May 2020

Protecting rights of people with disabilities as face-covering directive goes in effect     

The King County directive requiring face coverings be worn in public went into effect Monday, May 18. Health leaders are asking everyone to keep in mind that face coverings should not be worn by everyone and are committed to ensuring that individuals who are unable to safely wear face coverings are not harassed or discriminated against.

Those who are exempt from wearing a face covering include someone who has a physical disability that makes it difficult to easily wear or remove a face covering; someone who has been advised by a medical professional to not wear one; someone who has trouble breathing or cannot remove a face covering without assistance; or someone who is deaf and uses facial and mouth movements as part of communications.

Approximately 33,000 King County residents have an intellectual or developmental disability that could affect their ability to wear a face covering.

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Coast Guard training off West Seattle keeps skills sharp
Recent uptick in rescue calls means they are needed more than ever

You may have seen a U.S. Coast Guard boat and helicopter in close proximity off West Seattle on Sunday. The chopper was lowering and raising a basket to and from the deck of the boat in what is called a Five Hoist training exercise. Involved was 29' Response Boat Small and an MH-65D Dolphin helicopter.

The pilot of the helicopter who is based out of Port Angeles was Commander Scott Jackson who will be promoted very shortly to Captain. His air crew, Coast Guard Station Seattle, and many of his co-workers who reside in West Seattle were documenting the training in commemoration of this milestone achievement for a career military officer.  A fact he learned during the training.

Recording the training at Lowman Beach was Captain Linda Sturgis, who said, "I'm a proud West Seattle resident."

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Metro requiring face masks for riders

information from King County Metro

Starting Monday, May 18, until further notice, passengers are required to wear masks or face coverings while riding transit, according to a new Public Health Directive from Dr Jeff Duchin, Public Health – Seattle  & King County health officer, along with King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Jenny A. Durkin.  

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Ballard Seafood Fest cancelled

An important message for our festival friends and fans:
Ballard SeafoodFest began in 1974 as a salmon barbecue celebrating our neighborhood’s deep ties to the maritime community. Over the years, we’ve created a festival that spans three days drawing more than 75,000 visitors to celebrate the best of Ballard: seafood, live music and craft beer and cocktails.

It is with heavy hearts and a little sea spray in our eyes that we have made the decision to cancel our planned July 10 – 12, 2020 event.

The Ballard SeafoodFest team explored every option to reschedule. Unfortunately, ensuring the health and well-being of our neighbors and visitors while providing an exceptional festival experience that our community has come to know and love is not possible in 2020.

And while we cannot direct the wind, we can adjust our sails. The SeafoodFest team has taken a new tack with our sights set on the Summer of 2021.

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Repair, remediate, replace: What’s been done and what are the options for West Seattle and the bridge?

The West Seattle Bridge closure represents huge problems for the people and businesses in the community and while potential remedies are challenging they are also opportunities to make improvements and prepare for the future.

The cracks that led to the closure while first observed in 2013, changed in length and character so fast that the Seattle Department of Transportation was left with no options. They had to close the bridge. SDOT has installed a  monitoring system in the meantime including everything from crack space monitors to listening devices to give them a real time understanding of the bridge’s condition. An interagency task force has put together a comprehensive plan to address what happens should a catastrophic failure occur. They don’t think it’s likely but a plan like that is necessary.

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LETTER: Living in West Seattle with no West Seattle Bridge

Editor's Note: The follwing letter, addressed to District 1 City Councilmember Lisa Herbold was also shared with Westside Seattle. 

 

Hello Lisa – 

This is a first for me – e-mailing a city official – but I really feel I need to share and provide my inputs about a couple topics concerning the City of Seattle.  I’ve been a resident of West Seattle for 32 years.

Certainly this coronavirus is unprecedented, and I’m sure it will change our way of life moving forward, but I’m confident that with time things will return to or turn in to a new “normal” that can be functional.   I don’t expect things to be normal, or to a “new normal”, until well in to 2021.  At least that’s the timeframe we’re taking before we do anything “normal” again.  

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