October 2016

by Jordan Royer

Outside the bubble that has settled over Seattle City Hall, it is easy to come to the conclusion that our city’s government has become untethered to reality and common sense.

The same city government that often prides itself on “data-driven” approaches to problem solving continues to make policy decisions that fly in the face of facts available to even the casual observer — forget for a moment that councilmembers have salaried personal staff as well as a large central staff to aid them in data and policy analysis. The mayor also has a large, highly paid staff, to aid him in his decision making. And, of course, there are the 10,000 people who work for the city.

With all of these resources, why do we get so many head-scratching failures from city government?

By Pat Cashman

There was a movie on TV the other night. Lots of them, actually. But the one I watched had various sub-plots, none of them compelling.

But what makes the film notable is that it all centered on people eating a huge, fabulous meal. It all looked so tasty that by the time the film was over, I was hungrier than the Kardashians are for attention.
The Food Network has the same attraction---just watching people prepare yummy dishes brings out the Pavlovian dog in many of us. I now keep a drool cup right next to the TV remote.
Not all TV offerings have the same effect. When the History Channel comes on, I don’t run out to buy a helmet and machine gun.

I don’t have a hankering to wrestle a python just because I see a guy doing it on Animal Planet.
I do not grab my Visa card to buy a 14 karat Muzo Colombian emerald ring just because the Home Shopping Network says so. I do it because my wife says so.

By Amanda Knox
 
The first Photo Sphere I ever saw transported me to the Valle de Cocora. I was standing in the middle of rolling hills so green they looked radioactive. I turned around myself, slack-jawed and gazing up at impossibly tall palm trees with bright white trunks and pom-pom heads. The sky was a happy Pantone 292, stretching out forever, pierced only by a burst of white gold that was the sun. It was a scene straight out of The Lorax, but all green and white and real.
 
I didn’t even know there was a place in the world that looked like the Valle de Cocora. I had never seen anything even close, and I’ve traveled to Germany, Mexico, Italy, Canada, Japan… And this wasn’t like looking it up on Google and looking through the postcard perfect images. This Photo Sphere felt like stepping into the paradise frozen in time. And it was. This was from Chris’s trip to Colombia—a moment he documented in every direction.
 

Providence Hospice Autumn Bonfire
Alki Beach Park (fire pit S. of the Bathhouse) 2701 Alki Ave. S.W.
Sat., Oct. 22, 3–5 p.m. Providence Hospice of Seattle invites families who have lost a loved one to gather for an Autumn Bonfire at Alki Beach Park to share stories and remember loved ones. Participants are asked to bring a piece of wood or kindling to add to the fire. A separate fire will be built just for teens. For more information or to RSVP, call 206.749.7699 or e-mail Bradley Justin at Bradley.justin@providence.org. For more info visit www.providencehospiceofseattle.org/programs-and-services/grief-support/….

Grand Opening Seattle Emergency Hub
Hope Lutheran Church
4456 42nd Ave. S.W.

Road rage on 16 Ave SW

Police struggled to find the victim of assault who called the station around 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 12 to report the crime. They searched near the intersection of SW Holden St. and 16 Ave SW for a while, until discovering that the man had returned to his home, located on 35 Ave SW.

After officers went to his residence, the victim reported that while traveling north on 16 Ave SW with the top down in his convertible sedan, the passenger of a black BMW called out and threw a water bottle at him. The victim chased the BMW on foot and said that the suspect had exited the car, pointing a handgun at him, before returning to his vehicle.

The victim said the suspect was an Asian male in his 20s, about 5’7” tall, medium build with black hair, wearing blue pants, a red shirt and a vest.

Robbed in broad daylight

A Land Use Application has been filed with the Seattle Department of Planning and Development to allow 12 rowhouse units in two, 3-story structures at 3050 61st Ave SW. Surface parking for 18 vehicles wouid be provided. Existing structures would be demolished. An environmental review includes future full unit lot subdivision. It is project 3025537 Building and demolition permits are still required.

Your written comments are encouraged and should be submitted to:
PRC@seattle.gov
or via postal mail to
Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections
ATTN: Public Resource Center
PO Box 34019
Seattle, Washington 98124-4019
or via FAX
FAX (206) 233-7901

Commenters providing an email address or return US mail address will be sent notice of any public meetings or hearings and notice of the Seattle DCI decision with information on the right to appeal. All correspondence will be posted to our electronic library.

UPDATE 10:45pm
The windstorm that many predicted might be "historic" was something of a letdown but did bring heavy rains and winds that blew leaves off trees but no power outages to West Seattle. A wind advisory from the National Weather Service remained in effect until 2am Sunday.

A wind surfer off Beach Drive drew a brief emergency response but he was an experienced surfer, he said and after a short and challenging time out on the water higher winds than he liked caused him to choose not to continue.

Orignal Post

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

Chief Sealth made Friday's Huling Bowl battle with West Seattle closer than expected, but the Wildcats still prevailed by a 29-13 score.

"It was a good battle. They really played hard," said West Seattle head coach Tom Burggraff of Chief Sealth. "They're not having a good year, but they brought it tonight and made it interesting."

West Seattle improved to 5-2 overall with the win and goes on to play Ingraham on Thursday for playoff seeding purposes while Sealth's Seahawks face a non-league crossover against Franklin Pierce.
Freshman Bishop Jackson helped Sealth make things interesting against West Seattle Friday.
He scored both touchdowns for the Seahawks, including the last one of the game with 5:44 to play in the fourth quarter.

Jackson stole the ball away and carried it about 45 yards for the score.
He also struck on a 1-yard run at 6:36 to go in the third quarter.

Burggraff praised four of his players especially, including kicker Mathias Fink.
"He gave them a long field every time on kickoffs and made the extra points," he said. "You can rely on him."

The National Weather Service storm forecast for this weekend includes high wind warnings that may affect service on the West Seattle Water Taxi route. The King County Marine Division will issue a rider alert in the event a service interruption or cancellation is needed. Go to the Captains Blog for links to help you stay engaged with the changing travel conditions.

By Shane Harms

The issue of homelessness in Seattle has been coming to a head as both the Seattle Mayor's office and the Seattle City Council have grappled with how to deal with homeless encampments. The recent clearing of the "Jungle" an area under Interstate 5 near Airport Way South resulting in the death of a homeless man when he was shot in an altercation with Seattle Police. Media reports on homeless people camping out on playfields, near schools and in other public lands leaving behind refuse, human waste and syringes have raised the ire of the public and officials who have yet to come to a satisfactory way forward with this complex problem.

The Seattle City Council held a committee meeting Oct 14 to discuss enacting Council Bill 118794, the bill that would allow homeless people to camp in over 5,200 acres of city parks and greenbelts.

Councilmembers Mike O’Brien and Sally Bagshaw wrote different versions of the bill for consideration. The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington and Columbia Legal Services drafted the original bill.