November 2009

To the editor:

Upon watching the sensational video collapse of the viaduct it is time to revisit the tunnel option proposed by our state elected officials. This video was done in poor taste and should never be aired now or in the future. It does not show what would take place if it were a tunnel and not the viaduct. During a 7.0 earthquake a tunnel would also collapse and a tsunami would flood the entire tunnel and would be far more devastating than to be rescued above ground instead of 200 feet below ground level. Our elected officials claimed that they did not want the video shown at this time, however, it would be shown when it is to their advantage.

It is my demand to our elected officials that the viaduct should be completely closed to all traffic until a suitable retrofit is accomplished to bring the viaduct to a safe condition. The viaduct should be shut down from Spokane St. entrance through the City, Battery St tunnel and North to the north end of Aurora Bridge, which is suspect of a collapse during a 7.0 earthquake.

The King County Library System (KCLS) has received a grant from the Washington State Library as a part of the Renew Washington Project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). While the Gates Foundation has awarded the grant to the Washington State Library, the State Library has in turn awarded sub-grants to local public libraries, including $50,000 to the King County Library System to develop and launch InfoBiz--an online resource center to help struggling small business owners and entrepreneurs.

KCLS and other local community organizations offer a wealth of knowledge and resources for small businesses, but many entrepreneurs remain unaware of the free help available. Many people are already overwhelmed and don't know where to start, and face other obstacles: lack of time, limited finances, limited English skills, childcare responsibilities, restrictions on mobility and transportation. By making useful information easily accessible online at any time, InfoBiz will resolve a variety of obstacles and connect small business owners with the assistance they need.

Brian Allen, a cofounder of Sustainable West Seattle, has created a handy way for politically inclined Seattleites to to find the location of every election party happening tomorrow night.

Allen's brainchild is a Google map that has 27 official election parties represented by colorful dots on a Seattle map. Clicking on the dots gives the address and start time of each party.

Allen has been distributing the link to his map all over.

"I've been working to help a lot of friends get elected this year and have many friends in the media who will be covering the results and need to navigate where all the election night events are being held," he said.

He created a similar map for the primary elections, but it only represented the half-dozen parties he planned on attending.

"I decided to finish that thought this time – making something that would be useful for everyone, no matter who they were supporting" Allen said.

If you are in favor of equal rights for all – thank you for your support of Referendum 71. To those organizations that do not support equal rights and urged others to vote against them– you have been put on notice.

Many of the anti-equal rights organizations depend on donations and contributions from local West Seattle business owners who are gay/lesbian or who support equal rights. As openly lesbian business owners, we are urging all business owners to pay close attention to which organizations you donate to in the coming year.

We have seen several of our fellow gay/lesbian business owners display thank yous from Holy Rosary for generous contributions. Yet last week, Holy Rosary publicly announced in the West Seattle Herald that they are urging everyone to vote against Referendum 71. Why support a local organization that chooses to deny equal rights?

Think about it – the next time you get asked for a donation or to purchase items like Christmas trees and Holiday wreaths – ask yourself, does this organization support equal rights? Does this organization support you as an equal member of society?

Sincerely,
Elise Lindborg
Kelli Henderson

Hundreds of people turned out Sunday afternoon and evening to be part of the Night of 1000 pumpkins and Day of the Dead celebration at the B/IAS (Burien Interim Art Space) in downtown Burien. The event marks the final celebration in the year long history of the area, dedicated to a celebration of the arts. The land is currently in negotiations for sale and potential development with some talk about a 10 screen cinema coming to the area.

The event featured live music, food, a pumpkin 'Pachinko machine" fire dancers and thousands of pumpkins many of which were brought to the event by people just wanting to join the fun. As the evening progressed and darkness fell the pumpkins were lit and the art space's fire sculptures were lit as people crowded around for warmth in the cool night air. After dark there was a fire dancing show put on by the fire performing dance troupe Pyrosutra, whose fiery antics had the audiences rapt attention until the show was over.

A homeless camp has emerged with over 20 residents by day, seven by night, tucked under the West Seattle Bridge. If you drive eastbound on the bridge and exit at the 1st Avenue South off-ramp you will see a large tent, several mattresses, foam cushions, and blankets on top of wooden pallets, a few worn couches and chairs, a small barbeque, and food containers.

Some homeless residents take turns holding a cardboard sign soliciting money a couple of hundred feet east of the camp at the stoplight from drivers with whom they manage to make eye contact.

Tucked away, yes, but not so cozy. The chilly fall air seems to blow through the bridge’s cement columns without mercy, and there is the rip-roaring racket of the cars and trucks on the bridge overhead. It is difficult to hear someone’s voice right next to you in their homestead.

Seattle mayoral candidate Joe Mallahan, who battles it out with Mike McGinn for the top prize on Tuesday's election day, took a tour of three West Seattle locations Sunday, Nov. 1. Invited and escorted by community activists Vlad Oustimovitch, Pete Spalding, and West Seattle Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Patricia Mullen, Mallahan did a meet and greet at the Alaska Junction, toured the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, and checked out Seacrest Park.

Mallahan has some important family connections in Wesst Seattle. His uncle, Father James Mallahan, was Holy Rosary's parish priest in the 1980's, and his brother Pat, a house painter, lives in West Seattle.

"At this point I'm in learning mode," Mallahan told the West Seattle Herald in an exclusive interview. "Every time I'm over here I am struck by how engaged and energetic West Seattleites are. It's clear that when West Seattle residents are given the tools and resources to make things happen, they happen.

Ballard High School sophomore Alex Bowns will be representing the Beavers at the Washington State Cross Country Championship after his 11th-place finish at the 4A District Championship Oct. 31.

Bowns had a time of 15:18 on the three-mile course in Kelso, good enough to get him one of the 15 spots in the state championship.

The Ballard boys team sent four runners total to the Oct. 31 meet. Junior Blair Scott placed 23rd, senior Jesse Bengtsson came in 26th and senior Aaron Hamilton finished in 36th place.

The Ballard girls qualified their entire seven-member team for the district championship, but no runner was able to place in the top 15 to make the state championship.

Senior Erin Philbeck, who went to state last year, led the Beavers with a 25th-place finish in 18:56.

Junior Erle Lima came in 52nd, junior Natalie White placed 66th, junior Hannah Murphy finished 69th, freshman Julia Boone came in 73rd, freshman Rachel Livengood placed 74th and sophomore Alyson Fromm finished 82nd.

The Washington State Cross Country Championship takes place at 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 7 in Pasco.