are two cameras:
The other major bridge across the river – the South Park Bridge (map). Here’s the nearest camera:
Going through South Park? Don’t speed. (Same goes for all the other detour-route neighborhoods, both the arterials and neighborhood streets!)
To check for bridges’ marine-traffic openings, see the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.
You can view all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also shown on this WSB page.
TRANSIT
Metro – On regular weekday schedule – if you’re not subscribed to alerts, watch @kcmetrobus on Twitter for them
Water Taxi – On its regular schedule
Trouble on the roads/paths/water? Let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.
Tonight’s pandemic toplines:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Seattle-King County Public Health daily-summary dashboard, the cumulative totals:
*72,924 people have tested positive, 324 more than yesterday’s total
*1,198 people have died, 13 more than yesterday’s total
*4,643 people have been hospitalized, 26 more than yesterday’s total
*801,482 people have been tested (*data adjustment – this is 69 fewer than yesterday’s total)
One week ago, the four totals we track were 70,094/1,151/4,494/782,443.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find them, county by county, on the state Department of Health page,.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: See them, nation by nation, here.
NEW TESTING SITE? We discovered a not-yet-active Curative kiosk at Don Armeni Boat Ramp tonight and hope to find out tomorrow when it’ll be activated.
2 BRIEFINGS TOMORROW: The state health leaders’ weekly briefing was abruptly postponed from today to tomorrow, 9 am, same livestream link … Gov. Inslee also plans a media briefing tomorrow, 2;30 pm, to be streamed here.
NEED FOOD? The Greater Seattle Filipino-American SDA Church has another food distribution planned, 2:30 pm Saturday (January 23rd), 2620 SW Kenyon, first-come first-served.
GOT INFO? Email us at westseattleblog@gmail.com or phone us, text or voice, at 206-293-6302 – thank you!
(WSB file photo)
As announced earlier this week, the West Seattle low bridge (Spokane Street Swing Bridge) will close 8 am-1 pm this Saturday (January 23rd) to all but emergency traffic. SDOT says the shutdown is necessary for an inspection. Commenters wondered about plans for rerouting buses during the closure; we inquired with Metro, and tonight the official reroute plans – all of which use the 1st Avenue South Bridge – are available:
ORIGINAL REPORT, 5:59 PM WEDNESDAY: Just spotted this at Don Armeni Boat Ramp while out on pre-dusk rounds. Curative has been partnering with the city to open walk-up COVID-testing kiosks like these, starting with two in Northgate and the Central District in early December, then adding three more in late December – but no West Seattle locations until now. These kiosks offer self-administered mouth-swab tests, with a Curative employee there to observe and receive; you get the results electronically within 48 hours, the city says. West Seattle isn’t yet on the map, so we have messages out to see how soon this is expected to open. (In the meantime, the city’s test site at Southwest Athletic Complex continues operating six days a week.)
ADDED 8:50 AM THURSDAY: Curative tells us this is opening today. And in fact, overnight it’s been added to their map, so you can use their website to book an appointment. Looks like the available appointments start at noon.
Three West Seattle Crime Watch reports:
SIGN STOLEN AGAIN: The photo and report are from Julie:
I wrote back in June to let you know the upsetting and disappointing news that a Black Lives Matter sign (see photo) our PTA placed on the Myrtle St. fence at Gatewood Elementary School was removed and stolen. It has been replaced three other times since then, the most recent time being January 7th — all of these signs have been placed with the full permission & support of our school administration. Then unfortunately last night, it was taken again for the fourth time. Someone is trying very hard to block this message of solidarity and support for people of color in our community, and we ask that people be on the lookout. We are planning to have members of our community add their own signs supporting the movement to this fence during Black Lives Matter at School Week, February 1st-5th.
PROWLER: Dom says this security-video screengrab shows a prowler spotted in Sylvan Ridge Townhomes between 4:30 and 5:30 this morning.
Neighbors have reported various items missing, and Dom notes that video shows the prowler “trying to steal things from our patio and/or appears to then spend significant time trying to see if the sliding door is unlocked. She then seems to look underneath items on our neighbors’ stairs, perhaps to see if there’s a spare key beneath.”
PHARMACY ROBBERY, ASSAULT: This summary is from the SPD Significant Incident Report file, which says it happened around 8:11 pm Monday night at the 15th/Roxbury Walgreens:
Three suspects entered the Walgreens pharmacy by jumping over the counter. They demanded Oxycodone and Promethazine. They did not want to wait the 5 mins for the medicine cabinet timer, so they took about $300 from the register. As they were leaving the store, a female was entering. The suspects punched her several times in the face before taking her purse, which contained about $600. The suspects broke the front door off of the frame to exit Walgreens.
Peter sent the photo (thank you!), reporting that the “aluminum fencing is finally coming down today” at the Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook seawall-replacement project site, near Beach Drive/Jaoobsen Road. We reported four weeks ago that contractor Redside Construction was almost done with the 465-foot seawall and pedestrian/landscaping features atop it. The work has taken about half a year, as had been estimated.
(WSB file photo)
Here’s another tqsty way to help local students. Received from the Genesee Hill Elementary PTA:
January Dine Out for Genesee Hill – Mission Cantina
The Genesee Hill Elementary Restaurant of the Month is Mission Cantina! This is a two-day fundraising event taking place on January 24 and 25 (next Sunday and Monday)! Mission Cantina will generously donate 20% of ALL sales that the restaurant makes on those days. This includes all food, alcohol, gift cards, and Mission Cantina’s “Whole Enchilada” take-and-bake kit. To order regular menu items, please call Mission directly at 206-937-8220. The restaurant will begin to take phone orders starting at 11 am both days. Please note, we are trying to encourage families to work with the restaurant directly rather than use 3rd-party apps such as GrubHub and Ubereats to help the staff get more of the funds from tips and orders.
“The Whole Enchilada” Take-and-Bake Kit
This delicious kit gives you all of the items below for ONLY $60 plus tax (gratuity not included). We are taking orders in advance for this awesome deal until January 21. Please click on the Signup Genius so that you can reserve your dinners for pick-up on one of the two days, with payment at pickup.
· Chips and salsa
· Child-sized black bean and cheese enchiladas
· Potato, carnitas, chicken, green chili enchiladas
· Red rice and Black beans
· Cheese and three different enchilada sauces
In addition to takeout/pickup, Mission Cantina (a WSB sponsor) also has outdoor dining.
Alki’s Statue of Liberty has been draped in a flag since the day the election was called for President Biden and Vice President Harris, back on November 7th. So Joel Wood sent us that photo as a suggestion for Inauguration Day. We realize your attention may be on what’s happening nationally, but we remain locally focused as ever, so here’s what we have for the hours ahead:
LIBRARY CURBSIDE SERVICE: Both the Southwest and High Point branches offer it today, noon-6 pm.
STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS’ BRIEFING: The weekly pandemic briefing from state health leaders
CITY COUNCIL TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE: 2 pm meeting includes discussion of the city’s surveillance ordinance and a review of the license-plate-reading tech used for traffic comeras. Here’s the agenda, which includes viewing/commenting info.
MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: The quarterly meeting is online at 7 pm. See the agenda, and info on how to attend, in our preview.
(Photo courtesy Southwest Seattle Historical Society)
Tomorrow night, you are invited to set sail into another chapter of local history. Here’s the announcement:
The Southwest Seattle Historical Society is delighted to host Michaela Kraft for a live Zoom presentation on Thursday, January 21 at 6:00 PM. Kraft will deliver a presentation and cooking demonstration titled, “Fish For Thought: Fishing Derbies Strengthen Community on Alki and Beyond.” Registration is required.
During the 1940s, fishing competitions had proliferated so quickly that nearly every town along the Sound, as well as numerous businesses and organizations, sponsored one. Though they were widespread, Seattle became the hub for these derbies. We’ll explore a brief history of fishing and these fishing derbies in the Pacific Northwest, and then zoom in on the Alki Fishing Derby and how this tradition brought people together and built a rock-solid sense of community on Alki.
Following the presentation, Kraft will be offering a cooking demonstration of a popular Alki dish that reflects recipes that were likely used around the time of the Derbies.
Michaela Kraft is from Wisconsin, and is a Museology graduate student at the University of Washington. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Drama and Arts Management from the University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point, and has been fortunate to work at a number of historical societies and historic sites throughout the Midwest. She is passionate about interpretation, and has used her background in the theater to bring the past to life.
For more details and to register, please visit our website at loghousemuseum.org, or contact Maggie Kase, the Programs & Interpretation Coordinator at programs@loghousemuseum.org.
6:07 AM: It’s Wednesday, January 20th, Inauguration Day and the 303rd morning without the West Seattle Bridge.
ROAD (ETC.) WORK
Low bridge closure – SDOT says the low bridge will be closed 8 am-1 pm Saturday to all but emergency vehicles, so it can be inspected.
Delridge project – The SW Thistle closure continues between Delridge and 20th. Here’s what else is expected this week.
California and Myrtle – The sewer-repair project continues – if driving/riding on California, watch out for the bumps.
Sylvan Way work – Also be aware of the bumps left after last weekend’s drainage work.
Arbor Heights project – Gas-line replacement work on SW 104th is scheduled to continue.
CHECK TRAFFIC BEFORE YOU GO
Low Bridge: Second week for automated enforcement cameras, while restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily.
West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:
Highland Park Way/Holden:
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
The main detour route across the Duwamish River, the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) . Here are two cameras:
The other major bridge across the river – the South Park Bridge (map). Here’s the nearest camera:
Going through South Park? Don’t speed. (Same goes for all the other detour-route neighborhoods, both the arterials and neighborhood streets!)
To check for bridges’ marine-traffic openings, see the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.
You can view all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also shown on this WSB page.
TRANSIT
Metro – On regular weekday schedule – if you’re not subscribed to alerts, you can watch @kcmetrobus on Twitter for them
Water Taxi – On its regular schedule
Trouble on the roads/paths/water? Let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.
Looking across Elliott Bay from Seacrest tonight, T-Mobile Park was the brightest sign of the Inauguration Eve vigil, coast to coast, in memory of the 400,000+ people lost to COVID-19. Some lit candles at home – Steve sent this photo:
Steve wrote, “In honor of all those who have lost their life to the Covid-19 virus … and the hope of a better time ahead. I think the sign says it all.”
Finally, fiddler Dawn Hepburn with the National Anthem, for an audience who truly knows the pandemic pain:
Dawn explains that this was “Zoom ‘virtual volunteering’ for Providence Mt. St. Vincent. I play familiar tunes for the residents with dementia. For today, the eve of the Presidential inauguration, I played ‘The Star-Spangled Banner,’ lyrics by Francis Scott Key and music by John Stafford Smith. Kudos to Suzanne Gollhofer, Activity Program Supervisor, who set this up and is working so hard to keep the residents enriched. I hope this video encourages everyone to reach out with love, how we can, where we can.”
P.S. Tomorrow’s official schedule is here.
The data update is back tonight, so that’s where we’ll start:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Here’s what’s in today’s daily summary from Seattle-King County Public Health – the cumulative totals – note that there was no update yesterday:
*72,600 people have tested positive, 618 more than Sunday’s total
*1,185 people have died, 6 more than Sunday’s total
*4,617 people have been hospitalized, 24 more than Sunday’s total
*801,551 people have been tested, 5,299 more than Sunay’s total
One week ago, the totals were 69,522/1,148/4,488/780.231.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
NATIONAL/WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 96.1 million cases worldwide, 24.2 million of them in the U.S. – see other nation-by-nation stats by going here.
VACCINE DASHBOARD: The state dashboard now has a tab for vaccination stats. From the announcement:
In the new tab, you can view the number of doses given in each county and statewide in a map view or by date. For the state level, you can also see the number of doses delivered to providers and the number of doses delivered through the federal long-term care program. The new tab also shows the population percentage and number of people who have received at least one dose of vaccine and completed the recommended number of doses in each county and the state.
All healthcare providers in our state (including hospitals, pharmacies and primary care providers) are required to report when they give a COVID-19 vaccine to a patient within 24 hours of doing so. Most vaccination data should appear in the dashboard within seven days of when the vaccine was given. We will update the dashboard three times per week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
VACCINE-INFO LINKS: The PhaseFinder is here – to determine whether you’re eliglble yet – and known vaccination locations are here. (Check with your health-care organization/provider first, once you’re eligible.)
BRIEFING TOMORROW: State health officials will present their weekly briefing at noon Wednesday – here’s the link for the live stream.
NEED FOOD? Food Lifeline‘s South Park HQ offers emergency food boxes 2-5 pm Friday (January 15th), at 815 S. 96th.
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
Though the Southwest Precinct helped circulate this citywide alert about being prepared in case of civil unrest tomorrow, our area has no planned demonstrations and no threats.
So confirmed Lt. Dorothy Kim during tonight’s online West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, a short and sparsely attended gathering. It was led by precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner. Precinct commander Capt. Kevin Grossman was unable to attend, so the meeting-opening update was brief, just a quick recap of some of the 2020 crime stats we reported last week.
That’s a view of tonight’s sunset from Upper Fauntleroy, photographed by 6-year-old Ethan. We’re taking the occasion to check in on the weather chatter about the possibility of a little snow this weekend. The National Weather Service “forecast discussion” says in part:
A stronger, more organized frontal system will … drop SE into the area Saturday night into early Monday. We’re still keeping an eye on the possibility of lowland snow with this system as snow levels drop to near 500 feet and possibly to sea-level in some spots. About half the ensemble members continue to indicate a rain/snow mix or light snow in the Seattle metro but have backed off slightly on potential accumulations …
So don’t get too excited (or worried) yet. Between now and then, cloudy but dry until possible Thursday rain, then two more sunny days are expected.
When the state Transportation Commission set toll rates for the Highway 99 tunnel, the rates were planned to increase 3 percent every 3 years, starting in July 2022 – subject to annual review. Today, the commission was told tunnel tolls might have to rise sooner, since traffic is down and therefore revenue is down. The commission’s monthly meeting included an update on toll revenues from WSDOT facilities, particularly Highway 520 and the 99 tunnel, which started charging users in late 2019. For the 99 tunnel, revenues are 45 percent below what was expected, pre-pandemic.
That’s particularly problematic because an intradepartmental $10 million loan is due soon. The governor’s proposed transportation budget would allow that to be deferred, the commission was told, but $4 million would still be due in a few years, and the financial picture doesn’t look much rosier in the next few years. Raising tolls and/or cutting operation/maintenance costs are the main options WSDOT has for dealing with it. The latter doesn’t seem terribly likely, as another presentation at today’s meeting also mentioned higher costs systemwide from a variety of operational elements, including “repair/replacement” costs and changes in “back-office” and tolling systems. No specific potential increases were mentioned, but staffers told commissioners that if they wanted to implement a toll increase this July, they would need to get the process going ASAP.
Tomorrow, Kamala Harris makes history as America’s first female, first Black, first South Asian vice president. In honor of this historic Inauguration Day, Paper Boat Booksellers in Morgan Junction is giving away “Madam Vice President” wall calendars, with purchases, through tomorrow. We just heard about this from a customer who texted, and we subsequently confirmed with Paper Boat co-proprietor Desirae that they have about 20 left. Paper Boat is at 6040 California SW, open until 6 pm (and 11-6 tomorrow).
(‘Preferred alternative’ massing for 7035 Delridge)
From today’s city-circulated Land Use Information Bulletin: The city has reissued its notice that a land-use application has been filed by the developers planning 9 townhouses at 7035 Delridge Way SW. The project, which includes 9 offstreet-parking spaces, has been in the pipeline for more than two years. It’s been going through Administrative Design Review; here’s the original design packet from last August. Comments will be accepted through February 2nd; the new notice explains how to send in yours.
Announced this afternoon by SDOT:
The Seattle Department of Transportation will restrict all traffic from the Spokane Street Swing Bridge (West Seattle Low Bridge) on Saturday, January 23 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. This temporary restriction applies to everyone, including all vehicles which are normally authorized to use the bridge except for emergency vehicles. Both the roadway and path on the bridge between West Seattle and Harbor Island will be closed to all people driving, walking, biking, rolling, and taking the bus.
This short-term traffic restriction will allow crews to survey the system that latches the two spans of the bridge together. The bridge will remain operational for maritime traffic during the restriction.
Emergency vehicles will continue to be allowed to cross the bridge. Signs are in place to guide people driving, biking, and taking transit through routes over alternative crossings of the Duwamish Waterway, like the First Avenue South Bridge.
As part of another expansion of pandemic-era services, the Seattle Public Library has just added two more days of curbside service each week at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW). Starting today, that branch will offer curbside service noon-6 pm, Tuesdays through Saturdays. Southwest is one of two branches on the peninsula that offer curbside service; the other is High Point (3411 SW Raymond), which remains on a three-day-a-week curbside schedule, noon-6 pm Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Those two branches also are among the locations where SPL is now providing curbside printing-pickup service. SPL also has added return services at the West Seattle (Admiral) branch (2306 42nd SW) and South Park branch (8604 8th S.); the Delridge branch is now the only branch in our area without either curbside service or return service.
While the city has pursued dozens of projects large and small to deal with traffic trouble resulting from the West Seattle Bridge closure, unofficial “projects” have popped up too. Sometime last weekend, baskets of pedestrian flags appeared on all four corners at 37th SW and SW Thistle (we noticed this because it’s on our walking route). Though we don’t have data, we can say anecdotally that SW Thistle, like some other east-west arterials, has become busier since. Along with the flags, new temporary city-provided yard-style signs were placed along the street – with reminders that intersections are crosswalks, even if they’re not striped. While flag baskets are no longer provided by the city, you can get signs from SDOT – they should be available at Delridge Community Center (4501 Delridge Way SW), but check first, as explained here.
(Lincoln Park photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Looking ahead to the rest of today/tonight:
CITY COUNCIL: Meetings are one day later than usual this week because of the holiday. The “briefing” meeting is at 9:30 am, agenda here; the regular full meeting is at 2 pm, agenda here. (Both agendas include information on viewing; the 2 pm agenda includes information on how to comment.)
STATE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION: Highway 99 tunnel toll revenue is down, unsurprisingly. The state Transportation Commission, which sets toll rates, has that on its agenda for today, first day of the monthly two-day meeting, at 1:15 pm; the agenda includes information on viewing.
SAVE THE ARCHIVES: The Duwamish Tribe is asking for support at this online public meeting today:
Save the Historical records and archives on behalf of the Duwamish Tribe
Public Meeting on Jan. 19 re: National Archives Facility in Seattle … hosted by Attorney General Bob Ferguson on Tuesday, January 19, from 3:30 to 5:30.
We invite you to participate to provide comments about the closure of the facility and transfer of the un-digitized records to Southern California and Missouri.
Meeting ID: 838 5218 6385
Passcode: 426894
Phone: 253-215-8782
Background here.
DEMONSTRATE FOR RACIAL JUSTICE: Scott from Puget Ridge Cohousing continues organizing two demonstrations each week:
Black Lives Matter sign-waving
Tuesday, January 19, 4 to 6 pm, corner of 16th SW and SW Holden
Thursday, January 21, 4 to 6 pm, corner of 16th SW and SW Holden
Come show support for BLM and ending systemic racism. Hold signs, meet neighbors and stand for racial justice. Scott at PR Cohousing, endorsed by Hate-Free Delridge. Signs available.
WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: 6 pm online, hear from and talk with local police about crime/safety trends and concerns. Participation info is in our calendar listing.
PRAYER FOR NATIONAL HEALING AND HOPE: Organized by West Side Presbyterian Church, online at 7 pm tonight.
(added) CHIEF SEALTH IHS PTSA: 7 pm general meeting, online – registration required.
FOOD FUNDRAISER: Today’s the deadline to order three family dinners from Dream Dinners-West Seattle (WSB sponsor) for the Denny International Middle School fundraiser pickup on Thursday – details in our calendar listing.
6:07 AM: It’s Tuesday, January 19th, the 302nd morning without the West Seattle Bridge.
TRANSIT
Metro – On regular weekday schedule – if you’re not subscribed to alerts, you can watch @kcmetrobus on Twitter for them
Water Taxi – Back to its regular schedule
ROAD (ETC.) WORK
Delridge project – The SW Thistle closure between Delridge and 20th continues. Here’s what else is expected this week.
California and Myrtle – The sewer-repair project continues – if driving/riding on California, watch out for the bumps.
Sylvan Way work – Also beware of the bumps left after this weekend work.
Arbor Heights project – Gas-line replacement work on SW 104th is scheduled to continue.
CHECK TRAFFIC BEFORE YOU GO
Low Bridge: Second week for automated enforcement cameras, while restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily.
West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:
Highland Park Way/Holden:
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
The main detour route across the Duwamish River, the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) . Here are two cameras:
The other major bridge across the river – the South Park Bridge (map). Here’s the nearest camera:
Going through South Park? Don’t speed. (Same goes for all the other detour-route neighborhoods!)
To check for bridges’ marine-traffic openings, see the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.
You can view all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also shown on this WSB page.
Trouble on the roads/paths/water? Let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.
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